The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. After switching on, it warms up and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with many able to make coffee in just 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and many of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code before brewing. This allows you to make consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is one of the slimmest and lightest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into even the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll have to replace it with a new. This can be costly 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 that are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once this occurs, it can make the cup in about 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. 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 a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The most effective models are easy to operate. Most machines use the same basic process to brew the cup of coffee you want: water is heated inside reservoirs, then moved through capsules to make rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules from popular roasters. Some pods are able to be used once before they are discarded, while others can be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for the way you'll dispose of the pods you've used up so that they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule once the previous one has cooled. It can make espresso and lungo drinks, and has eight different blends for the variety. This brewer is a great choice for coffee drinkers who want to switch from drip coffee.
In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the compartment that stores your empty pods. It has a water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.
This machine brews an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. The controls are easy to use, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening for dropping into the pod. It does take a little force to close but our testers, including those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands - you simply load in a pod, hit a button and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean your machine occasionally, but not like 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.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors that may be worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks to a button so that you can create them using only one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than most, letting you choose the right size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a great choice for those looking for a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
While the majority of people will be using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages, there are some larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos, too. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in only 30 seconds, and the pods that are used are put into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it may not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother then the only way to add 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 most people, but it could be a problem for those who like the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that performs its job very well but lacks any options for customizing drinks or varying the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it provides precisely what they require.
The coffee pods machine coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to refill the water tank and decaffeinate it every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are ejected in a container hidden from view which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's easy to use via simple buttons, and it can handle ground coffee as well as ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of a gauge that tells you when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum water level. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that can be used at a reasonable price. If you're looking for more variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is available for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.