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.

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

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.

A discharging element for discharging substances into a liquid is disclosed, wherein the discharging element is in the form of a capsule, wherein the capsule casing (1-3) encloses a fillable volume for substances to be discharged, the capsule casing is made of a liquid-tight material and has at least one first opening (7) and at least one second opening (8) which are arranged in such a way that, when liquid flows around the capsule, a greater flow velocity is present at a first opening (7) than at a second opening (8), wherein the first and second opening are connected to one another via the fillable volume, and wherein either the first opening (7) and the second opening (8) are located on one outer surface, or wherein the surface normal of the capsule casing (1-3) at the location of the first opening (7) encloses an angle with the surface normal of the capsule casing at the location of the second opening (8).

The invention relates to a single use, or disposable cartridge, wherein the cartridge is provided with a capsule (2) in the form of a sealed reservoir. The reservoir is defined by a capsule body (5) that allows for use of muti-layer materials. Thus, the cartridge, more in particular the capsule body of the cartridge, can be provided with barrier properties that suit the ingredient held in the reservoir. As such, the cartridge is configured to provide a capsule, more in particular a sealed reservoir, for holding an ingredient, which capsule has barrier properties that fit the particular base ingredient to be held in the reservoir.

A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium and an outlet for the beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, the cartridge incorporating within a beverage flow path between the inlet and the outlet an eductor for entraining air into the beverage, the eductor comprising an aperture for producing a low pressure jet of the beverage.

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.

A single-portion package for producing a beverage from a beverage concentrate, includes a closable concentrate container for holding the beverage concentrate. The single-portion package has an extraction and mixing device, comprising: an extraction means for extracting the beverage concentrate from the concentrate container, a mixing chamber for preparing the beverage from the beverage concentrate extracted from the concentrate container and from a mixing liquid that can be supplied, an inlet for letting the mixing liquid into the mixing chamber, and an outlet for letting the beverage out of the mixing chamber.

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

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