A beverage preparation machine, such as a machine for preparing a beverage from an ingredient selected from coffee, tea, cocoa, milk, chocolate and soup, such machine having: - a water circuit (12,13) for guiding water (2,2',2") from a source, such as a water circuit comprising at least one of a liquid driver, e.g. a pump, and a thermal conditioner, e.g. a heater and/or a cooler, for instance a pump fluidically connected to a heater for driving water from a heater inlet to a heater outlet via a heating duct; - a mixing unit fluidically connected to the water circuit (12,13) and to a beverage outlet for dispensing to a consumer cup or mug a beverage formed in the mixing unit, the mixing unit having a first module and a second module that are relatively movable from: - a distant configuration for inserting an ingredient between the first and second modules (21,22); to - a proximate position for holding such ingredient between the first and second modules (21,22) and combining such ingredient with water supplied by the water circuit (12,13) to the mixing unit so as to form said beverage; - a further unit fluidically connected to the water circuit (12,13) and to an outlet for dispensing to a consumer cup or mug water (2ʺ), as such or in combination with an ingredient, supplied by the water circuit (12,13) via the further unit, such as via a pipe of the further unit leading to the outlet; and - a water directing device fluidically connected to the water circuit (12,13), to the mixing unit and to the further unit, the water directing device having one or more valves (141,142;143,144) that can be opened and closed for controlling a flow of water (2,2',2") from the water circuit (12,13) selectively into an inlet of the mixing unit or into an inlet of the further unit, optionally the first module and the second module being relatively movable, by a motor and/or a handle, via a transmission such as a transmission comprising at least one of a toothed gear (24,25), lever and belt transmission element, at least one of the first and second modules (21,22), by relatively moving between the distant and the proximate configurations, actuating said valve(s) (141,142;143,144) to direct said flow of water selectively into at least one of the inlet of the mixing unit and the inlet of the further unit, characterised in that the mixing unit and the further unit have different flow-through resistances, the valve (141,142) of the directing device opening and closing the inlet of the unit with the lower flow-through resistance so that, when said valve (141,142) is open, water (2") from the water circuit (13,14) is predominantly directed, e.g. at least almost exclusively directed, into the inlet of the unit with the lower flow-through resistance. - a water circuit (12,13) for guiding water (2,2',2") from a source, such as a water circuit comprising at least one of a liquid driver, e.g. a pump, and a thermal conditioner, e.g. a heater and/or a cooler, for instance a pump fluidically connected to a heater for driving water from a heater inlet to a heater outlet via a heating duct; - a mixing unit fluidically connected to the water circuit (12,13) and to a beverage outlet for dispensing to a consumer cup or mug a beverage formed in the mixing unit, the mixing unit having a first module and a second module that are relatively movable from: - a distant configuration for inserting an ingredient between the first and second modules (21,22); to - a proximate position for holding such ingredient between the first and second modules (21,22) and combining such ingredient with water supplied by the water circuit (12,13) to the mixing unit so as to form said beverage; - a distant configuration for inserting an ingredient between the first and second modules (21,22); to - a proximate position for holding such ingredient between the first and second modules (21,22) and combining such ingredient with water supplied by the water circuit (12,13) to the mixing unit so as to form said beverage; - a further unit fluidically connected to the water circuit (12,13) and to an outlet for dispensing to a consumer cup or mug water (2ʺ), as such or in combination with an ingredient, supplied by the water circuit (12,13) via the further unit, such as via a pipe of the further unit leading to the outlet; and - a water directing device fluidically connected to the water circuit (12,13), to the mixing unit and to the further unit, the water directing device having one or more valves (141,142;143,144) that can be opened and closed for controlling a flow of water (2,2',2") from the water circuit (12,13) selectively into an inlet of the mixing unit or into an inlet of the further unit, optionally the first module and the second module being relatively movable, by a motor and/or a handle, via a transmission such as a transmission comprising at least one of a toothed gear (24,25), lever and belt transmission element, at least one of the first and second modules (21,22), by relatively moving between the distant and the proximate configurations, actuating said valve(s) (141,142;143,144) to direct said flow of water selectively into at least one of the inlet of the mixing unit and the inlet of the further unit, characterised in that the mixing unit and the further unit have different flow-through resistances, the valve (141,142) of the directing device opening and closing the inlet of the unit with the lower flow-through resistance so that, when said valve (141,142) is open, water (2") from the water circuit (13,14) is predominantly directed, e.g. at least almost exclusively directed, into the inlet of the unit with the lower flow-through resistance.