The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've ever seen, this model with brushed-steel features the signature Sage quality and ease of use. When it is turned on, it warms up and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
Pod models are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. But they come at some cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans and many are also not recyclable (though some companies are now offering recycling bags for free and UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This ensures you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no chance of getting a bad drink. The machine is among the lightest and slimmest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also have to put the 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 of using ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and packed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the surroundings and its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're looking for a sleek, stylish machine that can handle a variety of different sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage, is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use is a major selling point, and the best models are simple to operate. Most machines use the same basic process to brew the cup of coffee you want: water is heated inside a reservoir, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet various needs. You can save your own settings on a number of models to speed up the process even more.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules made by the most popular roasters. Certain pods can be used only once before being thrown away, while others can be used a number of times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically releases an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can make lungo and espresso drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on pod making machines your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that stores your empty pods. It has an in-built water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.
This machine brews the standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its intuitive controls are a joy to use, thanks to airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the area which allows you to drop your pod. It takes a bit of pressure to close, however most of our testers, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making - you just add a pod the machine, press a button, and let it be brewed. You will still need to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be stacked on the counter when not being used.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your preferences and what you wish to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. Different pod types, brew sizes options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to find the ideal coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some more recent competitors that are worth taking a look at. One is Bruvi, which uses its own pod system, known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a dedicated button to allow you to make them with the press of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with the brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will be using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages, there are some larger models that can also create longer shots, also known as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this, and it blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you get used to it, the machine is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be made in just 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One reason pod coffee makers might not be the right choice for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother then the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a user-friendly hands-off device that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, however others will find the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are searching for.
The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every so often. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from an unnoticed container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's easy to use via a simple panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee and ESE pods. The only issue is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set which is an inconvenience. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for anyone looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve well at a reasonable cost. If you're looking for some variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.