Capsule for beverage preparation

1. A container for food or beverage preparation, the container comprising:

walls defining at least one compartment adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient, the walls comprising at least one fluid connection portion for fluidly coupling to a cooperating fluid connection portion of a food or beverage preparation machine having at least one source of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within the at least one compartment by mixing the fluid mixing ingredient with the at least one precursor ingredient;

at least one food or beverage delivery wall; and

a built-in pump made of a closed but deformable volume of the container that is able to alternatively expand and retract, hence suitable for pumping the fluid mixing ingredient from the at least one source when the container is fluidly connected to the food or beverage preparation machine, and for generating a fluid circulation within the at least one compartment, such that the food or beverage product is prepared and expelled through the at least one food or beverage delivery wall, the built-in pump constitutes an upper injection wall and a rigid distributor wall such that the rigid distributor wall is located between the upper injection wall and the least one compartment,

the closed but deformable volume of the container comprising

(i) at least one stretchable or deformable portion of the upper injection wall of the container, the at least one stretchable or deformable portion is capable of being alternatively outwardly, then inwardly, elastically stretched or deformed by an outside thrust actuator of the food or beverage preparation machine, without tearing or breaking, such that the closed but deformable volume alternatively increases then decreases in pumping cycles;

(ii) an admission opening that provides a fluid connection between the food or beverage preparation machine and the closed but deformable volume, from a source of water towards an interior of the closed but deformable volume; and

(iii) an exit opening that allows a fluid connection from the interior towards an outside of the closed but deformable volume,

the admission opening comprises an inlet check valve, and/or the exit opening comprises an outlet check valve.

2. The container according to claim 1 , wherein the admission opening consists of the inlet check valve, and/or the exit opening consists of the outlet check valve.

3. The container according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inlet check valve or the outlet check valve is selected from the group consisting of a duckbill valve, a ball valve, an umbrella valve, a peristaltic valve, and combinations thereof.

4. The container according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one stretchable or deformable portion of the upper injection wall comprises a mechanical connection suitable to be mechanically connected to a corresponding mechanical connection of a pump actuator of the food or beverage preparation machine.

5. The container according to claim 4 , wherein the mechanical connection comprises a rigid catching circular protrusion able to slide into, or otherwise catch, a cooperating connection groove of the pump actuator.

6. The container according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one fluid connection portion is adjacent to, or integrated with, the mechanical connection.

7. The container according to claim 1 , which is a rigid or semi-rigid capsule.

8. The container according to claim 1 , which is a soft pod, or a sachet.

9. The container according to claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the mechanical connection extends from the upper injection wall in an opposite direction from the at least one food or beverage delivery wall, and the rigid catching circular protrusion extends outward from the mechanical connection in a horizontal plane located above a horizontal plane defined by an upper opening of a capsule body that is closed by the upper injection wall.