A cooling unit has (a) a cooling cartridge having (i) two foils sealed to one another along a perimeter area delimiting an inner area of the cartridge where a liquid pathway is defined between both foils, the liquid pathway making a fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet of the cooling cartridge; (ii) a web or mesh of material provided between both foils in the inner area of the cooling cartridge in the liquid pathway, the web or mesh of material has contact zones where the foils contact the web or mesh of material in the inner area of the cooling cartridge when the pressure reigning in the inner area equals ambient pressure; (b) a first cooling plate has a first surface and a second cooling plate has a second surface facing the first surface; (c) a cold source suitable for cooling said first and second surfaces, wherein the inner area of the cooling cartridge is positioned between both cooling surfaces; wherein the foils are not or only at distinct locations attached to the contact zones of the web or mesh material.

A cooling apparatus including (a) one thermoelectric cooler of the Pelletier type, having a hot surface and a cold surface is disclosed. The apparatus further includes (b) a heat sink thermally connected to the hot surface, and (c) a first and optionally a second heat conductive panels with a contact portion in thermal contact with a first and optionally a second corresponding portions of the cold surface over a first and optionally second contact areas. The contact portions of the first and optionally second heat conductive panels are pressed against the corresponding first and second portions of the cold surface with a first and respectively second contact pressures. A (d) control means controls the average temperature of the heat conductive panel. The control means includes area control means for varying the first and optionally second contact areas, and/or pressure means for controlling the first and optionally second contact pressures.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to extracting the liquid from a container (such as a bottle of wine) using a needle adapted to pierce the closure of a container of liquid, dispense liquid from the container, and supply an inert gas to the container to help preserve the liquid.

A liquid dispensing device includes a liquid extraction system that extracts a liquid from a container. The liquid dispensing device includes an identification system that identifies a type of the liquid. The liquid dispensing device includes a liquid preservation system that prevents degradation of the liquid. The liquid may be wine or other liquids.

Methods and systems are provided for mixing and heat exchange of fluids. In one example, a fluid mixing and heat exchange device includes a hot water tank, a mixing chamber spaced away from the hot water tank and fluidly coupled to a first liquid reservoir, a first chilling module fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber, a coolant tank fluidly coupled to the first chilling module, a radiator fluidly coupled to the coolant tank, and a dispensing manifold fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber and adapted to dispense a mixed and chilled fluid mixture to a plurality of fluid vessels.

A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient from a pod. The dispensing apparatus comprises a pod support region configured to support a pod, an actuator configured to engage with a corresponding actuator engagement region of the pod, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the pod. The apparatus is configured to cause the actuation member to cause an opening to be formed in a pod supported by the pod support region. The apparatus is further configured to cause the rotation mechanism to cause the pod to rotate about an axis of rotation during a dispensing operation, so as to cause the beverage preparation ingredient to be released from the pod via said opening.

A liquid dispenser may include a container having an upper opening, a pump provided in the container, a pipe through which liquid discharged from the pump is transferred, a top plate having an upper surface over which liquid flows, a filter assembly provided below the top plate, a base provided below the container, and a thermoelectric element provided in the base to cool the liquid in the container.

A liquid dispensing device includes a needle. The needle is adapted to penetrate a container without tearing out a portion of the container. The portion of the container is near a point of penetration on the container. The liquid dispensing device includes a motion control system. The motion control system is configured to rotate the needle while the needle penetrates the container.

A beverage dispensing device includes a housing, a receptacle, means for opening a beverage dispenser, a thermoelectric cooler, an aeration component, and a discharge nozzle. The housing has a flow path. The receptacle is for receiving a beverage container that houses a beverage and for discharging wine into the flow path. The means for opening the beverage container is for releasing beverage from the beverage container. The thermoelectric cooler is positioned in the housing for one of chilling or warming the beverage along the flow path. The aeration component is for aerating wine in the flow path. The discharge nozzle is coupled to the flow path for dispensing the beverage from the housing.

A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending from the closed side to the dispensing side; and an actuation member contained within said cavity. The actuation member is configured to cause an opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside the pod when actuated. The opening is formed around a perimeter of a dispensing surface of the pod at a junction formed between the at least one side wall and the dispensing surface, the dispensing surface being provided at the dispensing side of the body.