A cooling system is provided for contact cooling of a beverage container. The system comprises a cooling element, a cooling contact body thermally conductively connected to the cooling element and arranged to be in thermally conductive contact with the container, a sensor module arranged to provide a sensor signal having a sensor value indicative of a contact area between the cooling contact body and the container and a processing unit arranged to control operation of the cooling element in response to the sensor signal. The contact area or another indicator for quality of contact between the cooling contact body and the beverage container determines a transfer rate of thermal energy between the beverage container and a beverage contained therein on one hand to the cooling contact body and the cooling element on the other hand. A cooling system with this method of operation allows efficient use of energy provided.

Drinking water distributor device provided with a hydraulic circuit comprising a water inlet solenoid valve in said circuit, a pump connected downstream of said inlet solenoid valve, a first dispensing solenoid valve connected downstream of said pump and a second dispensing solenoid valve, a refrigeration unit, a collector and a dispensing nozzle connected downstream of said collector, said first and second dispensing solenoid valves each having a first outlet in connection with said nozzle through said collector, said first dispensing solenoid valve being provided with a second outlet in connection with the inlet of said second dispensing solenoid valve through the refrigeration unit, such that said first and second dispensing solenoid valves are configured to provide the dispensing of water at room temperature and of chilled water respectively. The second dispensing solenoid valve is provided with a second outlet, a first recirculation solenoid valve.

Provided is a water dispenser. The water dispenser includes a housing and a functional module. The functional module is disposed in the housing. The functional module includes a mounting support, a heating tank component, a cooling tank component, a water manifold component, and an electronic control component, and the heating tank component, the cooling tank component, the water manifold component, and an electronic control component are disposed at the mounting support. The heating tank component, the cooling tank component, the water manifold component, and the electronic control component are all integrated into the functional module through the mounting support.

A top-loaded water dispenser is provided. The top-loaded water dispenser includes a first manifold having a water receiving basin, a water inlet passageway, and a water outlet passageway; a second manifold having a drainage passageway; a cooling tank adapted to be in communication with the water inlet passageway to receive water from the water receiving basin, adapted to be in communication with the water outlet passageway to output refrigerated water, and further adapted to be in communication with the drainage passageway to drain the water in the cooling tank; and a heating tank adapted to be in communication with the water inlet passageway to receive the water from the water receiving basin, adapted to be in communication with the water outlet passageway to output heated water, and further adapted to be in communication with the drainage passageway to drain the water in the heating tank.

A funnel for covering a dispenser assembly of a frozen drink maker has an upper portion attachable to the dispenser assembly. The upper portion is configured to allow the dispenser assembly to selectively uncover a spout of the frozen drink maker to dispense a drink product from the spout in a horizontal direction. A lower portion of the funnel extends downward from the upper portion. The lower portion includes an inner wall defining a channel. The channel has a first region configured to direct a flow of the drink product at an angle relative to a front panel of the frozen drink maker, and a second region configured to direct the flow of the drink product parallel to the front panel in a substantially vertically downward direction.

A cooling system is provided for contact cooling of a beverage container. The system comprises a cooling element, a cooling contact body thermally conductively connected to the cooling element and arranged to be in thermally conductive contact with the container, a sensor module arranged to provide a sensor signal having a sensor value indicative of a contact area between the cooling contact body and the container and a processing unit arranged to control operation of the cooling element in response to the sensor signal. The contact area or another indicator for quality of contact between the cooling contact body and the beverage container determines a transfer rate of thermal energy between the beverage container and a beverage contained therein on one hand to the cooling contact body and the cooling element on the other hand. A cooling system with this method of operation allows efficient use of energy provided.

A modular countertop beverage brewing system and method configured to rapidly extract cold brew beverages from a brewable mixture. Three independent brewing modes are integrated, two of which regulate temperature. The modes are room temperature, chilling, and heating. Brewing is achieved through a three factored approach: the combination of pressure, water jet nozzle, and a beverage recirculation loop followed by an optional chilling system, and optional heating after brewing. The system enables forced dispense, temperature control options, and programmable brew strength. Unlike conventional systems, this device achieves cold brew in minutes rather than hours, consolidating brewing, strength, and temperature functions in a single compact unit.