The invention relates to a method for producing expanded foam particles from one or more polyesters based on aliphatic or aliphatic and aromatic dicarboxylic acids and aliphatic diols, comprising thefollowing steps: (a) melting the polyester and mixing the polyester with 1 to 3.5 weight percent, in relation to the polyester, of the blowing agent carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen and 0.1 to 2 weightpercent of a nucleating agent and pressing the blowing-agent-containing and nucleated polyester melt through a perforated plate, which is temperature-controlled to a temperature between 150 degrees centigrade and 185 degrees centigrade, into a granulating chamber; (b) comminuting the polymer melt pressed through the perforated plate into individual expanding granules by means of a cutting device;(c) discharging the granules from the granulating chamber in a water flow having a temperature of 5 to 90 degrees centigrade, the pressure of which water flow is 0.1 bar to 20 bar above the ambient pressure.