System, cartridge, beverage preparation unit and method for producing a beverage

1. A system for production of a beverage comprising:

a cartridge which has a reservoir filled with a beverage substance;

a beverage preparation unit having a cartridge receptacle in which the cartridge can be reversibly inserted, and

a cartridge discharge device which causes at least partial transfer of the beverage substance from the reservoir into a mixing chamber;

wherein the beverage preparation unit furthermore comprises a liquid supply which opens into the mixing chamber;

wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a form-fitting element which holds the cartridge in a form-fitting manner;

wherein the form-fitting element comprises at least one spring element and/or detent element which is compressed and/or engaged on inserting the cartridge into the cartridge receptacle, and

wherein the cartridge receptacle has a lead-in chamfer and/or positioning aid.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cartridge discharge device comprises a compressed air source for blowing compressed air into the reservoir on an input side of the cartridge, wherein the system is more particularly configured in such a way that the beverage substance is pressed directly out from the reservoir by the compressed air, or that a plunger is transferred from a starting position into a final position by the compressed air.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mixing chamber has a beverage outlet through which the beverage formed from mixing the beverage substance with liquid is dispensed, wherein the system is configured in such a way that the beverage can be directed from the beverage outlet directly into a portable vessel.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid supply fed with liquid which is cooled by a cooling unit, wherein the cooling unit is part of the beverage preparation unit or of a separate refrigerator which is in active connection with the beverage preparation unit.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid supply is fed with liquid which is admixed with carbon dioxide by a carbonator.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mixing chamber has a quick-fit coupling for connecting the mixing chamber with the liquid supply when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the quick-fit coupling comprises a coupling pipe and a coupling socket which receives the coupling pipe in the coupled state, wherein the coupling pipe and/or the coupling socket comprises a seal and/or wherein in the coupled state the coupling pipe engages with detent action in the coupling socket, and/or wherein the coupling pipe is part of the beverage preparation unit and the coupling socket is part of the mixing chamber.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is held by force-fitting action in the cartridge receptacle.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises an upper form-fitting element which holds the cartridge in a region of its input side, and a lower form-fitting element which holds the cartridge in a region of an output side and/or the mixing chamber.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the cartridge receptacle is configured in such a way that the cartridge has between the upper form-fitting element and the lower form-fitting element a diameter which is greater than or smaller than the diameter in the region of the upper and lower form-fitting elements.