Portion dispenser for dispensing beverage items from an exchangeable cartridge comprising: - a frame with a receiving portion for receiving the exchangeable cartridge, - a discharge opening next to the receiving portion and sized for allowing a beverage item to be individually discharged by gravity from the exchangeable cartridge, - a moving means assembly comprising moving means and a moving means housing in which the moving means are arranged for moving therein, wherein the moving means assembly is arranged for connecting with the exchangeable cartridge and comprises means for opening the exchangeable cartridge to allow the discharge of the beverage item in the discharge chamber and for re-closing the exchangeable cartridge, wherein the moving means are axially or laterally arranged relative to the discharge opening and inside the moving means housing to move between an extended position in which the moving means come at or next to the discharge opening to support at least one beverage portion item and a retracted position in which the discharge chamber is defined as a function of the retraction distance of the moving means relative to the discharge opening to receive at least one, preferably a single beverage item discharged from the cartridge, characterised in that the moving means comprise a terminal portion arranged for connecting to a closure cap removably attached to a tubular storage member of the exchangeable cartridge so that the moving means move between the retracted position and the extended position with the closure cap connected thereto, and wherein the moving means are arranged for providing a discharge chamber for discharge of at least one beverage item therein and for transporting to a dispensing area. - a frame with a receiving portion for receiving the exchangeable cartridge, - a discharge opening next to the receiving portion and sized for allowing a beverage item to be individually discharged by gravity from the exchangeable cartridge, - a moving means assembly comprising moving means and a moving means housing in which the moving means are arranged for moving therein, wherein the moving means assembly is arranged for connecting with the exchangeable cartridge and comprises means for opening the exchangeable cartridge to allow the discharge of the beverage item in the discharge chamber and for re-closing the exchangeable cartridge, wherein the moving means are axially or laterally arranged relative to the discharge opening and inside the moving means housing to move between an extended position in which the moving means come at or next to the discharge opening to support at least one beverage portion item and a retracted position in which the discharge chamber is defined as a function of the retraction distance of the moving means relative to the discharge opening to receive at least one, preferably a single beverage item discharged from the cartridge, characterised in that the moving means comprise a terminal portion arranged for connecting to a closure cap removably attached to a tubular storage member of the exchangeable cartridge so that the moving means move between the retracted position and the extended position with the closure cap connected thereto, and wherein the moving means are arranged for providing a discharge chamber for discharge of at least one beverage item therein and for transporting to a dispensing area.