In a system comprising a beverage machine and comprising portion capsules of at least two different types which each contain a beverage substance, portion capsules of different types are provided with colour codings which differ from one another. The beverage machine is designed to prepare beverages, in particular to brew hot coffee beverages, by means of the portion capsules and has a pressurized-water device, a capsule holder which is provided to accommodate a portion capsule, and a control means. The beverage machine also contains a colour-identification device which is designed to detect the colour coding of a portion capsule which is to be or is inserted into the capsule holder and to select a program, in the control means, for operating the beverage machine, which program is associated with this colour coding.