Method and apparatus for cartridge-based carbonation of beverages

摘要

For carbonating a precursor liquid (2), such as water, to form a beverage, a beverage making system, has a beverage precursor liquid supply (10) arranged to provide a precursor liquid and also has a cartridge chamber (3) and a carbon dioxide activating fluid supply (20). A single cartridge (4) is provided to be received in the cartridge chamber (3). This single cartridge (4) has an internal space that is sealed and has first and second chambers (46, 47) which are isolated from each other, for example by an impermeable element (49). The first chamber (46) contains a carbon dioxide source (41), which may optionally be in solid form (41) having adsorbed carbon dioxide, arranged to emit carbon dioxide gas for use in carbonating the precursor liquid (2). The second chamber (47) contains a beverage medium (42) such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, to be mixed with the precursor liquid (2) to form the beverage. The carbon dioxide activating fluid supply (20) is arranged to provide fluid to the first chamber (46) for contact with the carbon dioxide source (41) to cause it to emit carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas supply is arranged to conduct carbon dioxide gas emitted by the carbon dioxide source (41) in the first chamber (46), under pressure greater than the ambient pressure, to the beverage precursor liquid (2) provided via the beverage precursor liquid supply, to carbonate the precursor liquid which is then mixed with the beverage medium (42) of the second cartridge chamber (47).