Abstract: A cartridge for use in a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate ingredient.

Abstract: A low pressure beverage preparation system for automatically preparing a range of beverage types from a range of beverage cartridges, the system comprising: a beverage preparation machine; and a plurality of beverage cartridges, each beverage cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients associated with a specific beverage type, wherein the beverage preparation system comprises: a. means for receiving one of said plurality of beverage cartridges in said beverage preparation machine and means for supplying, in use, to said beverage cartridge an aqueous medium at a pressure of less than 2 bar to produce a beverage from the one or more beverage ingredients contained therein; b. a reader in said beverage preparation machine for automatically interpreting a code written on said beverage cartridge; c. processing means for creating a specific brewing cycle based on said code; d.

Abstract: A method of preparing a beverage with the steps of: a) inserting a first beverage cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients into a beverage preparation machine; b) operating said beverage preparation machine to pass an aqueous medium through the first beverage cartridge to dispense a first portion of said beverage into a receptacle; c) inserting a second beverage cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients into the beverage preparation machine; and d) operating the beverage preparation machine to pass an aqueous medium through the second beverage cartridge to dispense a second portion of said beverage into the receptacle; wherein one of the first or second beverage cartridges contains a liquid dairy-based ingredient.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cartridge for dispensation of a beverage comprising the steps of: a. manufacturing a plurality of outer members comprising at least a first type of outer member and a second type of outer member having differing shape or configurations; b. manufacturing a plurality of inner members comprising at least a first type of inner member and a second type of inner member having differing shape or configurations; c. storing said plurality of outer members and said inner members; d. selecting one of the first type of outer member or the second type of outer member from the plurality of outer members; e. selecting one of the first type of inner member or the second type of inner member from the plurality of inner members; f. conjoining the selected inner member to the selected outer member; g. filling the outer member with one or more beverage ingredients; and h. sealing the outer member with a lid to form the cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an outer member defining a storage chamber in which is stored the one or more beverage ingredients and an inner member having a discharge spout forming an outlet for outflow of beverage formed from the one or more beverage ingredients, characterised in that the inner member forms a load-bearing member.

Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, said cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, and an outlet for a beverage produced from said one or more beverage ingredients, wherein said cartridge comprises an outer member, an inner member inserted in the outer member and means for producing a jet of the beverage, wherein said means for producing the jet of the beverage comprises an aperture in a beverage flow path linking the inlet to the outlet, characterized in that the aperture is delimited by an interface between the inner member and the outer member.

Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, said cartridge comprising a storage chamber containing the one or more beverage ingredients, characterised in that the aspect ratio of the vertical height of the storage chamber to the breadth of the storage chamber is between 0.10 and 0.43.

Abstract: A cartridge (containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge defining a storage chamber containing the one or more beverage ingredients and a manifold chamber, the cartridge comprising an opening through which the one or more beverage ingredients can be filled into the storage chamber, the opening being closed by a lid having a first portion overlying the manifold chamber and a second portion overlying the storage chamber, wherein the first portion of the lid is pierceable in use to accommodate an inflow of an aqueous medium into the manifold chamber and the lid is pierceable in use to accommodate an outflow of beverage formed from interaction of the aqueous medium and the one or more beverage ingredients in the storage chamber.

Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more liquid beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, a compartment containing the one or more liquid beverage ingredients and an outlet for a beverage produced by dilution of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients by the aqueous medium, characterised in that the compartment includes means for controlling dilution of at least a proportion of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients on introduction of the aqueous medium into the compartment.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine for preparing a beverage from a cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients comprising a first piercing element for forming an inlet, in use, in a cartridge received in the beverage preparation machine and a second piercing element for forming an outlet, in use, in said cartridge, characterised in that the first and second piercing elements are formed as a single removable unit.

Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials. The cartridge comprises an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, and an outlet for a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients. The cartridge comprises means for producing a jet of the beverage having an aperture in a beverage flow path linking the inlet to the outlet, and one or more microscopic projections at or in the vicinity of the aperture for contacting the beverage flow path.

Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an outer member defining a storage chamber in which is stored the one or more beverage ingredients, an inner member having a discharge spout forming an outlet for outflow of beverage formed from the one or more beverage ingredients, and a filter disposed between the storage chamber and the discharge spout, characterized in that the inner member and filter are conjoined in one operation to the outer member by means of at least one weld.

Abstract: A collaborative system and method are used to capture, organize, share and preserve life stories. Life stories can be expressed in first person or third person. In either case, the process of developing the life stories is carried out with collaboration with and contributions from other users. The collaboration among the users is desirable because it serves to encourage and prompt users to record their life stories and also increases the relevance of the recorded life stories, so that an online community of users containing highly relevant and meaningful content, that is also relatively permanent in nature, about the users can be created.

Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge and an outlet for discharge of a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the cartridge comprises an outer member and an inner member conjoined on assembly with the outer member, characterized by the inner member comprising a discharge spout defining the outlet of the cartridge.

Abstract: Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) support the collaborative generation of life stories by helping the user view the development of the life stories of other users and facilitating interaction with them through these GUIs. A GUI according to a first type helps the user keep track of recent life stories and comments posted by other users of the collaborative system, and a GUI according to a second type helps the user view life stories of any user in a chronological manner.

Abstract: A computer system organizes text narratives and images about events using character tags, which are tags that are defined by users with respect to those persons that are depicted in the text narratives and images. Each character tag is associated with either a user profile or a pseudo-profile. A pseudo-profile for a person is created by a user when the user does not know if the person has a user profile in the computer system. An invitation e-mail that is sent to a prospective user may include content stored in the computer system, or a hyperlink to such content, that has been tagged with the character tag of the prospective user.

Abstract: Content that has been entered by a user for one purpose is used to generate new content for the user's life story collection. This facilitates the generation of relevant content in a life story collection system. In one example, a user enters a text narrative of a life story and that text narrative is used to generate one or more images that can be added to the life story. In another example, e-mail communication between two users is parsed and transformed into content that can be added to the life stories of the users. In still another example, a comment made by a user to life stories of another user is parsed and transformed into content that can be added to the life story of the user.

Abstract: A closure mechanism for a beverage preparation machine comprising a fixed lower part and an upper part rotatable relative to the lower part, the upper part being moveable from an open position, in which the upper part is disengaged from the lower part, and a closed position, in which the upper part is engaged with the lower part, the closure mechanism further comprising a clamping lever operable to retain the upper part in the closed position, wherein the clamping lever comprises a first member being pivotably connected at a first pivot to the upper part and a second member having a first end pivotable about a second pivot, an end of the first member and a second end of the second member being pivotably connected together at a third pivot such that the clamping lever has first and second positions of stability, wherein on operation of the clamping lever to move the upper part from the open position to the closed position the clamping lever moves from the first to the second position of stability.

Abstract: An insert for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a brew head suitable for receiving a rigid or semi-rigid cartridge. The brew head comprises an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head, a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine, and a closure mechanism moveable between open and closed configurations. The insert comprises a receptacle and sealing means, the receptacle having an opening through which, in use, a quantity of beverage ingredients may be loaded into the receptacle, a lower portion of the insert comprising an inlet and an outlet.

Abstract: An insert for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a brew head suitable for receiving a rigid or semi-rigid cartridge. The brew head comprises an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head and a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine, the insert comprises an upper part, a lower part and sealing means, the upper and lower parts being moveable between an open configuration in which a quantity of beverage ingredients may be loaded into the insert and a closed configuration in which the upper and lower parts are sealed together by the sealing means to define therebetween a brewing volume containing.