Container, system and method for preparing fluid food products

A system for preparing a food product to be consumed, comprising a preparation machine and a sealed disposable container for preparing the food product to be consumed and for retaining thereinto the food product to be consumed after preparation thereof, wherein:

• the preparation machine has a hydraulic circuit which comprises a first dispensing element which can be supplied with pressurized hot water and/or steam,
• the disposable container comprises a liquid-retaining container body configured for retaining the food product to be consumed, the liquid-retaining container body having an entry wall, a bottom wall opposite to the entry wall, and a lateral wall, which define an internal volume pre-packaged in which is a predetermined amount of at least one first food substance required for preparation of the food product to be consumed,
• wherein substantially at the entry wall, the disposable container has an axially hollow positioning element secured thereto, which defines at least part of an inlet of the disposable container,
• wherein the disposable container further comprises an axially extending injector element, which is couplable with the positioning element or is integrally formed or fixed therewith, in such a way that at least a first distal portion of the injector element extends within the internal volume,
• wherein at least one of the positioning element and the injector element is configured for sealed coupling with the first dispensing element of the preparation machine, for introducing into the internal volume a flow of pressurized hot water and/or steam required for preparing the food product to be consumed
• wherein the entry wall is configured for removal from the liquid-retaining container body, for enabling a user to directly access the internal volume and consume therefrom the food product to be consumed which has been prepared and retained within the liquid-retaining container body,
• wherein the first dispensing element is configured for sealed coupling with the at least one of the positioning element and the injector element of the disposable container, for introduction of the flow of pressurized hot water and/or steam into the internal volume of the disposable container,
• wherein the system further comprises at least one capsule or pod or tablet containing a dose of precursor of at least one second food substance, the preparation machine being prearranged for dispensing the second food substance starting from said dose,
• wherein the preparation machine comprises a structure which defines a positioning area for receiving the disposable container,
• wherein the preparation machine further comprises a brewing chamber including a first chamber part and a second chamber part, at least one of the first chamber part and the second chamber part being displaceable relative to the other one of the first chamber part and the second chamber part between an open position and a closed position, the open position enabling loading of the at least one capsule or pod or tablet into the brewing chamber, and the closed position enabling introduction of water and/or steam into the brewing chamber and consequent dispensing of the second food substance, via a second dispensing element, into the disposable container being received in the positioning area.

A method for preparing a food product to be consumed, comprising the steps of:

• providing a sealed disposable container for preparing the food product to be consumed and for retaining thereinto the food product to be consumed after preparation thereof, the disposable container comprising a liquid-retaining container body configured for retaining the food product to be consumed, the liquid-retaining container body having an entry wall, a bottom wall opposite to the entry wall, and a lateral wall, which define an internal volume pre-packaged in which is a predetermined amount of at least one first food substance required for preparation of the food product to be consumed, wherein:
• substantially at the entry wall, the disposable container has an axially hollow positioning element secured thereto, which defines at least part of an inlet of the disposable container,
• the disposable container further comprises an axially extending injector element, which is couplable with the positioning element or is integrally formed or fixed therewith, in such a way that at least a first distal portion of the injector element extends within the internal volume,
• at least one of the positioning element and the injector element is configured for sealed coupling with a first dispensing element of a preparation machine, for introducing into the internal volume a flow of pressurized hot water and/or steam required for preparing the food product to be consumed,
• the entry wall is configured for removal from the liquid-retaining container body, for enabling a user to directly access the internal volume and consume therefrom the food product to be consumed which has been prepared and retained within the liquid-retaining container body,
• providing the preparation machine, having a stationary structure and a hydraulic circuit which comprises the first dispensing element, and a second dispensing element,
• coupling the first dispensing element with the positioning element of the disposable container,
• introducing into the internal volume of the disposable container pressurized hot water and/or steam, via said inlet and the injector element of the disposable container, that axially extends within the internal volume,
• introducing into the internal volume of the disposable container a second liquid food substance produced in the preparation machine, via the second dispensing element, following upon piercing or tearing of the entry wall of the disposable container, in such a way that the first food substance and the second liquid food substance form within the liquid-retaining container body the food product to be consumed, and
• removing the entry wall from the liquid-retaining container body, for enabling direct access to the internal volume, for consumption of the food product to be consumed which has been prepared and retained within the liquid-retaining container body.