Capsule-Based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage

A beverage dispenser that dispenses a brewed or mixed hot beverage or a cold beverage comprising:

• a housing with a cover;
• a controller in said housing;
• a water heater and water temperature sensor in the housing in communication with the controller, the controller configured to raise water temperature in closed-loop operation to provide hot water for injection at a temperature sufficient for hot water brewing or mixing;
• a capsule receiving apparatus in the housing configured to receive either a cold drink capsule or a hot drink capsule, the capsule receiving apparatus operably coupled to a capsule manipulation member adapted to open an inserted cold drink capsule when the cover is closed, or force an inserted hot drink capsule downward toward a bottom puncture needle when the cover is closed;
• a hot water injection needle on a rotating arm adapted to be used when a hot capsule is inserted by first puncturing a top surface of the inserted hot capsule and then forcing the hot capsule downward onto the bottom puncture needle, the hot water injection needle adapted to infuse the hot water into the inserted hot drink capsule under pressure producing the brewed or mixed hot beverage;
• a cold water streaming system adapted to be used when a cold drink capsule is inserted to stream a predetermined quantity of cold water into the inserted, opened cold drink capsule causing its contents to dissolve or mix;
• the capsule manipulation member also adapted to rotate the inserted cold drink capsule approximately ninety degrees after its contents have dissolved or mixed causing said contents to pour into a vessel;
• the cold water streaming system also constructed to stream additional cold water into the vessel as said contents pour into the vessel producing the cold beverage.