Roast and ground coffee having a multimodal particle size distribution is used in a fixed-time beverage machine to decrease the final beverage volume. Preferably a short coffee beverage, such as an espresso, is prepared on a brewing cycle configured for a standard size coffee beverage. A coffee filter pod is provided with a multimodal volume distribution density with a first peak of from 30 to 60 microns and a second peak of from 260 to 330 microns, wherein the ratio of the volume of the particles in the first peak relative to the volume of the particles in the second peak is from 2:1 to 1:2. The particle size distribution is preferably bimodal. By using a roast and ground coffee that contain a combination of fine and coarse particles, an optimum brew can be obtained for a short coffee drink.
