The Best Pod Coffee Machines
With pod coffee machines, you insert a sealed capsule filled with ground or roasted beans into the machine. The coffee is then poured into the machine for a specified amount of time.
Some pod coffee machines offer multiple cup sizes and frothing milk capabilities. The ideal pod machine for you will depend on your lifestyle and personal preferences.
1. Keurig K-Select
If you're looking for a basic Keurig coffee maker that doesn't have all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, this one is a good choice. It's simple to use, has a great design and can be hidden away in an area of the kitchen when it's not in use.
The machine can be loud but it's not a huge problem. It is also fairly compact and can be tucked away in small counters. If you'd prefer a Keurig with a greater variety of sizes or a carafe that can drip-brew your coffee, you might be interested in other options.
Keurig K'Select is a single-serve coffee maker that combines a sleek style with more intuitive features. This allows you to brew the perfect cup of coffee every time. Choose from a wide selection of delicious K-Cup pods, or make your own ground coffee with My-K-Cup's universal, coffee filter that can be reused (sold separately). The Strong Brew feature kicks up your coffee's strength and intensity and makes it the perfect option for those who appreciate a strong cup.
The brewer comes with simple controls with buttons. Just add a K-Cup pod, choose the brew size you'd like to use and then press the brew button. In less than a minute, you'll have a fresh cup of coffee ready to enjoy. The large reservoir of 52 ounces lets you to brew five cups prior to refilling, easing your morning routine.
The Keurig is simple to clean, thanks to the ability to remove the reservoir of water and lid that can be easily hand washed. To ensure your Keurig is working optimally, you must always descale it before cleaning. Follow the instructions in the user's manual. This warranty covers all original accessories and the brewer, except for normal wear misuse, abuse, and external causes like power outages.
2. Tassimo My Way
If you're a lover of coffee and are in search of a pod maker capable of making more than your typical cup of coffee, this is the best choice. It's designed to make a diverse range of drinks, including hot chocolate and tea, and has a large 1.3 litre water tank that can brew multiple cups at the same time. The machine warms up in only three seconds and can make the perfect cappuccino or latte using its built-in milk jug. It also comes with touchscreen that lets you to adjust the intensity, temperature and the volume of your beverage.
Tassimo My Way uses T Discs, which are a set of ingredients that can be used to make your drink. There are more than 70 varieties, including Kenco, Costa, Milka and Cadbury's. The machine also provides a selection of T Discs for hot chocolate and tea as well.
We found the coffee it produced to be of a high quality, albeit slightly less than that of other pod machines we have reviewed in this round-up. It also heated the milk for an espresso fairly quickly and produced a creamy mouthfeel without being overly thick. However, it is to be noted that the frothy milk made from T Discs contains sugar which isn't a huge issue in itself, isn't to everyone's taste.
Tassimo My Way's removable components including the drip tray, and the water tank are all dishwasher-safe. There's an Brita filter as well as a cleaning disc that can be used. A helpful indicator light will inform you when it's time to descale, and water tanks will help keep the limescale to an absolute minimum. The machine is Energy Star rated, which reduces the power consumption of up to 15%..
3. Lavazza Lungo Pod Machine
This Nespresso-compatible pod coffee maker from Lavazza created in collaboration with Sage is among the best-looking machines available. It's constructed with durable and attractive materials, comes with a neat adjustable steam wand that can be used to make cappuccinos and lattes and a stainless milk jug made of steel. Put a pod in, select your cup size and the machine goes into action - brewing espresso, lungo, double espresso gran lungo, alto and mug drinks with a thick layer of silky froth.
As with most pod machines you load the pod through a hatch on the top of the machine and then drop it in the appropriate spot. The machine pierces the capsule, and then closes it so that when you lift the lever, the pod falls into a specially spent pod tray beneath the drip tray.
It's not the fastest to brew espresso. It takes about 30 seconds for one shot and 90 seconds for the lungo. However, the results are always impressive with a smooth, rich taste and a delicious crema. The machine will also notify you when the water tank or pod bin needs refilling.
This machine is a big seller because you can use any Lavazza pod. There are seven pods total that include ground espresso (Qualita Rossa) and decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso), and two organic coffees. Bio). The pod coffee maker isn't inexpensive, but if you combine it with pod delivery services, the price can be similar to capsule coffee maker the cost of a regular bean-to cup machine. Its slimline design allows it to be tucked away in the smallest kitchens. Additionally, the pods are compostable, which means you can place them into your council's food waste bins or own garden compost.
4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine
Nespresso machines make some of the top pods coffee makers for those who are looking for a reliable, quick and steady brew. They heat up quickly and are extremely simple to use--just put a capsule in, push a button and you're done. They produce an extremely creamy, rich crema that can be added to drinks to give greater flavor and thickness. They're not cheap, though, and you have to purchase their official pods.
The Vertuo line is a different model from the OriginalLine machines, which make use of espresso capsules. The Vertuo line reads the barcode on each capsule, and then automatically adjusts the brewing parameters to create an ideal cup. They also have a centrifusion machine that spins the capsules to extract the most flavor and the most thick crema.
That said, the machines aren't as intuitive as some of our other choices. For instance the lid opens only when the machine is ready and it takes 30 minutes to heat up enough to allow it to be put into the capsule. The machine doesn't come with a milk frother as do other pod coffee makers on this list, meaning you'll have to shell out an additional PS90 or so to buy an additional Aeroccino for those who want to make lattes and cappuccinos.
They also require more maintenance than other models - filling the water tank, emptying the pod containers used for descaling - however, they come with an app which reminds you to do these tasks and also provides tools like capsule recyclers and store locators. And if you connect your machine to an IntelliPort, you can even operate it using voice commands which is a great feature if you're making coffee in the dark at 4am, or have limited hand strength.
5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine
The sleek and stylish pod machine is the result of a lovechild between a beloved Italian brand, and a well-known company that manufactures kitchen appliances. It has all of the sleek, retro curves that SMEG is known for, along with the ability to make espresso and lungo drinks with ease. It has a programmable setting for the shot, two-height drip tray, and a pod bins that can be removed.
This coffee maker lets you make one or two cups of lungo or espresso in the morning or during breaks at work. The simple control panel looks sleek and doesn't distract from its purpose. If you want to spruce your morning joe more, it comes with three interchangeable filter baskets that allow for different capsule types. You can even use loose ground beans (although you'll need an additional grinder).
The SMEG Barista Pod Machine doesn't include a milk pitcher however, it does come with a built-in Pannarello milk frother that can froth both cow and soymilk quite well. It also comes with a portafilter that measures 51mm, which is smaller than the typical commercial filter. It's also pressurized which is great because it will not give you the old, unfinished grind taste. It comes with a plastic tamper that can also be used as spoon.
The SMEG is among the most expensive pod machines we've reviewed however it's certainly worth it if you're a lover of the retro look or like the ability to whip up espresso-based drinks. This is a great choice if you are new to coffee making and don't need to go through the hassle of measuring, grinding and tamping beans yourself.