The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance provides the Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it warms up and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with most able to make a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or less. But they do 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 now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that is available due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This makes it simple to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is one of the lightest and slimmest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact size makes it easy to fit into the tiniest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and 1200 cups for soft water. It is also necessary to put with a new cartridge once this runs out 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, tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once that happens it can brew the cup in about 35 seconds.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different drink 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 an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a big selling point, and the best models are simple to operate. The majority of machines employ the same mechanism to brew the cup of coffee you want that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then moved through capsules to make rich hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various drink sizes for different needs. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest brands on the market, yet both offer a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being be thrown away, while others are meant to be used for a variety of purposes. You'll need a plan to dispose of your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.
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 cooled. It can make espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is a great choice for coffee lovers who are looking to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design makes it an eye-catching addition to your countertop, and it can be opened with a gentle tap to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine brews a standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to navigate using the airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area that allows you to insert the pod. It requires some force to close, but the majority of our testers who have limited hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines remove all the mess from coffee making - you just add a pod, press a button and let it make coffee. You'll still have to clean your machine occasionally however not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to use, but others offer more customization options. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and frothing options when choosing the right machine.
Many people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few more recent rivals that could be worth considering. One of them is Bruvi, which uses an exclusive pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will take all the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button to allow you to make them by pressing a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee and allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a great option for those who want a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages There are some larger models that can also create longer shots, also known as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are deposited into an internal bin at the touch of the button.
4. Customization
The lack of customisation is a major reason it might not be the right choice for you. If you don't purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only methods to add extra flavor or creaminess is to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option, and then add milk manually to your coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but could be pod-making machines an issue for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and disperse the right amount of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that performs its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customizing drinks or altering the strength of the brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will appreciate the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are searching for.
In addition to filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally the coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It is also great in delivering full-bodied coffees that have tops that are topped with crema.
It's a gorgeous machine and part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't come with an indicator to let you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is an inconvenience. You'll also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for those who want an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve well at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.