The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance comes with Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. It warms up after switching on, and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making out of your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available due to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no possibility of getting a poor drink. This machine is among 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.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to minimize 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 once this runs out and could be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds packed 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 employees. Its only downside is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once that is done, it will be able to brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're after a sleek, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles, look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand, a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are a breeze to operate. The majority of machines use the same basic method to make your cup: water is heated in an internal reservoir, and then pushed through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich, hot java. Most brands offer different 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 biggest brands on the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being be thrown away, while others are meant to be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for your used pods to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule coffee machines after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to give you the variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is an eye-catching addition to your counter and it can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a concealed compartment to store your empty pods. It has an in-built water filter system which is perfect for areas that have hard water.
The machine is fast and can make regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are a joy to navigate, thanks to airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert your pod. It does take a little force to close, but our testers, even those who have weak hand and mobility were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands. You simply put in a pod, hit the button, and then make coffee. It is still necessary to clean your machine occasionally but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
The ideal coffee capsules machines maker for you will depend on your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but others provide more options for customization. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the best machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors worth taking a look at. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode, which 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 makes sure that each drink is made perfectly every time. It is able to save your customized drinks to a button, so that you can create them with only one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee that allows you to select the right temperature and size for each drink. It's a little more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is associated with the brand. It is a great choice for those who need something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people are using the pod-based machine to create single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that can brew longer shots, known as lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are deposited into an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customisation is a major reason it might not be the best coffee pod machine option for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother then the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but could be a problem for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule coffee maker and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does the job very well but lacks any options for customised drinks or varying the strength of the 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 provides precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate it every so often. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as we mentioned the pods that are used are ejected to a hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
It's a gorgeous machine that is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It is easy to use with a simple interface and can be used with ground coffee pods machine 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. You also need to buy the brand's capsules, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for anyone who wants an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that will serve well at a low cost. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.