The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage trademark quality and ease of operation. After turning on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
Pod models are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in just 30 seconds. However, they come with a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they're not always recyclable (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning them).
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 before brewing it. This makes it simple to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. It's also among the tiniest and lightest available and does not require a separate milk jug and a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with 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 after this expires and can be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just 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 user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are simple to use. Most machines rely on the same general method to make your cup by heating water in an internal reservoir, then pumped through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different needs, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to simplify the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules made by the most famous roasters. Some pods can be used only once before being thrown away, while others can be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll handle the pods you've used up so that 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 dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can make espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is a great choice for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that houses your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is perfect for hard-water areas.
This machine brews an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml), as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are simple to operate, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily retracted and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place into the pod. It does take a little effort to close, but our test subjects, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. All you have to do is load a pod in the machine, push a button coffee pod machine and let it make coffee. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time but not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The ideal coffee maker for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others provide more options for customization. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the best machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors that may be worth a look. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are identified by a barcode which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This approach means the machine removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink is made perfectly every time. It can save your custom drinks in a single button, so that you can make them by pressing only one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more control over your cup of coffee than most machines, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with the brand. This is a good option for those who want something more from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Certain models are larger and can brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you get used to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be brewed in 30 minutes.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customisation is a major reason it may not be the right choice for you. Unless you purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only ways to add flavor or creaminess is to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and to add milk manually to your coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem, but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for making drinks that are customized or for varying the strength of the brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, however others will find the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they're seeking.
The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to refill the tank with water, and decaffeinate it every time. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s style range. It's easy to use via an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only drawback 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 a minor issue. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for anyone looking for a convenient and attractive appliance that can be used at a reasonable cost. For those who want more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules are available for this model and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.