The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model provides the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. After turning on, it warms up and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with many can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds or less. But they do come at an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they're not always recyclable (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that is available due to its built-in barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no chance of getting a bad beverage. It's also among the tiniest and lightest on the market and does not require an additional milk jug, and a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those who want to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. It is also necessary to put the filter cartridge after this expires, which could be costly for certain 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 and tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the surroundings and its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated, it can brew one 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, created in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The best models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same mechanism to brew the perfect cup of coffee the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then moved through capsules to make rich hot, hot java. Most brands offer a range of drink sizes to suit different requirements, and you can save custom settings on many models to simplify the process even further.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules by famous roasters. Certain pods can be used once before being thrown away however, others can be used several times. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them from ending up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule once the previous one has cooled. It brews lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that holds your empty pods. It has an in-built water filter system that is perfect for areas that have hard water.
The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. Its intuitive controls are easy to navigate with the help of airplane-style toggles and a more info lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the space which allows you to drop your pod. It takes a bit of force to close but our test subjects, even those who have limited mobility and hand strength, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands - you simply load in a pod, hit an icon and brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time time but not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts which means they can be placed on the countertop and be stored away from view when not being used.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to get out of it. All pod machines are easy to use, but some have more options for customization than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the best machine.
The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are some newer competitors on the scene that are worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a separate button so you can make them with the press of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the ideal size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer service that is synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great choice for those looking for something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a excellent example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the pods that are used are placed in an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is its lack of customization. Unless you purchase an additional milk frother, the only ways to add flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option website and to add milk manually to your coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem, but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the correct amount of coffee to the specific type of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine here that does the job flawlessly, but does not have any options for making drinks that are customized or for varying the strength of the brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they are seeking.
Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected to a check here hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It is easy to use with a click here simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't have an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level can't be set which is a minor inconvenience. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable cost. If you're looking for some variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.