The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most sleek pod machine we've seen this model with brushed-steel features the renowned Sage quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it warms up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee-making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. But they do come at a cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they're not always recyclable (though some companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that you can find due to its built-in barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This makes it easy to get consistent, high-quality coffee every time, and there is virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. It is also among the slimmest and lightest available and does not require an additional milk jug or the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function and you'll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge when it runs out and can be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds packed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once this happens it can brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use but also comes with an ice cream wand an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The top models are easy to operate. The majority of machines use the same general mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated in an internal reservoir, and then pushed through the capsules you choose and extracted to form rich hot java. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save custom settings on a number of models to speed up the process even more.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players on the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being be thrown away, while others are designed to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule machine coffee once the previous one has cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying 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 your empty pods. The machine has an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml), as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are easy to use, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into the pod. It takes a bit of force to close, but our test subjects, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands - you simply load in a pod, hit a button and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The best pod coffee machine coffee machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but certain models offer more customization options than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors that may be worth a look. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button, so that you can create them using only one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than others machines, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer service that is a hallmark of the Sage's My Way brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some larger models can also brew lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this. It combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, however once you've become accustomed to it, the machine is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be prepared in 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customisation is a major reason it's not the best capsule coffee machine option for you. If you don't buy an auxiliary milk frother, the only options to add flavor or creaminess are to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and to add milk to your coffee manually. This shouldn't be a problem for many people, but it could be a problem for those who like the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a user-friendly hands-off device that does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives exactly what they need.
The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to refill the tank with water, and decaffeinate it every so often. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It is also great in delivering full-bodied coffees that have crema-topped tops.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's easy to use with a simple control panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't have an indicator to let you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor inconvenience. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. Nevertheless, this is a good pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee machines for pods at a reasonable price. For those who want a little more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.