A beverage dispensing machine (2) has a housing that provides a receptacle for receiving an expandable cartridge (12) that is coupled into the machine so that it can receive a charge of water. A kneading system (40) is provided to act on the cartridge within the receptacle. The kneading system is activated after water has been allowed to enter the cartridge and mechanically acts on or from the exterior of the cartridge in order to compress and release regions of the cartridge in order to create vigorous agitation to move the contents of the cartridge around inside the main compartment and bring them into close contact with a charge of water from the supply. Such a machine allows a wide variety of beverages to be created conveniently on demand from freeze-dried ingredients that can be stored inside the cartridges with a long shelf life.

Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage are disclosed. A gas source, which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid, and/or a beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in a cartridge. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

A froth wand comprises a tubular wall having a steam inlet end comprising a steam inlet, a steam outlet end comprising a steam outlet separate from the steam inlet and a steam channel extending between the steam inlet and the steam outlet. The froth wand is a disposable froth wand. The froth wand can comprise a container for containing a beverage base material, such as roasted ground coffee. The tubular wall of the froth wand can comprise an air opening.

Container for storing a liquid and allowing extraction of the liquid on-demand. The container comprises a casing for storing the liquid, the casing defining an aperture. The container comprises a resealable membrane covering the aperture of the casing, the resealable membrane being adapted for receiving a liquid extraction tube therethrough for on-demand liquid extraction from the casing, the resealable membrane automatically resealing the aperture upon withdrawal of the liquid extraction tube. The container comprises an air permeable membrane for balancing a pressure in the casing upon extracting liquid by the liquid extraction tube. The resealable membrane and the air permeable membrane are provided as a cap for closing the aperture of the casing. Alternatively, the casing, the resealable membrane and the air permeable membrane are provided as a capsule. A multi-servings beverage dispensing system is adapted for receiving the container in removable engagement.

A capsule for the preparation of a beverage comprises a lateral wall, an inlet wall and a lower wall forming a hollow body having a substantially central axis, the inlet wall extends from a peripheral end of the lateral wall towards said central axis and a plurality of sunken portions are extending on both lateral and inlet walls across the edge between said walls each portion connecting together the lateral wall and the inlet wall.

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.

The invention relates to a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more food or beverage ingredients comprising an insert (10) and a container (20) where the ingredient or ingredients are stored, the insert (10) comprising at least a fluid inlet (110) configured for introducing an aqueous fluid under the form of a jet in the inner volume of the pack, the insert (10) further comprising at least an air conduit (130) configured to allow introducing air from the exterior of the pack and into the inner volume of the said pack through at least an air nozzle (132). The at least one fluid inlet (110) communicates with a depression chamber (200) through at least one liquid nozzle (120) in order to create a jet from a pressurized fluid introduced through the fluid inlet (110). The invention further relates to the use of a pack as described for preparing a food or beverage product.

The invention relates to a disposable cartridge filled with a single serve portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a base liquid for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g. carbonated water, for the preparation of a beverage suitable for human consumption. The cartridge comprises a vertically extending channel that extends to a dispensing aperture in the bottom of the cartridge and one or more dispensing passages extending between a reservoir and the outside of the cartridge. The dispensing passages are provided with outlet openings located adjacent the aperture such that the base liquid and the liquid ingredient are dispensed in parallel flows, the liquid ingredient subsequently coating the exterior of the stream of base liquid, such that actual mixing of the liquid ingredient and base liquid only takes place after both have been dispensed.

A capsule for powder or semi-liquid food products includes: a hollow rigid body forming a chamber for a dose of product and having a base and upper opening. A cover closes the opening. Elements for controlled flow of a solvent toward the chamber are formed on the cover and result in thrust on the cover via pressure of the solvent, to allow sliding of the cover, guided by walls of the body, from the opening towards the base with pushing on the dose. Notches on the base act as flexible membranes to obtain an opening of the base, at the thrust of the cover, and allow the passage of the dose towards a connecting duct. Elements retaining the cover on the opening are positioned between the cover and an annular zone of the opening of the body, and temporarily retain the cover up to the start of the thrust.