The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage trademark quality and ease of use. It heats up immediately after switching on and makes an espresso with aroma or a little longer lungo in 30 minutes.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with many able to make a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or less. However, they come with some cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they are not recycled. (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This makes it easy to make consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is one of the tiniest and lightest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container, and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those who want to cut down on their environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap with a new cartridge after this expires and can be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. pod capsule coffee machine is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it's done it, it can make one cup in around 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks with 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 stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The most effective models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic process to brew the cup of coffee you want the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet different needs, and you can save custom settings on many models to speed up the process even further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading brands on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are meant for multiple uses. Whatever the case, you'll need to think about the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so 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 brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends to provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers 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 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 stores your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is perfect for hard-water areas.
The machine can brew an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to use using the switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop your pod. It takes a bit of pressure to close, however most of our testers even those with limited hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands. You simply need to load a pod, hit a button and brew. It is still necessary to clean your machine from time to time, but not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The best coffee machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but some have more options for customization than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the right machine.
The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few newer competitors on the scene that could be worth considering. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This method removes all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and guarantees that every drink comes out perfectly every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button, so that you can create them with only one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than the majority machines, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.
Some larger models can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this, and it blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be prepared in 30 minutes.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons a pod coffee maker may not be the right choice for you is its limited customizability. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, then the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk into your coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but it could be an issue for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the right amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that performs its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customised drinks or varying the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but others will find the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are looking for.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion This coffee maker does not require much maintenance. It is able to serve espresso shots or tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected into a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also excels at delivering full-bodied espressos with crema-topped tops.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's easy to use with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the lack of a display that lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You will also have to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for those who want an attractive and convenient appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a range of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.