The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of use. After switching on, it preheats and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in just 30 minutes. However, they come with some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available due to its built-in barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no chance of having a bad drink. The machine is also one of the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it easy to fit in even the tiniest kitchen.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to minimize 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. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need to replace it with a fresh one. This can 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, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its employees. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does it, it can make one cup in around 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand an stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a big selling point and the top models are a breeze to use. Most machines use the same method to make a cup of coffee: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot java. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings on a number of models to speed up the process even further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading brands on the market, but each offers a wide selection of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are designed to be used for a variety of purposes. You'll need a plan to dispose of the pods you've used to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically releases an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is a great choice for coffee lovers who are looking to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is an attractive addition to your countertop and it opens with a light touch to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is great for areas with hard water.
This machine is easy to use and brews regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to operate, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily retracted and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place in your coffee maker. It takes a bit of effort to close, but our test subjects, even those with weak hand and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. All you have to do is add a pod the machine, push a button and let it make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts and can be tucked away on the counter and be stored away from view when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to get from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but certain models offer more customization options than others. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to help find the perfect coffee pod 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. One is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This means that the machine removes all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a dedicated button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the right size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer service that is a hallmark of Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those who want something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While the majority of people capsule machine coffee are using the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that can also brew longer shots, known as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a great example, combines retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's easy and extremely enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin at the push of the 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 purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and add milk to your cup manually. This shouldn't be a problem for many people, but it 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, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee required for that kind of pod. It's an easy-to-use, hands-off machine which does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or varying brew strength. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally This coffee maker does not require much maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a hidden container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This is a stunning machine that is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's simple to use with an easy-to-use panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't have an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level can't be set, which is a minor issue. You'll also need to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants an attractive and convenient appliance that can be used at a low cost. If you're looking for more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.