The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. It warms up after switching on, and makes an espresso with aroma or a little longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with most able to make coffee in just 30 seconds or so. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are typically more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a majority of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is almost no chance of having a bad drink. The machine is among the tiniest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those looking to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function, and you'll have to do it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need to replace it with a new one. This could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it, it can make one cup in just 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major benefit. The top models are simple to use. The majority of machines use the same mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pressured through your chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players in the market, but each has a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used once and be thrown away, while others are meant to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan for your used pods to avoid them ending up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour new capsules once the previous one has cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who want to switch to drip coffee.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that stores empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is ideal for hard-water areas.
This machine is able to make an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml), as well as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are easy to use, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place into the pod. It takes a bit of force to close, but our testers, including those who have limited mobility and hand strength, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply load in a pod, hit the button, and then brew. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally however not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger and can be tucked away on the counter and be kept out of view when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the best machine.
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 makes use of its own pod system, known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust brewing settings.
This method removes all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and guarantees that every drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a dedicated button to allow you to make them with the press of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than most machines, allowing you to choose the exact size and temperature for each beverage. It's a little more expensive than some models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the brand and is a good choice for those who want something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a perfect example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It can be a little intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are deposited into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons pod coffee makers coffee machine with capsules might not be right for you is its lack of customization. Unless you purchase an additional milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess is to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option, and then add milk to your cup manually. This shouldn't be a problem for many people, but it could be a problem for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of a barcode reader to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or varying brew strength. Some customers will be irritated by this, however 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 seeking.
This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir every so often. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as previously mentioned the used pods are ejected to a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also excels at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
It's a gorgeous machine and part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons and can be used with ground coffee and ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of a display that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also have to purchase the capsules made by the company which can be expensive. Nevertheless, this is a good pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and convenient appliance that will provide them with a great service at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.