Method and apparatus for cartridge-based carbonation of beverages

A method for forming a beverage, comprising:

• placing a single cartridge, defining a sealed internal space with first and second chambers, into a cartridge chamber of a beverage forming machine, the first chamber containing a carbon dioxide source arranged to emit carbon dioxide gas for use in carbonating a precursor liquid, and the second chamber containing a beverage medium arranged to be mixed with a carbonated precursor liquid to form a beverage, the carbon dioxide source being in solid form and having adsorbed carbon dioxide, the first and second chambers being separated by an impermeable wall and isolated from each other inside the single cartridge;
• closing the cartridge chamber to hold the first chamber in a sealed space arranged to receive and hold carbon dioxide released from the first chamber under pressure;
• providing a fluid to the first chamber in the cartridge chamber to cause the carbon dioxide source to emit carbon dioxide for use in carbonating a precursor liquid, the step of providing a fluid to the first chamber in the cartridge chamber being performed by pumping fluid into the first chamber in the cartridge chamber to control a rate at which carbon dioxide is emitted by the carbon dioxide source;
• carbonating a precursor liquid by dissolving at least a portion of the carbon dioxide emitted from the carbon dioxide source into the precursor liquid, thus resulting in a carbonated precursor liquid;
• introducing pressurized gas into the second chamber while the single cartridge is held in the cartridge chamber to move the beverage medium out of the single cartridge;
• and
• mixing the carbonated precursor liquid with the beverage medium to produce a beverage.