The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. It warms up after switching on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 minutes.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. But they come at some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning the pods).
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 allows you to ensure consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. It's also among the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need replace it with a new one. This can be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once that is done, it will be able to brew one cup in just 35 seconds.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine that can handle 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 stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The top models are simple to use. The majority of machines utilize the same general process to make your coffee: water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players in the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used only once before they are discarded, while others can be used a number of times. You'll need a plan for your used pods to avoid them ending up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that stores empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is great read more for hard-water areas.
This machine brews the standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are simple to operate, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily pulled back and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening for dropping in the pod. It requires a little force to close but our testers, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers take away all the mess from coffee making. You just load a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it make coffee. You'll still need to clean your machine from time to time however not as often as 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 being used.
If a coffee pod machine is the right option for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get out of it. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Consider the coffee pod variety, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the best machine.
Most people will think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few more recent rivals which are worth looking into. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods are identified by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This approach means the machine removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save read more custom drinks to a dedicated button so you can create them at the touch of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee that allows you to select a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit more expensive than other models but it offers the polished stainless steel design and top-quality customer service that's synonymous with the brand and is a great choice for those who want something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
One big reason why the pod coffee maker might not be the best choice for you is its lack of customizability. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess are to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and to 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 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 a simple, hands-off machine that does its job well, but it doesn't have any options for making drinks that are customized or altering the strength of the brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, check here lungo and mug) it gives exactly what they need.
The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It's all you have to do is to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every so often. It can dispense short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of providing check here full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's simple to use with a simple panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is that it lacks an indicator to let you know when it's time for descale. get more info Also, the maximum water level can't be set which is a minor inconvenience. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. Nevertheless, this is a good pod coffee maker for anyone looking for an attractive and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable cost. If you're looking for more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is available for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.