The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage trademark quality and ease of use. After switching on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest components of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in just 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and many of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no chance of having a bad drink. It's also among the slimmest and lightest available, with no need for a separate milk jug and a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to minimize your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function and you'll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also have to put in a new filter cartridge when it runs out, which could be costly 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, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. Its only downside is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once this occurs, it can make a cup in around 35 minutes.
If you're after a sleek, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles, look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The most effective models are simple to use. Most machines use the same mechanism to brew a cup of coffee the water is heated inside reservoirs, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot java. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save custom settings on many models to simplify the process even more.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules made by the most well-known roasters. Some pods can be used only once before being thrown away and others can be used several times. In either case, you'll have to plan out the way you'll dispose of the pods you've used up so that they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can make espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer will appeal to coffee lovers who are looking to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design makes it a looker on your counter and opens with a light tap to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is quick and brews regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to use with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the area where you drop in your coffee maker. It takes a bit of effort to close, but the majority of our testers, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands. You simply put in the pod, press the button, and then brew. You'll still need to clean your machine every now and then, but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features are all important to determine the best coffee pod machine for you.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth taking a look at. One of them is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod pod and bean coffee machine system called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods have a barcode on the underside that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button so you can create them at the push of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than most, letting you choose the right size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than some models, but it has the polished stainless steel design and top-quality customer service that's which is synonymous with the brand. It is a great option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also brew lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and extremely enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in less than 30 seconds and the pods that are used are put into an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it's not the best choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then 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 coffee. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a problem for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does its job very well but lacks any options for customised drinks or altering the strength of the brew. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate it every so often. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as previously mentioned the used pods are ejected into a concealed receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied coffees with a crema-topped top.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It is easy to use with a simple control panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor inconvenience. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for anyone looking for a convenient and attractive appliance that will serve well at a low cost. This model is compatible with a variety of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.