The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've seen this model with brushed-steel features the renowned Sage quality and user-friendly. It warms up after switching on, and makes an espresso with aroma or a little longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messy aspects of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in 30 minutes. 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 has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This makes it easy to get consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. It is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market that doesn't require an additional milk jug, and its small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce the environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge after this expires, which could be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does it, it can make one cup in about 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a big selling point and the best models are simple to use. The majority of machines use the same general method to make your cup the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pumped through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different needs, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to simplify the process further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading brands on the market, however each offers a wide selection of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used just once and then get thrown away, whereas others are designed to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan for your used pods to avoid them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses new capsules once the previous one has been cooled. It can brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is perfect for coffee lovers who want to make the switch from drip coffee to drip.
In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that stores your 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 the standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its user-friendly controls are easy to navigate using the airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert the pod. It does take a little force to close, but our testers, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers take away all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is load a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it make coffee. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally however not as often as 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.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to use, however certain models offer more customization options than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the right machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few more recent competitors that are worth taking a look at. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to automatically adjust brewing settings.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork out of it and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks in a single button to allow you to make them by pressing one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than others models, allowing you to select the exact size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with the brand. This is a great 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 pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages There are some larger models that can also brew longer shots, known as lungos, coffee machines with capsules also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this, and it combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in just 30 seconds and the pods that are used are placed in an internal bin at the touch of a button.
4. Customization
One reason pod coffee makers might not be the best choice for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your the coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem however it could be a problem for those who prefer an 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 give the correct amount of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that performs its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customised drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but 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 are seeking.
This coffee maker is very low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as we mentioned the used pods are ejected to a hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only downside is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set which is an issue. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's own capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for anyone looking for an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that will serve well at a reasonable price. This model can be used with a variety of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.