Selection valve and beverage system including same

A selection valve (11), in particular for beverage preparation machines, comprises a valve body (45), a hot water inlet (49) in the valve body, an air inlet (51) in the valve body, and at least a first outlet (77, 133) in the valve body. A selector member (21) is movably mounted with respect to the valve body (45) for movement between a first position in which the hot water inlet (49) is in fluid communication with the at least first outlet (77, 133), and a second position in which both the hot water inlet and the air inlet (51) are in fluid communication with the at least first outlet (77, 133). The selection valve (11) further comprises a satellite element (79) associated with the selector member (21). The satellite element (79) is arranged to have a predefined limited amount of free relative movement with respect to the selector member (21) for allowing the satellite element to be positioned independently of the selector member. Relative movement of the satellite element (79), within its predefined limited amount of free relative movement, is between the first and second positions of the selector member (21). Also included are a beverage ingredient mixing unit (33) comprising the selection valve (11), a beverage preparation machine including the selection valve (11), and/or the beverage ingredient mixing unit (33), and a beverage preparation system (1) comprising the beverage preparation machine, and an exchangeable beverage ingredient supply cartridge (3).