Coffee machine

In a coffee brewing machine of the tupe using standardized water-permeable pods of 35-50 mm diameter and a thickness equal to 5-13 mm and containing a quantity of 5-10 grams of ground coffee having at least 45% of the coffee particles of diameter smaller than 0.4 mm and 20-55% of the coffee particles of diameter smaller than 0.1 mm which has been compressed under a pressure of at least 15 atmospheres, a combination comprising

• wall means defining a brewing chamber;
• a plurality of permanent filter elements of different permeability and each being individually receivable in said brewing chamber to subdivide the same into a first compartment and a second compartment having an outlet;
• means for sealingly clamping circumferential edge portions of a pod located in said first compartment so that the pod is held freely suspended therein out of contact with said wall means and filter element so as to be able to swell without interference;
• and
• means for admitting a predetermined amount of pressurized hot water per unit time into said first compartment for passage through said pod and filter element therein within a predetermined time span whereby a brewed beverage is produced whose volumetric quantity, and thus strength, is dependent upon the chosen filter element in said chamber and which contains between 22-26% of the total extractable aromatic substances in the pod.