A coffee pod which can be used for machines for preparing and dispensing coffee beverages that comprise at least one extraction chamber, and at least one piston for compacting a
predetermined amount of ground coffee inserted into the extraction chamber. The pod includes: a predetermined amount of ground coffee compacted into an aggregate of ground coffee beans, having an outer shape suitable for rolling, and preferably a substantially spherical ball shape; and a filter casing formed of at least one pervious, microporous or microperforated sheet or film, trapping and matching the shape of the compacted coffee aggregate. The sheet or film is flexible, having stretchability properties with an elongation at rupture of at least 30% and an ultimate tensile strength ofless than 2,000 N/m, and a thickness of at least 150 f.tm.