Method and system for preparing a beverage

1. A method for preparing a beverage according to an individual recipe using a preparation device that comprises a positioning device for a drinking vessel and a receiving device for receiving an identification feature, the method comprising:

creating individual recipes;

storing the individual recipes to a data storage unit as a first recipe pool and a second recipe pool, wherein the first recipe pool can be managed by a user, wherein the second recipe pool is larger than the first recipe pool, and wherein the data storage unit is part of a data processing unit that can be accessed via an Electronic Data Processing (EDP) network;

linking the identification feature to the first recipe pool;

receiving the drinking vessel into the preparation device;

receiving the identification feature;

retrieving, by the preparation device, the first recipe pool that is linked to the identification feature, and proposing the individual recipes of the first recipe pool to the user for selection;

starting a countdown, wherein an automated selection is made from the first recipe pool if the countdown has finished, and wherein the automated selection can be stopped by the user;

if the automated selection is stopped by the user, retrieving, by the preparation device, the second recipe pool from the data storage unit, and proposing the individual recipes of the second recipe pool to the user for selection; and

preparing the beverage according to the automated selection or the user selection from the first recipe pool or the second recipe pool.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising proposing a single, individual recipe from the first recipe pool to the user for preparation by the preparation device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processing unit is configured so that the user, after stopping the automated selection, can determine whether an individual recipe from the second recipe pool stored in the data storage unit is to be sent to the preparation device for preparation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preparation device comprises a reader, and wherein the identification feature is received by the reader from a data carrier incorporated with the drinking vessel.

5. A beverage preparation device, comprising:

a positioning device for a drinking vessel;

a receiving device for receiving an identification feature; and

a communication system for communicating with a data processing unit via an Electronic Data Processing (EDP) network, the data processing unit coupled to a data storage unit that stores a first recipe pool and a second recipe pool, wherein the first recipe pool is linked to an identification feature associated with a user, and wherein the second recipe pool is larger than the first recipe pool;

wherein the beverage preparation device is configured to:

receive the drinking vessel into the positioning device;

receive the identification feature;

retrieve the first recipe pool and propose recipes of the first recipe pool to the user for selection;

start a countdown, wherein an automated selection is made from the first recipe pool if the countdown has finished, and wherein the automated selection can be stopped by the user; and

if the automated selection is stopped by the user, retrieve the second recipe pool from the data storage unit, and propose recipes of the second recipe pool to the user for selection; and

prepare the beverage according to the automated selection or the user selection from the first recipe pool or the second recipe pool.

6. The beverage preparation device of claim 5 , wherein the beverage preparation device is configured to propose a single, individual recipe from the first recipe pool to the user for preparation by the preparation device.

7. The beverage preparation device of claim 5 , wherein the data processing unit is configured so that the user, after stopping the automated selection, can determine whether an individual recipe from the second recipe pool stored in the data storage unit is to be sent to the preparation device for preparation.

8. The beverage preparation device of claim 5 , wherein the preparation device comprises a reader, and wherein the identification feature is received by the reader from a data carrier incorporated with the drinking vessel.