A beverage preparation machine comprises a fluid circulation system for a fluid substance, at least one container holder adapted for receiving a corresponding ingredient storage container and at least one fluid processing device which is part of the fluid circulation system. The fluid circulation system further comprises at least one fluid source, at least one fluid pump, at least one fluid heating element and at least one fluid circulation conduit. The fluid processing device comprises a fluid processing body comprising in turn at least one inlet means for introducing the fluid substance into the container for the preparation of a beverage product by mixing of the fluid substance with an ingredient contained in the container. The fluid processing body further comprises at least one outlet means for dispensing the beverage product from the container. At least one movement means is provided for separately moving the fluid processing device and the container relatively one to another between a fluid introduction position and a beverage dispensing position. In the fluid introduction position the fluid processing body protrudes inside the internal volume of the container for introducing therein the fluid substance. In the beverage dispensing position the fluid processing body is at least partially withdrawn from the internal volume of the container to allow dispensing of the beverage product from the container through the outlet means. Preferably, the fluid processing body is a needle-shaped fluid processing body comprising at least one end portion configured for perforating, piercing and/or tearing a specific portion or wall of the container before the introduction of the fluid substance into the container.

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10,20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21) during beverage preparation. The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10,20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); a valve arrangement (50) for controlling a flow of the water (4) along the water guide (30); an actuator for actuating the valve arrangement (50) to control the water flow along the water guide (30); and a support structure (70) having a base (72) that is stationary during beverage preparation and that supports at least the valve arrangement (50). The valve arrangement (50) is rotatably mounted to the support structure (70) and driven in rotation by the actuator to control the water flow.

The invention relates to a disposable cartridge filled with a single serve portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a base liquid for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g. carbonated water, for the preparation of a beverage suitable for human consumption. The cartridge comprises a vertically extending channel that extends to a dispensing aperture in the bottom of the cartridge and one or more dispensing passages extending between a reservoir and the outside of the cartridge. The dispensing passages are provided with outlet openings located adjacent the aperture such that the base liquid and the liquid ingredient are dispensed in parallel flows, the liquid ingredient subsequently coating the exterior of the stream of base liquid, such that actual mixing of the liquid ingredient and base liquid only takes place after both have been dispensed.

A machine for preparing a beverage has a beverage processing unit (10,20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4). The machine has a beverage collector (80) for collecting the beverage (3) from the processing unit (10,20). The collector (80) has a collecting wall (81) directing the beverage (3) out of the collector (80) to a beverage dispensing area (90). The machine has: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the processing unit (10,20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); and a supporting structure (70) which has a base (72) that supports the beverage collector (80) during beverage preparation. The beverage processing unit (10,20) and/or the beverage collector have a peripheral upright drainage wall (13) external to the chamber (21) and extending at least partly about the chamber (21) for collecting the beverage (3) outside the chamber (21) after the beverage (3) has exited the chamber (21) via at least one outlet (12). The beverage collecting wall (81) extends below a bottom part of the drainage wall (13) and right underneath the processing unit (10,20) to collect the beverage (3) when draining off from the drainage wall (13) and to direct the beverage (3) from the collecting wall (81) out of the collector (80).

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10, 20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with the water (4) in the chamber (21). The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10, 20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); and a support structure (70) having a base (72) that comprises a main outside housing (72′), a fluid line support (72′″) and a supporting foot (72.sup.IV) at a bottom of the main outside housing (72′). The processing unit (10, 20) and the water guide (30), and optionally the water source, are supported by the base (72). The foot (72IV) is configured to rest on an external substantially horizontal surface and is located right below a beverage dispensing area (90) configured to receive a user-receptacle (100). The housing (72′) extends in an upright manner from the foot (72.sup.IV). The fluid line support (72′″) is located at an upper part, e.g. at a top, of the housing (72′) to hold the processing unit (10, 20) right above the foot (72.sup.IV), such that the support structure (70) is substantially L-shaped or C-shaped or inverted G-shaped. The housing (72′) has a gripping surface (722) to facilitate hand gripping. The surface (722) extends between the foot (72.sup.IV) and the fluid line support (72′″) for seizing the support structure (70) single-handed and carrying the machine (1).

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10,20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21). The machine include: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10,20); a water guide (30) for guiding the water (4) between the water source and the chamber (21); one or more electronic devices (60, 65, 721); and a support structure (70) having a base (72) that comprises a main outside housing (72′), a fluid line support (72′″) and a supporting foot (72.sup.IV) at a bottom of the main outside housing (72′). The processing unit (10,20) and the water guide (30), and optionally the water source, are supported by the base (72). The foot (72.sup.IV) is configured to rest on an external substantial horizontal surface dining beverage preparation. All electric device(s) (60, 65, 721) are confined in and/or comprised in the main outside housing and/or the foot (72.sup.IV). The beverage processing unit (10,20), the water source and the water guide (30) are located entirely outside the main outside housing (72′) and outside the foot (72.sup.IV).

The invention provides a beverage preparation system (1) for the preparation of hot and cold beverages, which system comprises a hot beverage ingredient cartridge (2′), a cold beverage ingredient cartridge (2), and a beverage preparation device (4) adapted to prepare hot and cold beverages. According to the invention, the beverage preparation device (4) comprises a water dispensing manifold (10) for directing hot water and cold water to a dispensing location, the water dispensing manifold (10) comprising a feed lace (11), a cold water conduit (14) and a hot water conduit (16) that ends in a port (20) provided in a wall of the cold water conduit (14). The hot water conduit (16) has a cross section that is smaller than the cross section of the feed lance (11), such that a flow of hot water fed from the hot water conduit (16) into the feed lance (11) via the port (20) passes through part of the cold water conduit (14) and through the feed lance (11) without contacting them.

A beverage maker includes a water source; a filter holder; and a beverage cartridge holder. The beverage cartridge holder may be positioned between the water source and the filter holder and configured for fluid communication between the water source and the filter holder.

A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (3) has a beverage processing unit (10, 20) formed of a first processing unit member (10) and a second processing unit member (20) that delimit a chamber (21) and that are movable between a distant configuration in which a flavouring ingredient (2) is received in the chamber (21) and a proximate configuration in which the flavouring ingredient (2) is held and mixed with water (4) in the chamber (21). The machine includes: a water source for delivering the water (4) towards the beverage processing unit (10, 20); and a water guide (30) extending from the water source into the beverage processing unit (10, 20) arranged such that substantially all the water (4) delivered into the chamber (21) for preparing the beverage (3) is guided by the water guide (30). The water source and the water guide (30) are thermally passive so as to deliver the water (4) into the chamber (21) unconditioned by any active thermal conditioner of such machine (1).

A method for brewing Japanese-style iced coffee with a single-serve beverage dispenser includes dispensing heated water onto coffee grounds disposed within a brew chamber of a brew module, flowing brewed coffee from the brew chamber into an ice chamber of an iced coffee module, the brewed coffee flowing over ice within the ice chamber, and flowing the iced brewed coffee from the ice chamber into a container. A related single-serve beverage dispenser is also provided.