The Best Pod Coffee Machines
With pod coffee machines, you place a sealed capsule with ground or roasted beans into the machine. The coffee then flows through for a specified amount of time to make your beverage.
Certain pod coffee machines come with various sizes of cups as well as the ability to froth milk. The best pod machine for you will depend on your lifestyle and your personal preferences.
1. Keurig K-Select
If you’re looking for a basic Keurig coffee maker without all the bells and whistles that come with higher-end models, this one is a good option. It’s simple to use, has a stunning design, and can be easily stored into an area of the kitchen when it’s not being used.
The machine is noisy but that’s not a major problem. It’s also small enough to be able to fit on a small counter. If you’d prefer a Keurig with a larger range of sizes or a carafe to drip-brew your coffee, you may be interested in other alternatives.
Keurig K-Select is a single-serve coffee maker that blends a sleek design with more intuitive features. This lets you make the perfect cup coffee every time. Pick from a variety of delicious K-Cup pods, or make your own ground coffee using My-K-Cup’s universal, coffee filter that can be reused (sold separately). Strong Brew increases the intensity and strength of your coffee machine and pods making it a great option for those who like a strong cup.
The brewer is simple to operate with buttons. Simply insert the K-Cup and then select the desired brew size and press the brew button. In less than a minute you’ll have a fresh cup of coffee waiting to drink. The large 52-ounce reservoir allows you to make up to five cups between refills, making it easier to manage your morning routine.
The machine is simple to clean, with an easily accessible reservoir for water and a lid that can be easily hand washed. But, you must remove the scale from your Keurig before cleaning it, and follow the directions in the user’s manual to ensure that your machine is performing optimally. This warranty covers all accessories and the brewer, excluding for normal wear misuse, abuse as well as external causes such as power outages.
2. Tassimo My Way
This is the ideal choice for coffee lovers looking for a machine that can do more than just making your regular cup. It can make a variety drinks such as tea and hot cocoa. The large 1.3-litre water tank allows for multiple cups to be brewed at the same time. The machine is warm in just three seconds and can produce an espresso or latte with its built-in milk jug. It also features a touch-sensitive display that lets you set the intensity, temperature and volume of your chosen drink.
The Tassimo My Way uses the brand’s T Discs which contain everything you require for your preferred drink. There are over 70 different varieties, including Kenco, Costa, Milka, and Cadbury’s. The machine also provides the option of T Discs for hot chocolate and tea as well.
We found the coffee capsule machine it produced to be of a excellent quality, though just a little less than some of the other pod machines featured in this round-up. It also steamed the milk to make an espresso fairly quickly and produced a rich taste without being too thick. It is important to know that the milk that is frothy has sugar in it which, though not a major issue it might not be for everyone’s taste.
The Tassimo My Way is easy to keep clean, with the drip tray, the removable components of the brewing unit as well as the water tank being dishwasher-safe. There’s an Brita filter that is included as well as a cleaning disc that can be used. A helpful indicator light will let you know when to descale, and water tanks will help keep limescale at the minimum. The machine is classified as Energy Star, which helps reduce the power consumption of up to 15%.
3. Lavazza Lungo Pod Machine
This Nespresso-compatible pod coffee machine from Lavazza created in collaboration with Sage, is one of the best pod coffee machine-looking machines on the market. It’s built with durable and attractive materials, it comes with an adjustable steam wand for making lattes and cappuccinos, and an stainless milk jug made of steel. It can make espresso lungos, double espressos mugs, gran lungos and altos with a thick layer froth.
Like most pod machines, you load the pod via an opening on top and then drop it into the appropriate spot. The machine punctures the capsule then seals it. When you lift the lever, the pod will fall into a specially spent Pod tray underneath the drip tray.
It’s not the fastest machine for brewing it takes 30 seconds to make a shot of espresso and around 90 seconds for a lungo however, the results are always impressive, with great crema and a smooth, rich taste. The machine will also notify you when it’s time to refill the water tank or pod bin.
A big selling point for this machine is that it can use it with any Lavazza-branded pod – there are seven in total including ground roasted espresso (Qualita Rossa, Intenso, Passionale and Delizioso), two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso) and two organic coffees (!Tierra! Bio). It’s not cheap, but with the subscription deal that bundles this pod coffee maker with a pod delivery service that can come at a similar price to a traditional bean-to-cup machine. Its slimline design means it can be fitted neatly into the smallest kitchens. Additionally, the pods themselves are industrially compostable, which means you can place them into your local food waste bins, or even your own garden compost.
4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine
Nespresso machines are among the top pod coffee makers for those who are looking for quick steady, reliable, and consistent brew. They heat quickly and are super easy to use–just put a capsule in, push a button and you’re done. They create a rich, creamy crema that can be added to drinks to give greater flavor and thickness. They’re not cheap however you must buy their official pods.
The Vertuo line utilizes different technology than OriginalLine machines that use espresso capsules (and are still in existence). The Vertuo line is able to read the barcode of each capsule and automatically adjusts the brewing parameters to produce a perfect cup. And they include a centrifusion system that spins the capsule in order to extract the most flavorful and most thick crema.
The machines aren’t quite as intuitive as the other options. For instance, the lid only opens when the machine is ready and it takes 30 seconds to heat up enough to be able to fit into a capsule. The machine doesn’t come with the milk frother like some of the other pod machines in this list. You’ll have to shell out an additional PS90 to buy a separate Aeroccino to make cappuccinos and lattes.
These machines also require more maintenance than other models, such as refilling the water tank and emptying used pod containers and descaling – but they come with an app which reminds you to do these tasks, and provides tools such as capsule recyclers and store locators. If you pair your machine to an IntelliPort you can control it with voice commands. This is a great feature if you are making coffee at 4am in the dark or are limited in strength.
5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine
This sleek pod machine is the product of the adored Italian brand, and a well-known company that manufactures kitchen appliances. It features all the sleek, retro curves that SMEG is known for, along with the ability to brew lungo and espresso drinks with ease. It has a programmable setting for the shot, dual-height drip trays, and removable pod bin.
This coffee maker makes it simple to make a quick cup of single-shot or double-shot espresso in the morning, or to make a lungo during breaks at work. The simple control panel looks elegant and doesn’t hinder its purpose. It has three interchangeable baskets for different capsule types. You can use loose-ground beans (although an additional grinder is required).
The SMEG Barista Pod Machine doesn’t include a milk pitcher, however, it has a built-in Pannarello milk frother that froths both soymilk and cowmilk well. It also comes with an oversized portafilter of 51mm, which is smaller than a standard commercial-style filter. It’s pressurised, which means that you won’t have the stale, leftover taste. It comes with a tamper made of plastic that can also be used as spoon.
The SMEG is among the most expensive pod machines we’ve reviewed but it’s well worth it if you’re a lover of the retro style or if you like being able to whip up espresso-based drinks. This is a great choice for those who are new to coffee making and don’t want to deal with the hassle of grinding, measuring and tamping beans by yourself.