A system for determining a quality of a beverage can include a flow sensor for coupling with an outlet for waste from a beverage dispenser. The system can also include a controller coupled with the flow sensor for receiving an indication of the presence and/or absence of waste. The controller can be coupled with an actuation mechanism and configured to: receive an indication of an actuation of the actuation mechanism, determine a time associated with the actuation, calculate a volume associated with a stream of waste, determine a time associated with the stream of waste, and correlate a dump of a beverage to the actuation when the calculated volume associated with the stream of waste is greater than a volume threshold and when a difference in time between the time associated with the stream of waste and the time associated with the actuation is less than a time threshold.

Apparatus for dispensing a beverage in which a bottle containing the beverage is placed in a cradle and a portion of the beverage flows into a heat exchanger in which the beverage is heated or cooled to a desired temperature. The heat exchanger may be divided into at least two zones with the beverage being heated or cooled to the desired temperature in an inlet zone and the beverage being maintained at the desired temperature in an outlet zone.

The present invention relates to a beverage cooling system comprising: a beverage inlet; a beverage (conduit system comprising at least one beverage supply conduit; a primary cooling buffer unit positioned in fluid connection with the beverage supply conduit, the primary cooling buffer unit optionally comprising a thermally insulated compartment comprising a fluid/solid reservoir in thermal contact with the beverage supply conduit; a dry block cooling unit positioned downstream of the primary cooling buffer unit, the dry block cooling unit including a phase change cooling unit and a heat exchange block in fluid connection with the beverage supply conduit, a chilled beverage outlet, and a control system comprising at least one temperature sensor and at least one flow controller, wherein the control system is configured to regulate the operation of the phase change cooling unit and beverage flow based on temperature data from the temperature sensors and flow data.

A soda carbonation and dispensation system and method are provided. The system includes a carbonated water pump and motor assembly operable to draw fresh water into carbonator tanks and circulate the water through a chiller system. A carbon dioxide source is connected to the carbonator tanks to produce carbonated water. The system also includes a water level sensor connected to a controller, a plurality of syrup containers, a syrup pump, syrup regulator valves, a brix capacitor, a dispensing tower and faucets connected to the dispensing tower housing. The controller operates the water pump and motor assembly to maintain a water level within a predetermined range and to maintain continuous flow and refrigeration of the carbonated water, which optimizes carbonation. The brix capacitor receives chilled carbonated water and chilled syrup in separate lines. Carbonated water is circulated to the faucets through a manifold in the brix capacitor and then circulated back into the carbonator tanks. Valves are provided in the brix capacitor to manipulate carbonated water and syrup flow rates and pressures into the faucets. The system maintains the carbonated water and syrup at a refrigerated temperature and a predetermined maximum pressure. When a faucet is opened, the carbonated water and syrup mix as they flow laminarly into a container. The result is consistently optimum carbonation when the beverage is dispensed.