A mixing bowl for a stand mixer includes a body defining an interior and an exterior. The body has first and second mounting flanges extending outwardly from opposite sides of the exterior and defining respective cavities open at least on bottom sides of the mounting flanges. The mixing bowl further includes first and second inserts fixedly received in the respective cavities of the first and second mounting flanges. The inserts define respective pin holes for receiving mounting pins of a bowl-lift mechanism of the stand mixer, the first and second pin holes being located relative to each other at a first tolerance and relative to the respective first and second flanges at a second tolerance lower than the first tolerance.

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 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 self-balancing adapter for use with a mixer, the adapter having a body configured to interface with the mixer as a unit, the body having a front and a back, left and right edges, a top and a bottom, and a vertical axis passing through the top and the bottom, where the front has at least a first recess configured to receive and hold a first vessel substantially within the body; and the adapter having at least one movable counterweight configured to be displaced when the first vessel is received in the first recess such that the movable weight at least partially offsets a weight of the first vessel within the body with respect to the vertical axis.

A self-balancing adapter for use with a mixer, the adapter having a body configured to interface with the mixer as a unit, the body having a front and a back, left and right edges, a top and a bottom, and a vertical axis passing through the top and the bottom, where the front has at least a first recess configured to receive and hold a first vessel substantially within the body; and the adapter having at least one movable counterweight configured to be displaced when the first vessel is received in the first recess such that the movable weight at least partially offsets a weight of the first vessel within the body with respect to the vertical axis.

A beverage carbonation apparatus having a spring loaded bottle mounting mechanism to catch and hold an upright bottle when inserted therein and form an operative seal for carbonation, the bottle mounting mechanism including a user-actuable release handle assembly to release the bottle and reset the loading spring.

A beverage carbonation apparatus having a spring loaded bottle mounting mechanism to catch and hold an upright bottle when inserted therein and form an operative seal for carbonation, the bottle mounting mechanism being pivotable to release the bottle and reset the loading spring.

A carbonation machine includes a rotatable carbonation head including at least one pressure release valve, a carbonation tube connectable via piping to a gas canister and a flange for engaging a neck of a bottle filled with liquid to be carbonated by screwing the neck into or onto the flange to firmly hold the bottle with the carbonation tube maintained inside the bottle, and for disengaging the neck of the bottle from the flange by unscrewing the neck off the flange. The rotatable carbonation head is configured, when screwing the neck into or onto the flange, to be rotated from a release position to a lock position, and is configured, when unscrewing the neck off the flange, to be rotated from the lock position to the release position. In the release position said at least one pressure release valve is operated to open so as to release excess pressure if such excess pressure exists in the bottle, and in the lock position said at least one pressure valve remains closed.

A foamed product dispensing system, wherein the system includes: a product dispensing machine, configured to receive an exchangeable product container; a product container, configured to cooperate with the product dispensing machine, after placement in the machine; wherein the product container contains a foamable product, preferably a food product, for example cream, wherein the product container is provided with a product processing unit including a frothing device having a product entrance for receiving product and a product exit for discharging product, wherein the processing unit is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product, wherein the system includes a hermetically sealable wall structure that encloses a container receiving space for receiving the container, wherein the wall structure includes a product outlet port that is closable (and sealable) by a thermally insulating closure member.

A foamed product dispensing system, wherein the system includes: a product dispensing machine, configured to receive an exchangeable product container; a product container, configured to cooperate with the product dispensing machine, after placement in the machine; wherein the product container contains a foamable product, preferably a food product, for example cream, wherein the product container is provided with a product processing unit including a frothing device having a product entrance for receiving product and a product exit for discharging product, wherein the processing unit is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product, wherein the system includes a hermetically sealable wall structure that encloses a container receiving space for receiving the container, wherein the wall structure includes a product outlet port that is closable (and sealable) by a thermally insulating closure member.