Capsule-based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage

A beverage dispensing device adapted to dispense both hot and cold beverages comprising:

• a chassis containing a cavity adapted to receive and hold a cold capsule containing a cold beverage mix or a hot capsule containing a hot beverage mix;
• a cover pivotably mounted to said chassis, the cover pivotable between and open position and a closed position;
• a hot beverage exit orifice on a bottom surface of said chassis, and a cold beverage exit orifice also on the bottom surface of said chassis;
• a cold beverage preparation mechanism cooperating with said cover adapted to open an inserted cold beverage capsule as the cover is closed, the cold beverage preparation mechanism also adapted to rotate the opened cold beverage capsule to a position where it can empty its contents when injected with cold liquid to prepare a cold beverage, the cold beverage exiting the cold beverage exit orifice into a cup;
• a hot beverage preparation mechanism adapted to rotate a motor-driven injection needle until the injection needle punctures and penetrates a top surface or lid of the hot capsule and then lower the hot capsule onto an output needle so that the output needle punctures a bottom surface of the hot capsule after the injection needle has penetrated the top surface, the injection needle adapted to infuse hot liquid into the hot capsule to prepare a hot beverage, the hot beverage being conveyed out of the output needle and exiting the hot beverage exit orifice into a cup.