The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. After turning on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are typically quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with most can make coffee in just 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that you can find, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no possibility of getting a poor beverage. It is also among the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require a separate milk jug and a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce the 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. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a new one. This could be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated it, it can make one cup in about 35 seconds.
If you're after a sleek, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles then you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use but also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a big selling point, and the best models are simple to operate. Most machines use the same method to make the perfect cup of coffee the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of drink sizes to suit different needs, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to simplify the process even further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players in the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Certain pods can be used just once before they are discarded, while others can be used multiple times. Whatever the case, you'll need to think about how you'll handle your spent pods so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses new capsules once the previous one has been chilled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to switch to drip coffee to drip.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it an eye-catching addition to your countertop and opens with a light tap to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine has an in-built water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.
This machine is quick and can make standard coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are easy to navigate with the help of aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop your pod. It requires some force to close, but the majority of our test subjects even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply put in the pod, press the button, and then prepare to brew. You'll still have to clean your machine occasionally but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stacked on the counter when not being used.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right option for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others offer more customization options. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine for you.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are more recent competitors that are worth looking at. One is Bruvi, which uses a bespoke pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This approach means the machine eliminates all the guesswork of brewing 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 granular level of control over your coffee and allows you to select a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good choice for those looking for an extra bit of quality click here from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some larger models can also create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, however once you've become accustomed to it, the machine is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be prepared in just 30 minutes.
4. Customization
The lack of customization is a major reason it may not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to coffee. For most 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 uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the right amount of coffee for the specific kind of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but others will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are seeking.
This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily 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 providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
It's a gorgeous machine and is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It is easy to use with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level can't be set which is a minor inconvenience. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone looking for an attractive and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable price. If you're looking for more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.