An apparatus for making beverages using capsules containing a food substance, comprising: an extraction unit in which an extraction chamber is made in which, in use, a capsule can be inserted, the extraction unit in turn comprising a first part and a second part, at least one of which is movable relative to the other between a home position, in which the two parts are at a distance from one another and in which the extraction chamber is open to allow the insertion of a capsule in it, and an extraction position in which the two parts are coupled together and close the extraction chamber; an infeed section where, in use, a capsule can be fed to the apparatus, a path for insertion of the capsule in the apparatus extending from the infeed section to the extraction chamber; units for making a beverage suitable for, in use, making water circulate through a capsule contained in the closed extraction chamber, thereby causing the beverage to be formed following the interaction between the water and the food substance, and for supplying the beverage from the closed extraction chamber to the outside of the apparatus; at least one image acquisition device positioned at an image capture zone that is located along the insertion path, upstream of the extraction chamber; the image acquisition device being suitable in use for capturing images in electronic format, which show at least one portion of a capsule located in the capture zone; the image acquisition device also operating at least in the visible spectrum; an electronic unit connected both to the image acquisition device for receiving the images gathered by it, and to the means for making the beverage for controlling and/or commanding them depending on the images received; a lighting device associated with the capture zone for lighting with light in the visible spectrum said portion of a capsule that in use is positioned in the capture zone, the lighting device being switchable between a switched on condition in which it lights and a switched off condition; and a detecting device for detecting the presence of a capsule at the capture zone and/or the arrival of a capsule in the capture zone, the detecting device being operatively associated with the lighting device for causing the switching of the lighting device from the switched off condition to the switched on condition, depending on a detection by the detecting device. an extraction unit in which an extraction chamber is made in which, in use, a capsule can be inserted, the extraction unit in turn comprising a first part and a second part, at least one of which is movable relative to the other between a home position, in which the two parts are at a distance from one another and in which the extraction chamber is open to allow the insertion of a capsule in it, and an extraction position in which the two parts are coupled together and close the extraction chamber; an infeed section where, in use, a capsule can be fed to the apparatus, a path for insertion of the capsule in the apparatus extending from the infeed section to the extraction chamber; units for making a beverage suitable for, in use, making water circulate through a capsule contained in the closed extraction chamber, thereby causing the beverage to be formed following the interaction between the water and the food substance, and for supplying the beverage from the closed extraction chamber to the outside of the apparatus; at least one image acquisition device positioned at an image capture zone that is located along the insertion path, upstream of the extraction chamber; the image acquisition device being suitable in use for capturing images in electronic format, which show at least one portion of a capsule located in the capture zone; the image acquisition device also operating at least in the visible spectrum; an electronic unit connected both to the image acquisition device for receiving the images gathered by it, and to the means for making the beverage for controlling and/or commanding them depending on the images received; a lighting device associated with the capture zone for lighting with light in the visible spectrum said portion of a capsule that in use is positioned in the capture zone, the lighting device being switchable between a switched on condition in which it lights and a switched off condition; and a detecting device for detecting the presence of a capsule at the capture zone and/or the arrival of a capsule in the capture zone, the detecting device being operatively associated with the lighting device for causing the switching of the lighting device from the switched off condition to the switched on condition, depending on a detection by the detecting device.