The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it warms up and makes a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with the majority can make coffee in just 30 seconds or less. But they come at an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they are not recycled. (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no chance of getting a bad beverage. The machine is one of the slimmest and lightest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into even the smallest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those who want to cut down on their 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. 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 speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it will brew a cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're after a sleek, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage, is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a big selling point, and the best models are easy to operate. Most machines use the same mechanism to brew the cup of coffee you want: water is heated inside a reservoir, then moved through capsules to make rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different needs, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to speed up the process even more.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players in the market, however each offers a wide selection of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used once and discarded, while others are designed for multiple uses. You'll need a plan to dispose of your used pods to avoid them ending up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It brews espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who want to make the switch from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is an attractive addition to your counter, and it can be opened with a gentle tap to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is great for hard-water areas.
This machine is easy to use and can brew standard coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to use, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily pulled back and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening for dropping into the pod. It requires a bit of effort to close, but the majority of our test subjects, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply need to load a pod, hit a button and make coffee. You'll still have to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts which means they can be placed on the counter and be stored away from view when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you want to get from it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some offer more customization options. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for you.
Most people will think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent competitors on the scene which are worth looking into. One is Bruvi which makes use of a bespoke pod system called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode, which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This approach means the machine takes all the guesswork out of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customized drinks to a separate button, allowing you to make them with the press of a button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each drink. It's a bit more expensive than many other models but it offers the polished stainless steel construction and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the brand and is a solid option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some larger models can also create lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this and is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly satisfying to operate the lungo is made in just 30 seconds and the pods that are used are deposited into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited customization is a major reason it may not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem however it could be a sticking point for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee to the specific type of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of the brew. This will irritate some buyers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as we mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed container that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a stunning machine and is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's easy to use with a simple panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is pod capsule coffee machine that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level can't be set, which is a minor inconvenience. You will also have to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.