A beverage dispensing assembly for preparing and dispensing a beverage the assembly comprising:
- a source of pressurized base liquid having CO2, N2 or N2O dissolved therein and having a gas pressure of at least 0.5 bar overpressure at 2° C.;
- a beverage unit with a liquid flow path having a liquid inlet at one end in fluid communication with the base liquid in the source of base liquid by means of a valve and a beverage outlet at an opposite end;
- an ingredient container receiver having an ingredient container wholly installed and contained therein such that when correctly installed, the content of the ingredient container is in fluid communication with the liquid flow path for mixing the content of the ingredient container with a base liquid in the liquid flow path;
- a gas pressure regulation unit having a pressure chamber provided in the liquid flow path downstream of the fluid communication between the liquid flow path and the content of the ingredient container;
- and
- a gas ingredient inlet in fluid communication with the pressure chamber through a valve, the gas ingredient inlet introducing pressurized CO2, N2 or N2O in the pressure chamber in the liquid flow path in a direction opposite the liquid flow path.