The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. After turning on, it heats up and makes a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
The pod models 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 typically quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with the majority capable of making coffee in 30 seconds or less. But they do come at an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they are not recycled. (though some companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available due to its built-in barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This allows you to ensure consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. This machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those who want to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need replace it with a new one. This could be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed in between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. Its only slight drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once this happens it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.
If you're after an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a range of different sizes and styles then take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The top models are easy to operate. The majority of machines use the same mechanism to brew your cup the water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pumped through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes for different needs. You can also save custom settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules from well-known roasters. Some pods are able to be used once before being thrown away however, others can be used a number of times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan out the way you'll dispose of your spent pods so they don't end up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer will appeal to coffee lovers who are looking to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that holds empty pods. It has an in-built water filter system which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine brews an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are easy to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening to drop in your pod. It does take a little force to close, but our testers, even those who have weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply put in the pod, press a button and brew. You'll still have to clean your machine from time to time but not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts, so they can fit on the countertop and be stored out of view when not being used.
The ideal coffee maker for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some offer more customization options. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for you.
The majority of people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent competitors which are worth looking into. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode, which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This method eliminates all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a separate button so you can create them at the push of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee and allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each beverage. It's pod capsule coffee machine a bit more expensive than many other models but it offers the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is which is synonymous with the brand. It is a good choice for those who need something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's not easy initially due to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you get used to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be brewed in 30 minutes.
4. Customization
The lack of customisation is a major reason it's not the right choice for you. Unless you purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only methods to add extra flavor or creaminess are to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and to add milk manually to your coffee. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a sticking point for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee for the specific kind of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does an excellent job, however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate it every so often. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected in an unnoticed container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also excels in delivering full-bodied coffees that have a crema-topped top.
This is a beautiful-looking machine that is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of a gauge that will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You also need to buy the capsules made by the company, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for anyone who wants an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that can be used at a low cost. This model is compatible with a variety of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.