The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of use. After switching on, it heats up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 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. Rapid
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in just 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and many of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This makes it simple to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, and there is virtually no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. This machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It does not require a separate milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to clean it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll have to replace it with a new one. This can be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option to use either 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 decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. The only drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once that happens it can brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of pod coffee makers is a major benefit. The most effective models are simple to use. The majority of machines use the same process to make your coffee: water is heated in an internal reservoir, and then pushed through your chosen capsules and extracted to produce rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet various needs. You can save custom settings on many models to simplify the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules made by the most well-known roasters. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then get thrown away, whereas others are meant for multiple uses. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer is a great choice for those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your counter and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a concealed compartment for your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is great for hard-water areas.
This machine is quick and can make standard coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to operate, using airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal pod making machines the hole to place into the pod. It does take a little force to close, but our test subjects, even those with limited mobility and hand strength, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers take away all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is put a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it make coffee. You'll still have to clean the machine from time time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
If a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to use, but others offer more customization options. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The majority of people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few newer competitors that are worth a look. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode, which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will take all the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button so that you can make them by pressing only one 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 a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's a little more expensive than many other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is which is synonymous with the brand. It is a solid option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some larger models can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are put into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
One big reason why the pod coffee maker might not be the right choice for you is its lack of customization. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the right amount of coffee to the particular kind of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but many will find the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they're seeking.
This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir every time. It can make short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple control panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of a gauge that lets you know when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. You'll also have to purchase the capsules made by the company which can be expensive. This is a great pod machine for those who want an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that will serve well at a reasonable price. For those who want a little more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.