Abstract: An apparatus (20) for dispensing an additive into a liquid in a container comprises a support structure (22) and a container holder (28), supported by the support structure (22), for holding a container (21) containing a liquid. The apparatus (20) also includes a capsule holder (38) for holding a capsule (40) containing an additive, for example a liquid, semi-liquid or powder, and a manipulator device (41) which is operable to manipulate the capsule (40), for example by crushing it, to thereby dispense the additive into the liquid in the container (21).

Abstract: A method for producing a beverage, for example cold-brewed tea or cold-brewed coffee, comprises exposing flavour materials (23), for example tea leaves or ground coffee beans, to hot water or steam to steep the flavour materials (23), circulating a mixture of the steeped flavour materials (23) and cold water in a brewing chamber (16), and dispensing the mixture through a filter device (18) to provide the beverage.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a capsule (1) for delivering flavouring to a beverage, the capsule (1) defining a closed internal volume (20) containing a flavouring for a beverage, the capsule comprising at least two frangible regions (30, 40), and a piercing member (50) housed within the internal volume (20), the piercing member (50) adapted to pierce at least one of said frangible regions (30, 40) of the capsule (1).

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for dispensing an additive into a liquid in a container comprises a support structure (22) and a container holder (28), supported by the support structure (22), for holding a container (21) containing a liquid. The apparatus (20) also includes a capsule holder (38) for holding a capsule (40) containing an additive, for example a liquid, semi-liquid or powder, and a manipulator device (41) which is operable to manipulate the capsule (40), for example by crushing it, to thereby dispense the additive into the liquid in the container (21).

Abstract: A product transport mechanism is provided for a vending machine which has a product storage area, comprising a plurality of vertically spaced product storage locations, and a product collection area. The product transport mechanism comprises a plurality of vertically arranged product transport carriages. Each product transport carriage is movable in the same vertical plane between: a first position in which it is arranged to receive a product dispensed from a predetermined one of the vertically spaced product storage locations; and a second position below the first position in which the product transport carriage is located in the product collection area to enable collection of the vended product. Each product transport carriage is arranged to nest with the product transport carriage immediately below it so that more than one of the product transport carriages can simultaneously adopt the second position in the product collection area.

Abstract: A container 100 containing material 140 such as hops for flavouring a beverage is disclosed, the container 100 being formed from liquid impermeable material and comprising an inlet 110 for receiving beverage to be flavoured, an outlet 120 for dispensing flavoured beverage and a compartment 130 within the container, configured to allow liquid to pass between the inside of the container and the inside of the compartment 130, the compartment 130 containing and retaining material, further comprising means configured to allow compression of the material in the compartment. Also disclosed is a dispenser 500 for dispensing a beverage flavoured from the container 100 and methods of extracting flavour from hops and of flavouring beverages.

Abstract: A product transport mechanism is provided for a vending machine which has a product storage area, comprising a plurality of vertically spaced product storage locations, and a product collection area. The product transport mechanism comprises a plurality of vertically arranged product transport carriages. Each product transport carriage is movable in the same vertical plane between: a first position in which it is arranged to receive a product dispensed from a predetermined one of the vertically spaced product storage locations; and a second position below the first position in which the product transport carriage is located in the product collection area to enable collection of the vended product. Each product transport carriage is arranged to nest with the product transport carriage immediately below it so that more than one of the product transport carriages can simultaneously adopt the second position in the product collection area.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a capsule (1) for delivering flavouring to a beverage, the capsule (1) defining a closed internal volume (20) containing a flavouring for a beverage, the capsule comprising at least two frangible regions (30, 40), and a piercing member (50) housed within the internal volume (20), the piercing member (50) adapted to pierce at least one of said frangible regions (30, 40) of the capsule (1).