The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. After turning on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
Pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the most messy parts of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with the majority able to make coffee in just 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no possibility of getting a poor drink. The machine is among the tiniest and lightest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into even the tiniest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those who want to cut down on their environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with 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. It is also necessary to put the filter cartridge when it runs out and could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. Its only downside is that it takes longer to warm up, but once this is done, it will be able to brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're looking for 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 glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage it is not only quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The most effective models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same method to make a cup of coffee: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings on a number of models to streamline the process even more.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules from popular roasters. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being discarded, while others are designed to be used multiple times. In either case, you'll have to plan ahead for how you'll handle your spent pods so they don't end up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically releases another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends for various options. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to make the switch from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 best coffee pod machine proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the compartment that houses your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is great for hard-water areas.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to use, thanks to switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the area that allows you to insert your pod. It does take a little effort to close, but our test subjects, even those with weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply put in one of the pods, press the button, and then make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you want to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some offer more customisation options than others. Consider the coffee pod variety, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the best machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors that may be worth a look. One is Bruvi, which uses a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used in conjunction with its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that the machine scans to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This approach means the machine eliminates all the guesswork of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks on a button, so that you can create them with a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the right size and temperature for each drink. It's a little more expensive than many other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel design and the excellent customer service that is which is synonymous with the brand. It is a solid choice for those who need an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
While most people are using the pod-based machine to create single-serve beverages There are some larger models that can make longer shots, referred to as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a excellent example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in just 30 seconds and the pods that are used are placed in an internal bin with the click of a button.
4. Customization
One big reason why a pod coffee maker may not be the right choice for you is its lack of customizability. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only options to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and to add milk manually to your 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 makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses, then dispensing the right amount of coffee to the particular type of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customised drinks or altering the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is low maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir every so often. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As previously mentioned, used pods are then ejected from a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
It's a gorgeous machine and is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel of buttons, and it can handle both ground coffee and ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't come with an indicator to let you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is an inconvenience. You'll also have to purchase the brand's own capsules which can be costly. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable cost. For those who want more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules are available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.