A system for beverage cartridge preparation allows users to self-select, self-fill, and self-seal single use beverage cartridges for convenience. A frame assembly supports a cartridge handling system and a cartridge filling system. The cartridge filling system includes a fillable container and a portion dispensing system. The cartridge handling system includes a movement guide system moving the beverage cartridges, a sealing system for sealing the beverage cartridges after filling, and a motion system for actuating the cartridge handling system, the portion dispensing system, and the sealing system. The movement system includes mobility relative to operative members of the filling and handling systems and one or more single use beverage cartridges. Adaptive cartridge shapes and components are provided to fit a particular preparation system.

An apparatus for making beverages using capsules (2) containing a food substance, having at least one image acquisition device (13) suitable for capturing images in electronic format, which show at least one portion of a capsule (2) located in an image capture zone (14) and which operates in the visible spectrum, a lighting device (15) associated with the capture zone (14) for lighting with light in the visible spectrum said portion of a capsule (2), and a detecting device (17) for detecting the presence of a capsule (2) at the capture zone (14) and/or the arrival of a capsule (2) in the capture zone (14), the detecting device (17) being operatively associated with the lighting device (15) for causing the switching of the lighting device (15) from a switched off condition to a switched on condition, depending on the detection of the presence of a capsule (2) at the capture zone (14) and/or of the arrival of a capsule (2) in the capture zone (14).

A system for mixing and dispensing a beverage is provided including a disposable pod containing a solute therein, inflow puncturing cap defining a plurality of spikes extending therefrom, an outflow puncturing cap defining a plurality of puncturing spikes extending therefrom and a translation mechanism for receiving the pod, translating the inflow puncturing cap towards the pod to puncture the pod upper surface and seat the pod proximate the outflow cap spikes. Heated, pressurized solvent fluid is injected into the pod, wherein the solvent and solute mix, causing the pod lower surface to expand against, and be punctured by the outflow puncturing cap spikes. The pod material, and pod thickness may be selected to allow puncture of the pod lower surface after a preferred brewing period has occurred.

An improved beverage cartridge is provided for use in forming a beverage in a beverage machine that provides a pressurized liquid. The cartridge includes a container having an interior space, a lid that accommodates an inflow of the pressurized liquid, and a filter arranged to contain a beverage medium arranged to interact with a liquid to form the beverage. The cartridge also includes annular disc shaped capsule configured for placement within the container. The capsule has a hollow interior chamber that contains a beverage medium and an open bottom that is sealed closed by a membrane. The membrane is configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the space inside the container and the chamber allowing liquid introduced into the container to flow into the capsule's chamber. The membrane is also pierceable by the beverage machine to accommodate an outflow of the liquid flowing into the capsule.

Various techniques for generating substantially homogenous mixtures of nonpolar materials and aqueous solutions are disclosed herein. An example method includes generating a substantially homogenous mixture of an aqueous solution and a nonpolar material by flowing the aqueous solution through a porous substrate infused with the nonpolar material.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

Single-serve containers for use in brewing a cannabis-based beverage are described, as are methods for preparing a single-serve container configured for receipt in a single-serve brewing machine. The method includes: adding a processed cannabis product to the single-serve container; adding, to the single-serve container, at least one of an extraction or flavoring agent; and sealing the single-serve container.

Embodiments of the present invention describe and are directed towards a disposable capsule comprising a body with an open first end and a sealed second end, the body of sufficient size to hold a desired volume of solute, and a multi-receptacle adapter at the open first end to allow the body to be affixed to a plurality of receptacles. The multi-receptacle adapter may comprise a first pressure interface and a second, integrated screw interface.

A single-dose capsule for machines for dispensing beverages in the form of an infusion is provided. The capsule has a cup-shaped body adapted to receive a dose of a product in a granular or particle form, or in the form of a concentrated liquid, and a gas-impermeable film restrained to the open top of the cup-shaped body. The cup-shaped body is made of a multilayer material manufactured by way of a co-injection molding process. The multilayer has an inner layer and an outer layer made of a structural material and an intermediate layer made of a barrier material adapted to prevent passage of oxygen from the external environment to the inside of the cup-shaped body. The invention also relates to a packaging method of the single-dose capsules.

A system for beverage cartridge preparation allows users to self-select, fill, and seal single use cartridges with improved convenience and for long term storage. The system includes a cartridge handling system and a cartridge filling system operative relative to a cartridge to be filled. The cartridge handling system includes mobility relative to operative members of the cartridge filling system and one or more single use beverage cartridges. Adaptive cartridge shapes and components are provided to fit a particular preparation system. Adaptive and alternative mechanisms for the systems and aspects herein allow convenient manual filling, packing, and sealing of a plurality of single cartridges.