The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've seen, this model with brushed-steel features the trademark Sage quality and user-friendly. After turning on, it preheats and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest parts of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally easier to setup and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making coffee in just 30 seconds or so. However, they come with a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available due to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any possibility of getting a poor drink. The machine is one of the slimmest and lightest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container, and its compact size makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best device to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function and you'll need to do it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge when it runs out and can be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered ground that are 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 that it takes longer to warm up, but once that occurs, it can make one cup in just 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a variety of different drink sizes and styles, look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The best models are simple to use. Most machines use the same basic method to make a cup of coffee the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules by famous roasters. Some pods can be used only once before they are discarded and others can be used several times. Either way, you'll need to think about how you'll deal with the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer will appeal to coffee drinkers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter, and it can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that stores your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is great for hard-water areas.
This machine is easy to use and can brew regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into your pod. It requires a little force to close but our testers, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands - you simply need to load a pod, hit a button and brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of sight when not being used.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some offer more customization options. Different pod types, brew sizes options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine for you.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some more recent competitors that are worth taking a look at. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of a bespoke pod system called B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork out of it and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks on a button to allow you to create them using only one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your cup of coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's a little more expensive than many other models but it offers the polished stainless steel construction and top-quality customer service that's synonymous with the brand and is a good choice for those who want a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While most people are using the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos, too. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this. It blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's quick and extremely enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in only 30 seconds, and the discarded pods are put into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
The lack of customization is a major reason it might not be the best choice coffee pods machines for you. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only options to add extra flavor or creaminess is to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and add milk manually to your coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem however it could be a problem for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode scanners 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 an easy-to-use, hands-off machine which does an excellent job, but isn't able to customize drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir every time. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a stunning machine and part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's easy to use via simple buttons and can accommodate ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't have an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set which is a minor inconvenience. You'll also have to purchase the capsules made by the company which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for anyone who wants a convenient and attractive appliance that can be used at a reasonable cost. If you're looking for more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules are available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.