The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a little longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the most messy parts of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally easier to set up and use than espresso machines, with many can make coffee in 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and many of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This allows you to ensure consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with virtually no chance of a drink coming out badly wrong. This machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those wanting to minimize their 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. pod and bean coffee machine is also necessary to put in a new filter cartridge once this runs out, which could be costly for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the surroundings and its workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once that happens it can brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're after an elegant, sleek machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created 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 use of pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The best models are simple to use. Most machines utilize the same process to brew the perfect cup of coffee: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich, hot java. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet different needs, and you can save your own settings on many models to speed up the process even more.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players in the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then get thrown away, whereas others are intended to be used multiple times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan out how you'll deal with the pods you've used up so that they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends for the 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 one 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. The machine has an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. Its intuitive controls are a joy to use with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop your pod. It requires a little force to close but our testers, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take away all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is add a pod the machine, press a button, and let it brew. You'll still need to clean your machine from time to time but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts which means they can be placed on the countertop and be stored away from view when not being used.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice 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, but some have more options for customization than others. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors that may be worth taking a look at. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods, called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods have a barcode on the underside that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button to allow you to make them by pressing one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than most models, allowing you to select the exact size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great choice for those looking for a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some models with larger capacities can also brew lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this. It is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in just 30 seconds and the pods that are used are put into an internal bin with the click of a button.
4. Customization
One big reason why the pod coffee maker might not be right for you is its limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but could be a problem for those who like the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and give the correct amount of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but many will appreciate the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they're looking for.
This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate it every so often. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as we mentioned the pods that are used are ejected to a hidden container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It is also great at delivering full-bodied coffees with tops that are topped with crema.
It's a gorgeous machine and part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's simple to use with simple buttons and can accommodate ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only issue is that it lacks an indicator to let you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level can't be set which is an inconvenience. You also need to buy the brand's capsules, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that is able to serve at a low cost. If you're looking for some variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is offered for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.