The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model has the trademark Sage quality and user-friendly. It warms up after switching on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee-making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with the majority capable of making coffee in 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a majority of them are not 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 prior to brewing it. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad beverage. The machine is one of the slimmest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into the smallest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to cut down on their environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge when it runs out and can be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed, 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 its employees. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done it, it can make one cup in just 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage, is not only quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice cream frothing wand as well as an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use is a big selling point, and the best models are easy to use. Most machines rely on the same mechanism to brew your cup by heating water inside a reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to streamline the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players on the market, yet each offers a wide selection of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used once before they are discarded and others can be used several times. In either case, you'll have to think about the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule once the previous one has cooled. It can make espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to make the switch from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests, 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 holds your empty pods. The machine has an in-built water filter system that is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is easy to use and can brew regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop in the pod. It requires some pressure to close, however the majority of our test subjects, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers remove all the mess from coffee making. You just load a pod in the machine, push a button and let it be brewed. You'll still have to clean your machine from time to time, but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts which means they can be placed on the countertop and be stored out of sight when not in use.
The right coffee machines with capsules coffee pod machine for you will depend on your preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but others provide more options for customization. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the best machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors worth looking at. One is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will take all the guesswork and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks to a button, so that you can create them with a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than most machines, allowing you to choose the exact size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is a hallmark of the Sage's My Way brand. This is a good option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
While the majority of people are using pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages, there are some larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It can be a little intimidating to use thanks to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and extremely enjoyable to use the lungo is made in less than 30 seconds and the used pods are put into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
One big reason why the pod coffee maker might not be the best choice for you is the limited customizability. If you don't have an alternative milk frother then 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 into your the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for most people, but it could be a problem for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a user-friendly hands-off device that does an excellent job, however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or varying brew strength. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as we mentioned, used pods are ejected into a concealed receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also excels at delivering full-bodied coffees with tops that are topped with crema.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is an issue. You'll also have to purchase the brand's own capsules which can be expensive. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable price. For those who want a little more variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is offered for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.