US20210339942A1

US20210339942A1 - Capsule for making a beverage

Info

Publication number: US20210339942A1
Application number: US17/259,794
Authority: US
Inventors: Stefano Tonelli; Cristiano Castelli
Original assignee: Caffita System SpA
Current assignee: Caffita System SpA
Priority date: 2018-07-20
Filing date: 2019-07-19
Publication date: 2021-11-04
Also published as: EP3823915A1; CA3106770A1; BR112021000923A2; CO2021000323A2; AU2019305163B2; CN112399953A; PT3823915T; ES2916461T3; WO2020016846A1; JP2021531215A; AU2019305163A1; CN112399953B; EP3823915B1; PL3823915T3; JP7250109B2; IT201800007403A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule (1) for making a beverage, comprising a water distributing element (3) positioned in an inner chamber of the capsule (1), in a position interposed between a water infeed section and a powdered food substance (27). The water distributing element (3) comprises: a central region (35) intended, in use, to receive the water fed in; a perimetric region (37) which is in contact with a lateral wall (20) of the capsule (1); a partition wall (39) which extends between the central region (35) and the perimetric region (37) and has a first face (31) facing the water infeed section and a second face (32) facing the powdered food substance (27). The partition wall (39) comprises one or more holes or channels (40, 45) which pass through the partition wall (39) and put the first face (31) and the second face (32) in communication with each other, said one or more holes or channels (40, 45) being far from the central region (35) and near the perimetric region (37) and forming the only passages for the water, in use, from the water infeed section towards the powdered food substance (27). Relative to a reference plane (10) which is perpendicular to the central axis (29), the first face (31) of the partition wall (39) is slanting relative to the reference plane (10) or is formed of portions which are slanting relative to the reference plane (10). The first face (31) of the partition wall (39) has a convexity facing the water infeed section.

Description

The present invention relates to a capsule for making a beverage, the capsule being of the type comprising a powdered food substance which allows the beverage to be made by passing water through the powdered food substance.
Numerous types of capsules for making beverages are currently known.
It is known that the quality of the beverage obtained also depends on the interaction between the powdered food substance and the water passing in the capsule. Parameters to be considered are, for instance, the wetting degree of the food substance, the uniformity of water distribution, the possibility of preferential passages being created for the water, the length of time that the water remains in the capsule.
In the state of the art, several solutions have been proposed to address the needs encountered in preparing beverages using capsules. However, the solutions available may have further margins for improvement and leave room for alternative solutions that are improved in at least some respects.
In particular, in capsules containing a soluble food substance, some food substance that has not been dissolved in the water due to inadequate water distribution may remain in the capsule after dispensing the drink. In capsules which carry out infusion without solubilisation of the powdered substance (for instance, coffee-making capsules), inadequate water distribution may lead to unsatisfactory or less than optimal infusion.
In this context, the technical purpose of the present invention is to provide a capsule for making a beverage that offers better performances than known capsules or at least offers an alternative solution to the currently known solutions.
The technical purpose and the aims stated above are substantially achieved by a capsule for making a beverage in accordance with claim 1. Particular embodiments of the present invention are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the capsule comprises a water distributing element that is in a position interposed between a water infeed section and the powdered food substance contained in the capsule. The water distributing element comprises one or more holes or channels which are far from a central region of the water distributing element and near a perimetric region of the water distributing element. The central region is intended, in use, to receive the water fed in and the water distributing element occludes the transversal section of the capsule, so that the one or more holes or channels form the only possible passages for the water from the water infeed section towards the powdered food substance.
This is useful for producing a turbulent water flow in the region where the powdered food substance is situated, thus facilitating the complete wetting of the latter and, if necessary, its complete solubilisation. Thanks to the limited number of passages, which are peripheral to the central region, the water is injected into the powdered food substance at high speed and a vortex-type flow is produced in the chamber.
Preferably, only one hole or channel is present, although a greater number of holes or channels may be present (for instance, a maximum of four).
According to another aspect of the present invention, the water distributing element has a partition wall, which extends between the central region and the perimetric region and in which the one or more holes or channels are made. The partition wall divides a water intake region from the region where the powdered food substance is: it has a first face, which is facing the water infeed section, and a second face, which is facing the powdered food substance.
Relative to a reference plane which is perpendicular to the central axis of the capsule, the first face of the partition wall is slanting or is formed of slanting portions. Consequently, along lines that are radial or along lines that are annular relative to the central axis of the capsule, the first face of the partition wall is at a variable distance from the reference plane. The first face of the partition wall has a convexity facing the water infeed section.
In practice, the face of the partition wall which faces the water infeed section has a surface area which is greater than the surface area of its projection onto the reference plane and has parts which extend towards the water infeed section itself.
This is useful because, under the pressure of the water fed in, which is exerted on the first face of the partition wall, the face itself would tend to flatten out and extend to the periphery; since this is prevented by the lateral wall of the capsule, the locking and the hydraulic seal between the water distributing element and the lateral wall of the capsule are enhanced.
This makes it possible both to prevent the water distributing element from being displaced from its seat and to prevent undesired water passages from being created between the water distributing element and the lateral wall, which could endanger the effectiveness of the turbulent flow mentioned above.
In particular, the water distributing element is prevented from warping, under the exerted pressure, towards the outfeed section until forming a concavity facing the infeed section. The above description applies to the water infeed pressures usually applied in capsule-using apparatuses; for instance, pressures of up to 15 bar or even up to 20 bar.
In particular, if a plane tangential to the outer edge of the perimetric region on the side facing the powdered food substance is considered to be the reference plane, the convexity of the partition wall is between said plane and the water infeed section; specifically, the entire convexity is between said plane and the water infeed section.

Further features and the advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred non-limiting embodiments of capsules for making a beverage. Reference shall be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal-section view of a first embodiment of a capsule according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a water distributing element forming part of the capsule shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 2, sectioned along line VI-VI shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 2, sectioned along line VI-VI shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal-section view of a second embodiment of a capsule according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a water distributing element forming part of the capsule shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 9, sectioned along line XIII-XIII shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 9, sectioned along line XIII-XIII shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal-section view of a third embodiment of a capsule according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a water distributing element forming part of the capsule shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a top view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 16, sectioned along line XX-XX shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional side view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 16, sectioned along line XX-XX shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional side view of the water distributing element shown in FIG. 16, sectioned along line XXII-XXII shown in FIG. 18.

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 to 7, a first embodiment of a capsule 1 for making a beverage, according to the present invention, is shown.
The capsule 1 comprises a cup-shaped containment body 2 in turn comprising a tubular lateral wall 20 extending between a first edge 21 and a second edge 22. The containment body 2 also comprises a bottom portion 23 connected to the second edge 22 and extending transversally to a central axis 29 of the tubular lateral wall 20. In particular, the containment body 2 is made of plastic by moulding or thermoforming; alternatively, it is made of aluminium. The tubular lateral wall 20 preferably has a circular cross-section and the central axis 29 is the axis passing through the centres of the circular cross-sections of the tubular lateral wall 20.
The capsule 1 also comprises a closing element 25 fixed to the first edge 21 for closing the top of the containment body 2. The closing element 25 is, for instance, a plastic or aluminium film which is welded onto an annular flange of the first edge 21.
The containment body 2 and the closing element 25 form an inner chamber of the capsule 1. The inner chamber contains a powdered food substance 27 which allows a beverage to be made by passing water through the powdered food substance 27 itself.
One of either the closing element 25 or the bottom portion 23 is, in use, a water infeed section for feeding water into the capsule 1; the other of either the closing element 25 or the bottom portion 23 is, in use, a beverage outfeed section for outfeed of the beverage from the capsule 1. In the embodiments shown here, the closing element 25 is the water infeed section and the bottom portion 23 is the beverage outfeed section. During the use of the capsule 1 in a suitable beverage-making apparatus, the bottom portion 23 and the closing element 25 are pierced or torn to allow the water and the beverage to pass.
The above-described aspects of the capsule 1 are known per se and can be made by a person skilled in the art according to the information already known. Therefore, although the capsule 1 is only shown according to a sectional view in FIG. 1, the aspects described are clear to a person skilled in the art.
The capsule 1 differs from known capsules in that it comprises a water distributing element 3 made according to the present invention.
The water distributing element 3 is positioned in the inner chamber, in a position interposed between the water infeed section (specifically, the closing element 25) and the powdered food substance 27.
In particular, the water distributing element 3 is positioned in a corresponding seat, which is formed by a variation in the cross-section of the tubular lateral wall 20: it should be noted in FIG. 1 that the tubular lateral wall has a step just below the water distributing element 3, which is positioned in the upper part having a larger cross-section.
The water distributing element 3 has a central region 35 intended, in use, to receive the water fed in, a perimetric region 37 which is in contact with the tubular lateral wall 20, a partition wall 39 which extends between the central region 35 and the perimetric region 37. The partition wall 39 has a first face 31 which is facing the water infeed section and a second face 32 which is facing the powdered food substance 27.
In particular, the central region 35 comprises a hollow 350 which extends towards the beverage outfeed section, specifically towards the bottom portion 23. This hollow 350 forms, on the side of the first face 31, a concavity which is intended to receive a water injection nozzle of the beverage-making apparatus, with the injection nozzle centrally piercing the closing element 25 and entering the capsule 1. In particular, this hollow 350 has an approximately conical shape and, on the side of the second face 32, forms a bulge. The conical hollow 350 has, for instance, a diameter of 10 mm and a depth of 7.5 mm.
The central region 35, which is crossed by the central axis 29, has no through-holes and the hollow 350 has no holes, meaning that the water is forced to climb along its surface.
In the embodiment shown, a central pin or tooth 352 projects from the bottom of the hollow 350 towards the water infeed section (i.e. towards the closing element 25).
The perimetric region 37 is in contact with the inner face of the tubular lateral wall 20 along the entire outer edge and, in particular, forms a hydraulic seal with the lateral wall 20 itself. The dimensions of the water distributing element 3, on a plane perpendicular to the central axis 29, correspond to those of the cross-section of the lateral wall 20 in which it is housed. In particular, the perimetral region 37 is circular and its outer diameter is, for instance, 39 mm.
Specifically, the perimetric region 37 comprises an annular rim 370 which is in hydraulic sealed contact with the tubular lateral wall 20. This annular rim 370 is, for instance, elastically deformed towards the central region 35 when the water distributing element 3 is inserted into the containing body 2 and its elastic return serves to provide a sealed contact. In particular, the annular rim 370 extends towards the water infeed section, that is to say, it forms a raised edge (with a height, for instance, of 4 mm) on the first face 31, which is therefore substantially tray-shaped.
As far as the partition wall 39 is concerned, this divides the inner chamber of the capsule 1 into a first sub-chamber, which is empty and, in use, directly receives the water fed in, and a second sub-chamber, which contains the powdered food substance 27. The partition wall 39 is a sort of diaphragm, having a small thickness for its surface.
The central region 35, the perimetric region 37 and the partition wall 39 are preferably made as a single piece. Specifically, the water distributing element 3 is made out of a plastic material by a moulding process, and preferably out of homopolymer polypropylene, copolymer or mixtures thereof. Thanks to the material used, its sizing and its structure, the water distributing element 3 is a substantially rigid element capable of resisting the pressures present during use, without warping significantly enough as to compromise its operation.
The thickness of the plastic in the regions 35, 37 and 39 is, for instance, in the order of 0.5 mm, although it may be different depending on needs (for instance, in the order of 0.9 mm).
The water distributing element 3 comprises one or more holes or channels 40 which pass through the partition wall 39 and put the first face 31 and the second face 32 in communication with each other. Said one or more holes or channels 40 are far from the central region 35 and near the perimetric region 37.
Measuring the distance along a line that is radial relative to the central axis 29 and intersecting the hole or channel 40, the distance D40 between each hole or channel 40 and the central axis 29 is greater than or equal to three quarters of the distance D20 between the tubular lateral wall 20 and the central axis 29. Even more particularly, the distance D40 of each hole or channel 40 is greater than or equal to four fifths of the distance D20 of the tubular lateral wall 20. For instance, in the embodiment shown, the distance D40 is 16.5 mm and the distance D20 is 19.5 mm.
In particular, each of said one or more holes or channels 40 has, on the side which opens onto the second face 32, a passage cross-section that is between 0.1 mm²and 0.8 mm². More particularly, the passage cross-section is circular and has a diameter of between 0.4 mm and 1 mm.
The partition wall 39 has no other passage openings, therefore said one or more holes or channels 40 form the only possible passages for the water, during the use of the capsule 1, from the water infeed section towards the powdered food substance 27.
Only one hole 40 is present in the embodiments shown. The presence of a single passage for water is a preferred embodiment of the present invention; however, in alternative embodiments there could be a greater number of holes 40. For instance, there are a maximum of four holes 40.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the hole 40 is little more than a simple opening made through the thickness of the partition wall 39, which is to say the length of the hole 40 is approximately equal to the thickness of the partition wall 39.
In one embodiment, the hole 40 has a circular cross-section and a diameter of 0.8 mm on its second face 32; in another embodiment, the diameter of the hole 40 is 0.6 mm. The hole 40 can be cylindrical and can also have the same diameter on the side opening onto the first face 31. Alternatively, the hole 40 may have a passage cross-section that decreases from the side which opens onto the first face 31 to the side which opens onto the second face 32; for instance, the hole 40 on the first face 31 can have a diameter which is 0.1 mm greater than its diameter on the second face 32.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the partition wall 39 has a frustoconical shape with a convexity facing the water infeed section (i.e. facing the closing element 25), so that the first face 31 is sloping down from the central region 35 towards the perimetric region 37. This is particularly evident in the cross-sectional views shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
Considering a reference plane 10 which is perpendicular to the central axis 29, such as the plane defined by the step in the tubular lateral wall 20, it is notable that the first face 31 of the frustoconical-shaped partition wall 39 is slanting relative to the reference plane 10. Consequently, along lines radial to the central axis 29, the first face 31 of the partition wall 39 is at a variable distance from the reference plane 10. The distance is smaller near the perimetric region 37 and greater near the central region 35.
Referring to the plane 10 as the reference plane, it should be noted that, in the embodiment shown, the top of the frustoconical wall (bordering the edge of the hollow 350) is substantially at the same height as the top of the annular rim 370 and that the bottom of the frustoconical wall borders the bottom of the annular rim 370 and is substantially at the same height as the top of the central tooth 352.
It should be noted that the plane 10 used as the reference in the figures is a plane tangential to the outer edge of the perimetric region 37 on the side facing the powdered food substance 27, that is to say, on the side of the second face 32. The convexity of the partition wall 39 is above said plane, that is to say, between the reference plane 10 thus selected and the water infeed section. In particular, the convexity of the partition wall 39 is entirely between said reference plane 10 and the water infeed section.
During the use of the capsule 1, the closing element 25 and the bottom portion 23 are pierced and torn by specific elements of the beverage-making apparatus. An injection nozzle, which also serves as a piercing element, penetrates the capsule 1 through the closing element 25 along the central axis 29 and is housed in the hollow 350. The injection nozzle injects hot water under pressure, and this rises from the hollow 350 and gathers in the space between the first face 31 of the water distributing element 3 and the closing element 25, being allowed to exit only through the hole 40 to reach the powdered food substance 27.
Thanks to the difference in pressure occurring between the two faces 31, 32 and the small passage cross-section of the hole 40 (or of the few holes 40), a powerful jet of water is produced through the hole 40 and impacts against the powdered food substance 27. Furthermore, thanks to the position of the hole 40 near the tubular lateral wall 20 whereas the beverage outfeed is in a central position in the bottom portion 23, a turbulent, vortical water flow is produced in the sub-chamber containing the powdered food substance 27, which effectively wets the entire powdered food substance 27. This is useful for preparing the beverage by using as much of the ingredients in the capsule as possible.
The present invention is particularly useful when the powdered food substance 27 is water-soluble, for instance for making tea or tisane. Thanks to the process described above, substantially all the powdered food substance 27 can be dissolved, during use, in the water passing through the powdered food substance for making the beverage.
The shape of the partition wall 39, with the convexity facing the water infeed section (i.e. facing the closing element 25) is useful for ensuring that the water distributing element 3 withstands the difference in pressure between its faces 31, 32, without giving way or significantly changing its shape. Indeed, thanks to said convexity, the pressure exerted on the first face 31 is substantially discharged radially onto the perimetric region 37, where it encounters the lateral wall 20 of the capsule 1. Consequently, the water distributing element 3 keeps its shape and, moreover, the sealed contact between the perimetric region 37 and the lateral wall 20 is enhanced.
Since the side wall 20 prevents the radial expansion of the surface of the water distributing element 3, even under high pressures (for instance, up to 15-20 bar) the convexity of the partition wall 39 facing the infeed section is not able to flip so as to become a convexity facing the outfeed section. The shape of the water distributing element 3 is therefore stable during use.
A second embodiment of a capsule 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 to 14. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in some aspects of the water distributing element 3.
In the second embodiment, the partition wall 39 of the water distributing element 3 comprises stiffening ribs 395. In particular, the stiffening ribs 395 extend along radial lines and are, for instance, both on the first face 31 and on the second face 32 of the partition wall 39.
In the example, on the first face 31 there are four stiffening ribs 395, which have a triangular shape and are also connected to the annular rim 370; on the second face 32 there are six stiffening ribs 395, which have a triangular shape and are also connected to the bulge formed by the hollow 350. Evidently, the stiffening ribs can differ in number compared to this example.
The stiffening ribs 395 are useful for further stiffening the partition wall 39 and for making the water distributing element 3 even more resistant to the difference in pressure between the faces 31, 32 during use, thus allowing even greater working pressures to be reached.
Moreover, in the second embodiment, the hole or channel through the partition wall 39 is a tubular opening 45. The tubular opening 45 has a length greater than the thickness of the partition wall 39; for instance, it has a length of 3 mm. Therefore, the tubular opening 45 has a lateral wall 450 that projects from the first face 31 and/or the second face 32. In the embodiment shown, it projects from the first face 31, that is to say, from the water infeed side.
The longer tubular opening 45 is useful because it allows the jet of water to be better directed towards the powdered food substance and can produce a steadier jet stream, since the pressure drop is distributed in a conduit longer than a simple hole.
Regarding the dimensions of the passage cross-section of the tubular opening 45, these may be the same as indicated above for the hole 40 in the first embodiment.
Specifically, the tubular opening 45 has a passage cross-section that decreases from the side which opens onto the first face 31 to the side which opens onto the second face 32. In other words, the tubular opening 45 is convergent. For instance, in the embodiment shown, the tubular opening 45 has a circular cross-section and a diameter of 1.3 mm on the first face 31 and 0.8 mm on the second face 32; in another embodiment, the diameter is 1.1 mm on the first face 31 and 0.6 mm on the second face 32.
The distance D45 between the tubular opening 45 and the central axis 29 is, for instance, 16.5 mm, whilst the distance D20 between the lateral wall 20 and the central axis 29 is 19.5 mm.
It should be noted that the stiffening ribs 395 and the tubular opening 45 are features which are substantially independent of each other and, therefore, changes to the first embodiment could comprise only one of these features.
Moreover, similarly as described for the hole 40, several tubular openings 45 could be present (for instance, a maximum of four).
A third embodiment of a capsule 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 15 to 22. The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in some aspects of the water distributing element 3, in particular in the shape of the partition wall 39 and the absence of stiffening ribs.
As can be observed in the figures, the partition wall 39 of the third embodiment is not frustoconical-shaped, but is instead formed by sectors 397 which each extend between the central region 35 and the perimetric region 37.
In practice, each sector 397 occupies its own slice or angular sector of the partition wall 39. There are, for instance, six sectors 397.
The sectors 397 are joined to one another by substantially radial joints 398: each sector 397 is joined to two adjacent sectors 397 along two respective radial joints 398. On the first face 31 of the partition wall 39, the two respective radial joints 398 of the sector 397 are at different distances from the reference plane 10, so that on the first face 31 the sector 397 is sloping down from one radial joint 398 towards the other radial joint 398.
Specifically, radial joints 398 further from the reference plane 10 (for instance, at the same height as the top of the annular rim 370) are alternated with radial joints 398 nearer the reference plane 10 (for instance, at the same height as the bottom of the annular rim 370) and, consequently, the sectors 397 are slanting (alternating in direction) relative to a circumferential direction.
This is an embodiment of a partition wall 39 wherein, along lines annular relative to the central axis 29, the first face 31 of the partition wall 39 is at a variable distance from the reference plane 10. As with the embodiments described above, the first face 31 of the partition wall 39 has a convexity facing the water infeed section and the water distributing element 3 has the same advantages as described above with regard to resisting the difference in pressure between its faces 31, 32, maintaining its shape and enhancing the sealed contact with the lateral wall 20 of the capsule 1.
For this embodiment, too, where a plane tangential to the outer edge of the perimetric region 37 on the side facing the powdered food substance 27 is taken as the reference plane 10, the convexity (in particular, the entire convexity) of the partition wall 39 is between the reference plane 10 and the water infeed section.
The sectors 397 and the radial joints 398 are made as a single piece together with the rest of the water distributing element 3, in particular by moulding of plastic material.
The particular embodiment with sectors 397 is useful for providing a strong structure, which can avoid the need for stiffening ribs, thus simplifying the process of making the water distributing element 3.
As far as the one or more holes or channels through the partition wall 39 are concerned, the embodiment shown comprises a single tubular opening 45 and therefore the description of the second embodiment also applies in relation to its dimensions.
In particular, the tubular opening 45 is made near a radial joint 398, which is almost at the same height as the top of the annular rim 370. Furthermore, on the face facing the water infeed section, a perimetral groove 399 is present between the partition wall 39 and the annular rim 370. Consequently, the tubular opening 45 does not have a lateral wall projecting entirely from the first face of the partition wall 39; however, its infeed which opens onto the first face 31 is raised above the bottom of the perimetral groove 399, for instance by 2.5 mm.
Alternatively, a hole 40 could be provided rather than the tubular opening 45. Many modifications and variations can be made to the invention as designed herein without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.
All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent details and any materials, shapes and dimensions of the various components may be used according to requirements.

Claims

1. A capsule (1) for making a beverage, comprising:

a cup-shaped containment body (2) in turn comprising a tubular lateral wall (20), extending between a first edge (21) and a second edge (22), and a bottom portion (23) connected to the second edge (22) and extending transversally to a central axis (29) of the tubular lateral wall (20);

a closing element (25) fixed to the first edge (21) for closing the top of the containment body (2), the containment body (2) and the closing element (25) forming an inner chamber of the capsule (1);

a powdered food substance (27) which allows a beverage to be made by passing water through the powdered food substance (27), the powdered food substance (27) being contained in the inner chamber;

a water distributing element (3);

wherein one of either the closing element (25) or the bottom portion (23) is, in use, a water infeed section for feeding water into the capsule (1) and the other of either the closing element (25) or the bottom portion (23) is, in use, a beverage outfeed section for outfeed of the beverage from the capsule (1);

wherein the water distributing element (3) is positioned in the inner chamber, in a position interposed between the water infeed section and the powdered food substance (27);

the water distributing element (3) comprising:

a central region (35) intended, in use, to receive the water fed in;

a perimetric region (37) which is in contact with the tubular lateral wall (20) of the containment body (2);

a partition wall (39) which extends between the central region (35) and the perimetric region (37), the partition wall (39) having a first face (31) which is facing the water infeed section and a second face (32) which is facing the powdered food substance (27);

one or more holes or channels (40, 45) which pass through the partition wall (39) and put the first face (31) and the second face (32) in communication with each other, the distance (D40, D45) between each of said one or more holes or channels (40, 45) and the central axis (29) being greater than or equal to three quarters of the distance (D20) between the tubular lateral wall (20) and the central axis (29), the distance being measured along a line that is radial relative to the central axis (29) and intersecting the hole or channel (40, 45);

wherein said one or more holes or channels (40, 45) form the only passages for the water, in use, from the water infeed section towards the powdered food substance (27);

wherein, considering a reference plane (10) which is perpendicular to the central axis (29), the first face (31) of the partition wall (39) is slanting relative to the reference plane (10) or is formed of portions which are slanting relative to the reference plane (10), whereby, along lines that are radial or along lines that are annular relative to the central axis (29), the first face (31) of the partition wall (39) is at a variable distance from the reference plane (10), the first face (31) of the partition wall (39) having a convexity facing the water infeed section.

2. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall (39) of the water distributing element (3) has a frustoconical shape with the convexity facing the water infeed section, so that the first face (31) is sloping down from the central region (35) towards the perimetric region (37).

3. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall (39) of the water distributing element (3) is formed by sectors (397) which each extend between the central region (35) and the perimetric region (37) and which are joined to one another with substantially radial joints (398), each sector (397) being joined to two adjacent sectors (397) along two respective radial joints (398) which, on the first face (31) of the partition wall (39), are at different distances from the reference plane (10), so that on the first face (31) of the partition wall (39) each sector (397) is sloping down from one radial joint (398) towards the other radial joint (398).

4. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reference plane (10) is a plane which is tangential to a perimeter of the perimetric region (37) on the side facing the powdered food substance (27) and wherein the convexity of the partition wall (39) is between the reference plane (10) and the water infeed section.

5. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall (39) of the water distributing element (3) comprises stiffening ribs (395).

6. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein the water distributing element (3) comprises at the most four of said holes or channels (40, 45).

7. The capsule (1) according to claim 6, wherein the water distributing element (3) comprises only one of said holes or channels (40, 45).

8. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of said one or more holes or channels is a tubular opening (45) which has a length greater than the thickness of the partition wall (39).

9. The capsule (1) according to claim 8, wherein the tubular opening (45) has a lateral wall (450) that projects from the first face (31) of the partition wall (39).

10. The capsule (1) according to claim 8, wherein the tubular opening (45) has a passage cross-section that decreases from the side which opens onto the first face (31) to the side which opens onto the second face (32).

11. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of said one or more holes or channels (40, 45) has, on the side which opens onto the second face (32), a passage cross-section that is between 0.1 mm²and 0.8 mm², in particular each of said one or more holes or channels (40, 45) has, on the side which opens onto the second face (32), a circular passage cross-section with a diameter of between 0.4 mm and 1 mm.

12. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein the central region (35) of the water distributing element (3) comprises a hollow (350) which extends towards the beverage outfeed section.

13. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein the perimetric region (37) of the water distributing element (3) comprises an annular rim (370) which is in sealed contact with the tubular lateral wall (20) of the containment body (2).

14. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein the closing element (25) is the water infeed section and the bottom portion (23) is the beverage outfeed section.

15. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, wherein the powdered food substance (27) is soluble in water and, in use, substantially all of the powdered food substance (27) contained in the inner chamber is intended to dissolve in the water which passes through the powdered food substance (27) for making the beverage.

16. The capsule (1) according to claim 2, wherein the reference plane (10) is a plane which is tangential to a perimeter of the perimetric region (37) on the side facing the powdered food substance (27) and wherein the convexity of the partition wall (39) is between the reference plane (10) and the water infeed section.

17. The capsule (1) according to claim 3, wherein the reference plane (10) is a plane which is tangential to a perimeter of the perimetric region (37) on the side facing the powdered food substance (27) and wherein the convexity of the partition wall (39) is between the reference plane (10) and the water infeed section.