The present invention is directed to a freshness indicator (9) for a
chilled beverage and in particular to a beverage dispensing device (1)
with a freshness indicator (9) for a chilled beverage, wherein the
beverage dispensing device (1) comprises an outer housing (7), a tapping
device (2) for dispensing a beverage, a beverage container (4) being
placeable in the outer housing (7) and connectable with the tapping
device (2), and the outer housing (7) functioning as a chiller (8),
characterized in that the beverage freshness indicator device (9)
comprises: a display (10) for indicating the storage temperature, maximum
storage period, actual freshness of the beverage, the time left until
expiry of the freshness and/or the date of expiry of the freshness, a
data input unit (11) for the input of data and/or means (12) for
recording replacement of the beverage container (4), at least one
temperature sensor (13) for measuring the storage temperature of the
beverage, --a temperature controller (14) for adjusting the cooling
temperature of the chiller (8), a data storage unit (15) for storing the
freshness criteria, a signal processing unit (16), which temperature
sensor (13) transmits a signal regarding the current beverage storage
temperature to the signal processing unit (16) and the signal processing
unit (16) calculates, depending on the recorded storage temperature
period and based on stored freshness criteria, the actual freshness of
the beverage, the time left until expiry of the freshness of the beverage
and/or the date of expiry of the freshness of the beverage, and the
signal processing unit (16) transmits the calculated data to the display
(10).