Beverage dispensing nozzles and methods are described, including structures and mechanisms for selectively purging desaturated gas from the nozzle before dispensing, for ensuring beverage in the nozzle is maintained and dispensed at an optimal desired temperature, for disinfecting beverage-contacting surfaces, and for electronically activating a pour, among other things.

Disclosed is a beverage dispense system comprising a beverage flow path along which beverage flows in use from a beverage supply to a dispense site and a coolant flow path along which coolant flows from a cooler. The system further comprises a connector at an upstream end of the beverage flow path configured for releasable connection to the beverage supply. The connector comprises a beverage passage along which a portion of the beverage flow path extends and a coolant passage along which a portion of the coolant flow path extends. The system further comprises a sensor comprising two spaced probes arranged so as to be in contact with beverage flowing through the beverage passage in use to measure a parameter of the beverage, and a flexible tube-in-tube conduit extending from the connector. The conduit comprises an inner beverage tube extending within an outer coolant tube. The beverage tube is connected to the beverage passage so as to define a portion of the beverage flow path and the coolant tube is connected to the coolant passage so as to define a portion of the coolant flow path.

A cooling device is provided for cooling a beverage in a dispensing line. The device comprises two heat exchangers for exchanging thermal energy between the beverage and a coolant fluid in a cooling circuit; the coolant fluid having a lower temperature than the beverage. Placing the two heat exchangers in series relative to the dispensing line, provides two-stage cooling, allowing more accurate cooling. This may be improved by placing brute force cooling to a particular temperature window, followed by accurate cooling. This makes the cooling process is less sensitive to whatever the initial temperature of the beverage may be. Relative to the cooling circuit for the coolant, the two heat exchangers may be placed in parallel and, optionally, further in parallel to a buffer circuit. A distribution module may be provided to control distribution of coolant over the heat exchangers, optionally from the buffer, to control temperature of the beverage.

A beverage delivery system including a dispensing column and a tap unit with a spout, wherein the tap unit is releasably connectable to the dispensing column. The dispensing column includes an elongated post and a removable elongated cladding component, the elongated cladding component receiving the elongated pos, wherein connecting the tap unit to the elongated post secures the cladding component to the elongated post and wherein disconnecting and removing the tap unit from the elongated post allows removal of the cladding component from the elongated post.

An on-demand cooling system for a beverage dispenser includes a cooling enclosure, a first cooling chamber, a second cooling chamber, and a refrigeration system communicating with the cooling enclosure, the first cooling chamber, and the second cooling chamber. The cooling enclosure receives water therethrough from a water source or a recirculation system. The refrigeration system chills the water flowing through the cooling enclosure prior to the water exiting the cooling enclosure into the first cooling chamber. The refrigeration system chills the water within the first cooling chamber prior to the water exiting the first cooling chamber into the second cooling chamber. The refrigeration system chills the water within the second cooling chamber, thereby providing chilled water for the beverage dispenser.