Patent ID: 7552672

Claim:
Cartridge containing one serving of coffee powder for insertion into the brewing chamber of a coffee machine for preparing a coffee beverage in which the coffee machine includes a punching means directed toward the brewing chamber from the bottom of the brewing chamber, the cartridge comprising: a cartridge body having a cup-shaped portion for containing a coffee powder having a bottom and an open top for introduction of pressurized brewing water therethrough into said cartridge and a cover member covering the open top of said cup-shaped portion; said bottom of said cartridge body having a passage defined by an aperture opening directly to the brewing chamber of the coffee machine when the cartridge is inserted therein for discharge of the coffee beverage therefrom; a gas-tight foil member covering said passage and positioned to be removable or pierceable from outside said cartridge body, wherein said foil member is pierceable by the punching means and is located at the inside of the cartridge body between said filter element and said bottom of the cartridge body; and a filter element located inside said cup-shaped portion of said cartridge body between said coffee powder and said passage in said bottom of said cartridge body; wherein said aperture is sized to prevent increase of the pressure of the brewing water within said cup-shaped portion of said cartridge as the brewing water passes through said cartridge.