The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance comes with Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of use. When it is turned on, it warms up and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
Models for pods are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are typically quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with the majority capable of making coffee in only 30 seconds or less. But they come at some cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they're not always recyclable (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no possibility of getting a poor beverage. The machine is one of the slimmest and lightest on the market. It does not require a separate milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into even the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to minimize your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling feature, 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 need to swap the filter cartridge once this runs out, which could be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds packed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're after an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a variety of different sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, created 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 ease of using pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The top models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same process to brew the cup of coffee you want the water is heated inside reservoirs, then moved through capsules to make rich hot, hot coffee. Most brands offer different drink sizes for different needs. You can also save custom settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules from famous roasters. Some pods are made to be used only once before being discarded, while others are intended to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them ending up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine automatically pours fresh capsules after the previous one has been cooled. It brews espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is an eye-catching addition to your countertop, and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. The machine comes with a water filter system which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is easy to use and can make regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to use with the help of aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert your coffee maker. 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 top coffee pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply put in a pod, hit an icon and brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right option for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to get from it. All pod machines are easy to use, but some have more options for customization than others. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some more recent competitors that are worth a look. One is Bruvi which has an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This method takes all the guesswork out of making a cup and ensures each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can even save customized drinks to a specific button so you can create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than some models coffee capsule machine but it offers the polished stainless steel construction and the excellent customer service that is associated with the brand. It is a good option for those looking to get a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in only 30 seconds, and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
The lack of customization is a major reason it may not be the best choice for you. Unless you purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only options to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and add milk to your coffee manually. For many people this won't be a problem, but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the correct amount of coffee for the particular kind of pod. It's an easy-to-use hands-off device that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or varying brew strength. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but many will appreciate the convenience and 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 each and every time. It can make short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from an unnoticed container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also excels at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This is a beautiful-looking machine that is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's user-friendly with a simple control panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of a gauge that tells you when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. It is also necessary to purchase the capsules made by the company which can be expensive. This is a great pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that is able to serve at a low cost. If you're looking for more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.