The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most sleek pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the trademark Sage quality and ease of use. It warms up after switching on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest parts of coffee making off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. However, they come with an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and many are also not recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient 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 virtually no chance of having a bad beverage. It's also among the tiniest and lightest available, with no need for a separate milk jug and its small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient 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 every 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a new one. This could be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds squeezed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once this is done, it will be able to brew one cup in just 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of 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 an stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of pod coffee makers is a major benefit. The top models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same general method to make your cup the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich hot java. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save custom settings on a number of models to speed up the process even more.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules from well-known roasters. Some pods are able to be used once before they are discarded however, others can be used several times. Either way, you'll need to think about how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they don't end up in landfill.
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 brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that stores empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is perfect for areas with hard water.
The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to navigate with the help of aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area where you drop in your coffee maker. It does take a little force to close but our test subjects, even those with weak hand 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 a button and brew. You'll still have to clean your machine every now and then but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts which means they can be placed on the countertop and be kept out of sight when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you want to get out of it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing features should all be considered to determine the best coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are more recent competitors that are worth taking a look at. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods are equipped with an underside barcode that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised here drinks to a button so that you can make them by pressing one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the ideal temperature and size for each drink. It's a little more expensive than other 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 good option for those looking to get something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While most people will use a pod-based machine to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that can also make longer shots, referred to as here lungos, too. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this, and it 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 airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it might not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for most people, but could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee to the specific type of pod. It's a user-friendly and hands-off machine that does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks or varying brew strength. This will irritate some buyers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally This coffee maker does not require a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected to a hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's easy to use with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of a gauge that lets you know when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You click here also need to buy the capsules made by the company, which can be pricey. Nevertheless, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable price. If you're looking for get more info a little more variety, a wide range of third-party capsules are available more info for this model, and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.