The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and makes an espresso with aroma or slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee-making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with the majority capable of making a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or less. But they do come at a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they're not always recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available due to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This makes it simple to get consistent, high-quality coffee every time, and there is virtually no chance of the drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is also among the tiniest and lightest on the market that doesn't require an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to minimize the environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function and you'll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also have to put in a new filter cartridge when it runs out and could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds that are 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 is heated it, it can make one cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage, 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 simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The top models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic method to make a cup of coffee: water is heated inside a reservoir, then moved through capsules to make rich hot, hot java. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to streamline the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players on the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are designed to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan to dispose of your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically pours new capsules once the previous one has cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee lovers who want to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is an attractive addition to your countertop and it can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. The machine has an integrated water filter that is ideal pod coffee makers for areas that have hard water.
The machine can brew a standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. Its user-friendly controls are easy to use, thanks to airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the area where you drop in your coffee maker. It takes a bit of pressure to close, however the majority of our test subjects who have limitations in hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands - you simply load in the pod, press a button and brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time time but not as often 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 being used.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you want to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to use, however some provide more options for customization. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities are all important to find the ideal coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors worth taking a look at. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork out of it and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a specific button so you can create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee that allows you to select the ideal size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with the brand. This is a great choice for those looking for something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While the majority of people will use a pod-based machine to make single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that can also brew longer shots, known as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this. It combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate the lungo is made in just 30 seconds and the used pods are put into an internal bin with the click of a button.
4. Customization
One big reason why a pod coffee maker may not be right for you is the limited customizability. If you don't have an alternative milk frother then the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to coffee. This won't be an issue for many people, but could be a problem for those who like the convenience of a fully 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 that does the job very well but lacks any options for making drinks that are customized or for varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides precisely what they require.
Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are ejected in a container hidden from view that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's easy to use via a simple panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't come with an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level can't be set which is an inconvenience. You'll also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable price. This model can be used with a variety of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.