The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we’ve seen this brushed-steel model offers the signature Sage quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the messiest aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. But they do come at an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they’re not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning the pods).
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 ensures that you get consistently top-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 an additional milk container and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn’t the best machine for those looking to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn’t have an automatic descaling function and you’ll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. When the filter cartridge wears out, you’ll have to replace it with a fresh one. This can be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option of using either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds packed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. Its only downside is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once this is done, it will be able to brew a cup in around 35 seconds.
If you’re looking for an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a variety of different sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just simple and quick to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of pod coffee makers is a major benefit. The top models are simple to use. Most machines rely on the same basic process to make your coffee the water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich hot coffee. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to streamline the process.
Keurig’s K-Cups and Nestle’s Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players on the market, yet both offer a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used once and get thrown away, whereas others are designed to be used for a variety of purposes. You’ll need a plan to dispose of your used pods to avoid them ending up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends to give you various options. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to make the switch from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is an attractive addition to your countertop, and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a concealed compartment for empty pods coffee machines. The machine also has the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is great for hard-water areas.
This machine is quick and can make regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are easy to use, thanks to switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the area which allows you to drop your coffee maker. It requires some pressure to close, however most of 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 – you just put a pod in, press a button and let it make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but some have more options for customization than others. Different pod types, brew sizes options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to find the ideal coffee pod machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors worth looking at. One is Bruvi, which uses an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will take all the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a specific button so you can make them with the press of a button.
Other machines, like Sage’s My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee and allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each cup. It’s a little more expensive than other models but it offers the polished stainless steel design and excellent customer service which is synonymous with the brand. It is a solid choice for those who want a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people will use the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks There are some larger models that can also create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example, combines retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It’s intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it’s easy and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are placed in an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
One big reason why pod coffee makers might not be the best choice for you is its limited customizability. If you don’t have an additional milk frother, then the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your the coffee. This shouldn’t be a problem for a lot of people, but it could be a problem for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch’s Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode readers to scan each capsule machine coffee and automatically pre-wet, infuse and give the correct amount of coffee for that particular type of pod. It’s a simple and hands-off machine that does an excellent job, but isn’t able to customize drinks or altering the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
In addition to filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally This coffee maker does not require a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as previously mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a hidden receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also excels in delivering full-bodied coffees that have tops that are topped with crema.
It’s a gorgeous machine and is part of Smeg’s fifties style range. It’s user-friendly with a simple control panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of a display that will let you know when it’s time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum water level. You’ll also have to purchase the capsules made by the company, which can be pricey. This is a good pod and capsule coffee machines machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that will serve well at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a variety of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.