The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance provides the Sage trademark quality and ease of operation. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are typically more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any chance of getting a bad drink. The machine is one of the tiniest and lightest on the market. It does not require an additional milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also have to put the filter cartridge after this expires and can be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it's done it will brew a cup in just 35 minutes.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a range of different sizes and styles then take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage it is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a major selling point and the best models are easy to use. The majority of machines employ the same method to make the perfect cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes for different needs. You can also save custom settings to streamline the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules by famous roasters. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then discarded, while others are designed to be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for the pods you've used to avoid them from being thrown away.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can make espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends for variety. This brewer is a great choice for coffee lovers who are looking 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 is beautiful on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that holds your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is ideal for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and can brew regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its easy-to-use controls are easy to use with the help of airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert your pod. It requires some effort to close, but the majority of our testers even those with limited hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. You just put a pod in, press a button and let it be brewed. It is still necessary to clean your machine every now and then however not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
The best coffee machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but some have more options for customization than others. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing features are all important to find the ideal coffee pod machine for you.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors worth looking at. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This approach means the machine takes all the guesswork out the process of making a cup, and makes sure that each drink is made perfectly every time. It can save your custom drinks to a button to allow you to create them with only one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with a polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer service that is a hallmark of the brand. This is a great choice for those looking for a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are coffee machine capsule able to brew longer shots, known as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this and blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the best option for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother then the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to the coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but could be a problem for those who prefer the convenience of 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 particular kind of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customizing drinks or varying the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is low maintenance. It only requires you to refill the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every so often. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned the pods that are used are ejected to a hidden receptacle which keeps your kitchen spotless. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied espressos with a crema-topped top.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's simple to use with a simple panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of an indicator that lets you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants a convenient and attractive appliance that can be used at a low cost. If you're looking for a little more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.