A cup holder assembly includes a plurality of contacts that are configured to contact a cup so that a majority of an opening into the cup is uncovered by the cup holder, and the plurality of contacts are connectable to one or more cup holder guide rods of an assembly that dispenses and mixes or blends beverages.

A drink mixer apparatus for easily mixing beverages includes a handle having a handle proximal end, a handle distal end, a handle left side, a handle right side, a handle top side, and a handle bottom side. A battery is coupled within the handle. A motor is coupled within the handle and is in operational communication with the battery. A trigger is coupled to the handle and is in operational communication with the motor. An extension arm is coupled to the handle. The extension arm is coupled to the handle distal end and bends to form an angle between 45°-90°. A mixer shaft is rotatably coupled to the extension arm. A drive line is coupled to the motor and extends through the extension to be in operational communication with the mixer shaft. A mixer paddle is coupled to the mixer shaft.

A nozzle 20 has a fluid flow passage 26 which defines a fluid flow path from an inlet 5 end of said passage towards an outlet end of said passage. A restrictor 29a is movable under the control of an actuation system 27 relative to the passage to vary the minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid flow path through the passage. The restrictor 29 is moved to project into the passage to provide a restricted opening in the passage or removed from the passage to allow an unrestricted flow through the 10 passage. The nozzle 20 is particularly suitable for use in a beverage preparation machine to generate microfoam in a beverage. When the restrictor 29 is retracted from the passage 29, the passage and the restrictor can be cleaned by flushing the nozzle. The restrictor 29 may be a pin-like member aligned with the passage and moveable parallel to the axis of the passage.

Systems and methods are disclosed for carbonating a beverage. One of the methods includes: connecting a beverage container to a beverage carbonator, the beverage container containing the beverage; receiving a carbonation signal associated with a user request to carbonate the beverage in the beverage container; detecting a temperature of the beverage; determining a customized carbonation duration, based at least in part on the detected temperature, to obtain a targeted carbonation level in the beverage; and directing carbon dioxide gas into contact with the beverage until expiry of the customized carbonation duration. In some cases, the received carbonation signal is associated with a beverage composition of the beverage (e.g. orange juice, wine, water, etc.). In these cases, determining the customized carbonation duration includes determining the customized carbonation duration based at least in part on the detected temperature and the beverage composition, to obtain the targeted carbonation level in the beverage.

An apparatus for preparing foam or blended media can include a pitcher with a blending mechanism and a blending motor. The blending motor can be configured to actuate the blending mechanism. The pitcher can be configured to receive ingredients therein and the blending mechanism can be configured to blend the ingredients to produce the foam or the blended media. The apparatus can include a base with a rinsing feature configured to spray a liquid into an interior of the pitcher. The apparatus can include one or more pivot arms coupled to the pitcher and the base. The one or more pivot arms can be configured to actuate rotation of the pitcher.

A portable bottle having an internal mixing compartment for mixing a powder with a liquid includes a portable drinking bottle housing a mixing compartment. The mixing compartment is formed from a rigid perforated material and extends upward into the drinking bottle from its base. The mixing compartment is accessible through an opening in the base of the bottle, and houses one or more agitators. In use, a particulate material is inserted into the mixing compartment chamber with the agitator and liquid is then added to the bottle. The bottle having an internal mixing compartment is shaken to dissolve the soluble components of the particulate material. The liquid is poured or consumed through the top of the bottle. Insoluble constituents of the particulate material are prevented from exiting the drinking bottle through the top. The agitator facilitates efficient dissolution of the soluble components of the particulate material.

A mixing cartridge delivery system, which mixes additive with base liquid flowing through it, utilizes a dispensing closure valve to achieve improved flow of mixed liquid from the cartridge. A closure base may include a tethered lid. A flexible valve, such as a slit valve, is supported on a valve supporting end of the closure base and retained thereon with a valve retainer that interlocks with the closure base. The system may include a one-way valve for base liquid and a mixing section defined in the cartridge. The dispensing closure valve achieves improved flow characteristics in combination with the base liquid valve. The dispensing closure valve also prevents leakage and inadvertent discharge from the cartridge system.

An apparatus for filling a vessel with a multicomponent filling product includes a filler having at least one filling unit set up to introduce the filling product into the vessel, and a filler tank set up for intermediate buffering of the filling product and in fluid connection with the filling unit via a product conduit to supply the filling unit with the filling product; and a mixer set up to blend the filling product from at least two filling product components, wherein the mixer has a circulation conduit; and the mixer has at least one dosage branch set up to introduce one filling product component into the circulation conduit, wherein the mixer has a heat exchanger set up to adjust the temperature of the filling product in the circulation conduit.

Disclosed herein are techniques and methods for dispersing a volume of gas in a beverage contained in an unpressurized container.

A system for dispensing a plant-based milk includes a mixing chamber for emulsifying a plant-based paste and water, a plant-based paste storage connected to the mixing chamber via a first conduit, a water storage connected to the mixing chamber via a second conduit, and a cooling system. The system includes a pumping system for moving a prescribed amount of the plant-based paste into the mixing chamber upon receiving an input from a user via a user interface, a flow system for flowing water from the water storage to the mixing chamber, and a control system. The control system receives the input from the user, activates the pumping system and activates the flow system. Further, the control system activates the mixing chamber for emulsifying the plant-based paste and the water, and dispenses the emulsified plant-based mixture of the paste and the water.