The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance offers the Sage trademark quality and ease of use. After switching on, it warms up and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and a majority of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that you can find, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is hardly any chance of getting a bad beverage. The machine is also among the tiniest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function and you'll need to do it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need to replace it with a new one. This can be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. Its only downside is that it takes longer to warm up, but once that happens it can brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major selling point, and the best models are easy to use. Most machines use the same mechanism to brew the cup of coffee you want that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different needs, and you can save custom settings on many models to speed up the process even more.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules made by the most famous roasters. Some pods are made to be used just once and then be thrown away, while others are meant for multiple uses. In either case, you'll have to plan ahead for how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer will appeal to coffee lovers who are looking to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your counter and it can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is great for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is extremely fast. Its intuitive controls are a joy to use using the aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area where you drop in your coffee maker. It does take a little effort to close, but our testers, including those who have limited mobility and hand strength were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take away all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is load a pod in, press a button and let it be brewed. It is still necessary to clean your machine from time to time, but not like 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.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to get from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others provide more options for customization. Consider the coffee pod variety sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth taking a look at. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods, called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode, which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This method eliminates all the guesswork of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks in a single button to allow you to make them by pressing only one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than most models, allowing you to select a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's a little more expensive than some models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and top-quality customer service that's which is synonymous with the brand. It is a solid option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people will be using the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that can brew longer shots, known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, however once you've become accustomed to it, it is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be prepared in just 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to 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 technology makes use of a barcode reader to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's an easy-to-use hands-off device that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but others will appreciate the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they're searching for.
In addition to filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally the coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected in a hidden container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and part of the Smeg fifties range. It's easy to use with a simple panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set which capsule coffee machine uk is an issue. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for a convenient and attractive appliance that can be used at a low cost. For those who want more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules are available for this model and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.