A beverage preparation system configured to dispense a beverage into a cup (C) or other drinking vessel, the system comprising: a beverage preparation machine configured to prepare the beverage; a dispensing assembly comprising: abase ); a dispensing unit rotatably coupled to the base , the dispensing unit comprising a hollow elongate shell with an open first end and a closed second end, the second end comprising a check valve (24; 124, 324A, 324B); and the dispensing unit configured to pivot between an upright position and an inverted position, wherein the first end is substantially directly above the second end in the upright position and the second end is substantially directly above the first end in the inverted position; a control valve configured to switch between a first state and a second state, wherein a flow of the beverage is allowed to pass through the control valve in the first state and a flow of cleansing fluid is allowed to pass through the control valve in the second state; wherein, when the dispensing unit is in the upright position and the control valve is in the first state, the dispensing unit is configured to receive a portion of the beverage through the second end; wherein, when the dispensing unit is in the inverted position and the control valve is in the second state, the dispensing unit is configured to receive cleansing fluid through the second end and to dispense the cleansing fluid from the first end; and wherein, when the dispensing unit is in an intermediate position between the upright and inverted positions, the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the portion of the beverage through the first end and into the cup or other vessel. a beverage preparation machine configured to prepare the beverage; a dispensing assembly comprising: abase ); a dispensing unit rotatably coupled to the base , the dispensing unit comprising a hollow elongate shell with an open first end and a closed second end, the second end comprising a check valve (24; 124, 324A, 324B); and the dispensing unit configured to pivot between an upright position and an inverted position, wherein the first end is substantially directly above the second end in the upright position and the second end is substantially directly above the first end in the inverted position; abase ); a dispensing unit rotatably coupled to the base , the dispensing unit comprising a hollow elongate shell with an open first end and a closed second end, the second end comprising a check valve (24; 124, 324A, 324B); and the dispensing unit configured to pivot between an upright position and an inverted position, wherein the first end is substantially directly above the second end in the upright position and the second end is substantially directly above the first end in the inverted position; a control valve configured to switch between a first state and a second state, wherein a flow of the beverage is allowed to pass through the control valve in the first state and a flow of cleansing fluid is allowed to pass through the control valve in the second state; wherein, when the dispensing unit is in the upright position and the control valve is in the first state, the dispensing unit is configured to receive a portion of the beverage through the second end; wherein, when the dispensing unit is in the inverted position and the control valve is in the second state, the dispensing unit is configured to receive cleansing fluid through the second end and to dispense the cleansing fluid from the first end; and wherein, when the dispensing unit is in an intermediate position between the upright and inverted positions, the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the portion of the beverage through the first end and into the cup or other vessel. <EOS>