The embodiment relates to beverage dispensing, and more particularly to the dispensing of a carbonated beverage, from any container into a vessel, providing a portion of the beverage as foam atop the dispensed beverage. To avoid the reduction of absorbed carbon dioxide in a carbonated beverage, increased atmospheric pressure is employed to move the beverage from the container through the apparatus and into the vessel. An oscillating means provides a sonic wave through the conduit and the liquid therein; the sonic wave initiates the reaction between the carbon dioxide and the ingredients in the beverage to cause the liquid to foam prior to dispensing into the vessel. Iterations include an adaptable apparatus for a beer tap and a means for passing the liquid to be dispensed through a permeable container filled with soluble material or a permeable container filled with a filtration means.

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.

Dispensing assembly for dispensing a flowable food product, comprising: a bag-in-box type container for holding a product concentrate, the container having a concentrate outlet for releasing product concentrate from the container; a mixing unit spaced apart from the concentrate outlet, the mixing unit being configured for mixing the product concentrate with a liquid, the mixing unit having a concentrate inlet for receiving product concentrate released from the container, a liquid inlet for receiving the liquid, and a spout for dispensing as a flowable food product the product concentrate mixed with the liquid; and a duct arranged for guiding a flow of product concentrate along a flow path from the concentrate outlet of the container to the concentrate inlet of the mixing unit, wherein at least a section of the duct is flexible for flexibly adjusting the flow path.

A beverage infusion apparatus includes: (a) a mixer for mixing a beverage concentrate and water to form a diluted concentrate, wherein the water is provided at a water pressure during operation sufficient to flow through the beverage infusion apparatus; (b) an infusion module for infusing a nitrogen containing gas into the diluted concentrate 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 diluted concentrate as a result of flow of the diluted concentrate through the gas draw venturi device to form the gas infused beverage; and (c) 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. A method of forming a gas infused beverage is provided.

A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (100) has: a beverage directing guide (10) for directing by the directing guide (10) beverage (100) to an area (2) for placing a user-recipient; and a beverage processing unit (5) having a unit outlet (51) via which liquid (100,101) is passed from the beverage guide (50) to the directing guide (10) that is located below the unit outlet (51). The directing guide (10) has a flow cavity (10a), a bottom (10b) and sidewalls (10c) such that the bottom (10b) and the sidewalls (10c) delimit the flow cavity (10a). The directing guide (10) has an inflow penetrator (12) for acting on a flow of beverage (100) delivered by the unit outlet (51) onto the penetrator (12) prior to reaching the bottom (10b) of the flow cavity (10a).

In a method for dispensing a beverage in which a gas from a gas pressure vessel in which the gas is stored under pressure is mixed with the beverage, it is provided that the beverage is transported out of the storage container (2) by a pump (3) and that the pressure of the gas is lowered to less than 0.5 bar, more preferably less than 100 mbar, above ambient pressure and is fed to the aspirated beverage on the suction side of the pump (3).

An apparatus (10) and method for dispensing beverage from a single serve beverage package (b), e.g. an aluminium can B. In operation the sealed package (B) is located and held in a receiving enclosure (11) where, firstly, a dispense end of the package is opened by a piercing element (24) and, secondly, a gas is introduced under pressure at a second end through a hollow needle (19). Gas from a pump, into the internal volume of package (B), is then used to drive beverage from the beverage package, e.g. through a restrictor structure (27), at the dispense end and into a drinking vessel (G). The pump mode may then apply negative pressure to prevent flow and enable a pause in flow or at completion of delivery to a vessel (G).

Automatic beverage vending machine that has a milk supply circuit includes a cold milk tank, a variable speed milk pump, a steam generator, a milk heater, and an electronic milk control unit. The electronic milk control unit is electrically connected to the milk pump and to an air solenoid valve. The electronic milk control unit is configured to cause the milk supply circuit to deliver smooth or frothed, hot or cold milk. The electronic milk control unit is also configured to determine milk-related quantities including the type of cold milk contained in the cold milk tank, the temperature of the cold milk contained in the cold milk tank, the amount of foam to dispense, and the type of milk to dispense, and to control operation of the milk pump and of the air solenoid valve based on the determined milk-related quantities.

The present invention discloses a beverage discharge disposition comprising a discharge casing (1) configured so that can be provided in the front region of a beverage preparation machine (20), including the option of supplying milk and frothed milk, whereby said discharge casing (1) presents a milk circulation disposition (2) adapted so as to provide an ergonomic use of a beverage preparation machine, in particular with milk flux regulation means (3) of more ergonomic use.

The present invention further discloses a beverage preparation machine (20) and a process for operating said machine (20), in particular of a respective ergonomic beverage discharge disposition, according to the present invention.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for smart draft beer taps that can dynamically vary flow rate and control the amount of dispensed head based on one or more of sensed parameters of the beer, the draft beer environment, characteristics of the beer, and on brewery specified pouring standards. The disclosed systems provide networked data communication relating to bar draft beer pouring conditions.