Abstract: The invention relates to a package (11) containing one portion of beverage precursor (2) for preparing a beverage in a beverage preparation apparatus (100). The package comprises a pair of packaging sheets (12, 13) sealed to one another for enclosing and sealing the portion of beverage precursor (2) individually in a substantially oxygen and external humidity impervious manner by the sheets being sealed together about the portion (2). In the package, the sheets (12, 13) are forming a cavity (14, 15) covering the beverage precursor portion (2) on each side, wherein the cavity (14, 15) is provided with a ridge (18, 19) on at least one of the sheets (12, 13), the ridge (18, 19) being configured to cooperate with a protrusion part (31, 41) of the beverage preparation apparatus (100).

Abstract: A container for food or beverage preparation has walls defining at least one compartment adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient, the walls including at least one fluid connection portion for fluidly coupling to a cooperating fluid connection portion of a food or beverage preparation machine having at least one source of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within the compartment by mixing the mixing ingredient with the precursor ingredient. The container further includes at least one food or beverage delivery wall, and the container includes built-in pump means suitable for pumping the mixing ingredient from the source when the container is fluidly connected to the machine and for generating a fluid circulation within the at least one compartment, such that a food or beverage product is prepared and expelled through the delivery wall.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a container (1) containing coffee ingredient, comprising a chamber delimited by an injection wall (3) able to be punctured or otherwise opened for circulating water under pressure and by a coffee delivery wall (4), the entire chamber being filled with said coffee. At least a portion of said injection wall (3) has the shape of a half torus, or a half toroidal polyhedron, so as to define a ring-shaped chamber portion (2).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a capsule (11) for containing a food ingredient, adapted to be functionally inserted in the cavity of a food preparation machine (1), characterized in that said capsule (11) comprises at least one resilient portion (17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38) that is deformable when said capsule is inserted into the machine cavity, and/or when said cavity is closed, and in that at least one machine operational data is function of the elastic deformation properties of the resilient portion.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine includes (i) a reservoir for a fluid, (ii) a brewing head adapted for receiving at least one ingredient capsule, (iii) a pump for pumping a predetermined volume of the fluid from the reservoir to the brewing head, (iv) a heating element for optionally heating the fluid pumped from the reservoir before it enters the capsule, (v) an electronic control board able to receive commands from a control panel of the machine. The control panel includes in combination: —a rotating wheel which is linked to the control board such that by rotating and/or pressing the wheel, a beverage preparation parameter is set in the control board, and —illuminated means, at least a portion of which has the shape of a schematic cup, which is linked to the control board such that the state of the beverage preparation parameter within the control board is represented on the means.

Abstract: A molding apparatus and method for the combined manufacturing and filling of plastic containers in a one step process. The molding apparatus and method utilize a mold having an inner cavity with surfaces presenting hydrophobic properties thereby enabling a resultant container to have flawless appearance.

Abstract: A container for food or beverage preparation has walls defining at least one compartment adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient, the walls including at least one fluid connection portion for fluidly coupling to a cooperating fluid connection portion of a food or beverage preparation machine having at least one source of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within the compartment by mixing the mixing ingredient with the precursor ingredient. The container further includes at least one food or beverage delivery wall, and the container includes built-in pump means suitable for pumping the mixing ingredient from the source when the container is fluidly connected to the machine and for generating a fluid circulation within the at least one compartment, such that a food or beverage product is prepared and expelled through the delivery wall.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to container (11) for food or beverage preparation, comprising walls (12) defining at least one compartment adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient, said walls (12) comprising at least one fluid connection portion (20) for fluidly coupling to a cooperating fluid connection portion (31) of a food or beverage preparation machine (1) having at least one source (3, 28) of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within said compartment (11) by mixing said mixing ingredient with said precursor ingredient, said container (11) further comprising at least one food or beverage delivery wall (16, 17), characterized in that said container (11) comprises built-in pump means (10, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 29) suitable for pumping said mixing ingredient from said source (3, 28) when said container (11) is fluidly connected to said machine (1), and for generating a fluid circulation within said at least one compartment, such that a food or beverag

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage preparation machine (1) for use with a beverage preparation capsule, comprising a machine main unit with a casing (3), a water reservoir (4), and a brewing head (5) comprising a dispensing outlet for dispensing said beverage into a container (12) placed below said outlet, characterized in that said machine further comprises a base element (2) supporting the main unit (3, 4, 5), and (i) the base element (2) comprises supporting stands with surfaces (11) for supporting said container (12), said stands having different heights, and (ii) the machine main unit (3, 4, 5) is pivotally mounted onto said base element (2) such that the brewing head (5) can be aligned above any of the supporting surfaces (11) by rotation of said machine main unit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to container (11) for food or beverage preparation, comprising walls (12) defining at least one compartment adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient, said walls (12) comprising at least one fluid connection portion (20) for fluidly coupling to a cooperating fluid connection portion (31) of a food or beverage preparation machine (1) having at least one source (3, 28) of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within said compartment (11) by mixing said mixing ingredient with said precursor ingredient, said container (11) further comprising at least one food or beverage delivery wall (16, 17), characterized in that said container (11) comprises built-in pump means (10, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 29) suitable for pumping said mixing ingredient from said source (3, 28) when said container (11) is fluidly connected to said machine (1), and for generating a fluid circulation within said at least one compartment, such that a food or beverag

Abstract: A molding apparatus and method for the combined manufacturing and filling of plastic containers in a one step process. The molding apparatus and method utilize a mold having an inner cavity with surfaces presenting hydrophobic properties thereby enabling a resultant container to have flawless appearance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a capsule (11) for containing a food ingredient, adapted to be functionally inserted in the cavity of a food preparation machine (1), characterized in that said capsule (11) comprises at least one resilient portion (17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38) that is deformable when said capsule is inserted into the machine cavity, and/or when said cavity is closed, and in that at least one machine operational data is function of the elastic deformation properties of the resilient portion.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) comprising: (i) a reservoir (2) for a fluid, (ii) a brewing head (3) adapted for receiving at least one ingredient capsule, (iii) a pump for pumping a predetermined volume of said fluid from said reservoir to said brewing head, such that said fluid can be injected into said capsule to mix with said ingredient under pressure and produce a pre-determined volume of beverage, (iv) a heating element for optionally heating said fluid pumped from said reservoir before it enters the capsule, (v) an electronic control board able to receive commands from a control panel (5) of the machine, and actuate operation of the pump, heating element, control panel, and/or brewing head, characterized in that said control panel (5) comprises in combination:—a rotating wheel (6) which is linked to the control board such that by rotating and/or pressing the wheel, a beverage preparation parameter is set in said control board, and—illuminated means (7), at least a port

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage preparation machine (1) for use with a beverage preparation capsule, comprising a machine main unit with a casing (3), a water reservoir (4), and a brewing head (5) comprising a dispensing outlet for dispensing said beverage into a container (12) placed below said outlet, characterized in that said machine further comprises a base element (2) supporting the main unit (3, 4, 5), and (i) the base element (2) comprises supporting stands with surfaces (11) for supporting said container (12), said stands having different heights, and (ii) the machine main unit (3, 4, 5) is pivotally mounted onto said base element (2) such that the brewing head (5) can be aligned above any of the supporting surfaces (11) by rotation of said machine main unit.