The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've seen this model with brushed-steel features the signature Sage quality and user-friendly. It heats up immediately after switching on and brews an aroma-packed espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with many capable of making a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are typically more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This allows you to get consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with next-to-no chance of a drink coming out badly wrong. The machine is one of the lightest and slimmest on the market. It does not require a separate milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge when it runs out and can be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds squeezed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once that occurs, it can make the cup in about 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The top models are easy to operate. The majority of machines utilize the same general mechanism to brew your cup by heating water inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the capsules you choose and extracted to form rich hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet different needs, and you can save custom settings for a variety of models to simplify the process even further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players on the market, but each has a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used only once before being be thrown away, while others are intended to be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to plan out how you'll deal with the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour new capsules once the previous one has been chilled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to give you various options. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the compartment that holds empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is great for hard-water areas.
The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. Its easy-to-use controls are get more info easy to use, thanks to aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space which allows you to drop your pod. It requires a bit of force to close, but the majority of our testers even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take away all the mess from coffee making - you just load a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time however not as often as you would with 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 stored away from sight when not being used.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your preferences and what you wish to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others provide more options for customization. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for your needs.
Most people will associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few newer rivals which are worth looking into. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust brewing settings.
This method takes all the guesswork out the process of making a cup, and ensures each drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks to a button, so that you can create them using only one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the ideal size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit more expensive than many other models, but here it comes with the polished stainless steel design and excellent customer service associated with the brand. It is a good choice for those who want something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly satisfying to operate the lungo is made in only 30 seconds, and the pods that are used are deposited into an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
The lack of customisation is a major reason it may not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, then the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your the coffee. For most 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 utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses, then dispensing the correct amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does the job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of the brew. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion the coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's user-friendly with an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can be used with ground here coffee read more and ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of a display that will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You'll also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. However, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that will click here provide them with a great service at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.