Patent ID: 7322277

Claim:
A cartridge containing one or more liquid beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, a compartment containing the one or more liquid beverage ingredients and an outlet for a beverage produced by dilution of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients by the aqueous medium, the compartment includes means for controlling dilution of at least a proportion of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients on introduction of the aqueous medium into the compartment, the means for controlling dilution delays dilution of at least a proportion of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients on introduction of the aqueous medium into the compartment, in use, an aqueous medium flow path is established from the inlet to the outlet, the means for delaying dilution comprising a partition which hinders entry of at least a proportion of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients into the aqueous medium flow path, the partition includes four apertures for controllably releasing the at least a proportion of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients into the aqueous medium flow path and the partition comprises a cup-shaped member having an open mouth directed away from the aqueous medium flow path.