US Patent 10405690 Single serve brewing machine

According to embodiments described in the specification, a brewing machine has a machine body that includes a plurality of single serve preparation zones. Each single serve preparation zone corresponds to a preparation parameter. The machine body also includes a cartridge acceptor configured to receive a single serve cartridge, a cartridge sorter configured to determine a parameter of the received cartridge and select one of the plurality of single serve preparation zones according to the determined parameter, a transfer sub-assembly configured to transfer the cartridge to the selected single serve preparation zone, and a fluid dispenser for preparing the beverage using the cartridge in the selected single serve preparation zone.