The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or so. However, they come with an expense in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available due to its built-in barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no chance of getting a bad beverage. It's also among the slimmest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best device to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling feature, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. It is also necessary to put the filter cartridge after this expires and could be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option of using either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and packed 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. Its only slight drawback is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once this is done, it will be able to brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're after an elegant, 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 sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a big selling point and the best models are simple to operate. Most machines utilize the same process to brew a cup of coffee the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich, hot java. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet different needs, and you can save custom settings on a number of models to streamline the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules by famous roasters. Some pods are designed to be used once and be thrown away, while others are meant for multiple uses. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll deal with the pods you've used up so that they don't end up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically releases an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is an eye-catching addition to your counter, and it opens with a light touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. It has an integrated water filter which 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 extremely fast. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to navigate using the switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening where you drop in your coffee maker. It requires a little force to close but our test subjects, even those who have limited mobility and hand strength felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. You just add a pod the machine, press a button, and let it brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time, but not as best coffee machines with pods frequently as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts, so they can fit on the countertop and be kept out of view when not being used.
The ideal coffee maker for you will depend on your preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, however some provide more options for customization. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features are all important to determine the best coffee pod machine for you.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors worth a look. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks on a button to allow you to create them using one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your cup of coffee than the majority, letting you choose a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
While most people are using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages There are some larger models that can also make longer shots, referred to as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a excellent example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's not easy initially due to the airplane-style toggles but once you get used to it, it is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be made in 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One big reason why a pod coffee maker may not be right for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but it could be an issue for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes 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 hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does the job well, but it doesn't have any options for customizing drinks or varying the strength of the brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but many will find the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they're searching for.
Aside from filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally This coffee maker does not require much maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as previously mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's simple to use with an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is the lack of a display that lets you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is a good pod coffee maker for those looking for a beautiful and practical appliance that can serve them well for an affordable cost. For those who want a little more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.