A horizontal unit for making beverages using capsules containing powdered food substances, comprising: a supporting structure; at least a first part mounted on the supporting structure and forming a housing for receiving a capsule containing a powdered food substance to be extracted; a second part mounted on the supporting structure and shaped like an element for closing the housing, at least one out of the first part and the second part being mobile relative to the other between an operating position in which the two parts are coupled and, at the housing, between them form an extraction chamber in which the capsule can be retained, and a capsule insertion position in which they are distanced and allow said capsule to be positioned between them; the two parts, being mobile relative to each other substantially along an axial line parallel with a central axis of said housing and which in use is positioned substantially horizontally; water injection means and beverage collection means operatively associated with the chamber for, respectively, in use sending water into the capsule contained in the chamber and collecting a beverage coming out of the capsule; movement means for reciprocal movement of the two parts, mounted between the supporting structure and at least the mobile part out of the first part and the second part and comprising a movement shaft rotatably connected to the supporting structure, positioned perpendicularly to the axial line and, in use, substantially horizontal, a crank comprising an inner end fitted on the shaft and an outer end, and a connecting rod comprising a rear end rotatably connected to the outer end of the crank and a front end rotatably connected to the mobile part out of the first part and the second part; the crank rotating with the shaft between a unit open position in which it forms an acute angle with the connecting rod, is angled on a first side of the axial line, and in which the first part and the second part are in the insertion position, and a unit closed position in which it forms an obtuse angle with the connecting rod and is angled on a second side of the axial line, opposite to the first side; wherein in the unit closed position the crank rests on a part of the supporting structure; characterised in that the crank also comprises at least a first resting portion which in the unit closed position acts in contact against at least a first shoulder formed by the part of the supporting structure on which the crank is resting and positioned in such a way as to prevent movements of the crank towards the shaft parallel with the axial line when the first resting portion acts in contact on it and/or at least a second resting portion which in the unit closed position acts in contact against at least a second shoulder formed by the part of the supporting structure on which the crank is resting and positioned in such a way as to prevent movements of the crank transversally to the plane in which it rotates when the second resting portion acts in contact on it. a supporting structure; at least a first part mounted on the supporting structure and forming a housing for receiving a capsule containing a powdered food substance to be extracted; a second part mounted on the supporting structure and shaped like an element for closing the housing, at least one out of the first part and the second part being mobile relative to the other between an operating position in which the two parts are coupled and, at the housing, between them form an extraction chamber in which the capsule can be retained, and a capsule insertion position in which they are distanced and allow said capsule to be positioned between them; the two parts, being mobile relative to each other substantially along an axial line parallel with a central axis of said housing and which in use is positioned substantially horizontally; water injection means and beverage collection means operatively associated with the chamber for, respectively, in use sending water into the capsule contained in the chamber and collecting a beverage coming out of the capsule; movement means for reciprocal movement of the two parts, mounted between the supporting structure and at least the mobile part out of the first part and the second part and comprising a movement shaft rotatably connected to the supporting structure, positioned perpendicularly to the axial line and, in use, substantially horizontal, a crank comprising an inner end fitted on the shaft and an outer end, and a connecting rod comprising a rear end rotatably connected to the outer end of the crank and a front end rotatably connected to the mobile part out of the first part and the second part; the crank rotating with the shaft between a unit open position in which it forms an acute angle with the connecting rod, is angled on a first side of the axial line, and in which the first part and the second part are in the insertion position, and a unit closed position in which it forms an obtuse angle with the connecting rod and is angled on a second side of the axial line, opposite to the first side; wherein in the unit closed position the crank rests on a part of the supporting structure;