The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model offers the renowned Sage quality and user-friendly. It warms up after switching on, and makes an espresso with aroma or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
Pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are typically more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This makes it easy to make consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chance of a drink coming out badly wrong. This machine is among the tiniest and lightest on the market. It does not require an additional milk container and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need to replace it with a new. This can be costly for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in just 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 just simple to use but also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using a pod coffee maker is a major benefit. The top models are simple to use. Most machines utilize the same basic mechanism to brew the cup of coffee you want that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then moved through capsules to make rich hot, hot java. The majority of brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different requirements, and you can save custom settings on a number of models to simplify the process further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players on the market, yet each offers a wide selection of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used once before being thrown away however, others can be used several times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan out how you'll handle your spent pods so they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule once the previous one has cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and has eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer is a great choice for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it can be opened with a single touch to reveal the hidden compartment that stores 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 the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are simple to operate, using airplane-style toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening for dropping into your coffee maker. It requires a bit of pressure to close, however the majority of our test subjects who have limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands - you simply load in one of the pods, press a button and brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar coffee machines with capsules brands. However there are more recent competitors that are worth a look. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button, so that you can make them by pressing one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each beverage. It's a little more expensive than some models but it offers the polished stainless steel design and top-quality customer service that's synonymous with the brand and is a great option for those looking to get a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people will use a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, too. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is its lack of customizability. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to use hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem, but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing 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 and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as previously mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of an indicator that tells you when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. You'll also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee at an affordable cost. For those who want some variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is available for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.