An apparatus for making a beverage includes a housing, a first receptacle, a second receptacle, a cutting assembly, a water source, and at least one water outlet. The first receptacle is positioned in the housing for accepting a first beverage container containing a liquid. The second receptacle is positioned in the housing for accepting a second beverage container containing a liquid. The cutting assembly has a cutting blade that is movable relative to the first and second receptacles for opening the first and second containers substantially simultaneously so that liquid stored therein can be at least in part evacuated. The water source is coupled to the housing The at least one water outlet is associated with one or more of the first and second receptacles for adding water to the liquid from the first and second beverage containers from the water source.

A beverage machine includes a valve that receives a base fluid and dispenses a mixed beverage comprising the base fluid and an additive fluid. The valve has a bore through which the base fluid flows, and the bore has a perimetral surface that defines a plurality of ports through which the additive fluid is injected to thereby mix with the base fluid. An injector is coupled to the valve and configured to radially inject the additive fluid into the base fluid through the plurality of ports as the base fluid flows through the bore such that the additive fluid mixes into the base fluid to form the mixed beverage.

A method of dispensing fluids with variable carbonation. The method includes receiving a selection of a carbonation level of a beverage and determining a valve timing scheme to achieve the selected carbonation level.

An example method comprises receiving a control signal to open a first valve of a compressible liquid container within an airtight pressurized container, retrieving a first dispensing profile, each dispensing profile indicating at least one valve and, for each valve, a predetermined period of time for keeping a particular valve open, each of the valves controlling transport of contents a different compressible liquid container contained within the airtight pressurized container to a dispensing system, for each of the one or more valves identified in the first dispensing profile: opening the particular valve identified in the first dispensing profile for the particular predetermined period of time to transport contents over a first liquid transport conduit that is coupled to a particular releasable coupling and the particular valve, and closing the particular valve after the particular predetermined period of time to dispense an amount of contents of the particular compressible liquid container.

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.

Methods and apparatus describing a convenience beverage vending machine and its operation are described. An embedded computer interface allows consumers to create their own drinks or choose from a menu of drinks. Drinks are dispensed in a container. The beverages may be made from hot water, cold water or carbonated water that is mixed with various flavors of syrup, sweeteners and nutritional supplements. Identification may be presented and the computer recognizes the consumer and pulls up that consumer's account to determine funds available and previous drink selections and mixtures. The machine may incorporate an automatic cleaning cycle for both the valves and the dispense area.

The present invention describes methods and devices in which concentrated beverage products, each packaged in a pressurized container, can be combined with liquids and/or other ingredients to produce one or more servings of a beverage. These products provide users with a convenient way to prepare both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (including carbonated beverages) in various serving sizes and quantities by combining the pressurized beverage concentrate with (possibly carbonated) liquids and other ingredients.

The present invention describes methods and devices in which concentrated beverage products, each packaged in a pressurized container, can be combined with liquids and/or other ingredients to produce one or more servings of a beverage. These products provide users with a convenient way to prepare both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (including carbonated beverages) in various serving sizes and quantities by combining the pressurized beverage concentrate with (possibly carbonated) liquids and other ingredients.

Dispensing nozzles and systems for dispensing edible products include a nozzle sleeve and a nozzle insert. The nozzle sleeve defines an open interior and the nozzle insert is positioned within the nozzle sleeve. A base inlet and a flavoring inlet are defined in the nozzle insert. The nozzle sleeve and the nozzle insert are configured to mix a base substance with a flavoring substance.

A beverage dispensing nozzle is provided. The beverage dispensing nozzle may include an upper portion configured to receive juice concentrate, a lower portion coupled to the upper portion and configured to receive juice concentrate from the upper portion, an agitation device configured to mix the juice concentrate and a liquid within the lower portion, and a nozzle output configured to output a mixture of the juice concentrate and the liquid mixed by the agitation device. At least one of the upper portion and lower portion may include an umbrella valve configured to regulate flow of the juice concentrate.