The present application provides a dispensing system for a beverage. The dispensing system may include a pressure chamber and a dispenser unit with a refrigeration compartment. The beverage may be stored within the pressure chamber and may be dispensed through the refrigeration compartment under pressure.

Vacuum cooling assemblies for cooling a beverage are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the vacuum cooling assembly may include a container compartment, a container disposed within the container compartment, and at least one beverage supply line in communication with the container compartment. The at least one beverage supply line may be configured to supply the beverage to the container within the container compartment. The vacuum cooling assembly also may include at least one vapor trap in communication with the container compartment. Moreover, the vacuum cooling assembly may include a vacuum pump in communication with the at least one vapor trap. The vacuum pump may be configured to create a vacuum in the at least one vapor trap and the container compartment, causing at least a portion of the beverage to evaporate, thereby vacuum cooling the beverage within the container.

A beverage dispensing device prepares and dispenses a beverage. The dispensing device includes a housing which has a beverage unit with a liquid inlet and a beverage outlet. The beverage unit has a receiver for at least one container containing a unit dose of concentrated beverage ingredient to be dispensed, and an ingredient discharge. The beverage unit has a liquid line. The liquid line first section extends from the base liquid inlet to a receiver liquid inlet to guide base liquid into the unit dose of beverage ingredient through the beverage discharge into the liquid line second section that extends from the ingredient discharge to the beverage outlet. A mixing chamber is defined in the liquid line. Temperature regulator is provided in the mixing chamber or the mixing chamber comprises an inlet for pressurized fluid for expanding the fluid in the mixing chamber.

Non-electric fountain beverage dispensers for dispensing a variety of beverages without the use of electricity. The non-electric fountain beverage dispenser may include a gas container for storing a pressurized gas, a base liquid storage container for storing a base liquid, and a gas supply line that communicates pressurized gas from the gas container to the base liquid storage container and to a syrup storage container. Non-electric beverage dispenser further includes a mechanical dispensing valve in fluid communication with the base liquid storage container and the syrup storage container by means of a base liquid supply line and a syrup supply line, respectively, such that the mechanical dispensing valve is capable of selectively dispensing a mixture of the base liquid and the syrup. Non-electric fountain beverage dispenser further includes a non-electric cooling unit for cooling the base liquid without the use of electricity.

Supply chain systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring fluid levels in liquid containers, such as kegs. Embodiments include sensors that fit within a keg's false bottom, measure the weight of the keg, and transmit the weight information to a computer database via a wireless network. Other embodiments include an RFID device with information about a characteristic of the liquid within a keg (such as brand and/or type of beer) that may be attached to the keg and paired with the sensor so the sensor can transmit information about the characteristic of the liquid in the keg. In alternate embodiments, the sensor's transmitter is short range and an uplink/gateway is used to receive information from the sensor and relay that sensor's information to a broader wireless network. Multiple containers in close proximity may each be fitted with an RFID device and sensor and communicate their individual information to the database.

A beverage container cooling unit has: (a) a housing having a slot for receiving a container therein, (b) a cooling element having a cold supply, (c) a heat conductive panel enabling heat transfer between a container provided in the slot and the cold supply; wherein the heat conductive panel has two material layers fixed against one another: (I) a first material layer defining a cooling surface facing the container receiving slot and an opposed surface, said first layer made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient of X.sub.1; (ii) a second material layer having a contact surface facing positioned against the opposed surface of the first material layer and a second opposed surface, the second material layer having a thermal expansion coefficient of X.sub.2, different from X.sub.1, the difference in thermal expansion causing the conductive panel to bulge at a change in temperature.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for inducing a substantially non-hazardous atmosphere encompassing a beverage container during filling, such as filling a small volume container with an alcohol product. A multi-tiered approach can be used to reduce the combustibility of the atmosphere encompassing the beverage container. For example, a ventilation module can be provided and configured to dilute vapors of the beverage liquid. Further, a chilling module can be provided and configured to reduce or maintain a reduced temperature of the beverage liquid. Further, a capture module can be provided and configured to dilute stray beverage liquid. The ventilation module, the chilling module, and the capture module can cooperate to define a non-hazardous zone encompassing the beverage container. This can allow non-hazardous rated electrical components to operate proximate and within the atmosphere associating the alcohol product during filling.

A drink formulating system includes a housing having a housing outlet, a receiving tank receiving water poured by a user, and a pump being configured for pumping water from the receiving tank. A first filter is in fluid communication with the pump for removing a first set of substances from the water. A second filter removes a second set of substances different from the first set of substances from the water obtained from the receiving tank. A second filter outlet is connected to an additive module having at least two additive cartridges, each cartridge supplying a designated composition of potable nutrients. A user-controlled interface allows for user selection of one of the designated nutrient compositions, which are then pumped into water from the chilling tank and distributed from the housing outlet.

A wine dispenser that includes a wine refrigerator unit having a compartment with a support to support a wine container, and a wine dispenser unit residing atop the wine refrigeration unit, the wine dispenser unit including a plurality of fountain heads, each one of the plurality of fountain heads being connected to a respective fluid-tight wine supply line that extends from the fountain head to an interior of the compartment.

Methods and devices for dispensing a cooled beverage are provided. One embodiment of methods includes the steps of mixing a diluent and a concentrate to make a diluted solution. The diluted solution is carbonated to yield a carbonated solution. The carbonated solution is cooled to below 0? C. to produce the cooled beverage, and the cooled beverage is dispensed through a nozzle. A device for dispensing a cooled beverage, where the cooled beverage comprises a diluent having a freezing point at STP includes an upstream cooler that pre-cools a supply of diluent to a temperature above the freezing point. A mixer mixes the pre-cooled diluent with a concentrate to make a diluted solution. A downstream cooler further cools the diluted solution to below the freezing point. A dispenser dispenses the downstream-cooled solution to atmosphere. The temperature of the cooled beverage is below the freezing point when dispensed.