Dispensing apparatus and capsule for use therewith

Abstract

According to the invention there is provided a capsule (1) for delivering flavouring to a beverage, the capsule (1) defining a closed internal volume (20) containing a flavouring for a beverage, the capsule comprising at least two frangible regions (30, 40), and a piercing member (50) housed within the internal volume (20), the piercing member (50) adapted to pierce at least one of said frangible regions (30, 40) of the capsule (1). Also according to the invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus (100) for dispensing flavouring to a beverage, the apparatus comprising a mount (110) for receiving a capsule (1) containing flavouring to be added to the beverage, and an engaging portion (80) configured to engage with a piercing member (50) within a capsule (1) and pierce a frangible region of the capsule (1), wherein the apparatus (100) is configured to provide relative movement of the mount (110) and engaging portion (80) between a retracted position and an engaged position in which the engaging portion (80) is configured to engage with the piercing member (50) in the capsule (1).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.