The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance provides the Sage trademark quality and ease of operation. After switching on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messy aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in just 30 minutes. But they do come at a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that you can find due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This allows you to get consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. It is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug, and its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those looking to cut down on their environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have 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 runs out, you'll have to replace it with a new one. This could be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed 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 using pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The top models are simple to use. Most machines utilize the same mechanism to brew a cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players in the market, but each offers a wide selection of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used only once before being discarded, while others are meant 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 being thrown away.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It brews lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to give you plenty of variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it a looker on your countertop, and it opens with a light touch to reveal a concealed compartment to store your empty pods. The machine has a water filter system that is ideal for areas that have hard water.
The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are simple to use, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into your coffee maker. It requires a little force to close, but our test subjects, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers take away all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is add a pod the machine, push a button and let it be brewed. You'll still have to clean your machine from time to time however not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than pod coffee machine their bigger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right option for you depends on your preferences and what you want to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to use, but others offer more customization options. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing capabilities are all important 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 a few more recent rivals that could be worth considering. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode, which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork out of it and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks on a button so that you can create them using one 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 drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this. It is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in just 30 seconds and the pods that are used are deposited into an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons the pod coffee maker might not be the right choice for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk into your coffee. This won't be an issue for many people, but it could be a problem for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and disperse the right amount of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a simple and hands-off machine that does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or varying brew strength. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but others will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're seeking.
The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a hidden receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's simple to use with an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of an indicator that tells you when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum water level. You also need to buy the brand's capsules, which can be pricey. But, it's a great pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will provide them with a great service at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.