Disposable beverage pod and apparatus for making a beverage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10524609-B2
Application number	US-201414202772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

A disposable beverage pod includes a first compartment containing a beverage concentrate in dry or semi-dry form and a second compartment containing ethanol. An apparatus for making a single serving beverage is operable to receive the disposable beverage pod and mix the contents thereof with water from a water reservoir and optionally pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source to form a single serving beverage.

First claim

We claim:

1. A beverage pod configured to be received in a receptacle of an apparatus for making a single serving alcoholic beverage, the beverage pod comprising:
a first compartment including a first flavor system in liquid, dry, semi-dry, semi-liquid, or gel form sealed therein, the first flavor system including a combination of compounds which impart aromas, tastes, and/or sensations to a single serving alcoholic beverage formed from the beverage pod; and
a second compartment consisting of a liquid consisting of a predetermined amount of an alcohol concentrate sealed therein, wherein the alcohol concentrate is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, or a mixture of water and ethanol;
wherein the first flavor system, when combined with at least the predetermined amount of the alcohol concentrate, forms the single serving alcoholic beverage having a predetermined flavor, mouthfeel, and aroma.

2. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the first flavor system is a beer flavor system, which forms a single serving alcoholic beverage having the flavor, mouthfeel, and aroma of beer when combined with the predetermined amount of the alcohol concentrate, a predetermined amount of water, and carbon dioxide or nitrogen.

3. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the first flavor system is a wine flavor system, which forms a single serving alcoholic beverage having the flavor, mouthfeel, and aroma of wine when combined with the predetermined amount of the alcohol concentrate and a predetermined amount of water.

4. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the first flavor system is a whiskey or scotch flavor system, which forms a single serving alcoholic beverage having the flavor, mouthfeel, and aroma of whiskey or scotch when combined with the predetermined amount of the alcohol concentrate and a predetermined amount of water.

5. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the first flavor system comprises colorants.

6. The beverage pod of claim 4 , wherein the first flavor system includes four or more compounds selected from the group consisting of oak extract, myrcene, octanoic acid, 2-methylpropanoic acid, butanoic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, decanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 3-methylbutanol, 2-methylbutanol, 2,3-butanedione, vanilline, 2-methylpropanol, 3-methylbutanal, 2,3-pentanedione, 2-methylpropanal, 2-methylbutanal, furaneol, ethylfuraneol, 2-phenylethanol, 2-phenylacetic acid, 2-phenylethyl acetate, linalool, acetaldehyde, ethyl butyrate, ethyl-2-methylpropanoate, ethyl octanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl-3-methylbutyrate, ethyl-2-methylbutyrate, (E)-b-damascenone, 3-methylbutyl acetate, 1,1-diethoxyethane, trans-ethyl cinnamate, whiskey lactone, 2-methoxyphenol, 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol, 5-pentyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one, 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol, 4-methyl-2-methoxyphenol, 4-propyl-2-methoxyphenol, 5-hexyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one, 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyltrisulfide, 3-(methylthio)-1-propanol, 3-(methylthio)-1-propanal, (E)-2-nonenal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal, 4-ethylphenol, 4-methylphenol, 3-methylphenol, 2-methylphenol, phenol, tartaric acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, glycerol, glucose, fructose, L-proline, saccharose, potassium, magnesium, calcium, tannic acid, trans aconitic acid, hops extract, tetra-iso-extract 10%, rho-iso-extract 10%, isomerized hop extract 30%, carrageenan, whey protein, monosodium glutamate, and maltodextrins.

7. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the beverage pod is in the form of a bag, cup or box.

8. The beverage pod of claim 7 , wherein the bag, cup or box is made of plastic, glass, and/or metal foil.

9. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein each of the first compartment and the second compartment includes an opening mechanism such that the first compartment and the second compartment are openable by piercing, tearing, or removal of a lid portion from each of the first compartment and the second compartment before placement in an apparatus for making a single serving alcoholic beverage or during use of the apparatus for making a single serving alcoholic beverage.

10. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the beverage pod is formed of a biodegradable material.

11. The beverage pod of claim 1 , further including a third compartment containing an additional flavor system in liquid, dry, semi-dry, semi-liquid, or gel form sealed therein, the additional flavor system including a combination of compounds which impart aromas, tastes, and/or sensations to a single serving alcoholic beverage formed from the beverage pod, and optional colorants.

12. The beverage pod of claim 1 , further including a third compartment containing one or more additional flavor compounds.

13. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the first flavor system, and a resulting single serving alcoholic beverage formed therefrom excludes one or more compounds that contribute to spoilage.

14. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the beverage pod provides a single serving alcoholic beverage having about 89 kcal.

15. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the first flavor system is a whiskey or scotch flavor system, and the predetermined amount of the alcohol concentrate and a predetermined amount of water are selected such that a formed single serving alcoholic beverage has a predetermined alcohol content ranging from about 50% alcohol by volume to about 80% alcohol by volume.

16. The beverage pod of claim 1 , wherein the alcohol concentrate is ethanol.

17. A beverage pod configured to be received in a receptacle of an apparatus for making an alcoholic beverage, the beverage pod comprising:
a first compartment including a first flavor system in liquid, dry, semi-dry, semi-liquid, or gel form sealed therein, the first flavor system including a combination of compounds which impart aromas, tastes, and/or sensations to an alcoholic beverage formed from the beverage pod; and
a second compartment consisting of a liquid consisting of a predetermined amount of an alcohol concentrate sealed therein, wherein the alcohol concentrate is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, or a mixture of water and ethanol;
wherein the first flavor system, when combined with at least the predetermined amount of alcohol concentrate, forms a predetermined quantity of the alcoholic beverage having a predetermined flavor, mouthfeel, and aroma.

18. The beverage pod of claim 17 , wherein the first flavor system comprises a combination of compounds selected from the group consisting of oak extract, myrcene, octanoic acid, 2-methylpropanoic acid, butanoic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, decanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 3-methylbutanol, 2-methylbutanol, 2,3-butanedione, vanilline, 2-methylpropanol, 3-methylbutanal, 2,3-pentanedione, 2-methylpropanal, 2-methylbutanal, furaneol, ethylfuraneol, 2-phenylethanol, 2-phenylacetic acid, 2-phenylethyl acetate, linalool, acetaldehyde, ethyl butyrate, ethyl-2-methylpropanoate, ethyl octanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl-3-methylbutyrate, ethyl-2-methylbutyrate, (E)-b-damascenone, 3-methylbutyl acetate, 1,1-diethoxyethane, trans-ethyl cinnamate, whiskey lactone, 2-methoxyphenol, 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol, 5-pentyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one, 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol, 4-methyl-2-methoxyphenol, 4-propyl-2-methoxyphenol, 5-hexyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one, 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-2(5H)-furanone, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyltrisulfide, 3-(methylthio)-1-propanol, 3-(methylthio)-1-propanal, (E)-2-nonenal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal, 4-ethylphenol, 4-methylphenol, 3-methylphenol, 2-m

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Inc
• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Schuh Christian
• Kobal Gerd
• Karles Georgios D

Classifications

• B65D81/32

  for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture · CPC title

• A47J43/27

  for mixing drinks; Hand-held shakers (mechanically driven A47J43/042) · CPC title

• B67D2001/0827

  Bags in box · CPC title

• B67D1/0021

  the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers · CPC title

• B67D2001/0821

  having different compartments for different components · CPC title