Beverage preparation apparatus and method

A method for preparing a beverage using a single-serve capsule, which contains a beverage substrate, of a first type or a second type, wherein the single-serve capsule of the first type has a greater axial length than the single-serve capsule of the second type, in a beverage preparation apparatus having a housing and a brewing apparatus, which is arranged in said housing, for extracting the single-serve capsule, which contains the beverage substrate, of the first type and the second type, wherein the brewing apparatus comprises a first brewing chamber element and a second brewing chamber element, wherein the first brewing chamber element and the second brewing chamber element are movable relative to each other along a predetermined and horizontal path from a loading position, in which the first brewing chamber element and the second brewing chamber element are spaced apart from each other, into an extraction position, in which the first brewing chamber element and the second brewing chamber element form a closed brewing chamber and in which a brewing operation can be carried out, wherein the first brewing chamber element comprises a cavity which is provided for receiving the single-serve capsule wherein the cavity is delimited axially by a base element which is adjustable along a horizontal direction between a starting position and a second position, wherein the cavity has a greater volume in the second position than in the starting position, wherein the first brewing chamber element has a blocking apparatus which is actuable by the single-serve capsule or the second brewing chamber element, wherein the blocking apparatus is provided to block a movement of the base element in the horizontal direction away from the second brewing chamber element in the starting position or in the second position, wherein, in the loading position, the single-serve capsule is introduced into the beverage preparation apparatus, wherein the brewing apparatus is transferred into the extraction position, wherein:

• when the single-serve capsule of the first type is used, the base element is transferred by the single-serve capsule from the starting position into the second position, and the movement of the base element in the horizontal direction is blocked in the second position,
• when the single-serve capsule of the second type is used, the blocking apparatus is actuated by the second brewing chamber element in such a manner that the movement of the base element from the starting position into the second position is blocked,
• wherein, in the extraction position, a liquid is conducted under pressure through the single-serve capsule, wherein the finished beverage is discharged through the base element and output through an outlet opening.