Beverage dispense apparatus

A beverage dispense apparatus, comprising:

• a receiving structure for removably locating and holding a sealed beverage package over a delivery vessel;
• a dispense nozzle for dispensing beverage therethrough;
• a first piercing element configured for puncturing a vent opening into a headspace of the beverage package;
• and
• a second piercing element configured for puncturing an outlet opening into the beverage package below a level of beverage contained therein;
• wherein the outlet opening is aligned with a dispense end of the dispense nozzle for enabling a direct flow path of beverage, for minimising turbulence therethrough toward the delivery vessel;
• a controller configured for initiating a dispense sequence wherein the first piercing element is configured to puncture the vent opening prior to puncturing of the outlet opening by the second piercing element;
• and
• wherein the first piercing element is configured to selectively control a duration and/or speed of dispense out of the sealed beverage package.