The present invention relates to a system for dispensing a customized serving. The system includes an ingredient storage module 12, an ingredient processing module 18, a serving dispenser 20, a user interface 24, and a formulation database containing an inventory of ingredients stored in the storage module 12 from which potential servings will be formulated. The system also includes a controller 22 that is operatively linked to the storage module 12, the processing module 18, the dispenser 20, the interface 24 and the database. The controller 22 is programmed: (a) to receive a serving selection from the user; (b) to determine, using the database, a serving recipe that best approximates the user's serving selection; (c) to present the serving recipe to the user via the interface 24, and (d) upon a command from the user, to actuate the processing module 18 to prepare, and the serving dispenser 20 to dispense, a serving prepared from the serving recipe.