The best coffee pod machine (Read More Listed here)
The most sleek pod machine we've ever seen, this brushed-steel model has the trademark Sage quality and is easy to use. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest parts of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. But they do come at an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though some companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This makes it easy to get consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with next-to-no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is also among the tiniest and lightest on the market that doesn't require an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it easy to fit in even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also have to put in a new filter cartridge when it runs out, which could be costly 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 and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated it will brew a cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're looking for an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage it is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with an ice cream frothing wand as well as an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod capsule coffee maker makers is a major benefit. The most effective models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same general mechanism to brew your cup by heating water inside a reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used only once before being thrown away and others can be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to think about the way you'll dispose of the pods you've used up so that they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses a fresh capsule coffee makers once the previous one has been cooled. It can be used to brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that holds your empty pods. It has an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas with hard water.
The machine can brew an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are simple to operate, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever that retracts to reveal the hole to place in your pod. It takes a bit of force to close, but our testers, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of making coffee out of your hands - you simply load in a pod, hit the button, and then prepare to brew. It is still necessary to clean your machine occasionally however not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts which means they can be placed on the countertop and be kept out of sight when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the right option for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to use, but certain models offer more customization options than others. Different pod types, brew sizes options and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth taking a look at. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork of making 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 make them by pressing one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than the majority, letting you choose a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is a hallmark of the brand. This is a great option for those who want a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
While most people are using the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this, and it blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and extremely enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons the pod coffee maker might not be the best choice for you is its limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to your coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but it could be an issue for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule coffee makers. It then automatically pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or varying brew strength. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide exactly what they need.
In addition to filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's easy to use via a simple panel of buttons and can be used with both ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of a display that will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You also need to buy the brand's own capsules which can be costly. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone looking for an attractive and functional appliance that will serve them well for an affordable price. For those who want a little more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules are available for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.
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