The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. After switching on, it heats up and brews a fragrant espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy components of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
pod and capsule coffee machines machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with most able to make a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or less. But they come at a cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods coffee machine that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This makes it simple to get consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. It is also among the slimmest and lightest available and does not require a separate milk jug and a small footprint making it easy to fit in even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient device to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. It is also necessary to put with a new cartridge when it runs out and could be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it's done it, it can make one cup in around 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks with 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, a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The top models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic mechanism to brew a cup of coffee the water is heated inside reservoirs, then moved through capsules to make rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different requirements, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to simplify the process even more.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players in the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Certain pods can be used just once before they are discarded however, others can be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for the pods you've used to avoid them from being thrown away.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It brews coffee and lungo drinks and comes with a set of eight different blends to provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it a looker on your countertop and opens with a simple touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine has an integrated water filter which is perfect for areas that have hard water.
This machine is quick and can brew standard coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to navigate, thanks to airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the space where you drop in your pod. It requires a little effort to close, but our testers, including those with limited mobility and hand strength were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands - you simply put in a pod, hit an icon 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 larger counterparts, so they can fit on the counter and be stored away from view when not being used.
The right coffee pod machine (link web site) for you will be determined by your personal preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine for your needs.
The majority of people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent competitors that are worth a look. One of them is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This means that the machine removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and guarantees that every drink comes out perfectly every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button so that you can create them using one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your cup of coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select the right size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is a hallmark of Sage's My Way. This is a great option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.
While the majority of people are using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this, and it combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It can be a little intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate - a lungo is brewed in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
One big reason why pod coffee makers might not be right for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your the coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem but it could be a problem for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule coffee machine. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee for the specific kind of pod. It's an easy-to-use and hands-off machine that does an excellent job, however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, however others will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are searching for.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally the coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected in a hidden container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also excels at delivering full-bodied espressos with crema-topped tops.
This is a stunning machine and part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's simple to use with simple buttons and can be used with ground coffee machines with capsules and ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is an inconvenience. You also need to buy the brand's own capsules 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 low cost. If you're looking for a little more variety, a wide range of third-party capsules are available for this model, and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.