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 system for making beverages comprising a brewing unit (2) and a capsule (4) containing a powdered food substance (5), the capsule (4) comprising a recognition element (11) placed inside an outer casing (6), wherein the brewing unit (2) comprises a first piercing unit (17), a lighting device (26) configured to light the recognition element (11), a detecting device (13) configured to detect a return light radiation from the recognition element (11) and an electronic control unit programmed to execute a comparing step, wherein real data are compared with saved reference data and to manage brewing in a different way if the real data match reference data or do not, compared with if the comparing step indicates that the real data do not match the reference data, wherein the reference data comprise one or more combinations of division of the total intensity received in a main band, into a plurality of separate secondary bands of wavelengths, which are included in the main band.

The present invention refers to a capsule (1) adapted for containing a nutritional substance in sealed and hygienic manner relative to oxygen and eventual pathogens, and to be used in a product preparation apparatus, where it can be impinged at an upstream location by an operating fluid so that this can flow inside and mix with the edible substance and the resulting product can be discharged through a downstream location, whereby said capsule (1) presents a lid part (2) and a container part (3) and further presents flow distribution means (21) adapted so that provide enhanced flow path distribution pattern and flow velocity profiles upstream of the edible substance.

The invention relates to a capsule (100) for preparing a beverage in a beverage production machine. The capsule (100) comprises a capsule body (200) with a sidewall (210) delimiting a chamber (250) for containing a substance (500) for the preparation of the beverage and an injection wall (220) for injecting a fluid in the chamber (250) for preparing the beverage upon interaction of the fluid with the substance (500). The capsule (100) further comprises a delivery wall (300) that is connected to the capsule body (200) to close the chamber (250). The delivery wall (300) comprises, in a layered manner, a retention layer (320) for being opened upon interaction with opening elements under the effect of rising pressure of fluid being injected into the capsule (100) and a filter layer (310) for filtering out particles from the prepared beverage. Each of the filter layer (310) and the retention layer (320) is made of biodegradable material. The filter layer (310) is provided opposite to the chamber (250) with respect to the retention layer (320). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the capsule (100) and use of the capsule (100) for preparing a beverage.

A system for mixing and dispensing a beverage is provided including a disposable pod containing a solute therein, inflow puncturing cap defining a plurality of spikes extending therefrom, an outflow puncturing cap defining a plurality of puncturing spikes extending therefrom and a translation mechanism for receiving the pod, translating the inflow puncturing cap towards the pod to puncture the pod upper surface and seat the pod proximate the outflow cap spikes. Heated, pressurized solvent fluid is injected into the pod, wherein the solvent and solute mix, causing the pod lower surface to expand against, and be punctured by the outflow puncturing cap spikes. The pod material, and pod thickness may be selected to allow puncture of the pod lower surface after a preferred brewing period has occurred.

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.

The invention relates to a single-serve capsule comprising at least two compartments, including a first compartment and a second compartment; wherein the first compartment comprises a liquid concentrate of an alcohol-free beer, said liquid beer concentrate having an ethanol content of 0-1% ABV, wherein the second compartment comprises an alcoholic liquid containing 12-100 wt. % ethanol and 0-88 wt. % water, and wherein ethanol and water together constitute 80-100 wt. % of the alcoholic liquid

The capsule of the present invention can suitably be used to prepare a good quality alcoholic beer by mixing the contents of the capsule with carbonated water.

The liquid beer concentrate in the first compartment can suitably be produced by reducing the water content of alcohol-free beer by means of membrane separation and/or by means of freeze concentration. The physicochemical stability of the liquid beer concentrate so obtained is very high due to the very low (or zero) ethanol content.

The present invention relates to a capsule comprising at least two compartments, including a first compartment and a second compartment; wherein the first compartment comprises 5-30 mL of an aqueous liquid having an ethanol content of 0-10% ABV and comprising 0.1-25wt. % of protein; and wherein the second compartment comprises 5-50 mL of an alcoholic liquid containing 20-99.9 wt. % ethanol, 0-60 wt. % water, and 50-2,000 mg/kg of hop acids acids selected from iso-alpha acids, hydrogenated iso-alpha acids, hulupones and combinations thereof, and wherein ethanol and water together constitute at least 80 wt. % of the alcoholic liquid.

The capsule can suitably be used to prepare a hopped alcoholic beverage with a foam head, similar to ordinary beer. To prepare such a beverage, the contents of the capsule are combined with carbonated water and dispensed into a e.g. a drinking glass.

A single-dose capsule for machines for dispensing beverages in the form of an infusion is provided. The capsule has a cup-shaped body adapted to receive a dose of a product in a granular or particle form, or in the form of a concentrated liquid, and a gas-impermeable film restrained to the open top of the cup-shaped body. The cup-shaped body is made of a multilayer material manufactured by way of a co-injection molding process. The multilayer has an inner layer and an outer layer made of a structural material and an intermediate layer made of a barrier material adapted to prevent passage of oxygen from the external environment to the inside of the cup-shaped body. The invention also relates to a packaging method of the single-dose capsules.

Systems, methods and containers for forming a beverage. A beverage container includes an enclosure arranged with a movable element that is movable to pierce a membrane and permit beverage material in the container to exit. The movable element can also be moveable to permit pressurized gas entry into the container and through the membrane. Gas can be introduced into the container to force beverage material to exit the container. A gas inlet port can be provided with the enclosure and arranged to mate with a gas source of a beverage machine.