The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance offers the Sage trademark quality and ease of use. It heats up immediately after switching on and makes an espresso with aroma or a slightly longer lungo in 30 seconds.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the clumsiest components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with many capable of making coffee in only 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that you can find due to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any chance of getting a bad drink. The machine is among the lightest and slimmest available. It doesn't require a separate milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into the smallest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those looking to minimize their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function and you'll need to clean it yourself every 300 cups if you live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll have to replace it with a new one. This can be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option of using 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 lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a variety of different drink sizes and styles then you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage it is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a big selling point and the best models are a breeze to use. The majority of machines use the same method to make your cup the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pumped through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet different needs, and you can save custom settings on many models to streamline the process even more.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major brands on the market, yet each offers a wide selection of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used just once and then get thrown away, whereas others are meant to be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for your used pods to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically pours new capsules once the previous one has been cooled. It can make espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to give you various options. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your countertop and opens with a simple touch to reveal a concealed compartment for empty pods. The machine comes with a water filter system that is perfect for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and brews regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to use, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily retracted and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening to drop in the pod. It requires some effort to close, but the majority of our testers who check here have limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers remove all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is put a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it be brewed. You'll still have to clean your machine every now and then, but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their counterparts that are larger which means they can be placed on the counter and be stored away from view when not being used.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others offer more customization options. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing features should all be considered to determine the best coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors worth a look. One is Bruvi which makes use of an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate all 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 only one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is a hallmark of the Sage's My Way brand. This is a good option for those wanting to get something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will use pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a perfect example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the toggles that look like airplanes, however once you've become accustomed to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be prepared in just 30 minutes.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it's not the best choice for you. If you don't purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only methods to add extra flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and add milk to your cup manually. For most people, this won't be a problem, but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses a barcode reader to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does the job well, but it doesn't have any options for customised drinks or varying the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, however others will appreciate the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're looking for.
This coffee maker is very low maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with crema-topped tops.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style collection. It's user-friendly with simple buttons, and it can handle ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level can't be set which is an issue. You'll also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that will serve well at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.