APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF AERATED DRINKS

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for the preparation of aerated drinks, comprising: an aerator stage (20) comprising: a removable aerator bottle (30) defining a chamber (32) for receiving a liquid to be aerated; an aerator bottle interface (40) operative to engage the removable aerator bottle (30) and seal the chamber (32) thereof; a gas inlet line (60) operative to fluidly connect a gas source (50) to the aerator bottle interface (40); and a gas supply mechanism (70) for controlling supply of gas from the gas source (50) to the aerator bottle interface (40) via the gas inlet line (60); characterised by: an aerated liquid dispenser outlet (110); a liquid outlet line (120) operative to fluidly connect the aerator bottle interface (40) to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet (110) to allow aerated liquid to flow from the chamber (32) of the removable aerator bottle (30) to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet (110); and a liquid flow controller (130) for controlling discharge of aerated liquid from the removable aerator bottle (30) to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet (110) via the liquid outlet line (120).

Claims

1. Apparatus for the preparation of aerated drinks, comprising: an aerator stage comprising: a removable aerator bottle defining a chamber for receiving a liquid to be aerated; an aerator bottle interface operative to engage the removable aerator bottle and seal the chamber thereof; a gas inlet line operative to fluidly connect a gas source to the aerator bottle interface; and a gas supply mechanism for controlling supply of gas from the gas source to the aerator bottle interface via the gas inlet line; an aerated liquid dispenser outlet; a liquid outlet line operative to fluidly connect the aerator bottle interface to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet to allow aerated liquid to flow from the chamber of the removable aerator bottle to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet; and a liquid flow controller for controlling discharge of aerated liquid from the removable aerator bottle to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet via the liquid outlet line.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer aerated liquid from the removable aerator bottle to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet using gas pressure in the sealed chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid flow controller comprises a valve and a flow regulator operative to maintain a substantially constant flow rate of aerated liquid from the liquid dispenser outlet as aerated liquid is discharged from the removable aerator bottle to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid outlet line comprises a dip tube having an opening for receiving aerated liquid positioned at a lower part of the chamber when the removable aerator bottle is engaged by the aerator bottle interface.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a flavoring liquid dispenser comprising a flavoring liquid dispenser outlet.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flavoring liquid dispenser outlet is positioned adjacent the aerated liquid dispenser outlet.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flavoring liquid dispenser outlet and aerated liquid dispenser outlet are configured to perform in-air mixing outside of the apparatus.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flavoring liquid dispenser comprises a flavor dispenser mechanism that is activated by gas pressure from the aerator stage.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the flavor dispenser mechanism is activated by gas pressure from the removable aerator bottle.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises a gas outlet line for supplying gas from the aerator stage to the flavoring liquid dispenser.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the gas outlet line is operative to supply gas from the removable aerator bottle to the flavoring liquid dispenser and includes a gas outlet provided in the aerator bottle interface.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus further comprises a gas outlet valve for controlling discharge of gas from the aerator stage to the flavor dispenser mechanism via the gas outlet line.

13. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the flavoring liquid dispenser is configured to dispense flavoring liquid from a flavor capsule received in the flavoring liquid dispenser.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the flavor dispenser mechanism is operative to perform one or more of the following functions: open a flavor capsule received in the flavoring liquid dispenser; drive the flavoring liquid out from the opened flavor capsule towards the flavoring dispenser outlet.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the flavor dispenser mechanism comprises a capsule opening mechanism operative to apply a dispensing force to a flavor capsule received in the flavoring liquid dispenser.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the capsule opening mechanism is driven by gas pressure from the aerator stage.

17. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: the apparatus further comprises a electronic controller operative to control operation of the gas supply mechanism; and the flavor capsule comprises a machine-readable identifier; wherein the apparatus is operative to read the machine-readable identifier and electronic controller is operative to select a degree of aeration required based on the machine-readable identifier.

18. A method of preparing an aerated liquid using an aerator device, the method comprising: filling a chamber of a removable aerator bottle with liquid; attaching the removable aerator bottle to an aerator bottle interface of the aerator device and sealing the chamber; aerating the liquid in the chamber of the removable aerator bottle by transferring pressurized gas to the chamber; and subsequently transferring aerated liquid from the chamber of the removable aerator bottle to a receptacle via an aerated liquid dispenser outlet connected to the aerator bottle interface by a liquid outlet line.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the step of transferring aerated liquid from the chamber of the removable aerator bottle to the receptacle is achieved substantially using gas pressure developed in a head of the chamber during the aeration step to discharge aerated liquid from the chamber of the removable aerator bottle.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises dispensing a flavoring liquid from a flavoring liquid dispenser into the receptacle.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the flavoring liquid dispenser has a flavoring liquid dispenser outlet positioned adjacent the aerated liquid dispenser outlet.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises substantially simultaneously dispensing flavoring liquid and aerated liquid into the receptacle to achieve in-air mixing of the flavoring liquid and aerated liquid.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the step dispensing a flavoring liquid from the flavoring liquid dispenser comprises supplying pressurized gas from the aerator device to the flavoring liquid dispenser.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of dispensing a flavoring liquid from the flavoring liquid dispenser comprises inserting a flavor capsule into the flavoring liquid dispenser and the pressurized gas supplied to the flavoring liquid dispenser drives a capsule opening mechanism to apply a dispensing force to the flavor capsule received in the flavoring liquid dispenser.

25. A flavor capsule for an aerator device comprising: a sealed collapsible container for containing a flavoring fluid to be dispensed; a cap mounted on a leading end of the collapsible container, the cap defining an outlet for dispensing the flavoring fluid; and at least one piercing element; wherein, in use, relative movement between the collapsible container and the cap causes the at least one piercing element to rupture the collapsible container, whereby the flavoring fluid is permitted to flow from the collapsible bag to the outlet.

26. A flavor capsule according to claim 25, wherein the at least one piercing element is provided on the cap.

27. A flavor capsule according to claim 25, wherein the leading end of the collapsible container comprises a burstable membrane portion facing the at least one piercing element.

28. A flavor capsule according to claim 25, wherein the leading end of the collapsible container is received by the cap.

29. A flavor capsule according to claim 28, wherein the leading end of the collapsible container is slidably received in the cap.

30. A capsule comprising: a container defining a chamber for containing a fluid to be dispensed; and a plunger sealing the chamber of the container, the plunger being movable relative to the container between a first position and a second position; wherein the container and the plunger have interengageable parts comprising a frangible seal portion and a puncturing element, the frangible seal portion being configured to form, when punctured by the puncturing element, at least one aperture in the container for dispensing the fluid from the chamber; wherein, in use, relative movement of the plunger relative to the container from the first position to the second position causes the puncturing element to puncture the frangible seal portion to form the at least one aperture.

31. A capsule according to claim 30, wherein movement of the plunger relative to the container from the first position to the second position occurs in an advancement direction and the plunger is further movable in the advancement direction between the second position and a third position relative to the container, wherein movement of the plunger relative to the container from the second position to the third position reduces the volume of the chamber bounded by the container and the plunger, and urges the fluid to flow out of the chamber and through the at least one aperture.

32. A capsule according to claim 30, wherein the puncturing element is provided on the plunger and the frangible seal portion is provided on the container.

33. A capsule according to claim 30, wherein the puncturing element comprises: a leading aperture forming part; and a trailing aperture engaging part.

34. A capsule according to claim 33, wherein the trailing aperture engaging part of the puncturing element and the frangible seal portion comprise first and second cross-sectional forms configured such that, when the trailing aperture engaging part is engaged in the aperture formed by the leading aperture forming part rupturing the frangible seal portion, the first and second cross-sectional forms combine to create at least one flow gap around the trailing aperture engaging part.

35. A capsule according to claim 34, wherein the first and second cross-sectional forms combine to create a predetermined configuration of n flow gaps around the trailing aperture engaging part that together form an outlet for the fluid to flow through.

36. A capsule according to claim 35, wherein the first cross-sectional form is a substantially circular form and the second cross-sectional form is an n-sided polygonal form.

37. A capsule according to claim 30, wherein the frangible seal portion defines a displaceable flap profile comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced lines of weakness extending radially from a central axis and dividing the frangible seal portion into a plurality of displaceable flap portions.

38. A capsule according to claim 37, wherein the displaceable flap profile is an n-sided polygonal displaceable flap profile comprising a plurality of n lines of weakness extending from the central axis and together define a plurality of n displaceable flaps, wherein n≥3.

39. A capsule according to claim 31, wherein the capsule further comprises an outlet nozzle provided downstream of the frangible seal portion and operative to receive fluid from the at least one aperture.

40. A capsule according to claim 39, wherein in the third position, a leading part of the puncturing element extends substantially along a full length of the outlet nozzle to create a central fluid guide element.

41. A capsule according to claim 40, wherein in the third position the leading part of the puncturing element protrudes beyond an outlet opening of the outlet nozzle.

Description

[0108] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0109] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an aerator device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0110] FIG. 2 is a schematic system view of the aerator device of FIG. 1;

[0111] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of part of the aerator device of FIG. 1;

[0112] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a flavouring capsule in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention for use in the aerator device of FIG. 1;

[0113] FIGS. 5A-5C are a schematic cross-sectional views of the flavouring capsule of FIG. 4 illustrating its operation;

[0114] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a flavouring capsule in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention for use in the aerator device of FIG. 1;

[0115] FIGS. 7A-5C are a schematic cross-sectional views of the flavouring capsule of FIG. 6 illustrating its operation;

[0116] FIG. 8A is an exploded perspective view of the flavouring capsule of FIG. 6;

[0117] FIG. 8B is an exploded side view of the flavouring capsule of FIG. 6;

[0118] FIGS. 9A-9F are schematic perspective views of the flavouring capsule of FIG. 6 illustrating its operation;

[0119] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of the flavouring capsule of FIG. 6 showing details of the pierceable base portion; and

[0120] FIGS. 11A-11D are schematic detailed views of the pierceable base portion of the flavouring capsule of FIG. 6 illustrating its operation.

[0121] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a portable domestic aerator device 10 for preparing aerated drinks, comprising a housing 12 and an aerator stage 20 comprising: a removable 450 ml aerator bottle 30 defining a chamber 32 for receiving a liquid (typically water) to be aerated; an aerator bottle interface 40 operative to engage the removable aerator bottle 30 and seal chamber 32; a replaceable gas cylinder 50 containing pressurised CO.sub.2 gas; a gas inlet line 60 operative to fluidly connect gas cylinder 50 to aerator bottle interface 40; and a gas supply mechanism 70 for controlling supply of gas from gas cylinder 50 to the aerator bottle interface 40 via gas inlet line 60.

[0122] Removable aerator bottle 30 comprises a base 34 and a tapered open top 36. Aerator bottle interface 40 is pivotable to enable attachment and removal of the removable aerator bottle 30 along an axis inclined to vertical and is configured to seal the open top 36 of the removable aerator bottle 30 when the aerator bottle 30 is fully engaged. Aerator bottle interface 40 comprises a gas inlet tube 62 forming part of the gas inlet line 60, the gas inlet tube 62 being configured to extend inside the chamber 32 of the removable aerator bottle 30 when the removable aerator bottle 30 is engaged by the aerator bottle interface 40 and having a gas inlet nozzle 62A for ejecting pressurised gas into liquid contained in chamber 32.

[0123] As shown in FIG. 3, gas supply mechanism 70 comprises a valve 72 operative to selectively permit gas to flow from gas cylinder 50 and a pivotable valve actuation member 74 driven by a solenoid 76.

[0124] In addition to aerator stage 20, aerator device 10 further includes an electronic controller 80 and two optionally activatable stages: an aerated liquid dispenser stage 100; and a flavour dispenser stage 200.

[0125] Aerated liquid dispenser stage 100 comprises an aerated liquid dispenser outlet 110 for dispensing aerated liquid into a drinking vessel 150; a liquid outlet line 120 operative to fluidly connect aerator bottle interface 40 to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet 110 to allow aerated liquid to flow from chamber 32 of removable aerator bottle 30 to aerated liquid dispenser outlet 110; and a liquid flow controller 130 for controlling discharge of aerated liquid from removable aerator bottle 30 to aerated liquid dispenser outlet 110 via liquid outlet line 120. Liquid flow controller 130 comprises a liquid flow solenoid valve 132 and a flow regulator 134.

[0126] Liquid outlet line 120 comprises a dip tube 122 supported by aerator bottle interface 40 having an opening 122A for receiving aerated liquid positioned at a lowermost part of chamber 32 when removable aerator bottle 30 is engaged by aerator bottle interface 40.

[0127] Flavour dispenser stage 200 comprises: a flavouring liquid dispenser 210 comprising a flavouring liquid dispenser outlet 212 and a flavour dispenser mechanism 214; a gas outlet line 220 operative to supply gas from the headspace of the removable aerator bottle 30 to flavouring liquid dispenser 210, the gas outlet line 220 including a gas outlet 222 provided in the aerator bottle interface 40; a gas outlet solenoid valve 230 for controlling discharge of gas from the removable aerator bottle 30 to the flavour dispenser mechanism 214 via the gas outlet line 220; and a pressure control stage 240 fluidly coupled to gas outlet line 220 between gas outlet 222 and gas outlet solenoid valve 230.

[0128] Flavouring liquid dispenser outlet 212 is positioned adjacent aerated liquid dispenser outlet 110 to allow both flavouring liquid and aerated liquid to be dispensed simultaneously into drinking vessel 150, with flavouring liquid dispenser outlet 212 and aerated liquid dispenser outlet 110 being positioned to perform in-air mixing of the flavouring liquid and aerated liquid within drinking vessel 150. In this way, the need to clean flavouring liquid from the apparatus after dispensing the flavouring liquid is minimised.

[0129] Flavour dispenser mechanism 214 comprises a flavour capsule receptacle 216 for receiving a single-use flavour capsule 300 and a pressure-driven piston 218. Piston 218 is activated via gas outlet line 220 by gas pressure from gas pressure developed in the head of chamber 32 of the removable aeration bottle 30 during the aeration process and acts as a syrup pump.

[0130] As illustrated in FIG. 4, flavour capsule 300 comprises: a sealed collapsible container 310 containing a flavouring syrup 320; and a cap 330 defining a container receiving portion 332 for slidably receiving a leading end 312 of the collapsible container 310, and a base portion 334 defining a central outlet 336 for dispensing the flavouring syrup 320 and at least one piercing element 338 extending from the base portion 334 and extending circumferentially around the central outlet 336.

[0131] Collapsible container 310 comprises a flexible pouch part 314 defining a chamber 316 for receiving flavouring syrup 320 and a burstable membrane portion 318 sealing an opening to the chamber, the burstable membrane portion 318 being located at the leading end 312 of the collapsible container.

[0132] The at least one piercing element 338 may comprises a plurality of elements circumferentially spaced around central outlet 336 or a substantially annular cutting edge substantially enclosing central outlet 336.

[0133] Pressure control stage 240 comprises an exhaust solenoid valve 242 operable to release gas pressure in the chamber 32 to atmosphere, a pressure switch 244 and safety features in the form of a graphite bursting disc 246 and a mechanical pressure-release valve 248.

[0134] Electronic controller 80 is responsive to a user input to control operation of each of: gas supply mechanism solenoid 76; liquid flow solenoid valve 132; gas outlet valve solenoid 230; and exhaust solenoid valve 242. Pressure switch 244 is used to monitor pressure in chamber 32 and instruct the system to shut off gas supply mechanism solenoid 76 when an appropriate carbonisation pressure is reached in the chamber.

[0135] In use, aerated liquid may be dispensed from aerator device 10 in two distinct ways: the user may either detach the removable aerator bottle 30 from aerator bottle interface 40 and dispense the aerated liquid from the removable aerator bottle 30 (e.g. if no flavouring is to be added or if flavouring from a bottle of flavouring liquid is desired) or they may maintain the sealed connection of the removable aerator bottle 30 to the aerator bottle interface 40 and activate controller to dispense the aerated liquid from the aerated liquid dispenser outlet 80 either with or without flavouring.

[0136] If dispensing from the aerated liquid dispenser outlet is selected, electronic controller 80 opens liquid flow solenoid valve 132 to allow transfer of aerated liquid from removable aerator bottle 30 to aerated liquid dispenser outlet 80 via liquid outlet line 120 using gas pressure developed in the head of the sealed chamber 32 during the aeration process. Flow regular 104 maintains a substantially constant volumetric flow of aerated liquid from liquid dispenser outlet 80 as aerated liquid is discharged from removable aerator bottle 30 to the aerated liquid dispenser outlet 80. The discharge of aerated liquid from chamber 32 will continue until there is insufficient head pressure to continue. With a headspace pressure typically in the range of 6 to 10 bar there should be more than sufficient pressure in the headspace to substantially empty removable aerator bottle 30.

[0137] If flavouring is selected, electronic controller 80 additionally opens gas outlet solenoid valve in parallel to liquid flow solenoid valve 132 to allow transfer of pressurised gas from the headspace of chamber 32 of removable aerator bottle 30 to flavour dispenser mechanism 214 via gas outlet line 220. The pressurised gas causes drives piston 218 of flavour dispenser mechanism 214 to towards the installed flavour capsule 300 urging leading end 312 of collapsible container 310 towards base portion 334 of cap 330 and thereby causing the at least one piercing element 338 to rupture the burstable membrane portion 318 of collapsible container 310 to allow the flavouring syrup 320 to flow from the collapsible bag 310 to central outlet 336 (FIGS. 5A and 5B). Once the burstable membrane portion 318 is ruptured, gas pressure continues to drive piston 218 forward to substantially collapse collapsible container 310 and thereby drive substantially all of the flavouring syrup 320 from the flavour capsule 300 and out of flavouring liquid dispenser outlet 212 (FIG. 5C). In this way a metered dose (precise measurement of syrup to aerated liquid) may be added with flavour dispenser mechanism 214 being operated using gas pressure that would be discarded in a conventional domestic carbonator device.

[0138] FIGS. 6-11 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a flavour capsule 400 for use in aerator device 10.

[0139] Flavour capsule 400 comprises a two-part construction including a substantially rigid container 410 defining a chamber 420 containing a flavouring syrup 430; and a plunger 440 slidably mounted within and sealing the chamber 420 of the container. Container 410 comprises a proximal end 410A at which an opening 422 to chamber 420 is located and a distal end 410B forming a base 412 with a cylindrical outlet nozzle 414. An air space 426 is provided in the chamber above the flavouring syrup 430 to permit movement of plunger from the first position to the second position substantially without requiring any compression of the flavouring syrup.

[0140] As illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B and 10, container 410 and plunger 440 have interengageable parts comprising a central frangible seal portion 450 provided on the base 412 of container 410 immediately above outlet nozzle 414 and a central puncturing element 460 provided on plunger 440. The frangible seal portion 450 is configured to form, when ruptured by the puncturing element 460, a central aperture 470 for dispensing the flavouring syrup.

[0141] As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, chamber 420 comprises a tapered peripheral chamber wall 424 extending between the base 412 of container 410 and opening 422, peripheral chamber wall 424 having cross-sectional area that decreases with increased distance from opening 422.

[0142] Plunger 440 comprises a head portion 442 comprising an upper surface 441 configured to be engaged by piston 218 and a peripheral sealing surface 444 configured to seal against an inner peripheral surface 424A of peripheral chamber wall 424, the peripheral sealing surface 444 comprising at least one sealing ring 446. In view of the taper, the head portion 442 is configured to seal against the inner peripheral surface 424A of the peripheral chamber wall 424 by virtue of deformation of the peripheral chamber wall 424.

[0143] As illustrated, the base 412 of container 410 has an inner face 412A with a sloped profile operative to direct flavouring syrup 430 towards the frangible seal portion 450 and the head portion 442 of plunger 440 has a trailing inner face 442A with a corresponding sloped profile whereby in the third position the trailing inner face 442A of the head portion 442 substantially engages the inner face 442A of the base 412 of the container 410.

[0144] Puncturing element 460 comprises: a trailing aperture engaging shaft 462 extending from head portion 442 of plunger 440, through flavouring syrup 430 and towards the frangible seal portion 450; and a leading aperture forming spike 464.

[0145] As illustrated, leading aperture forming spike 464 has a circular cross-section of gradually increasing diameter.

[0146] In accordance with a feature of the present invention, trailing aperture engaging shaft 462 has a first cross-sectional form of cross-sectional area A.sub.1 and frangible seal portion 450 comprises a second cross-sectional form of cross-sectional area A.sub.2 (wherein A.sub.1<A.sub.2) configured to combine with the first cross-sectional form of the trailing aperture engaging shaft 462 in order to create a predetermined flow gap configuration.

[0147] In the illustrated example, the first cross-sectional form is a constant diameter circular cross-sectional form and the second cross-sectional form is an n-sided (in this example, hexagonal) outer polygonal form. In this way, the first and second cross-sectional forms combine to create a predetermined configuration of n substantially equally circumferentially spaced flow gaps 472 around the trailing aperture engaging shaft 462 when it is fully engaged in the formed aperture 470, one flow gap at each apex of the n-sided polygon. This controls the flow of the fluid out of the chamber 420. An alternative design could incorporate a polygonal cross-section shaft engaging circular hole or variations of both. In an alternative design, the frangible surface may not be a polygon but could be any shape that combines with the shape of the trailing aperture engaging shaft to form a suitable flow gap (e.g. plurality of flow gaps).

[0148] With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11A-D, frangible seal portion 450 defines a displaceable flap profile 452 comprising a plurality of n substantially equal length and equally circumferentially spaced lines of weakness 453 each formed by a rupturable thin wall section of plastics material and extending radially from the central axis “A” to an end region 453A. The n lines of weakness 453 divide the frangible seal portion 450 into a plurality of n circumferentially spaced radially extending displaceable triangular flap portions 454 each formed by a bendable thin wall section of plastics material and separated by the lines of weakness 453. In an alternative design, the displaceable flap profile may be an additional component or a two-shot moulding incorporating two different materials.

[0149] Each of the plurality of n displaceable triangular flaps 454 has reinforced edges 454A extending along the lines of weakness 453 to encourage the flaps to maintain their shape as the lines of weakness are broken by the puncturing action of the puncturing element 460 and a reinforced hinge edge 454B formed by a reinforced region of material 455 adjacent each hinge edge.

[0150] When ruptured by the leading aperture forming spike 464 (FIGS. 11A-11D), displaceable triangular flap portions 454 will fold outwards creating triangular petals and six small flow gaps 472.

[0151] In use, during an initial puncturing step plunger 440 is movable relative to the container 410 (e.g. by drive piston 218 actuated by CO.sub.2 pressure driving against upper surface 441) from a first position (FIG. 7A) to a second position (FIG. 7B), wherein movement of the plunger 440 relative to the container 410 from the first position to the second position causes puncturing element 460 to puncture the frangible seal portion 450 to form an aperture 470 for dispensing flavouring syrup 430 from chamber 420.

[0152] Once the frangible seal portion 450 is punctured, plunger 460 is further movable relative to the container 410 during a discharging step to a third position (FIG. 7C), wherein movement of the plunger 460 relative to the container 410 from the second position to the third position urges the flavouring syrup 430 to flow out of the chamber 420 and through the aperture 470.

[0153] In the third position, puncturing element 460 extends substantially along a full length of the outlet nozzle 414 to create a central flavouring flow guide element. As illustrated, the leading part of the puncturing element (e.g. spike 464 of the puncturing element and a leading part of the trailing aperture engaging part 462) protrudes beyond an outlet opening 414A of the outlet nozzle 414.

[0154] Both parts 410 and 440 of flavour capsule 400 (and relevant parts of the aerator device 10) may designed to be made from a range of thermoplastic polymers as well as bio-materials, bio-degradable and compostable materials.

[0155] The flavouring syrup flow down the side of puncturing element 460 and returns to one stream of fluid as it leaves the tip.

[0156] In an alternative design, the spike may not return the individual jet to one stream such that multiple jets of fluid are generated.

[0157] Once the frangible seal portion 450 is ruptured, gas pressure continues to drive piston 218 forward to drive substantially all of the flavouring syrup 430 from the flavour capsule 400 and out of outlet nozzle 414.

[0158] In one embodiment, flavour capsules 300, 400 may comprise a barcode and the electronic controller is operative to select a degree of aeration required based on the barcode (e.g. using a barcode reader module) to provide an even more enhanced dosage of flavouring.

[0159] As will be appreciated, portable domestic aerator device 10 provides significant enhancements and flexibility over a conventional domestic carbonator device whilst being substantially powered by gas pressure available in the headspace of a conventional domestic carbonator device. In this way, the enhancement and increased flexibility are provided with minimal additional complexity and cost the aerator device.