Disposable beverage pod and apparatus for making a beverage

Abstract

An apparatus for making a single serving alcoholic beverage having the taste, aroma, and mouthfeel of beer, wine, liquor, or a mixed alcoholic beverage includes an outlet configured to dispense a single serving alcoholic beverage therefrom. The apparatus includes a water reservoir operable to supply a predetermined amount of water via a water supply line. The apparatus includes a pod holding compartment operable to releasably receive a beverage pod comprising an alcoholic beverage flavor system wherein the pod holding compartment is in fluid communication with the outlet and the water reservoir via the water supply line. The apparatus includes a housing operable to house the pod holding compartment.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An electronic apparatus for making a single serving alcoholic beverage having the taste, aroma, and mouthfeel of beer, wine, liquor, or a mixed alcoholic beverage, the apparatus comprising:
 an outlet configured to dispense a single serving alcoholic beverage therefrom;   a water reservoir operable to supply a predetermined amount of water via a water supply line;   a pod holding compartment operable to releasably receive a beverage pod comprising an alcoholic beverage flavor system, the pod holding compartment in fluid communication with the water reservoir via the water supply line and the outlet;   a power supply; and   a housing operable to house the pod holding compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mixing unit wherein the mixing unit is operable to mix water from the water reservoir with the alcoholic beverage flavor system of a beverage pod to form an alcoholic beverage. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a container into which the alcoholic beverage or alcoholic beverage flavor system of a beverage pod and predetermined amount of water are dispensed from the outlet of the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container is operable to form a seal with and/or around the outlet of the apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a control system operable to activate the apparatus and control function of the apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further including a user interface operable to receive user inputs. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a pressurized gas source operable to supply pressurized gas in an amount sufficient to form carbonation in a single serving alcoholic beverage dispensed from the apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a cooling system operable to chill a single serving alcoholic beverage dispensed from the apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is an AC adapter or a battery. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making a single serving alcoholic beverage using the apparatus of  claim 1 , the method comprising inserting a beverage pod containing an alcoholic beverage flavor system in the pod holding compartment, combining a predetermined amount of water from the water reservoir with the alcoholic beverage flavor system, and dispensing the predetermined amount of water and the alcoholic beverage flavor system from the outlet of the apparatus to make a single serving alcoholic beverage. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising mixing the alcoholic beverage flavor system and the predetermined amount of water in a mixing unit of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising dispensing the alcoholic beverage from the outlet into a container. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising activating and controlling the functions of the apparatus with a control system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing user inputs to the apparatus using a user interface of the apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising carbonizing the alcoholic beverage using a pressurized gas source that is in fluid communication with the pod holding compartment and is operable to supply pressurized gas in an amount sufficient to form carbonation in the single serving alcoholic beverage dispensed from the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising chilling the alcoholic beverage using a cooling system of the apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising mixing an alcohol-free beverage concentrate of a first compartment of the beverage pod, ethanol of a second compartment of the beverage pod, and the predetermined amount of water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising controlling a level of carbonation of the alcoholic beverage by inputting a desired level of carbonation into a user interface of the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the alcoholic beverage has the taste, aroma, and mouthfeel of beer, wine, liquor, or a mixed alcoholic beverage. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , where the alcoholic beverage has the taste, aroma, and mouthfeel of a lager, ale, porter, pale ale, lambic, or hefeweizen beer.