The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've ever seen, this brushed-steel model offers the trademark Sage quality and ease of use. It heats up immediately after switching on and makes an espresso with aroma or a little longer lungo in 30 seconds.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the messiest aspects of coffee making off your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in just 30 minutes. But they do come at some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they are not recycled. (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This allows you to get consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is also among the tiniest and lightest available, with no need for a separate milk jug and a small footprint making it easy to fit in even the tiniest kitchen.
However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those looking to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need to replace it with a fresh one. This can be costly for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it, it can make one cup in about 35 seconds.
If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The top models are easy to operate. The majority of machines use the same mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated inside a reservoir, then pressured through your chosen capsules and extracted to produce rich hot coffee. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to streamline the process.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules from well-known roasters. Some pods are made to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are designed to be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for your used pods to avoid them ending up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to give you plenty of variety. This brewer is a great choice for coffee drinkers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that stores empty pods. It has an in-built water filter system that is perfect for areas that have hard water.
This machine brews a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are simple to use, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily retracted and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening for dropping into your coffee maker. It takes a bit of effort to close, but the majority of our testers who have limited hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply load in one of the pods, press the button, and then make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not being used.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get from it. All pod machines are simple to use, however certain models offer more customization options than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the best machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors worth taking a look at. One is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, known as B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is read 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 can even save customised drinks to a dedicated button to allow you to make them with the press of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your cup of coffee than most, letting you choose the exact size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a good choice for those looking for something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
Some larger models can also brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you get used to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it's not the right choice for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, then the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk into your the coffee. For most people, this shouldn'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 makes use of 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 user-friendly hands-off device that does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide exactly what they need.
The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is pod coffee machines to refill the tank with water, and decaffeinate it every time. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden receptacle which keeps your kitchen spotless. It also does a fantastic job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a stunning machine and part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's easy to use with a simple panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level can't be set which is an issue. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules, which can be pricey. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for those looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will provide them with a great service at an affordable cost. If you're looking for more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules are available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.