Post-mixing carbonation of beverages

A device for dispensing a liquid beverage comprising a diluent having a freezing point at STP, the device comprising:

• an upstream cooler that pre-cools a supply of the diluent to a temperature above the freezing point to thereby produce a pre-cooled diluent;
• a tank sized and dimensioned to temporarily hold the pre-cooled diluent;
• a first coupling between the upstream cooler and the tank configured to permit flow of the pre-cooled diluent from the upstream cooler to the tank;
• a second coupling between the upstream cooler and the tank configured to permit flow of a first portion of the pre-cooled diluent from the tank to the upstream cooler;
• a mixer configured to mix a second portion of the pre-cooled diluent with a concentrate to make a diluted solution;
• a downstream cooler that cools the diluted solution to below the freezing point to make a downstream-cooled solution;
• a carbonator fluidly disposed between the mixer and the downstream cooler, the carbonator comprising (i) a liquid input line having an end that terminates near a bottom of the carbonator and (ii) a liquid output line having an end that terminates near a top of the carbonator;
• and
• a dispenser that dispenses the downstream-cooled solution to the atmosphere, as the liquid beverage at a temperature that is below the freezing point.