A beverage preparation apparatus, in particular coffee machine, comprising a process stage designed to convey and to heat supplied water and to dispense a prepared fluid. The process stage has a heater for heating the supplied water to a first target temperature or a second target temperature, which is different from the first target temperature, and also a path selection device for selectively choosing a direct path for the conveyed water or a softening path comprising a process stage softening device for the conveyed water. The path selection device is designed to choose the softening path when the heater heats the supplied water to the first target temperature. The path selection device is designed to choose the direct path when the heater heats the supplied water to the second target temperature.
