The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the renowned Sage quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or a 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 installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are typically more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a majority of them aren't 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 makes it simple to get consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with next-to-no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. The machine is also among the slimmest and lightest available and does not require an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those wanting to reduce their environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need 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 some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option of using either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're after an elegant, sleek machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles, 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 simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The most effective models are easy to operate. The majority of machines utilize the same general mechanism to brew your cup by heating water inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich, hot java. 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 even more.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players in the market, but each offers a wide selection of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used just once before being thrown away however, others can be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to plan out the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour fresh capsules after the previous one has been chilled. It can brew lungo and espresso drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer variety. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that houses your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is ideal for hard-water areas.
This machine is easy to use and brews regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its easy-to-use controls are easy to use using the aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area that allows you to insert your coffee maker. It requires a little effort to close, but our test subjects, even those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply put in the pod, press an icon and brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
The ideal coffee maker for you will depend on your personal preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and options for frothing when picking the best machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are more recent competitors that are worth a look. One of them is Bruvi which has its own pod system, called B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. The pods are identified by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork out of it and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks to a button to allow you to create them using one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than many other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and top-quality customer service that's synonymous with the brand and is a great choice for those who want something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a great example, combines retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles but once you get used to it, it is quick and capsule coffee machine uk easy to use. A lungo can be brewed in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the right choice for you. Unless you purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only ways to add extra flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option, and then add milk to your cup manually. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem, but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the right amount of coffee for the specific type of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that performs its job well, but it doesn't have any options for making drinks that are customized or varying the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, however others will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're seeking.
The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir every time. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as we mentioned the used pods are ejected into a concealed container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also excels in delivering full-bodied coffees that have crema-topped tops.
This is a stunning machine and part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel of buttons, and it can handle both ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of a display that lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. You'll also need to buy the capsules of the brand, 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 low cost. If you're looking for more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.