Beverage quality and communications control for a beverage forming and dispensing system

A beverage dispensing method comprising the steps of:

• forming and dispensing a beverage with a beverage dispenser, the beverage dispenser comprising a carbonator in which water is mixed with CO2 gas to form carbonated water, the beverage dispenser operating under various parameters including a first parameter that is indicative of the quality of the beverage to be dispensed and a second parameter that is indicative as to when routine maintenance is to be scheduled;
• monitoring the various parameters under which the beverage dispenser operates;
• determining whether the first parameter is outside of a predetermined range;
• and
• sending a signal regarding a request for immediate repair service if the first parameter is outside the predetermined range, wherein at least one of the water temperature and the CO2 gas pressure is monitored in said monitoring step as the first parameter.

A beverage dispensing network comprising:

• a plurality of beverage dispensers for forming and dispensing beverages, at least one of said beverage dispensers comprising a carbonator in which water is mixed with CO2 gas to form carbonated water, each beverage dispenser operating under various parameters including a first parameter that is indicative of the quality of the beverage to be dispensed and a second parameter that is indicative as to when routine maintenance is to be scheduled;
• a processor monitoring the various parameters under which the at least one of said plurality of beverage dispensers operates, said processor determining whether the first parameter is outside of a predetermined range and if the first parameter is outside the predetermined range, said processor sends a signal regarding a request for immediate repair service, wherein said processor monitors at least one of the water temperature and the CO2 gas pressure as the first parameter;
• and
• a central processing station communicating with said processor and receiving the signal, said central station effecting the immediate repair service.