The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage trademark quality and ease of use. After turning on, it preheats and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are typically quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with many capable of making coffee in only 30 seconds or so. But they come at an expense as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This makes it easy to get consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. This machine is among the slimmest and lightest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container, and its compact footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to reduce the environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with 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. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a new. This could be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and packed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the surroundings and its workforce. The only drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once this happens it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage, is not only quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice cream frothing wand as well as a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The best models are easy to operate. The majority of machines employ the same basic method to make the cup of coffee you want the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest brands on the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Certain pods can be used once before being thrown away however, others can be used a number of times. You'll need a plan for your used pods to avoid them ending up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates a new capsule coffee makers after the previous one cools down. It can make espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends for the variety. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your counter and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is ideal for hard-water areas.
This machine is quick and can make standard coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are easy to navigate with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space which allows you to drop the pod. It takes a bit of force to close but our testers, even those with limited mobility and hand strength were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod pod-making machines take all the messy parts of making coffee out of your hands - you simply put in one of the pods, press the button, and then prepare to brew. You'll still have to clean your machine occasionally but not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. The variety of pods, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are more recent competitors that are worth looking at. One of them is Bruvi, which uses a bespoke pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This approach means the machine eliminates all the guesswork of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can save your customised drinks in a single button, so that you can create them using only one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee and allows you to select a specific temperature and size for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it has the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is a hallmark of the brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.
Certain models are larger and can brew lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this. It is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's easy and extremely enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the discarded pods are put into an internal bin at the touch of a button.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited customization is a major reason it may not be the best option for you. If you don't buy an auxiliary milk frother, the only options to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and to add milk to your coffee manually. This won't be an issue for most people, but could be a problem for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule coffee machine uk. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses, then dispensing the correct amount of coffee to the particular type of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that performs its job very well but lacks any options for making drinks that are customized or altering the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is very low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate it every once in a while. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected into a concealed container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied coffees with a crema-topped top.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s-style range. It is easy to use with a simple panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of an indicator that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. You also need to buy the brand's capsules, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve well at a low cost. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.