The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage trademark quality and ease of use. After switching on, it heats up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
Pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with many can make a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or so. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a majority are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code before brewing. This makes it simple to ensure consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with next-to-no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. The machine is one of the tiniest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. It is also necessary to put the filter cartridge when it runs out, which could be costly for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it, it can make one cup in around 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage, is not only 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 simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major benefit. The top models are simple to use. Most machines rely on the same general process to make your coffee the water is heated in an internal reservoir, and then pushed through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer different drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules from well-known roasters. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are meant to be used for a variety of purposes. Whatever the case, you'll need to think about the way you'll dispose of the pods you've used up so that they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who want to move away from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is an attractive addition to your counter and it opens with a light touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine comes with an integrated water filter which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to use, thanks to aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area that allows you to insert the pod. It does take a little force to close but our test subjects, even those who have weak hand and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take away all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is add a pod the machine, push a button and let it be brewed. You will still need to clean the machine from time to time, but not as frequently as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts and can be tucked away on the counter and be stored out of sight when not in use.
The ideal coffee maker for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others offer more customization options. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to check here help find the perfect coffee pod machine for you.
The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are some newer competitors which are worth looking into. One is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods are equipped with an underside barcode that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will take all the guesswork out of it and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a separate button to allow you to create them at the push of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than the majority, letting you choose the exact size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models but it offers the polished stainless steel design and top-quality customer service that's associated with the brand. It is a solid option for those looking to get a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are put into an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons pod coffee makers might not be right for you is the limited customization. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother then the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem, but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee for the particular type of pod. It's an easy-to-use and hands-off machine that does an excellent job, but isn't able to customize drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but others will find the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they're looking for.
Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally, this coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned, the used pods are ejected into a container hidden from view that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor issue. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for those who want an attractive and convenient appliance that is able to serve at a low cost. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.