The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage trademark quality and ease of operation. It warms up after switching on, and makes an espresso with aroma or slightly longer lungo in 30 seconds.
Pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest components of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making coffee in just 30 seconds or less. However, they come with a cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and many are also not recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is virtually no chance of having a bad beverage. The machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best device to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ does not 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. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll have to replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed and 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 workforce. Its only downside is that it takes longer to heat up, but once that is done, it will be able to brew a cup in around 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a big selling point and the top models are a breeze to use. Most machines rely on the same general method to make your cup by heating water in an internal reservoir, then pressured through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes for different needs. You can also save custom settings to speed up 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. Certain pods can be used only once before they are discarded and others can be used several times. In either case, you'll have to think about how you'll handle the pods you've used up so that they do not end up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has been cooled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that stores your empty pods. The machine comes with a water filter system that is perfect for areas that have hard water.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its user-friendly controls are easy coffee pod machines to navigate with the help of airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area where you drop in your coffee maker. It requires some effort to close, but most of our testers who have limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. You just put a pod in the machine, push a button and let it brew. It is still necessary to clean your machine from time to time but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their counterparts that are larger, so they can fit on the countertop and be kept out of view when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors that may be worth a look. One is Bruvi, which uses its own pod system, called B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode, which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This approach means the machine takes all the guesswork out of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a specific button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than most machines, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit more expensive than other models but it offers the polished stainless steel design and top-quality customer service that's synonymous with the brand and is a good choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some larger models can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this, and it is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and extremely enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the pods that are used are deposited into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customisation is a major reason it's not the right choice for you. If you don't buy an additional milk frother, the only options to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and to add milk to your cup manually. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a sticking point 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 give the correct amount of coffee that is appropriate for the type of pod. It's a simple and hands-off machine that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide exactly what they need.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally, this coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as we mentioned the used pods are ejected into a concealed receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also excels at delivering full-bodied coffees with crema-topped tops.
It's a gorgeous machine and part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with an easy-to-use panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee and ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level can't be set which is an inconvenience. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable cost. For those who want some variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.