Abstract: The invention provides a beverage machine insertable container comprising pieces of compacted beverage ingredient powder or granules.

Abstract: The invention provides a powder dispenser comprising a tube of circular cross-section; an auger extending axially through the tube; and a disc-shaped distributor extending laterally to the axis of the tube and partially closing the tube, wherein the disc-shaped distributor comprises a central ring and arms extending radially therefrom, characterised in that, the central ring has a radius of between 55%-90% of the internal radius of the tube; at least one of the arms extends to no more than 1 mm from the internal wall of the tube; and wherein there is a distance defined by a circular arc concentric with the tube between each arm at a distance of 1 mm from the tube wall of between 30%-65% of the internal radius of the tube.

Abstract: The invention provides a powder dispenser comprising a tube of circular cross-section; an auger extending axially through the tube; and a disc-shaped distributor extending laterally to the axis of the tube and partially closing the tube, wherein the disc-shaped distributor comprises a central ring and arms extending radially therefrom, characterised in that, the central ring has a radius of between 55%-90% of the internal radius of the tube; at least one of the arms extends to no more than 1 mm from the internal wall of the tube; and wherein there is a distance defined by a ciruculararcconcen tric with the tube between each arm at a distance of 1 mm from the tube wall of between 30%-65% of the internal radius of the tube.

Abstract: This invention provides for an agglomerated beverage ingredient powder comprising a median particle size (D50) of between 200 and 1000 microns and a density of between 250 and 950 g/l.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a soluble beverage mass, the method comprising: providing one or more soluble beverage ingredients in powder form, providing a pre-heated mould having a mould-cavity, loading the mould-cavity with the one or more of the soluble beverage ingredients, and compressing the one or more soluble beverage ingredients in the mould-cavity to form a soluble beverage mass, wherein (i) the method further comprises applying RF radiation to heat the soluble beverage ingredients in the mould-cavity; and/or (ii) the one or more soluble beverage ingredients are retained within the mould-cavity for at least 15 seconds; and/or (ii) the one or more soluble beverage ingredients in powder form are prewarmed before loading into the mould-cavity.