A cartridge extraction unit configured for fitting into a cartridge receiving chamber of a beverage dispenser the cartridge extraction unit comprising: a cartridge seat configured to slidingly displace within the cartridge receiving chamber between a cartridge operative position in which a water inlet of the cartridge and the treated water outlet of the cartridge establish a fluid communication with a water inlet and a treated water outlet of said chamber, respectively, and a cartridge extraction position in which the cartridge water inlet and the treated water cartridge outlet are disengaged from the water inlet and the treated water outlet of the chamber, respectively, the cartridge seat configured to engage a seat-receiving location formed at an external wall portion of said cartridge when received within the cartridge receiving chamber; and a user-accessible actuation member associated with the cartridge seat and switchable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the actuation member being configured to slidingly displace the cartridge seat between said cartridge operative position, corresponding to said locked position, and said cartridge extraction position that corresponds to said unlocked position, wherein said user-accessible actuation member is a lever associated with the cartridge seat via a movement translation mechanism, the movement transition mechanism comprises a cogwheel, rotationally held between a first, vertically displaceable toothed rack associated or being part of the lever, and a second, toothed rack that is formed on a surface of the cartridge seat, whereby displacement of the lever between the locked position and the unlocked position causes downward vertical displacement of the first rack to rotate the cogwheel, thereby causing upward vertical displacement of the second rack to axially slidingly displace the cartridge seat between the cartridge operative position and the cartridge extraction position. a cartridge seat configured to slidingly displace within the cartridge receiving chamber between a cartridge operative position in which a water inlet of the cartridge and the treated water outlet of the cartridge establish a fluid communication with a water inlet and a treated water outlet of said chamber, respectively, and a cartridge extraction position in which the cartridge water inlet and the treated water cartridge outlet are disengaged from the water inlet and the treated water outlet of the chamber, respectively, the cartridge seat configured to engage a seat-receiving location formed at an external wall portion of said cartridge when received within the cartridge receiving chamber; and a user-accessible actuation member associated with the cartridge seat and switchable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the actuation member being configured to slidingly displace the cartridge seat between said cartridge operative position, corresponding to said locked position, and said cartridge extraction position that corresponds to said unlocked position, wherein said user-accessible actuation member is a lever associated with the cartridge seat via a movement translation mechanism, the movement transition mechanism comprises a cogwheel, rotationally held between a first, vertically displaceable toothed rack associated or being part of the lever, and a second, toothed rack that is formed on a surface of the cartridge seat, whereby displacement of the lever between the locked position and the unlocked position causes downward vertical displacement of the first rack to rotate the cogwheel, thereby causing upward vertical displacement of the second rack to axially slidingly displace the cartridge seat between the cartridge operative position and the cartridge extraction position.