A disposable capsule for use in beverage machines is disclosed. The capsule has a hollow, cup-shaped body adapted to receive a measured dose of a syrup, a liquid or a powder concentrate. The hollow body has an insert housed therein which includes a disc-shaped portion and a stem which stretches out axially from the top of the disc-shaped portion. The stem has an axial through cavity which defines a channel for the dispensing of a beverage. The through cavity includes an inlet formed at an end of the stem located close to the cover of the capsule and an outlet formed at the opposite end of the stem.

A beverage preparation capsule comprising a capsule body having a beverage preparation ingredient hermetically sealed therein, wherein a beverage outlet region of said capsule comprises: front and back sheets of air- and water-impermeable flexible film material arranged in face-to-face relationship along an edge; a folded strip of flexible film material in the form of a gusset extending inwardly from said edge, wherein at least a central region of said strip is provided with a plurality of perforations or a zone of weakness.

The cartridge (1) according to the invention comprises an envelope (2) having a first and a second end wall (4, 5) connected together by an annular lateral wall (6) and defining an inner chamber (7) containing a quantity or dose of a substance (S) for preparation of the beverage. The envelope (2) has at least one first and at least one second permeable wall (6a, 5) acting as an inlet for the introduction of a flow of water into the chamber (7) and as an outlet from it respectively for outflow of the beverage from chamber (7). Between the first and the second permeable walls (6a, 5) the envelope (2) has an outwardly projecting annular formation (3g). A portion of the permeable inlet wall (6a) for the introduction of water into the chamber (7) is made in the annular lateral wall (6) of the envelope (2). The annular formation (3g) extends from the second end wall (5) in a direction substantially opposite to the first end wall (4).

Pad for use in coffee machine for preparing at least one part of a single beverage serving. In use, in the coffee machine an aqueous fluid such as water is supplied under pressure to the pad so that the fluid is forced through the pad for obtaining a beverage that then exits the pad. The pad includes a covering with an interior space that is filled with a beverage preparation product for preparing the beverage, which beverage preparation product is a product such as ground coffee extractable with a fluid, such as water. The covering is formed by an optionally disc-shaped first sheet and a rigid shell, wherein the first sheet and the shell around their adjacent perimeter edges are connected to each other. The shell is equipped with at least one outlet, wherein on the interior space of the pad in a bottom of shell a fluid collecting structure is provided, advantageously embodied as channels in fluid connected with the at least one outlet. The pad is equipped with a second sheet that is positioned on the bottom of the shell and covering the fluid collecting structure or the channels. The second sheet is located between the beverage preparation product and the shell, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet each form a filter permeable to a fluid such as water and beverage, which can pass and that forms a barrier for the beverage preparation product so that, when in use, a fluid fed under pressure at the first sheet of the pad flows through the first sheet to the beverage preparation product so that the beverage is formed which then flows through the second sheet and via the fluid collecting structure, such as the channels, and leaves the pad through the at least one outlet opening.

Pad including a covering filled with a soluble beverage preparation product. The covering comprises a flexible first sheet and a rigid shell which are connected to each other. The shell has at least one outlet opening. The pad is further equipped with a flexible second sheet that is positioned on a bottom of the shell located between the product and the shell. The first sheet and the second sheet each form a filter that allows an aqueous fluid, including water, and the beverage to pass and that forms a barrier for the product. The at least one outlet opening preferably has a diameter of a sufficient size for passing beverage substantially unrestricted.

A capsule for preparing a nutritional product in a device adapted to supply liquid into the capsule is disclosed. The capsule includes at least one compartment for providing nutritional ingredients for the preparation of the nutritional product in combination with the supplied liquid, and the compartment includes a liquid impermeable membrane forming a release side of the compartment. The capsule further includes at least one relief element. Also disclosed is a membrane for use in the manufacture of said capsule. Also disclosed are methods of producing and using the membrane and capsule.

The invention relates to a spout (10) comprising at least two parts (11,12) relatively moveable with respect to each other such that at least one of the two parts (11,12) of the spout comprise means presenting a measurable resistance to being connected to an engaging part of a beverage preparation device and/or to the relative movement of the two parts (11,12) of the spout. Further, the invention relates to a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product comprising a spout (10) as described and a container (30) configured to comprise a product to prepare the said food or beverage product The invention also refers to a system for preparing a food or beverage product comprising a pack (100) as described comprising a product and a beverage preparation device that will introduce a fluid in the form of a jet inside the volume of the pack (100), and to a method for determining if a food or beverage pack has been previously used in such a system.

A bottom fillable espresso cartridge base and apparatus and method for filling and plugging the bottom of the espresso cartridge base. The espresso cartridge base includes an open bottom and a press in bottom plug. The top of the espresso cartridge may be sealed by a foil lid or the like, or be open and an adhesive attachable lid may be included for attachment by a user. A first method utilizes a hand held multi-function tool including a cartridge holder with a holder lid to capture the espresso cartridge, and a bottom tamper and plug seating arm. A second method utilizes a stationary base residing on a flat surface, a cartridge holder to retain cartridges on the base, and individual tools to fill and tamp brewing material in the cartridge, and to attach the bottom plug to the cartridge.

A lid assembly outfits a liquid container and may function to position a liquid-permeable container relative to the liquid container. The lid assembly may include a lid body having a rim-receiving groove, an object-supportive depression, and a primary liquid-letting aperture. The primary liquid-letting aperture primarily enables liquid egression from the liquid container. The object-supportive depression supports objects and defines a tertiary liquid-letting aperture for outletting liquid into the liquid container. A lid body insert may be received and supported by the lid body in superior adjacency to the object-supportive depression and has a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis. The lid body insert is rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid positions such that the secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably positionable either in superior or lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture for selectively opening and closing the lid assembly.

A system for the preparation of a liquid product comprises 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. Further the system comprises a dispensing apparatus with a pressurized gas source, wherein the apparatus is adapted to bring said pressurized gas source in direct communication with the reservoir of the disposable cartridge so as to allow said liquid ingredient therein to be pressurized by said gas thereby assisting the dispensing thereof from the reservoir via said one or more dispensing passages. The system is adapted to create one or more openings in said portion of the sealing film that covers the reservoir. The dispensing apparatus further comprises a pressurization dome member having a peripheral gas seal adapted to sealingly engage the disposable cartridge around a location where said one or more openings are created in said sealing film and the pressurized gas source is connected to said dome member and is adapted to feed pressurized gas beneath said dome member within the contour of the peripheral gas seal sealingly engaging the disposable cartridge, so as to allow said liquid ingredient in said reservoir to be pressurized by said gas via the one or more openings in said sealing film, thereby assisting the dispensing of the liquid ingredient from the reservoir via said one or more dispensing passages.