Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

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.

Pad including a covering filled with a soluble beverage preparation product. The covering comprises a flexible first sheet and a rigid shell which are connected to each other. The shell has at least one outlet opening. The pad is further equipped with a flexible second sheet that is positioned on a bottom of the shell located between the product and the shell. The first sheet and the second sheet each form a filter that allows an aqueous fluid, including water, and the beverage to pass and that forms a barrier for the product. The at least one outlet opening preferably has a diameter of a sufficient size for passing beverage substantially unrestricted.

A bottom fillable espresso cartridge base and apparatus and method for filling and plugging the bottom of the espresso cartridge base. The espresso cartridge base includes an open bottom and a press in bottom plug. The top of the espresso cartridge may be sealed by a foil lid or the like, or be open and an adhesive attachable lid may be included for attachment by a user. A first method utilizes a hand held multi-function tool including a cartridge holder with a holder lid to capture the espresso cartridge, and a bottom tamper and plug seating arm. A second method utilizes a stationary base residing on a flat surface, a cartridge holder to retain cartridges on the base, and individual tools to fill and tamp brewing material in the cartridge, and to attach the bottom plug to the cartridge.

The invention refers to a pack (10) for preparing food or beverage products comprising: at least one container (10′) having an inner volume where at least one base ingredient for the preparation of the food or beverage product is stored, said inner volume being defined by sheets of material joined to one another at their edges; a fitment assembly (20) through which the food or beverage product is delivered, and identification means (30) comprising the information on the food or beverage product to be prepared; wherein the identification means (30) are arranged at least on one side of the edges of the container with respect to the fitment assembly (20), the identification means (30) being further arranged in the vicinity of said fitment assembly (20).

A system for the preparation of a liquid product comprises 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. Further the system comprises a dispensing apparatus with a pressurized gas source, wherein the apparatus is adapted to bring said pressurized gas source in direct communication with the reservoir of the disposable cartridge so as to allow said liquid ingredient therein to be pressurized by said gas thereby assisting the dispensing thereof from the reservoir via said one or more dispensing passages. The system is adapted to create one or more openings in said portion of the sealing film that covers the reservoir. The dispensing apparatus further comprises a pressurization dome member having a peripheral gas seal adapted to sealingly engage the disposable cartridge around a location where said one or more openings are created in said sealing film and the pressurized gas source is connected to said dome member and is adapted to feed pressurized gas beneath said dome member within the contour of the peripheral gas seal sealingly engaging the disposable cartridge, so as to allow said liquid ingredient in said reservoir to be pressurized by said gas via the one or more openings in said sealing film, thereby assisting the dispensing of the liquid ingredient from the reservoir via said one or more dispensing passages.

A capsule (1) for preparation of a beverage from a beverage ingredient (32). The capsule comprising a first section (12, 14) and a second section (15, 40) which together form a beverage ingredient compartment of the capsule in which is received a beverage ingredient. The first section comprising a pre-formed inlet (23) for entry of aqueous medium into the capsule and the second section comprising a pre-formed outlet (41) for beverage formed, in use, from the beverage ingredient and the aqueous medium. Wherein the capsule is compressible when the capsule is inserted into the receptacle of a beverage preparation machine by the first section of the capsule being engaged by an inlet piercer (60) of the beverage preparation machine so as to cause movement of the first section of the capsule towards the second section of the capsule without piercing of the first or second sections.

The invention refers to a pack (10) for preparing food or beverage products comprising: at least one container (10′) having an inner volume where at least one base ingredient for the preparation of the food or beverage product is stored, said inner volume being defined by sheets of material joined to one another at their edges; a fitment assembly (20) through which the food or beverage product is delivered, and identification 10 means (30) comprising the information on the food or beverage product to be prepared; the identification means (30) being arranged in the fitment assembly (20), particularly in a free area of the fitment assembly (20) where they can be reliably read.

The present invention relates to a capsule for preparing a drink, for example coffee, including a hollow element (1) for containing a metered amount (2) of e.g. ground coffee, said hollow element including a side wall, an upper surface, and a lower surface with at least one membrane (4), said membrane being rupturable under the pressure of a liquid placed into the capsule to enable the flow of liquid through the metered amount, said capsule also including a cover (5) with at least one hole, said hole enabling the membrane (4) to rupture.

A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium and an outlet for the beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, the cartridge incorporating within a beverage flow path between the inlet and the outlet an eductor for entraining air into the beverage, the eductor comprising an aperture for producing a low pressure jet of the beverage.