Method for delivering hot and cold beverages on demand in a variety of flavorings and nutritional additives

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for delivering a flavored and/or nutritionally enhanced non-carbonated beverage on premise. The method comprises a step of providing at least one packaged source of a liquid premix base comprising at least one microbiologically, physically, enzymatically and/or chemically sensitive beverage component which is not solely carbohydrate, a water activity lowering component. The liquid premix based is formulated with a water activity and/or solid content effective to render it shelf stable at room temperature. The method comprises a step of separately providing a plurality of flowable additive packaged sources adapted to tailor the flavor, aroma, body and/or nutritional value of the beverage. The method comprises a step in which liquid premix base is mixed to hot or cold non-carbonated water to provide a beverage base which is dispensed to the cup and wherein at least one additive is delivered and mixed with the beverage base into the cup.

1 . A method for delivering a flavored, aromatic, and/or nutritionally enhanced non-carbonated beverage on premises, which comprises: 
 providing at least one packaged source of a liquid premix base comprising at least one degradable beverage component that comprises at least a non-carbohydrate subcomponent, wherein the packaged liquid premix base is formulated to have a water activity effective to render the premix shelf stable at room temperature;    providing separately a plurality of packaged sources or flowable favor, aroma, and/or nutritional additives;    dosing the liquid premix base;    mixing the dosed premix base with non-carbonated water to provide a beverage base, wherein the beverage base is dispensed into a container;    dosing at least one additive; and    mixing and delivering in the container the additive and beverage base.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage component is microbiologically, physically, enzymatically and/or chemically degradable.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the premix base has total solid content of at least 65% by weight;    a pH of from 3.9 to 6.8; and    a water activity less than 0.855.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the premix base is diluted with water to form the beverage base at a ratio of concentrate-to-water of about from 1:2 to 1:8 by volume.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flowable additive is mixed in the beverage base in a relative ratio additive to beverage about between 1:1000 to 1:25.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the additive comprises a plurality of additives;    the beverage base is delivered to the container via a beverage base delivery line; and    the method further comprises selecting at least one of the additives and delivering the additives separately from the beverage base to the container without making contact with a beverage the beverage base delivery line.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the liquid premix base comprises a plurality of liquid premix bases, the method comprising selecting at least one of the premix bases and at least one of the additives, and mixing the beverage base having the selected premix bases with the selected additives.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , at least two of the liquid premix bases are selected and dispensed in the beverage base.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid base is formulated to mix with water at a temperature of less than 30° C.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid premix base is formulated to be shelf stable for at least 2 months in the unopened package.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid premix base comprises: 
 a first beverage component comprising of coffee concentrate, tea concentrate, cocoa concentrate or chicories concentrate, or combinations thereof;    a whitener; and    at least one water-activity lowering component that render the liquid premix base shelf-stable.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the packaged source comprises: 
 a first packaged source of a first liquid premix base that comprises a coffee concentrate, a whitener and a water-activity lowering component;    a second packaged source of a second liquid premix base that comprises a cocoa concentrate, a whitener and at least one water-activity lowering component that renders the liquid base shelf stable; and    the method further comprises selecting one or both of the first and second liquid premix bases, mixed the selected bases with the water to dispense in to the container.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the whitener is a dairy based component, a non-dairy creamer, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid premix base is a liquid concentrate comprising: 
 a beverage component comprising at least 50% by weight pure juice, and    at least one water-activity lowering component to render the premix liquid base shelf stable.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flowable additive comprises a flavoring, flavor enhancer, nutritional supplement, coffee or tea booster, flavor masker, colorant, aromatic, a substance selected for adding body to beverage base, or combinations of the foregoing.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising foaming the beverage base.  
   
   
       17 . A beverage dispensing system, comprising: 
 a first liquid source of a first liquid;    at least one packaged source containing a liquid premix base comprising at least one degradable beverage component that comprises at least a non-carbohydrate subcomponent, wherein the packaged liquid premix is formulated to have a water activity effective to render the premix shelf stable at room temperature;    a blending system operably associated with the first liquid and packaged source for receiving and blending the first liquid and liquid premix base to provide a beverage base;    a premix base dispensing mechanism configured for delivering the liquid premix base to the blending system;    a first liquid dispensing mechanism configured for delivering the first liquid to the blending system;    a plurality of additive packaged sources comprising flavor, aroma, body and/or nutritional additives;    an additive dispensing mechanisms operably associated with the additive sources for selectively dispensing a the additives therefrom to mix with the premix base and the first liquid to provide a flavored, aromatic, and/or nutritionally enhanced beverage; and    a controller associated with the dispensing mechanisms for selectively controlling the actuation of the dispensing mechanisms.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage component is microbiologically, physically, enzymatically and/or chemically degradable.  
   
   
       19 . The dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is associated with the dispensing mechanisms to vary the relative concentration of the dispensed additives in the dispensed beverage base.  
   
   
       20 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , further comprising a beverage base dispensing conduit configured for dispensing the beverage base into a container, wherein the additive dispensing mechanism is configured for dispensing additives into the container separately from the beverage base to prevent contacting the additives with the beverage base delivery conduit.  
   
   
       21 . Dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured for operating the additive dispensing mechanism to dispense the additives in pulses of predetermined durations.  
   
   
       22 . Dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein further comprising a heater configured for heating the beverage base to provide hot beverage.  
   
   
       23 . Dispenser of  claim 18 , further comprising a cooling system configured for cooling the beverage base to below ambient temperature.