The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model offers the signature Sage quality and ease of use. It preheats after switch-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 messy aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with the majority can make a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or so. But they come at an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that you can find due to its built-in barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This makes it easy to ensure consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. This machine is among the tiniest and lightest on the market. It does not require an additional milk container and its compact footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the tiniest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those who want to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done it will brew a cup in just 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 only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major selling point, and the best models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same general mechanism to brew your cup the water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pumped through the capsules you choose and extracted to produce rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules from popular roasters. Some pods are able to be used just once before being thrown away however, others can be used several times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule once the previous one has cooled. It brews lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is an eye-catching addition to your countertop and opens with a simple touch to reveal a concealed compartment for your empty pods. It has an in-built water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and brews standard coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are easy to navigate, thanks to switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the space that allows you to insert your coffee maker. It requires a little force to close but our test subjects, even those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers take all the messy parts of making coffee out of your hands. You simply put in a pod, hit a button and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their counterparts that are larger, so they can fit on the countertop and be stored out of sight when not in use.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, however some have more options for customization 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.
Many people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are some newer competitors that could be worth considering. One is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, called B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This method takes all the guesswork out the process of making a cup, and makes sure that each drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button, so that you can create them using one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee and allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with a polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is a hallmark of the brand. This is a good option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
While most people are using pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this. It is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be made in just 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons a pod coffee maker may not be the right choice for you is its lack of customization. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to your the coffee. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a sticking point for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee to the particular kind of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of the brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are seeking.
The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate it every once in a while. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are ejected into a container hidden from view which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a fantastic job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style collection. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can take ground coffee machines for pods coffee or ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of a gauge that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also need to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. Nevertheless, this is a great pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and functional appliance that will serve them well for a reasonable cost. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.