The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model offers the trademark Sage quality and ease of use. After switching on, it preheats and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are typically more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a majority of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no chance of getting a bad beverage. This machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It does not require an additional milk container and its compact footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into even the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best device to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to clean it yourself every 300 cups if live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge when it runs out and could be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. The only drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once this occurs, it can make the cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles, look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of pod coffee makers is a major benefit. The best models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same process to make your coffee by heating water in an internal reservoir, and then pushed through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save your own settings on a number of models to streamline the process even further.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules made by the most popular roasters. Some pods are made to be used only once before being be thrown away, while others are intended for multiple uses. You'll need a plan to dispose of your old pods to prevent them ending up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design makes it an eye-catching addition to your countertop and opens with a light touch to reveal a concealed compartment for your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is perfect for hard-water areas.
The machine can brew an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks, and is surprisingly quick. The controls are simple to use, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening to drop in your pod. It requires a little effort to close, but our test subjects, even those who have weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers remove all the mess from coffee making. You just load a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently more info as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right option for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get out of it. All pod machines are easy to use, but some have more options for customization than others. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities are all important to find the ideal coffee pod machine.
Most people will think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few newer competitors on the scene that could be worth considering. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are equipped with an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust brewing settings.
The machine will take all the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It is even able here to save custom drinks to a specific button, allowing you to make them with the press of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee that allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each beverage. It's a bit more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel build and top-quality customer service that's which is synonymous with the brand. It is a solid choice for those who want an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
While most people will use a pod-based machine to make read more single-serve beverages, there are more info some larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this. It blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's quick and extremely enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the used pods are placed in an internal bin with the click of a button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's flexibility is one of the main reasons it may not be the right website choice for you. If you don't buy an additional milk frother, the only options to add extra flavor or creaminess is to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and to add milk to your coffee manually. 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 technology uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a user-friendly, hands-off machine which does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others the hassle-free 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 on occasion, this coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as we mentioned the used pods are ejected into a concealed container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also excels in delivering full-bodied coffees that have tops that are topped with crema.
It's a gorgeous machine and is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's easy to use with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of an indicator that will let you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum level of water. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. But, it's a great pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and convenient appliance that will serve them well for a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.