The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've ever seen, this model with brushed-steel features the trademark Sage quality and user-friendly. It heats up immediately after switching on and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a little longer lungo in 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. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with the majority capable of making coffee in just 30 seconds or so. But they come at an expense as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code before brewing. This allows you to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with virtually no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. It is also among the tiniest and lightest on the market, with no need for a separate milk jug and a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to minimize your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function, and you'll have to clean it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. It is also necessary to put with a new cartridge after this expires, which could be costly for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be utilized with 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 decreasing the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. Its only slight drawback is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once that happens it can brew one cup in just 35 seconds.
If you're looking for a sleek, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. 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 use of a pod coffee maker is a major benefit. The top models are simple to use. Most machines use the same basic process to brew the cup of coffee you want that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes for different needs. You can also save custom settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules made by the most famous roasters. Some pods can be used just once before they are discarded, while others can be used several times. In either case, you'll have to plan out how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically releases an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and has eight different blends to offer variety. This brewer will appeal to coffee drinkers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your counter, and it opens with a light tap to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine has an in-built water filter system which is perfect for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and brews regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to navigate using the airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space where you drop in your coffee maker. It takes a bit of effort to close, but our testers, even those who have weak hand and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers take away all the mess from coffee making - you just put a pod in, press a button and let it brew. It is still necessary to clean your machine every now and then but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of sight 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. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to determine the best coffee pod machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors worth a look. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are equipped with an underside barcode that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This means that the machine takes all the guesswork out of making a cup and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It is able to save your customized drinks in a single button so that you can make them by pressing one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee and allows you to select the right temperature and size for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good choice for those looking for something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While the majority of people are using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this. It blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's pod capsule coffee machine difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate - a lungo is brewed in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, then the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk into your the coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem however it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the correct amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for making drinks that are customized or altering the strength of the brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but others will appreciate the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they're looking for.
In addition to filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally, this coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as we mentioned the pods that are used are ejected to a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This is a stunning machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's simple to use with a simple panel of buttons and can be used with both ground coffee and ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of an indicator that lets you know when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You also need to buy the brand's own capsules which can be costly. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for those 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 variety of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.