Patent ID: 8468935

Claim:
An apparatus for guiding liquid through an enhanced beverage preparation process using a flow control system, the apparatus comprising: a. a liquid flow path having an inlet adapted for fluid communication with a source of liquid and an outlet adapted for fluid communication with a receiving point; b. the flow control system positionable between the inlet and outlet of the liquid flow path and configurable between: i. a flow-through mode adapted to produce the enhanced beverage by passing liquid through the liquid flow path; and ii. a parallel flow mode adapted to produce the enhanced beverage by passing liquid through the liquid flow path and an enhancement flow path and combining at a mixing point; c. a removably insertable enhancement cartridge having an inlet and an outlet and a flow through configuration; d. the enhancement cartridge with the flow through configuration having a liquid flow path in communication with a chamber adapted for receiving an enhancement component, wherein the enhancement component is separated from the enhancement component inlet and outlet by a permeable membrane.