Cartridge receiver, cartridge system, drink preparation machine and method for producing a drink

A cartridge system for producing a beverage, wherein the cartridge system is insertable into a beverage preparation machine, the cartridge system comprising:

• A) a cartridge comprising:
• i) a reservoir filled with a beverage substance;
• ii) a bottleneck comprising a circumferential retaining flange;
• iii) a cartridge opening that is closed by a sealing element, the sealing element comprising a sealing foil applied to an edge of the cartridge opening;
• and
• B) a cartridge receptacle insertable into the beverage preparation machine and releasably connected to the bottleneck via a latching connection, the cartridge receptacle comprising:
• i) a mixing chamber fluidically connected to the reservoir;
• ii) a fluid feed that leads into the mixing chamber, the fluid feed configured to be supplied with fluid cooled by a refrigeration unit;
• iii) a cartridge emptying device that at least partially pushes the beverage substance from the reservoir to the mixing chamber via compressed air, the cartridge emptying device comprising:
• a) a compressed-air connection that connects to a compressed-air source;
• b) a compressed-air outlet that protrudes in a direction of the reservoir of the cartridge to blow the compressed air into the reservoir;
• and
• c) a compressed-air line that extends from the compressed-air connection to the compressed-air outlet;
• iv) a spike guide;
• v) a piercing spike comprising a through-hole, the piercing spike mounted in a displaceable manner within the spike guide, wherein the piercing spike is displaceable between a retracted position, in which the piercing spike is away from the sealing element, and an extended position, in which the piercing spike pierces the sealing element and projects into the reservoir to fluidically connect the cartridge opening to the reservoir;
• vi) a compressed-air tip mounted in the through-hole of the piercing spike in a direction of the reservoir, wherein the compressed-air tip is configured to project beyond the piercing spike into the reservoir in the extended position.