Form-retaining pad for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption

A pad for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption comprising:

• a soluble substance;
• a first covering having a top sheet that is non-transmissive to the soluble substance and a bottom sheet that is non-transmissive to the soluble substance, but transmissive to the soluble substance dissolved in a liquid;
• and
• a stiffening body disposed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, wherein the stiffening body comprises a wall structure defining a plurality of compartments;
• wherein the soluble substance is provided within at least some of the plurality of compartments;
• wherein the plurality of compartments comprises a first annular ring of compartments and a second annular ring of compartments, the second annular ring of compartments being a greater distance from the center of the stiffening body than the first annular ring of compartments and having a smaller size than the first annular ring of compartments such that the substance is dissolved substantially evenly in the first and second annular rings.

A pad for use in preparing a coffee beverage, the pad comprising:

• a covering having a top sheet and a bottom sheet;
• a stiffening body provided between the top sheet and the bottom sheet and having wall structures that form a plurality of compartments;
• a soluble additive, wherein only the soluble additive is provided within at least some of the plurality of compartments;
• a second covering manufactured at least partly from sheet-shaped filter material and extending parallel to the first covering;
• a second substance provided within the second covering, the second substance including a coffee product to be extracted;
• wherein the coffee beverage flows through the top sheet into the plurality of compartments, completely dissolves the soluble additive, and flows out of the plurality of compartments through the bottom sheet;
• wherein the second covering and the second substance are supported by the stiffening body;
• wherein at least some of the plurality of compartments form a honeycomb configuration;
• and
• wherein the plurality of compartments comprises a first set of compartments having a first size and a second set of compartments having a second size different than the first size and being farther away from a center of the stiffening body than the first set of compartments.