An automatic unit for preparing infused or brewed beverages from a powdered or ground product, including: an infusion group that includes an infusion chamber, a pressing piston and an actuating mechanism that produce a relative sliding movement between the pressing piston and the infusion chamber along a travel path, from a rest position in which the pressing piston is located outside the chamber to a work position in which the pressing piston is within the chamber; a product distributor having an opening and a chute defining a flow path disposed to channel the product from the distributor toward the infusion chamber; and a cleaning device arranged to contact the chute and to be driven by the pressing piston or by the infusion chamber over at least a part of the travel path in order to remove residual product from the chute.