Abstract: A soluble, dairy additive designed specifically for use in vending machines that produce beverages includes or consists of agglomerated dry milk powder. The agglomerated dry milk powder consists of dairy ingredients only (e.g., dried milk) and has a scorched particle mass not greater than fifteen milligrams and a particle bulk density in the range of 0.25 g/cc to 0.34 g/cc. The powder may be combined with coffee and/or other ingredients, either prior to being placed in a vending machine or upon demand within a vending machine, to vend a consumable beverage from the vending machine. Accordingly, the agglomerated dry milk powder may be pre-mixed with one or more independent flavoring ingredients, such as coffee, sugar, or cocoa powder, to provide a mixture formulated specifically for use in the vending machine.
Abstract: A device (e.g., a vending machine) and method for preparing a consumable beverage include mixing an agglomerated natural milk powder having a scorched particle mass not greater than fifteen milligrams with hot water to produce the consumable beverage. The hot water and milk powder may be mixed prior to or during their placement of the beverage in a beverage cup, such as part of operation of a vending machine. Alternatively, the hot water and milk powder may be mixed with one or more additional ingredients, such as coffee, tea, cocoa powder, and/or sugar, to produce the beverage. Further, the hot water and milk powder may be whipped together or with an additional ingredient to produce a foaming beverage, such as cappuccino.