Beverage preparation systems and processes, including portion holder with enhanced single portion

A beverage preparation system comprising:

• a single portion comprising a confinement for collecting a beverage precursor substance;
• a portion holder comprising a container part with a sidewall and a base wall, and a lid part with a flow-conducting wall presenting flow passageways, and jointly confining a collection space extending at least downstream of the peripheral interface region between container and lid parts,
• said container part being adapted so that can be retained inside a portion receiving part of an extraction device that can be manually held and operated in a draw-like manner into an operating position engaged with a flow provision part of said extraction device,
• said lid part being peripherally hinged to the container part by lid connection means so that can be operated to a closed position at which the single portion is confined inside the cavity space, and
• wherein the single portion presents volumetric shape and dimension that are similar to the volumetric shape and dimension of the collection space provided by container and lid parts such that the exterior surface thereof is in contact with the interior surface provided by said container and lid parts, optionally also with a flow-dispensing part provided on the base wall, whereby the single portion presents a rim wall portion arranged at a relative level such that the single portion can sit therewith on a support step adapted as container sealing portion of the container part.