A brewing apparatus (20) for infusing compacted ground coffee in a grounds cup (102) at a brewing station with heated water under pressure. At a brewing station, a piston head (97) with an active seal (96) that is spaced from the grounds cup wall during motion, extends into the grounds cup (102) . When the piston head (97) begins to compact the ground coffee it activates the seal (96) to form a sealed upper end of a brewing chamber. Hot water is admitted to the brewing chamber to produce the coffee. When the brewing cycle is completed, the piston head (97) displaces further to force additional coffee from the grounds. Then the piston head (97) retracts to allow the infusion chamber assembly (32) to be removed for cleaning.
