The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage distinctive quality and ease of use. It warms up after switching 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 messiest aspects of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally easier to set up and use than espresso machines, with many capable of making a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many 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 making coffee. This ensures consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is almost no possibility of getting a poor beverage. The machine is also among the tiniest and lightest on the market that doesn't require a separate milk jug and a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to minimize your environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. It is also necessary to put the filter cartridge once this runs out and can be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds compressed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once this occurs, it can make a cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles then take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage it is not only 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 using pod coffee makers is a major benefit. The top models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same general mechanism to brew your cup the water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pumped through the capsules you choose and extracted to produce rich hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings on many models to streamline the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules from famous roasters. Some pods are able to be used just once before being thrown away however, others can be used a number of times. Either way, you'll need to think about the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically releases an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It brews lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer will appeal to coffee lovers who are looking to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it can be opened with a single touch to reveal the hidden compartment that stores your empty pods. The machine comes with an in-built water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.
This machine is easy to use and can make standard coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to navigate, thanks to aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the space that allows you to insert your coffee maker. It requires a little force to close but our testers, even those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers remove all the mess from coffee making - you just load a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it be brewed. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to get from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some offer more customization options. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing features should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine for your needs.
The majority of people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are a few more recent competitors that are worth a look. One is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods have a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
The machine will take all the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a dedicated button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than most models, allowing you to select a specific size and check here temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, however it has the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is a hallmark of the brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
Some larger models can also create lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this, and it combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles but once you get used to it, the machine is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be prepared in 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The lack of flexibility is one of the main reasons it's not the right choice for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to the coffee. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of a barcode reader to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee required for that kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does the job well, but it doesn't have any options for customised drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, however others will appreciate the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are searching for.
The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as we mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied coffees with tops that are topped with crema.
This is a beautiful-looking machine that is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's easy to use via an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of an indicator that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. It is also necessary to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for those who want an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.