Portion capsule having an identifier

1. A method of using a portion capsule for producing a beverage, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus including a barcode reader, the apparatus including a pump adapted to supply heated water;

inserting the portion capsule into the apparatus, the portion capsule including a foil lid sealed to a base element having a cavity in which a beverage raw material is provided, the base element comprising a flange, the flange having a top side to which the foil lid is sealed and an opposing bottom side with a barcode located on the bottom side, the base element has a wall region with an electrically conductive section and radially spaced and vertically oriented grooves, the cavity has radially spaced and vertically oriented ribs, the portion capsule being free of a filter, the base element and/or the lid are made of metal;

piercing the foil lid;

reading the barcode with the barcode reader;

determining whether the read barcode agrees with a stored reference; and

activating the pump to push heated water into the portion capsule only upon a determination that the read barcode agrees with the stored reference.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises not activating the pump to push the heated water into the portion capsule upon a determination that the read barcode does not agree with the stored reference.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises engaging the portion capsule with a pair of holding arms, and

wherein the base element and/or the foil lid are made of aluminum.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises dropping the portion capsule into a dropping box,

wherein the base element comprises a bottom that opposes the flange, the bottom comprises an indentation.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises sealing a seal of the apparatus against the foil lid, and

wherein the grooves are free from extending all the way into a region of the base element that is immediately adjacent to the flange.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises introducing the heated water into the portion capsule along a central axis of the portion capsule.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises piercing the foil lid in a region that is offset from a central axis of the portion capsule, and wherein the lid is crowned in a region of the central axis of the portion capsule relative to a region of the lid adjacent to the flange.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises controlling a production process of the beverage according to the read barcode, and

wherein the wall comprises an upper section and a lower section, the upper section is located adjacent to the flange, and the lower section is located in between the upper section and a bottom of the base element,

wherein the upper section comprises a circumferential border and the wall of the lower section is angled, with respect to the upper section, and is tapered towards a bottom of the base element.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises inducing a turbulent flow of the heated water through the portion capsule, and

wherein the base element comprises a bottom that opposes the flange, the bottom comprises an indentation.

10. A method of using a portion capsule for making a coffee beverage, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus including a barcode reader, the apparatus having a pump and being adapted to supply heated water;

inserting the portion capsule into the apparatus, the portion capsule including a foil lid sealed to a base element having a cavity within which a powdered coffee material is located, the base element including a circumferential flange having a top side and a bottom side with a barcode located on the bottom side, the portion capsule being free of a filter and comprising a plurality of ribs that are radially spaced, vertically oriented and extend toward a central portion of the cavity, wherein an outer surface of the base element comprises radially spaced and vertically oriented grooves;

piercing the foil lid;

reading the barcode with the barcode reader; and

activating the pump to introduce the heated water into the portion capsule only upon a determination that the read barcode agrees with a stored reference, or not activating the pump upon a determination that the read barcode does not agree with the stored reference.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the method comprises engaging the portion capsule with a pair of holding arms, and wherein the base element comprises an electrically conductive section.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the method comprises dropping the portion capsule into a dropping box, and

wherein the grooves are free from extending all the way into a region of the base element that is immediately adjacent to the flange.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the method comprises inducing turbulent flow of the heated water through the portion capsule, and

wherein the base element comprises a bottom that opposes the flange, the bottom comprises an indentation.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the method comprises dropping the portion capsule into a dropping box, wherein the base element and/or the lid are made of metal.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the method comprises inducing turbulent flow of the heated water through the portion capsule, wherein the base element and/or the lid are made of aluminum.

16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the method comprises sealing a seal of the apparatus against the foil lid, wherein the wall comprises an upper section and a lower section, the upper section is located adjacent to the flange, and the lower section is located between the upper section and a bottom of the base element, wherein the upper section comprises a circumferential border and the wall of the lower section is angled, with respect to the upper section, and is tapered towards a bottom of the base element.