The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage trademark quality and ease of use. It warms up after switching on, and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in 30 seconds.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and many are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that you can find due to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This allows you to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, and there is virtually no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. It's also one of the slimmest and lightest on the market and does not require a separate milk jug and a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to do it yourself every 300 cups if live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also have to put in a new filter cartridge once this runs out, which could be costly for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does it will brew a cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're after a sleek, stylish machine that can handle a range of different sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand, a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major benefit. The top models are easy to operate. The majority of machines use the same process to make your coffee the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pumped through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings on many models to streamline the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules by popular roasters. Some pods can be used once before being thrown away however, others can be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for the way you'll dispose of your spent pods so they do not end up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule once the previous one has been chilled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests, 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 your empty pods. It has an in-built water filter system that is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its intuitive 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 opening which allows you to drop your coffee maker. It requires some pressure to close, however most of our testers, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers 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 need to clean your machine from time to time however not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the best machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth a look. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used in conjunction with its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork of making a cup and ensures each drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button to allow you to make them with the press of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, however it has the polished capsule machine coffee stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great option for those who want an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles, however once you've become accustomed to it, the machine is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be brewed in just 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One reason the pod coffee maker might not be the right choice for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to 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 uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses, then dispensing the right amount of coffee to the specific type of pod. It's an easy-to-use, hands-off machine which does an excellent job, but isn't able to customize drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, however others will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are searching for.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally the coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are ejected in an unnoticed container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It is also excellent in delivering full-bodied coffees that have tops that are topped with crema.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s 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 lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You'll also have to purchase the capsules made by the company which can be costly. However, this is a good pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will serve them well for a reasonable price. If you're looking for some variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules are available for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.