A form-retaining pad for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption, provided with: - at least a first covering in which a substance which is soluble in a liquid is included, wherein said at least first covering comprises a top sheet, manufactured from a material non-transmissive to the soluble substance, and a bottom sheet, manufactured from a material non-transmissive to the soluble substance, but transmissive to the substance dissolved in a liquid, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet extend at least partly substantially parallel to each other and to a surface, - a stiffening body, which is placed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, wherein the stiffening body has a top side adjacent to the top sheet and a bottom side adjacent to the bottom sheet, said top side having an open top side area, said bottom side having an open bottom are, said stiffening body further comprising an annular circumferential wall extending between the top side and the bottom side and a compartmenting wall configuration therein, which compartmenting wall configuration has a grid structure which is transmissive to liquid from the top side to the bottom side, in which grid structure at least a part of the soluble substance is accommodated and each compartment (19.1, 19.2, 19.3) formed by the wall configuration is surrounded by that wall configuration, the top sheet and the bottom sheet, said annular circumferential wall having a curved cross-section and a bottom wall part extending at least substantially parallel to the surface, said bottom wall part having a circular edge defining the open bottom area, characterized in that, said bottom sheet is sealed to the outer surface of the bottom wall part of the annular circumferential wall, and said bottom sheet and the outer surface of the bottom wall part of the annular circumferential wall to which it is sealed form a smooth, flat surface. - at least a first covering in which a substance which is soluble in a liquid is included, wherein said at least first covering comprises a top sheet, manufactured from a material non-transmissive to the soluble substance, and a bottom sheet, manufactured from a material non-transmissive to the soluble substance, but transmissive to the substance dissolved in a liquid, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet extend at least partly substantially parallel to each other and to a surface, - a stiffening body, which is placed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, wherein the stiffening body has a top side adjacent to the top sheet and a bottom side adjacent to the bottom sheet, said top side having an open top side area, said bottom side having an open bottom are, said stiffening body further comprising an annular circumferential wall extending between the top side and the bottom side and a compartmenting wall configuration therein, which compartmenting wall configuration has a grid structure which is transmissive to liquid from the top side to the bottom side, in which grid structure at least a part of the soluble substance is accommodated and each compartment (19.1, 19.2, 19.3) formed by the wall configuration is surrounded by that wall configuration, the top sheet and the bottom sheet, said annular circumferential wall having a curved cross-section and a bottom wall part extending at least substantially parallel to the surface, said bottom wall part having a circular edge defining the open bottom area,