The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most sleek pod machine we've ever seen, this model with brushed-steel features the signature Sage quality and user-friendly. After turning on, it warms up and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messy aspects of coffee making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with most can make coffee in 30 seconds or so. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a majority are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that you can find due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad beverage. The machine is one of the lightest and slimmest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best device to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and every 1200 cups for soft water. It is also necessary to put in a new filter cartridge once this runs out and can be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done, it can brew one cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're looking for a sleek, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles then you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The best models are easy to operate. The majority of machines utilize the same general method to make your cup by heating water in an internal reservoir, then pressured through your chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest 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 only once before being be thrown away, while others are designed to be used multiple times. In either case, you'll have to plan ahead for the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they don't end up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically releases another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends for various options. This brewer will appeal to coffee drinkers who want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that holds empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is ideal for hard-water areas.
This machine brews the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its intuitive controls are easy to use, thanks to aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop the pod. It requires some pressure to close, however the majority of our testers, including 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. All you have to do is load a pod in the machine, push a button and let it make coffee. It is still necessary to clean your machine every now and then, but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the right option for you is based on your preferences and what you want to get out of it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing features should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine for you.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth looking at. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used by its machines. The pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings 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 specific button so you can create them at the push of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee that allows you to select a specific temperature and size for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, however it has the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer support synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will use a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages, there are some larger models that can also make longer shots, referred to as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this and blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and extremely enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the best choice for you. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess are to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and to add milk to your coffee manually. This won't be an issue for many people, but could be an issue for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the capsule machine coffee morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the correct amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or varying brew strength. Some customers will be irritated by this, but others will find the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are searching for.
This coffee maker is very low maintenance. It's all you have to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned the used pods are ejected to a hidden container that keeps your kitchen clean. It is also excellent in delivering full-bodied coffees that have crema-topped tops.
It's a gorgeous machine that is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the lack of an indicator that lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You also need to buy the brand's own capsules, which can be pricey. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and convenient appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.