The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model offers the trademark Sage quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the clumsiest parts of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are typically more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a majority are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available due to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no possibility of getting a poor drink. The machine is among the lightest and slimmest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to cut down on their 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. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge once this runs out and can be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in around 35 minutes.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles then 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 an ice cream frothing wand as well as an stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a major draw, and the best models are a breeze to use. Most machines rely on the same general method to make your cup by heating water inside a reservoir, then pressured through the capsules you choose and extracted to form rich hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules by popular roasters. Some pods are made to be used just once and then get thrown away, whereas others are intended to be used for a variety of purposes. You'll need a plan for your used pods to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a water tank that is removable and easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour new capsules once the previous one has cooled. It can brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends to give you plenty of variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to switch to drip coffee to drip.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that houses your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is ideal for areas with hard water.
This machine is quick and can make standard coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to operate, using airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place in your coffee maker. It takes a bit of force to close but our testers, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply need to load a pod, hit an icon and prepare to brew. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors worth looking at. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods, called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This approach means the machine removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and ensures each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can save your custom drinks on a button, so that you can create them with one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than others, letting you choose the right size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit more expensive than some models but it offers the polished stainless steel construction and excellent customer service which is synonymous with the brand. It is a great option for those looking to get a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you've gotten used to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be brewed in just 30 seconds.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited customisation is a major reason it might not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to the coffee. For many people this won't be a problem, but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses a barcode reader to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customised drinks or for varying the strength of the brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, however others will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're seeking.
The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate it every so often. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as previously mentioned the used pods are ejected into a concealed receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does a fantastic job of providing coffee capsules machines full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's easy to use via a simple panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of an indicator that lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. Nevertheless, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable cost. For those who want more variety, a wide range of third-party capsules are available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.