Patent ID: 7490638

Claim:
A dispensing device for automatically dispensing a beverage having a distinctive visual appearance of multi-layers in a serving container, comprising: at least one mixing means; a water supply and a water transport and metering means to transport and meter water to the mixing means; at least first and second liquid concentrates individually contained in storage means; concentrate lines and transport and metering means configured to transport and meter each concentrate individually from the storage means to the mixing means; at least one delivery line with an outlet to discharge amounts of the mixed and diluted concentrates in a serving container; control means including a user input means and a controller that selectively control the activation of the transport and metering means according to a programmed cycle corresponding to the specific user input means activated by the user; characterized in that: the control means selectively activates the water and concentrate transport and metering means for the mixing and delivery of a metered amount of a first concentrate with a metered amount of water to form a first liquid layer and, subsequently the mixing and delivery of a metered amount of a second concentrate with a metered amount of water to form a second liquid layer; wherein the water and the first and second liquid layers respectively have concentrate-to-water dilution rates that are controlled one relative to the other in a manner to adjust the density of the first liquid layer at a higher value than that of the second liquid layer so that the first and second layers form a stable layered arrangement in the container with the second, diluted liquid layer of lower density remaining spatially above the first liquid layer to provide a beverage having a visually distinct upper layer upon a lower layer in the container.