SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CARBONATING LIQUID IN A CONTAINER AND DETECTING CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS IN A CARBON DIOXIDE SOURCE

A system or method for carbonating a liquid includes receiving, in a sealed container of a carbonator of a drink dispenser system, a predetermined amount of liquid, identifying a predetermined carbonation level associated with a flavoring material, and setting a target pressure of the sealed container based on the predetermined carbonation level. The target pressure is selected from a plurality of different target pressures. The system or method also can include releasing pressurized carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide source into the sealed container holding the predetermined amount of the liquid therein until an internal pressure of the sealed container is substantially equal to the target pressure. The system or method can also include dispensing, into a drink container, the flavoring material and the liquid from the sealed container of the carbonator.