A container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion, the reference portion comprising an arrangement of at least two reference units defining a reference line r, the data portion comprising: a data unit arranged on an encoding line D which intersects the reference line r, the data unit arranged a distance d along the encoding line D from said intersection as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information, whereby the encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at the intersection point; and a plurality of discrete positions arranged in operative proximity to the reference line r and distal the encoding line D, whereby said discrete positions either comprise or do not comprise a data unit as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information.