The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most sleek pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model offers the renowned Sage quality and is easy to use. After switching on, it warms up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.

Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee machines for pods making off your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in just 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are typically more costly 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 before brewing. This makes it easy to ensure consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with next-to-no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. It is also one of the slimmest and lightest available, with no need for an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.

The CitiZ isn't the best device to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also have to put with a new cartridge once this runs out and could be expensive for certain users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.

If you're looking for a sleek, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage it 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

A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are a breeze to operate. Most machines rely on the same basic method to make your cup by heating water in an internal reservoir, then pumped through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to streamline the process.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players in the market, however each offers a wide selection of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used once and discarded, while others are designed for multiple uses. You'll need a plan for your used pods to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.

The SMEG we tested has a water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses an additional capsule coffee machine uk once the previous one cools down. It can brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. 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 makes it an eye-catching addition to your counter and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a concealed compartment for your empty pods. The machine comes with an integrated water filter that is ideal for areas that have hard water.

The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to navigate with the help of airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area which allows you to drop your pod. It takes a bit of force to close but our test subjects, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee machines for pods pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands. You simply load in a pod, hit an icon and prepare to brew. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time to time but not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger, so they can fit on the countertop and be stored away from view when not being used.

The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your 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 features are all important to determine the best coffee pod machine for your needs.

Many people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are some newer rivals that could be worth considering. One is Bruvi which makes use of a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will eliminate the guesswork and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a specific button so you can create them at the push of a single 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 beverage. It's a bit more expensive than some models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is associated with the brand. It is a good option for those looking to get a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.

While the majority of people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks There are some larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this. It is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's not easy initially due to the airplane-style toggles however once you've become accustomed to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be prepared in 30 minutes.

4. Customization

The lack of customization is a major reason it may not be the best option for you. If you don't purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only options to add extra flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and add milk to your coffee manually. For most people, this won't be a problem but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule machine coffee. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee for the particular type of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does the job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customised drinks or varying the strength of the brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but others will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they're looking for.

Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally the coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as we mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with crema-topped tops.

This is a stunning machine and part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of a display that tells you when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum water level. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. But, it's a good pod coffee maker for anyone looking for an attractive and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable cost. For those who want some variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.