A Guide to Buying a Capsule Coffee Machine
A capsule coffee maker will allow you to enjoy an instant cup of coffee. They're simple to use and work with a range of speciality coffee pods.
Contrary to filter coffee machines, capsule machines tend to focus on black drinks - lungos and espressos - but with some milky options available for cappuccinos and lattes.
1. Easy to use
With a capsule-based coffee maker you can get your fix at home without the hassle of a full-on bean-to-cup or filter machine. No matter if you're an experienced brewer or just starting out the process, these machines are designed to be easy to use and run effortlessly. You can pick from a range of drinks sizes, temperatures and flavors. Some models come with an integrated milk frothing tool to make cappuccinos and lattes. They're a convenient option for busy families who are looking to grab a quick cup of coffee before heading out the door.
There are a wide variety of capsule coffee machine models that will meet your needs. The models that are budget-friendly tend to include a few buttons with a clear display. More advanced models allow you to customize your brew by changing settings such as the temperature of the water, the type of capsule and bar pressure. Certain models come with an app that lets you have more customization and recipe suggestions.
The slick design of Smeg's model is a major plus with a sleek and modern design that blends well on any table. It is also very quiet, making it an excellent choice for families with young children. Our test subjects found it easy to set up and used, with a smooth operation of the lever for the water tank's cap and a responsive, intelligent touchscreen.
The more expensive models, such as those from Dolce Gusto or Nespresso, provide more customization. You can save your favourite drinks with a click. You can also alter the settings for your favorite blends to get the best taste and scent. The capsule recycler is available to keep your kitchen tidy and free of trash. The more expensive models usually include a built-in milk carafe to deliver creamy cappuccinos and lattes, while some come with steam wands that you can manually operate when you need to.
2. Multi-faceted
Although they aren't as versatile as a filter coffee maker or a bean-to-cup coffee machine capsule machines are able to provide excellent results providing consistent and delicious results. They also have the advantage of being easy to use and relatively cheap - basic models start at less than PS50. A lot of these machines can also handle frothering milk, allowing you to make lattes or cappuccinos at the touch of one button.
One thing to bear in mind with capsule machines is that you'll be limited to the types of coffee pods and drinks that you can make with it, as these will have been packed with ingredients such as ground coffee sugar, cream, sugar and flavorings. You can still expect top-quality brews with most brands. Tassimo and Nescafe offer a variety of black and milky coffees, for instance.
In the same way, certain capsule machines can also be used with different milky drinks using different kinds of capsules like those produced by Nespresso's Vertuo line. These offer the option of selecting a milky beverage such as a latte, or cappuccino, from a range of four options, with the machine automatically dispensing the right amount of milk.
The top pod coffee machines in the UK are also designed to be as user-friendly as is possible, with easy to read digital displays and automatic turn-off functions that help conserve energy. Look for features like adjustable height trays that can be adjusted to accommodate the size of your cup, and reduce splashing. Also, look for a removable capsule holder with an easy-to-empty and clean capsule holder. Energy-saving sleep modes and eco-friendly settings are a nice bonus.
The Morning Machine is a benchtop machine that you can operate by hand or through an application. It has precise controls that allow you to fine tune the coffee's body and flavour. You can alter the temperature setting, which has a direct impact on the flavour of your coffee; lower temperatures cause acidity, and higher temperatures provide more body and bitterness.
3. Eco-friendly
Since their introduction by Nestle in 1986, coffee pods (or capsules) have had a major impact on how people consume coffee. They are convenient, quick and easy to make a perfect cup of coffee every time. However, they can be very wasteful. They are usually packed in plastic and aluminium, which is difficult to recycle. In addition, they are filled with unneeded ground coffee that cannot be recycled.
Research has proven that using a capsule coffee machine is more eco-friendly than drip or filter coffee. This is because single-serve capsules use an exact amount of water and coffee and reduce the amount of the waste of coffee that can happen when making a large-sized pot. Furthermore, heating the water in a single serve capsule requires less energy than making a large-sized pot.
It's important to remember that this study only covers the entire cycle of coffee production. This includes growing, harvesting transporting, heating, and transporting the water. If you're considering capsule best coffee pod machine coffee machines, look for one that uses only biodegradable or compostable coffee pods. And if you want to go further, consider buying the reuseable capsule. These can be filled with ground coffee, and then used in your capsule machine - they're typically designed to work with popular systems like Nespresso.
If you're looking for ways to reduce your environmental impact further, you should consider an appliance that works with Lavazza A Modo Mio Tiny eco capsules. They're compostable in a way that is industrially, carbon neutral and come in a black design which is made from more than 50 percent recycled plastic. Furthermore, they're the only capsules which can be added to food waste and collected by the council.
If you cannot find compostable or biodegradable pods for your capsule maker, think about using a bean-to-cup coffee maker. These machines are more expensive, however they are also environmentally friendly. They grind and prepare coffee on demand instead of brewing and cooling a large pot of coffee in advance, which wastes energy. They're also more efficient than drip or espresso machine that sits on a hob, since they require less energy to operate.
4. Cost-effective
If you're looking for a quick and simple method of making your morning cup of coffee the capsule machine is the best option. Capsules are sealed roasts and ground coffee beans that slot into the machine and are brewed for a specific amount of time. The machines are easy to use and relatively cheap, but can be costly when you select premium models made by major brands. This is particularly relevant to the price of the coffee pods themselves which can be quite pricey.
A capsule coffee machine will still be cheaper than filters or a bean-to-cup model. This is because the upfront price of a capsule machine will be less and you'll save money in the end because you won't need to purchase filters or ground coffee. However, the initial expense isn't a deterrent for many people So, think about how much you're able to invest in a machine and then take into account the cost of the coffee pods that will fit it.
Lavazza Vertuo pop is an espresso machine that is a great option for those who are on a budget. This sleek, compact machine produces a top-quality espresso with the brand's EcoCaps. The unique brewing system produces a thick crema despite only brewing black coffee. This is a significant improvement on the thin, watery foam that often is found in espresso drinks made with other pod machines.
The machine is easy to use via the four buttons on the front panel and has a small footprint that won't take up the counter space. It has steam wands as well as hot beverage capabilities which are both rare features for capsule machines. However, the jug that it dispensing the coffee into does not hold as much as glass carafes on the cheaper competitors.
The independently-made Morning Machine is a more sophisticated pod coffee maker that offers a range of additional options that sets it apart from the competition. Its flagship Bloom & Brew setting pre-wets the ground coffee to create a richer, stronger cup, and it comes with adjustable settings that can alter the amount of coffee that is extracted, temperature and bar pressure. You'll get more flavor from the capsules than simple lungos, espressos and ristrettos and even recreate drinks that drip or filter. It can also be connected to your smartphone for recipes and monitoring of energy consumption.