Think You're The Perfect Candidate For Best Coffee Pod Machine? Try This Quiz
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance offers the Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. After turning on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee making off your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a majority of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no chance of having a bad beverage. The machine is among the tiniest and lightest available. It does not require a separate milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient device to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll have to replace it with a fresh one. This can be costly for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered grounds that are compressed 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. capsule coffee machines is that it takes longer to heat up, but once that occurs, it can make the cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use is a major draw, and the best models are easy to use. The majority of machines use the same mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pumped through the chosen capsules and extracted to create 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 K-Cups are the biggest player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules by popular roasters. Some pods are made to be used once and get thrown away, whereas others are intended to be used for a variety of purposes. You'll need a plan to dispose of your used pods to avoid them ending up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically dispenses new capsules once the previous one has been chilled. It can make lungo and espresso drinks and comes with eight different blends for the variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who are looking to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design makes it a looker on your counter and opens with a light tap to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. The machine has an in-built water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.
This machine brews an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml), as well as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its easy-to-use controls are easy to navigate with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert your coffee maker. It requires a bit of effort to close, but the majority of our testers even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands. You simply load in a pod, hit the button, and then brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time but not as often as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not being used.
If a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to use, but others offer more customization options. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to determine the best coffee pod machine for your needs.
Most people will think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are some newer competitors on the scene that are worth a look. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This method eliminates all the guesswork of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button to allow you to make them with the press of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee that allows you to select the right size and temperature for each beverage. It's a little more expensive than many other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and excellent customer service which is synonymous with the brand. It is a great choice for those who need an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people will be using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages There are some larger models that can also make longer shots, referred to as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a perfect example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles, but once you get used to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in only 30 minutes.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons a pod coffee maker may not be the right choice for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. If you don't 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 to your cup manually. This won't be an issue for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes a barcode reader to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a user-friendly hands-off device that does an excellent job, however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or altering 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 exactly what they need.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally, this coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs easily. As previously mentioned, used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view that keeps your kitchen tidy. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied espressos with a crema-topped top.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's easy to use with a simple interface and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of a display that tells you when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. It is also necessary to purchase the capsules made by the company which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable cost. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.