The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy components of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
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 that are used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that you can find due to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is virtually no possibility of getting a poor drink. It is also among the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient 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 every 1200 cups for soft water. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need to replace it with a new. This could be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option of using either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds squeezed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment and its employees. The only downside is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated it will brew a cup in around 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major selling point and the best models are a breeze to use. The majority of machines use the same mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pumped through the chosen capsules and extracted to produce rich hot java. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to simplify the process even further.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules made by the most popular roasters. Some pods are able to be used just once before being thrown away and others can be used several times. Either way, you'll need to plan out 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 features a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has cooled. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks and has eight different blends to give you the variety. This brewer will appeal to coffee lovers who are looking to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the compartment that houses empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is perfect for hard-water areas.
The machine is fast and can brew standard coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to navigate with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the space where you drop in your coffee maker. It requires a bit of pressure to close, however the majority of our test subjects, including those with weak 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 put in the pod, press the button, and then brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time but not as often as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your preferences and what you wish 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 must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine.
Many people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are a few more recent rivals that are worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods have a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will take 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 create them at the push of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your cup of coffee than others, letting you choose the exact size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than some models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and excellent customer service associated with the brand. It is a solid choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a perfect example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the toggles that look like airplanes, however once you've become accustomed to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be made in 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One big reason why the pod coffee maker might not be right for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. pod coffee makers If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only options to add extra flavor or creaminess are to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option, and then add milk to your coffee manually. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's an easy-to-use hands-off device that does an excellent job, however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but many will find the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they're looking for.
Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally, this coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a fantastic job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style collection. It's easy to use with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't have an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set which is an issue. You 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 reasonable price. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.