The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage distinctive quality and ease of operation. After turning on, it heats up and brews a fragrant espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with many able to make coffee in 30 seconds or less. However, they come with a cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that you can find due to its built-in 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 chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is one of the tiniest and lightest on the market. It does not require a separate milk container and its compact footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into even the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce the 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 every 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a new. This can be costly for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered ground that are compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the surroundings 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 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage it is not only simple and quick 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 selling point. The most effective models are simple to use. Most machines rely on the same basic mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich hot java. The majority of brands offer various drink sizes 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 leading players on the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Certain pods can be used once before being thrown away and others can be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll handle your spent pods so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically releases another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks and has eight different blends to give you various options. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that stores empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is ideal for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and can make standard coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to operate, using airplane-style toggles coffee machines capsules that can be easily retracted and a lever that retracts to reveal the hole to place into the pod. It takes a bit of effort to close, but most of our testers even those with limited hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. You just add a pod the machine, push a button and let it be brewed. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the right option for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. All pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Consider the coffee pod variety, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the right machine.
Most people will think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are some newer competitors on the scene that are worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods called 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.
This approach means the machine removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink is made perfectly every time. It can save your custom drinks to a button to allow you to create them using a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's a little more expensive than many other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and top-quality customer service that's synonymous with the brand and is a great option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
While most people are using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages There are some larger models that are able to make longer shots, referred to as lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example, combines retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in just 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One reason pod coffee makers might not be the best choice for you is the limited customizability. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother then the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk into your coffee. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customizing drinks or varying the strength of brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but many will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're seeking.
This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It only requires you to refill the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir every once in a while. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as previously mentioned the used pods are ejected into a concealed container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It also does an excellent job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This is a stunning machine that is part of the Smeg fifties range. It is easy to use with a simple panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of a gauge that lets you know when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that can be used at a low cost. If you're looking for more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.