A system comprising a capsule and a beverage machine having a brewing unit and activation means, wherein: - the capsule has a sidewall joined to a capsule bottom, and a capsule top, the sidewall, bottom and top forming a generally cup-shaped container for containing a beverage ingredient; - the brewing unit comprises a first assembly and a second assembly cooperating together, one of the assemblies (13,14) comprising a capsule receptacle, such as a cup-shaped capsule receptacle, having a sidewall and a mouth and delimiting with the other assembly at least part of a brewing chamber for containing the ingredient capsule; and - the activation means include means for supplying water, in particular heated water, to the brewing chamber and means for driving at least one of the assemblies: - away from the cooperating assembly into an open position for forming between the assemblies a passage for inserting into and/or removing from the brewing unit the ingredient capsule; and - to the cooperating assembly into a closed position for forming said brewing chamber, the capsule, the brewing unit and the drive means (3,4) being arranged so that: - when the assemblies (13,14) are in the open position, the capsule inserted via the passage is retained between the assemblies in a retained position; - when the assemblies are driven by the drive means to transfer the assemblies from the open position to the closed position, the capsule bottom and at least part of the capsule sidewall enter the capsule receptacle via its mouth; and - when the assemblies are in the closed position, the capsule is in a brewing position in the brewing chamber, characterised in that the activation means include a motor for driving the assemblies between the open and closed positions and control means for controlling the water supply means and the drive action of the motor, the control means comprising: - means for measuring at least one electrical parameter (40,40',40a,41,41',41a) representative of a consumption of power by the motor and for comparing to at least one set reference (42,42') an evolution of said measured parameter over time during the transfer of the assemblies (13,14) from the open to the closed position; and - means for providing to said activation means an input resulting from the comparison of the evolution of said measured parameter(s) to said set reference(s), wherein the assemblies (13,14) and the capsule are arranged so that, when the capsule is retained in the open position and the assemblies are then driven from the open position towards the closed position, the capsule sidewall and the mouth of the capsule receptacle are urged together and contact each other in a sliding friction relationship over a fraction (VIII'-IX') of the capsule sidewall so as to create a capsule-generated resistance against closure of the assemblies that affects the power consumption of the motor during closure and said measured parameter over time to generate a corresponding input to the activation means, in particular for stopping or continuing or for reversing a powering of the motor. - the capsule has a sidewall joined to a capsule bottom, and a capsule top, the sidewall, bottom and top forming a generally cup-shaped container for containing a beverage ingredient; - the brewing unit comprises a first assembly and a second assembly cooperating together, one of the assemblies (13,14) comprising a capsule receptacle, such as a cup-shaped capsule receptacle, having a sidewall and a mouth and delimiting with the other assembly at least part of a brewing chamber for containing the ingredient capsule; and - the activation means include means for supplying water, in particular heated water, to the brewing chamber and means for driving at least one of the assemblies: - away from the cooperating assembly into an open position for forming between the assemblies a passage for inserting into and/or removing from the brewing unit the ingredient capsule; and - away from the cooperating assembly into an open position for forming between the assemblies a passage for inserting into and/or removing from the brewing unit the ingredient capsule; and - to the cooperating assembly into a closed position for forming said brewing chamber, - when the assemblies (13,14) are in the open position, the capsule inserted via the passage is retained between the assemblies in a retained position; - when the assemblies are driven by the drive means to transfer the assemblies from the open position to the closed position, the capsule bottom and at least part of the capsule sidewall enter the capsule receptacle via its mouth; and - when the assemblies are in the closed position, the capsule is in a brewing position in the brewing chamber, - means for measuring at least one electrical parameter (40,40',40a,41,41',41a) representative of a consumption of power by the motor and for comparing to at least one set reference (42,42') an evolution of said measured parameter over time during the transfer of the assemblies (13,14) from the open to the closed position; and - means for providing to said activation means an input resulting from the comparison of the evolution of said measured parameter(s) to said set reference(s),