The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a little longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally easier to set up and use than espresso machines, with the majority capable of making coffee in just 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive 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, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This ensures you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no possibility of getting a poor drink. The machine is one of the lightest and slimmest available. It does not require an additional milk container and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best device to reduce the 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. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need to replace it with a new. This can be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. This model is also 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 a little longer to warm up, but once that is done, it will be able to brew one cup in just 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The best models are easy to operate. The majority of machines utilize the same general mechanism to brew your cup by heating water in an internal reservoir, and then pushed through your chosen capsules and extracted to produce rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to streamline the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major brands on the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used just once before being thrown away, while others can be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to think about how you'll deal with the pods you've used up so that they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with 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 brews coffee and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who 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 an attractive addition to your countertop, and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is great for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its easy-to-use controls are easy to use using the switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the area where you drop in your coffee maker. It does take a little force to close but our testers, even those with limited mobility and hand strength, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands. You simply put in a pod, hit a button and prepare to brew. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stacked on the counter when not being used.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your preferences and what you wish to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others provide more options for customization. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine.
The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent rivals which are worth looking into. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This approach means the machine removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and ensures each drink comes out perfectly every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a specific button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than others models, allowing you to select the right size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than many other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel design and the excellent customer service that is associated with the brand. It is a good option for those looking to get something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you've gotten used to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be made in just 30 minutes.
4. Customization
One big reason why pod coffee makers might not be the right choice for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't buy an additional milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess are 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 problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee that is appropriate for the type of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that performs its job very best capsule coffee machine well but lacks any options for customised drinks or varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It is also great in delivering full-bodied coffees that have a crema-topped top.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s style range. It is easy to use with a simple interface and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of an indicator 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 costly. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants a convenient and attractive appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a variety of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.