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.

An apparatus is disclosed including: a housing including a conduit having an inlet port and an outlet port; an insert at least partially disposed within the conduit and including a tapered portion extending from a narrower end proximal the inlet port to a wider end distal the inlet port; and a facility for adjusting the position of the insert within the conduit. In some embodiments, the apparatus is configured to receive a mixed flow of liquid and gas at the inlet port, direct the mixed flow through the conduit around a portion of the insert disposed within the chamber, and outlet the mixed flow at the outlet port.

The present application provides a dispensing nozzle for use with a flow of a diluent and a flow of a concentrate. The beverage dispenser may include an annular concentrate path of the flow of the concentrate and an annular diluent path surrounding at least in part the annular concentrate path for the flow of the diluent. The annular diluent path may include a shallow angle leading towards the flow of the concentrate such that the flow of the diluent and the flow of the concentrate mix in or downstream of the dispensing nozzle.

An apparatus for making a mixed drink includes a housing, a first single-serve beverage container, a second single-serve beverage container, an opening mechanism for opening the single-serve beverage containers, a chamber with an outlet, a water reservoir, and a pump. The first container holds a concentrate and the second container holds an alcohol. The chamber has an inlet for receiving the contents of the first and second containers and further includes an outlet. The water reservoir is positioned in the housing. The pump is coupled to the water reservoir for transferring water to the vicinity of the first and second containers. Water from the reservoir enters the chamber directly and/or through one or more of the containers.

An apparatus is disclosed including: a housing including a conduit having an inlet port and an outlet port; an insert at least partially disposed within the conduit and including a tapered portion extending from a narrower end proximal the inlet port to a wider end distal the inlet port; and a facility for adjusting the position of the insert within the conduit. In some embodiments, the apparatus is configured to receive a mixed flow of liquid and gas at the inlet port, direct the mixed flow through the conduit around a portion of the insert disposed within the chamber, and outlet the mixed flow at the outlet port.

The disclosure concerns apparatus comprising a first source of a first component, the first component one component for a finished free flowing food product and comprising a highly concentrated micro component. The apparatus includes a second source of a second component, the second component being another component for the finished free flowing food product. The apparatus includes a flow combiner configured to combine the first and second components to form a first mixture. The apparatus further includes a common delivery pipe configured to receive the first mixture from the flow combiner. The apparatus includes a dispenser configured to receive diluent flow from a third source, receive the first mixture from the common delivery pipe, combine the diluent flow with the first mixture to form a second mixture, and dispense the second mixture through a dispensing nozzle, the second mixture including the finished free flowing food product.

A beverage dispenser for dispensing either a hot or cold beverage, for example tea, from a common mixing chamber and a method for making and/or operating the same is disclosed. The dispense has a source of hot water, usually a heater, and a source of water, a refrigeration system to cool the water and one or more sources of flavor. The hot or cold water, or both can be provided to the common or same, mixing chamber and mixed assisted with a static and/or dynamic mixer and then dispensed. The last portion of the water is used to rinse for the next beverage. Flavor or syrup pump current is sensed to provide the appropriate amount of flavor concentrate to a known quantity of water to form a beverage of appropriate strength or syrup.

What is proposed is a beverage preparation machine for producing a beverage, into which a cartridge system having a cartridge and a cartridge receptacle connected to the cartridge can be inserted, wherein the cartridge comprises a reservoir filled with a beverage substance, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a mixing chamber which can be brought into fluid communication with the reservoir, and a fluid supply line opening into the mixing chamber, wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a compressed-air connection for blowing compressed air into the reservoir with the aid of a compressed-air line, wherein the beverage preparation machine also has a holding unit, into which the cartridge receptacle connected to the cartridge can be inserted, a fluid source for feeding the fluid into the fluid supply line, and a compressed-air source for blowing compressed air into the compressed-air connection, characterized in that the holding unit has a light element which is designed in such a way that the light element at least partially encloses the cartridge receptacle received in the holding unit.

A mounting assembly includes a beverage mounting assembly having a housing. The housing has a housing wall that surrounds a cavity. A valve body is connectable to the beverage mounting assembly. The valve body is connectable to the beverage mounting assembly via a clip. The clip is insertable into both the housing and the valve body to connect the valve body to the beverage mounting assembly. At least one actuator is disposed in the cavity of the housing. The actuator rotates from a closed position to an open position that actuates pressure to the valve body from a liquid source. The actuator is separate from the clip that connects the housing to the valve body.

A system comprising, a pressurized container including hollow portion and outer portion, pressurized container maintains pressure level in the hollow portion, transport system including two conduits, one transport being coupled to an interface and a valve port, the interface coupled to the hollow portion, the interface maintains pressure level in the hollow portion, one valve port allows flow of liquid volume through one conduit to a dispensing interface via another valve port, an external container is airtight and operable to dispense another liquid volume stored within, another conduit is coupled to the external container and further valve port to refill the liquid volume via the valve, pressure regulation system connected to pressurized container, pressure regulation system including a pressure conduit extending from outer portion through a pressure interface, pressure regulation system operable to compress liquid volume in the environment and a control system controls the valve and pressure regulation system.