Cold plate prechill circuit

A beverage dispenser comprising:

• a cold plate having a cold plate body with a top surface and a tubing system embedded within the cold plate body, wherein the tubing system comprises a prechill circuit, a plain water postchill circuit fluidly connected to the prechill circuit, and a carbonated water postchill circuit fluidly connected to the prechill circuit;
• an ice hopper arranged above the cold plate, the ice hopper configured to deposit ice from the ice hopper onto the top surface of the cold plate;
• a carbonator in thermal engagement with the cold plate;
• a three-way fitting fludily connected between the prechill circuit, the carbonator, and the plain water postchill circuit;
• a carb pump fluidly connected upstream of the prechill circuit;
• a level sensor positioned within the carbonator, wherein the carb pump is configured to operate in response to an output from the level sensor;
• and
• a bypass line, fluidly bypassing the carb pump, the bypass line comprising a shut off valve;
• wherein the shut off valve is configured to operate in response to the output from the level sensor such that the shut off valve operates in a closed position when the carb pump is operating.