The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage distinctive quality and ease of operation. It preheats after switch-on, and makes an espresso with aroma or slightly longer lungo in 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee-making out of your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with many can make coffee in only 30 seconds or so. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a majority are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This makes it simple to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, and there is virtually no chance of the drink turning out badly wrong. It is also one of the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug or the smallest footprint, making it a breeze to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
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 do it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll have to replace it with a new one. This can be costly for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds squeezed 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. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done it, it can make one cup in just 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The best models are simple to use. The majority of machines use the same general process to make your coffee the water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the chosen capsules and extracted to produce rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet various needs. You can save your own settings on a number of models to simplify the process further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players in the market, yet each offers a wide selection of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Certain pods can be used just once before being thrown away and others can be used a number of times. Either way, you'll need to think about how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested has a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to give you variety. This brewer is a great choice for those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most check here enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your counter and it can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. It has a water filter system which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its easy-to-use controls are easy to use, thanks to airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the area where you drop in your coffee maker. It requires a bit of effort to close, but the majority of our testers even those with weak hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers take away all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is load a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it make coffee. You'll still need to clean your machine from time to time but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger which means they can be placed on the counter and be kept out of sight when not in use.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to get out of it. All pod machines are easy to use, however certain models offer more customization options than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the best machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors worth looking at. One is Bruvi which has an exclusive pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode, which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork of making a cup and ensures each 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 greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it has the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with the brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.
While the majority of people will be using the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, it is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be brewed in just 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customisation is a major reason it may not be the best choice for you. If you don't buy an additional milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and to add milk manually to your coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the right amount of coffee to the specific type of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that performs its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customizing drinks or for 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 gives precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate it every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view that keeps your kitchen tidy. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with crema-topped tops.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of an indicator that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You'll also need to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable cost. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.