The
Best Coffee Pod MachineThe sleekest pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the renowned Sage quality and user-friendly. It warms up after switching on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 seconds.
Pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest parts of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with the majority can make a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are typically more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible
pod coffee makers's code prior to brewing. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is virtually no possibility of getting a poor beverage. It's also among the slimmest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug or the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit in even the tiniest of kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function and you'll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. It is also necessary to put in a new filter cartridge once this runs out and could be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once this occurs, it can make a cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're looking for a sleek, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles, look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This glossy beauty, made 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
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a big selling point and the best models are easy to use. Most machines utilize the same basic process to brew the perfect cup of coffee the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then moved through capsules to make rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of 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 leading players in the market, however each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are designed to be used for a variety of purposes. In either case, you'll have to think about how you'll deal with the pods that are no longer being used so they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour fresh capsules after the previous one has been cooled. It can brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends to provide plenty of options. This brewer will appeal to coffee drinkers who want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it a looker on your counter and can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine comes with a water filter system that is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine brews a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to use using the switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the area that allows you to insert your pod. It takes a bit of force to close but our testers, even those with weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands. You simply need to load one of the pods, press a button and make
coffee capsule machine. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally but not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The
pod and bean coffee machine machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be tucked away on the counter and be stored out of sight when not being used.
The right coffee pod machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The most popular pod-based
coffee machine for pods machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors worth looking at. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of a bespoke pod system called B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that the machine scans to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork out of it and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks to a button, so that you can make them by pressing only one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your
coffee machines with pods and allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each beverage. It's a bit more expensive than many other models, but it has the polished stainless steel construction and the excellent customer service that is associated with the brand. It is a good 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 drinks, there are some larger models that can make longer shots, referred to as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this. It is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and extremely enjoyable to use the lungo is made in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin with the click of a button.
4. Customization
The lack of customisation is a major reason it might not be the right choice for you. If you don't buy an additional milk frother, the only options to add extra flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option, and then add milk to your cup manually. This shouldn't be a problem for most people, but it could be a problem for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses, then dispensing the right amount of coffee to the particular kind of pod. It's an easy-to-use and hands-off machine that does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate it every time. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as previously mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only downside is that it lacks 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 buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is a good pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and convenient appliance that will provide them with a great service at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a range of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.