The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage trademark quality and ease of use. After turning on, it warms up and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee-making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in just 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and many of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that you can find due to its built-in barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This allows you to get consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is one of the lightest and slimmest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into even the tiniest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to cut down on their environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also have to put the filter cartridge after this expires and could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done it, it can make one cup in about 35 seconds.
If you're after a sleek, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice cream frothing wand as well as an stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major benefit. The most effective models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same mechanism to brew a cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in reservoirs, then pushed through capsules to create rich, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players in the market, however each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are intended to be used for a variety of purposes. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them ending up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to switch to drip coffee to drip.
In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that houses your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration coffee pods machine system which is great for areas with hard water.
This machine is easy to use and can make regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to use, thanks to switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area which allows you to drop your pod. It requires a little force to close, but our testers, even those with limited mobility and hand strength were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers take the mess of coffee making out of your hands - you simply load in the pod, press a button and prepare to brew. You'll still need to clean your machine every now and then but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their counterparts that are larger, so they can fit on the counter and be kept out of view when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others provide more options for customization. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities are all important to help find the perfect coffee pod machine.
The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are some newer competitors on the scene which are worth looking into. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This method removes all the guesswork of making a cup and makes sure that each drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel design and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the brand and is a good choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some larger models can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this, and it is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
One big reason why pod coffee makers might not be right for you is its limited customization. Unless you purchase an additional milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and add milk manually to your coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but could be a problem for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's a simple and hands-off machine that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or varying brew strength. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but many will find the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are looking for.
Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as previously mentioned, used pods are ejected to a hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also excels at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It is easy to use with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the lack of a gauge that lets you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum water level. You'll also need to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that will serve well at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a variety of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.