A thermal flow sensor is provide for beverage metering using a heater in physical and thermal communication the beverage dispensing conduit. A temperature sensing element is positioned distant from and downstream from said heater along said direction of fluid flow. A computing device controls the heater and the temperature sensing element and computes a cumulative total volume during a metering cycle. The computing of a cumulative total volume during a metering cycle may be adapted or approximated to account for residual changes in temperature of the conduit or thermal sensing element metering cycles. Flow measurement is thereby without direct physical contact with the beverage itself, thereby providing cleanable fluid paths within the beverage conduit that limits or eliminate voids or trapped volumes. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.