Code and container of system for preparing a beverage or foodstuff

Container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion:

• the reference portion comprising reference units defining a reference line r, the reference units being arranged with a configuration preferably selected from a group comprising a triangle, in particular a right angled triangle or an isosceles triangle, a square and/or other polygon comprising up to 8 vertices, wherein the configuration:
• defines a reference point from which the reference line r extends, the reference point being preferably at least one selected from a group comprising a centre of symmetry, a centroid and/or a reference unit, of said configuration;
• uniquely defines a single direction in which the reference line r extends, the direction being preferably at least one selected from a group comprising a line of symmetry, one or more reference units, a line parallel to a line extending through one or more reference units, of the configuration;
• the data portion comprising a data unit, wherein said data unit is arranged on an encoding line D that intersects the reference line r, the data unit is arranged a distance d from said intersection along the encoding line D as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information,
• whereby said encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at said intersection point,
• wherein the configuration is located entirely within a locus defined by the or each encoding line D;
• and
• wherein the direction of the reference line r is further defined by or corrected with at least one of:
• a data unit at one of a plurality of discrete positions arranged within a planform of the code and external the locus defined by the or each encoding line D, whereby said discrete positions either comprise or do not comprise a unit, preferably as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information;
• a like configuration of reference units of another code, preferably of an adjacent code, wherein
• the reference line r is for example arranged to extend though a reference point defined by the configuration of said another code or at a known offset from a reference point defined by the configuration of said another code.