The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance provides the Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. After switching on, it warms up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee-making out of your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with most can make coffee in 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is virtually no possibility of getting a poor drink. It is also among the tiniest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug, and a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those wanting to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function and you'll need to clean it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge after this expires and could be expensive for some 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, which are pre-dosed, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once this happens it can brew a cup in around 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage it is not only quick and simple to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The top models are simple to use. Most machines utilize the same basic method to make a cup of coffee the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different requirements, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to simplify the process further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players in the market, but each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used just once and then be thrown away, while others are designed for multiple uses. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can brew lungo and espresso drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to switch to drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that stores empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is perfect for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and can brew standard coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to navigate using the aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop your coffee maker. It does take a little effort to close, but our testers, even those who have weak hand and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers remove all the mess from coffee making - you just put a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it make coffee. You'll still need to clean your machine every now and then, but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts, so they can fit on the countertop and be stored away from view when not in use.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Be aware of the different coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the right machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth a look. One is Bruvi which has an exclusive pod system called B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. The pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust brewing settings.
The machine will take all the guesswork out of it and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks to a button to allow you to make them by pressing one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than the majority, letting you choose the exact size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with the brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get something more from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some larger models can also brew lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this and combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you get used to it, the machine is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be brewed in just 30 minutes.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited customisation is a major reason it's not the best option for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother then the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to your the coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee for the particular type 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. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is low-maintenance. coffee machines capsules It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every time. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container which keeps your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied coffees with crema-topped tops.
This is a stunning machine that is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's simple to use with an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only issue is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor inconvenience. You will also have to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. But, it's a great pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and functional appliance that will provide them with a great service at a reasonable cost. For those who want a little more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.