Beverage dispensing machine and pouch for use with beverage dispensing machine

A beverage dispensing device comprising:

• a housing having a flow path;
• a receptacle in the housing for receiving a beverage container that houses a beverage and for discharging the beverage into the flow path;
• means for opening the beverage container to release the beverage therefrom;
• circuitry that receives one or more settings varying a serving temperature range of the beverage;
• a thermoelectric cooler positioned in the housing, the thermoelectric cooler performing one of chilling or warming the beverage along the flow path based on the one or more settings, the thermoelectric cooler comprising a cooling surface, the flow path traveling across the cooling surface from a first end of the cooling surface to a second end of the cooling surface;
• an aeration component coupled to the cooling surface of the thermoelectric cooler, the aeration component being configured to perform aeration on the beverage as it travels from the first end of the cooling surface to the second end of the cooling surface along the flow path based at least in part on the chilling or warming of the beverage;
• and
• a discharge nozzle coupled to the flow path for dispensing the beverage from the housing, wherein:
• the aeration component comprises a projection that extends outwardly from the cooling surface of the thermoelectric cooler such that the beverage flows through and around the projection, creating turbulence in the beverage, the projection being configured to perform aeration on the beverage;
• the projection comprises a plurality of projections extending at least partially along the cooling surface of the thermoelectric cooler between the first end and the second end of the cooling surface;
• adjacent projections of the plurality of projections are spaced apart on the cooling surface of the thermoelectric cooler;
• the plurality of projections are arranged in a plurality of rows on the cooling surface of the thermoelectric cooler, the flow path passing through each row of the plurality of rows from the first end of the cooling surface to the second end of the cooling surface;
• a first projection of a first row of the plurality of rows at least partially overlaps a second projection of a second row of the plurality of rows that is adjacent to the first row of the plurality of rows in the flow direction of the flow path;
• the first projection comprises a first tip and a second tip, the first tip being closer to the first end of the cooling surface than the second tip;
• the second projection comprises a third tip and a fourth tip, the third tip being closer to the first end of the cooling surface than the fourth tip;
• and
• the third tip of the second projection is closer to the first end of the cooling surface than the first tip of the first projection.

A beverage dispensing device comprising:

• a housing having a flow path;
• a receptacle in the housing that is configured to receive a beverage container that houses a beverage and to discharge the beverage into the flow path;
• circuitry that is configured to receive a setting that corresponds to a serving temperature of the beverage;
• a cooler disposed in the housing along at least a portion of the flow path, the cooler being configured to change a temperature of the beverage along the flow path based on the setting, the cooler comprising a cooling surface, the flow path traveling across the cooling surface from a first end of the cooling surface to a second end of the cooling surface;
• an aeration component coupled to the cooling surface, the aeration component being configured to perform aeration on the beverage as it travels from the first end of the cooling surface to the second end of the cooling surface along the flow path, the aeration component comprising:
• a first projection extending outwardly from the cooling surface and extending at least partially along the cooling surface between the first end and the second end of the cooling surface, the first projection comprising a first tip and a second tip, the first tip being closer to the first end of the cooling surface than the second tip;
• and
• a second projection extending outwardly from the cooling surface and extending at least partially along the cooling surface between the first end and the second end of the cooling surface, the second projection being spaced apart from the first projection and comprising a third tip and a fourth tip, the third tip being closer to the first end of the cooling surface than the fourth tip, the third tip of the second projection being closer to the first end of the cooling surface than the second tip of the first projection;
• and
• a discharge nozzle coupled to the flow path and configured to dispense the beverage from the housing.