A brewing apparatus (10) including a housing (12) having a movable lid (73); a water heater (14) connected to the housing; a pod carrier (150) removably connected to the housing; a seal (96) connected to the lid (73) for movement towards and away from a top side of the pod carrier (150) as the lid (73) is moved between an open position and a closed position; and a hot water discharge head (66) connected to the lid (73) for delivering hot water from the water heater (14) in a direction towards the top side of the pod carrier (150) when the lid (73) is in its closed position. When the lid (73) is in its closed position, the movable lid (73) closes over the top side of the pod carrier (150) and, the seal (96) is adapted to be located against a perimeter side of the pod carrier for sealing along the perimeter side.