Automated beverage dispensing system and method

A beverage production system, comprising:

• a cup dispensing station configured to dispense cups;
• a beverage dispensing station configured to dispense a beverage;
• a turntable assembly comprising:
• a central axis;
• an inner turntable including a first row of cup receptacles;
• and
• an outer turntable including a second row of cup receptacles, wherein the outer turntable is disposed circumferentially about the inner turntable;
• wherein at least one of the inner or outer turntables are configured to rotate about the central axis to align at least one of the cup receptacles of at least one of the first or second rows with at least one of the cup dispensing station or the beverage dispensing station;
• wherein the turntable assembly is configured to align an opening in a cup receptacle in at least one of the first or second rows with an opening in a cup receptacle in the other of the first or second rows;
• and
• an actuator configured to move a cup positioned in one of the cup receptacles in at least one of the first or second rows into the aligned opening of the cup receptacle in the other of the first or second rows.