A beverage making machine, comprising: a frame arranged to support components of the beverage making machine, a cartridge holder supported by the frame and arranged to hold a cartridge containing a material used by the beverage making machine to form a beverage, the cartridge holder including, a lower portion arranged to receive and hold a cartridge placed at a cartridge receiving area of the lower portion, an upper portion movable relative to the frame and the lower portion between an open position in which the cartridge receiving area is exposed for placement of a cartridge and a closed position in which the upper and lower portions (31, 32) enclose the cartridge to access material in the cartridge to form a beverage, and a precursor liquid supply to provide precursor liquid used to form a beverage using the material in the cartridge, characterized in that an actuator is arranged to move the upper portion between the open and closed positions, the upper portion being arranged to move pivotally relative the frame and to the lower portion during an initial phase of movement from the open position toward the closed position, and being arranged to move linearly relative to the frame and the lower portion during a later phase of movement from the open position toward the closed position. a frame arranged to support components of the beverage making machine, a cartridge holder supported by the frame and arranged to hold a cartridge containing a material used by the beverage making machine to form a beverage, the cartridge holder including, a lower portion arranged to receive and hold a cartridge placed at a cartridge receiving area of the lower portion, an upper portion movable relative to the frame and the lower portion between an open position in which the cartridge receiving area is exposed for placement of a cartridge and a closed position in which the upper and lower portions (31, 32) enclose the cartridge to access material in the cartridge to form a beverage, and a precursor liquid supply to provide precursor liquid used to form a beverage using the material in the cartridge, characterized in that an actuator is arranged to move the upper portion between the open and closed positions, the upper portion being arranged to move pivotally relative the frame and to the lower portion during an initial phase of movement from the open position toward the closed position, and being arranged to move linearly relative to the frame and the lower portion during a later phase of movement from the open position toward the closed position. a lower portion arranged to receive and hold a cartridge placed at a cartridge receiving area of the lower portion, an upper portion movable relative to the frame and the lower portion between an open position in which the cartridge receiving area is exposed for placement of a cartridge and a closed position in which the upper and lower portions (31, 32) enclose the cartridge to access material in the cartridge to form a beverage, and a precursor liquid supply to provide precursor liquid used to form a beverage using the material in the cartridge, characterized in that an actuator is arranged to move the upper portion between the open and closed positions, the upper portion being arranged to move pivotally relative the frame and to the lower portion during an initial phase of movement from the open position toward the closed position, and being arranged to move linearly relative to the frame and the lower portion during a later phase of movement from the open position toward the closed position.