Liquid dispensing apparatus

A beverage dispensing apparatus for extracting beverage from a cartridge comprising:

• a housing including a cartridge holder for receiving a beverage cartridge therein;
• an injector assembly associated with the housing and including an injector for piercing the cartridge to inject a liquid therein;
• an extraction mechanism cooperating with the housing and including an extractor for piercing the cartridge and extracting a beverage;
• a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a heating and dispensing chamber, a liquid delivery and air venting arrangement in communication with an interior of the heating and dispensing chamber for delivery of liquid thereto and for venting air therefrom, an air pump assembly in communication with the interior of the heating and dispensing chamber for pumping air into the heating and dispensing chamber, a liquid discharge conduit in communication with the interior of the heating and dispensing chamber for discharging liquid therefrom, one end of said discharge conduit located at a predetermined level of said heating and dispensing chamber and an opposing end connected to said injector, and a liquid pump connected to said liquid discharge conduit for pumping liquid out of the heating and dispensing chamber to said injector;
• a controller for controlling said liquid dispensing apparatus during beverage brewing;
• and
• an actuator for actuating to begin said beverage dispensing,
• wherein during beverage dispensing, said liquid delivery and air venting arrangement is closed while said air pump assembly pumps air into said chamber and said liquid pump pumps a predetermined volume of liquid from said chamber, through said injector into said cartridge and out said extractor.

A method of dispensing liquid in a beverage brewing machine, the method comprising:

• delivering liquid to a dispensing chamber while venting air from said dispensing chamber via a liquid delivery and venting arrangement;
• closing said liquid delivery and venting arrangement;
• pumping air into an interior of said dispensing chamber;
• and
• pumping liquid from said dispensing chamber via a liquid discharge conduit located a predetermined level of said dispensing chamber.