The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we’ve seen, this brushed-steel model has the renowned Sage quality and is easy to use. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee-making out of your hands – including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in just 30 minutes. But they do come at a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they are not recycled. (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is almost no possibility of getting a poor drink. The machine is among the lightest and slimmest available. It doesn’t require an additional milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn’t the best machine to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn’t come with an automatic descaling function, and you’ll have to clean it yourself every 300 cups if live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You’ll also have to put in a new filter cartridge after this expires and can be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it’s done it, it can make one cup in about 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major benefit. The most effective models are simple to use. Most machines use the same basic process to brew the perfect cup of coffee: water is heated inside reservoirs, then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet various needs. You can save your own settings on many models to simplify the process even more.
Keurig’s K-Cups and Nestle’s Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used once and get thrown away, whereas others are intended for multiple uses. Either way, you’ll need to plan out the way you’ll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to give you plenty of variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design makes it an eye-catching addition to your counter, and it can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a concealed compartment for empty pods. It has a water filter system which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine brews a standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its intuitive controls are easy to navigate with the help of aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space that allows you to insert your pod. It requires a bit of effort to close, but the majority of our testers, including those with limited hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands. You simply load in a pod, hit the button, and then prepare to brew. You’ll still have to clean the machine from time time however not as often 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 stored away from sight when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you’re hoping to get from it. All pod machines are simple to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine for your needs.
Most people will think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are a few more recent rivals that are worth a look. One of them is Bruvi, which uses its own pod system, called B-Pods, which can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are identified by a barcode which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This method eliminates all the guesswork of making a cup and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button so that you can create them with one button.
Other machines, such as Sage’s My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than the majority, letting you choose a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It’s more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is a hallmark of the Sage’s My Way brand. This is a good option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.
Some larger models can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this, and it is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It’s difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it’s quick and extremely enjoyable to use the lungo is made in less than 30 seconds and the pods that are used are put into an internal bin at the touch of the button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons pod coffee pods machines makers might not be right for you is its limited customization. If you don’t have an auxiliary milk frother, then the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your the coffee. This shouldn’t be a problem for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who prefer a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch’s Intellibrew makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule machine coffee. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the correct amount of coffee for the specific kind of pod. It’s a user-friendly, hands-off machine which does a great job however it isn’t equipped with options for customizing drinks or altering the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others the hassle-free automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It’s all you have to do is to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir every once in a while. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as previously mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed receptacle which keeps your kitchen spotless. It also does a fantastic job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
It’s a gorgeous machine that is part of Smeg’s fifties style range. It is easy to use with a simple control panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of an indicator that will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. You’ll also need to purchase the brand’s capsules which can be expensive. However, this is a good pod and capsule coffee machines coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and practical appliance that can serve them well for a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.