Machines, devices, and methods for generating and dispensing mixed beverages are disclosed. An exemplary beverage machine includes a liquid storage container, an additive ingredient chamber, a mixing chamber, a piston for providing fluid movement into and/or out of the mixing chamber, and a cooling system. The cooling system may be configured to recycle heat rejected from the liquid storage container to provide a heat source for warming a mixed beverage contained in the mixing chamber, in addition to other functions and components.

A device for filling a receptacle with a beverage and a user interface for allowing a user to select a desired level of fill of beverage in the receptacle. The interface includes a mechanism for detecting an object below the outlet, such that the receptacle can be filled with the beverage up to the user selected level of fill, wherein the detection mechanism is arranged to detect a position of a human finger or a hand-held freely movable pointing instrument, which human finger or pointing instrument is adjacent to and pointing towards a side of the receptacle, so that the level of fill of the receptacle is determined from the detected position of the finger or pointing instrument the user-selected level of fill and the beverage is dispensed to fill the receptacle up to that level. The device is useful in coffee or other beverage dispensing machines.

A beverage infusion apparatus includes: beverage infusion apparatus comprising: (a) an infusion module for infusing a nitrogen containing gas into a beverage to form a gas infused beverage, wherein: (i) the infusion module comprises a gas draw venturi device for drawing the nitrogen containing gas into the beverage as a result of flow of the beverage through the gas draw venturi device to form the gas infused beverage; (b) a dispensing valve for dispensing the gas infused beverage and constructed to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein: (i) the open position permits dispensing of the gas infused beverage from the beverage infusion apparatus; (ii) the closed position prevents dispensing of the gas infused beverage from the beverage infusion apparatus; and (iii) the dispensing valve is constructed to move between the open position and the closed position by a user of the beverage infusion apparatus; and (c) a pump constructed to move the beverage, under pressure, from a beverage reservoir, through the dispensing valve to the dispensing valve. A method of forming a gas infused beverage at a location of purchase of the gas infused beverage is provided.

A fluid heating system including a heating chamber that receives fluid and heats the fluid to provide heated fluid, a dispensing device that dispenses the heated fluid, the dispensing device encompassing the heating chamber, a thermostatic control device that regulates a power supply to the heating chamber, an energy recovery device that harvests mechanical energy provided by a flow of the heated fluid from the heating chamber to the dispensing device and generates electrical energy to power the thermostatic control device, a pressure regulating valve, wherein in a closed position, passage for the heated fluid is prevented between the heating chamber and the drain when a pressure in the heating chamber is below a predetermined pressure threshold and passage for the heated fluid is provided between the heating chamber and the drain when the pressure in the heating chamber is above the predetermined pressure threshold.

Machines, devices, and methods for generating and dispensing mixed beverages are disclosed. An exemplary beverage machine includes a liquid storage container, an additive ingredient chamber, a mixing chamber, a piston for providing fluid movement into and/or out of the mixing chamber, and a cooling system. The cooling system may be configured to recycle heat rejected from the liquid storage container to provide a heat source for warming a mixed beverage contained in the mixing chamber, in addition to other functions and components.

A fluid heating system including a heating chamber that receives fluid and heats the fluid to provide heated fluid, a dispensing device that dispenses the heated fluid, the dispensing device encompassing the heating chamber, a thermostatic control device that regulates a power supply to the heating chamber, an energy recovery device that harvests mechanical energy provided by a flow of the heated fluid from the heating chamber to the dispensing device and generates electrical energy to power the thermostatic control device, a pressure regulating valve, wherein in a closed position, passage for the heated fluid is prevented between the heating chamber and the drain when a pressure in the heating chamber is below a predetermined pressure threshold and passage for the heated fluid is provided between the heating chamber and the drain when the pressure in the heating chamber is above the predetermined pressure threshold.

A beverage mixing device is disclosed herein. The beverage mixing device may comprise: a capsule receiver configured to receive a capsule including a pre-mixed composition, the capsule receiver including a first sensor; a carbonation vessel disposed within the housing, the carbonation vessel configured for on-demand carbonatation; and a controller in electronic communication with the first sensor, the controller configured to: determine a drink type based on receiving sensor data from the first sensor, and dispense a carbonated water or a non-carbonated water based on the drink type.

A beverage mixing device is disclosed herein. The beverage mixing device may comprise: a capsule receiver configured to receive a capsule including a pre-mixed composition, the capsule receiver including a first sensor; a carbonation vessel disposed within the housing, the carbonation vessel configured for on-demand carbonatation; and a controller in electronic communication with the first sensor, the controller configured to: determine a drink type based on receiving sensor data from the first sensor, and dispense a carbonated water or a non-carbonated water based on the drink type.

A beverage mixing device is disclosed herein. The beverage mixing device may comprise: a capsule receiver configured to receive a capsule including a pre-mixed composition, the capsule receiver including a first sensor; a carbonation vessel disposed within the housing, the carbonation vessel configured for on-demand carbonation; and a controller in electronic communication with the first sensor, the controller configured to: determine a drink type based on receiving sensor data from the first sensor, and dispense a carbonated water or a non-carbonated water based on the drink type.

A beverage infusion apparatus includes: beverage infusion apparatus comprising: (a) an infusion module for infusing a nitrogen containing gas into a beverage to form a gas infused beverage, wherein: (i) the infusion module comprises a gas draw venturi device for drawing the nitrogen containing gas into the beverage as a result of flow of the beverage through the gas draw venturi device to form the gas infused beverage; (b) a dispensing valve for dispensing the gas infused beverage and constructed to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein: (i) the open position permits dispensing of the gas infused beverage from the beverage infusion apparatus; (ii) the closed position prevents dispensing of the gas infused beverage from the beverage infusion apparatus; and (iii) the dispensing valve is constructed to move between the open position and the closed position by a user of the beverage infusion apparatus; and (c) a pump constructed to move the beverage, under pressure, from a beverage reservoir, through the dispensing valve to the dispensing valve. A method of forming a gas infused beverage at a location of purchase of the gas infused beverage is provided.