A Guide to Buying a Capsule Coffee Machine
If you want simple and quick coffee, a capsule machine is the way to go. They're simple to operate and can be used with a variety of specialty coffee pods.
Contrary to filter coffee machines, capsule coffee machines tend to focus on black drinks like lungos and espressos, with some milky options for lattes and capspuccinos.
1. Easy to use
With a capsule coffee machine allows you to get your fix at home without the fuss of a full bean-to-cup or filter machine. These machines are easy to use and work smoothly, whether you're a seasoned coffee maker or are just beginning your journey. You can pick from a range of drink sizes, temperatures and flavours to suit your preferences. Some models include an integrated milk maker to make cappuccinos or lattes. These models are great for busy families that are looking to grab an espresso before heading out.
There are a variety of capsule coffee machines models available to suit your needs. The budget-friendly models tend to be straightforward with a few buttons and a clear display whilst more advanced models allow you to tailor your brew via settings such as the temperature of the water, the type of capsule and bar pressure. Some even have a compatible application for further personalisation and recipe suggestions.
The Smeg model has a sleek style that works with any worktop. It's also quiet and makes it a great choice for families with young children. Our test subjects found it easy to set up and used with a smooth and effortless operation of the lever on the cap of the water tank and a smart, responsive touchscreen.
More expensive models from the likes of Dolce Gusto and Nespresso offer more customization, allowing you to save personalised drinks to a dedicated button. You can adjust the settings to get the best flavour and aroma for your preferred blends. The capsule recycler is available to keep your kitchen clean and free of waste. The more expensive models usually include a built-in milk carafe that can make delicious cappuccinos as well as lattes, while some come with a separate steam wand that can be operated manually as needed.
2. Multi-faceted
Although capsule machines are not as flexible as a bean to cup machine or a filter machine, they can still produce delicious and consistently good results. They also have the advantage of being simple to use and affordable starting at under PS50. A lot of these machines even allow milk frothing, meaning you can make the perfect cappuccino or latte with the push of the button.
One thing to keep in mind when using a capsule machine is that you'll be limited to the type of coffee pods and drinks you can use with it, because they are packaged with ingredients like ground coffee cream, sugar, and flavorings. You can still expect high-quality coffees from most brands. Tassimo and Nescafe offer a variety of black and milky coffees for instance.
Certain capsule machines, such as the Vertuo line of Nespresso, can be used to prepare different milky drinks using different capsules. These capsules allow selecting a milky drink like a latte or cappuccino from a selection of four options, with the machine automatically dispensing the correct amount of milk.
The best pod coffee machines available are also designed to be as user-friendly as is possible with clear digital displays and automatic shut-off functions to conserve energy. You should look for features such as drip trays that can be adjusted in height, which can be moved up or down to accommodate the size of your cup and to minimise splashing, and a removable capsule holder that is easy to empty and clean. Other great features include energy-saving sleep modes and eco-friendly settings.
Moving things to the next level is the Morning Machine, a sleek bench top machine that is operated either manually or through an apps, with precise controls that let you fine-tune a coffee's flavour and body. You can also adjust the temperature, which has an impact directly on the taste of your coffee. Lower temperatures cause acidity, while higher temperatures impart more body.
3. Eco-friendly
Since their introduction by Nestle in 1986 coffee pods (or capsules) have made a huge impact on the way people drink coffee. They're convenient, fast and easy to enjoy a consistently good cup of coffee every single time. However, they can be quite wasteful. They're typically packaged in plastic and aluminium which are difficult to recycle. Additionally, they usually contain dregs of unutilised ground coffee that can't be recycled either.
However, research has shown that, compared to filter and drip coffee, using capsule machines is less detrimental to the environment. This is due to single-serve capsules using the exact amount of coffee and water which reduces 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 is important to note that this research is only based on the total life cycle of coffee production, which includes the cultivation, harvesting and transportation of the beans, as well as heating the water. Choose a capsule that only uses biodegradable or recyclable coffee pods. And if you want to go a step further, you could consider purchasing the recyclable capsule. These can be filled with ground coffee, and then used in your capsule machine. They're usually designed to work with popular systems like Nespresso.
If you're looking to lessen your impact on the environment further, you should consider a machine compatible with Lavazza A Modo Mio Tiny eco capsules. These capsules are carbon neutral, industrially compostable and made from more than 50 percent recycled plastic. Furthermore, they're the only capsules which can be added to food waste and then collected by the council.
If you are unable to find any compostable or biodegradable coffee pods to fit into your capsule machine, try making coffee using a bean-to cup maker. These machines are more expensive, but they are also more green. They grind and prepare coffee on demand rather than brewing and cooling a large pot of coffee in advance, which consumes energy. They are also more energy efficient than drip machines or espresso machine that is on stoves, as they consume less power.
4. Cost-effective
If you're looking for an easy and simple method of making your morning cup of coffee the capsule machine is the ideal solution. The capsules are sealed and contain roasted and ground beans. They are then inserted into the machine and brewed for a precise amount of time. The machines are simple to use and relatively cheap, but can be costly if you choose premium models made by major brands. This is particularly true for the price of the coffee pods, which can be quite expensive.
The purchase of a capsule coffee machine is still a lot cheaper than getting the bean-to-cup or filter model however. This is due to the initial cost of a capsule coffee machine will be lower and you'll save money over the long term because you won't need to purchase filters coffee capsule machine or ground coffee. However, the initial expense isn't a deterrent for many So, think about the amount you're able to spend on the machine, and then take into account the cost of the coffee pods that you will need to fit it.
If you're looking for a capsule coffee maker that is budget-friendly look no further than the Lavazza Vertuo Pop. This sleek and compact machine produces a top-quality espresso with the brand's EcoCaps. Its unique brewing system also produces a thick and dense crema despite only making black coffee. This is a nice alternative to the thin, watery slush that is typically served with drinks made with other pod machines.
The machine is compact in its footprint and a simple four-button control panel. It is easy to use and doesn't require any counter space. It also comes with hot drinks and a steam wand for milky drinks, which are rare for capsule machines. The jug it dispenses the coffee into doesn't hold as much as glass carafes that are found on less expensive rivals.
The independently-made Morning Machine is a more sophisticated pod coffee machine that comes with a variety of extra options that set it apart from its rivals. Its flagship Bloom & Brew setting pre-wets the ground coffee to create a richer, stronger cup and it has adjustable settings that can alter the extracted coffee quantity as well as the temperature and bar pressure. You can get more from the capsules than simple lungos, espressos and ristrettos and you can recreate drip and filter drinks. It also allows you to connect to your smartphone to display recipes, and monitor the energy consumption.