The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance comes with Sage distinctive quality and ease of operation. It preheats after switch-on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a little longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in just 30 seconds. But they come at some cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they are not recycled. (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This makes it easy to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is also among the tiniest and lightest on the market that doesn't require a separate milk jug and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit in even the tiniest of kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You will need 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 fresh one. This could be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once this happens it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a big selling point and the best models are a breeze to operate. The majority of machines use the same basic mechanism to brew your cup by heating water inside a reservoir, then pumped through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of drink sizes to suit various needs. You can save custom settings on a number of models to speed up the process further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players on the market, but each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used only once before being thrown away however, others can be used several times. You'll need a strategy for your used pods to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to switch to drip coffee.
In our tests we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 coffee machine and pods was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that stores your empty pods. The machine comes with an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas that have hard water.
This machine is easy to use and can brew regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to use, thanks to switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the area which allows you to drop the pod. It takes a bit of effort to close, but most of our testers who have limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. All you have to do is put a pod in the machine, push a button and let it be brewed. It is still necessary to clean your machine occasionally however not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of view when not being used.
If a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to get from it. All pod machines are simple to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features are all important to determine the best coffee pod machine for you.
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 a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and ensures each drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customized drinks to a specific button, allowing you to create them at the push of a button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your cup of coffee than others machines, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than many other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel build and top-quality customer service that's which is synonymous with the brand. It is a good choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can brew lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this. It blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's easy and extremely enjoyable to use the lungo is made in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
The lack of customization is a major reason it might not be the best option for you. If you don't have an alternative 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 to your coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that performs its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customised drinks or varying the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed 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 are looking for.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion the coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It can make short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected in a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It is also excellent in delivering full-bodied coffees that have crema-topped tops.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s style range. It's simple to use with simple buttons and can accommodate ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor issue. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. However, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and practical appliance that can provide them with a great service at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a range of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.