The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage brand's distinctive quality and user-friendly. After switching on, it preheats and makes a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee-making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or so. But they do come at some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they are not recycled. (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code before brewing. This ensures you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is hardly any chance of getting a bad beverage. It is also one of the slimmest and lightest available, with no need for an additional milk jug, and a small footprint making it easy to fit in even the smallest of kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those who want to minimize their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to do it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a fresh one. This can be costly for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it will brew a cup in just 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a range of different sizes and styles, take a look at 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 a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major selling point and the top models are easy to use. The majority of machines use the same general process to make your coffee the water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading brands on the market, yet each offers a wide selection of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used just once before being thrown away however, others can be used several times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan ahead for the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically releases an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who website wish 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 makes it an attractive addition to your counter, and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine comes with an in-built water filter system that is perfect for areas that have hard water.
This machine is able to make an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are easy to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place into your pod. It requires some force to close, but most of our testers even those with weak hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the mess from coffee making - you just add a pod, press a button and let it 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 also smaller than their larger counterparts which means they can be placed on the countertop and be stored away from view when not in use.
The best coffee machine for you will depend on your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, however some provide more options for customization. The variety of pods, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for your needs.
The majority of people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are some newer competitors on the scene which are worth looking into. One is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, known as 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.
This method removes all the guesswork of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks to a button so that you can create them using one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than others models, allowing you to select the exact size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than some models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and top-quality customer service that's associated with the brand. It is a good choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles, but once you've gotten used to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One big reason why a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is its lack of customization. If you don't have an additional milk frother then the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for most people, but it could be a problem for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes a barcode reader to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee required for that kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or varying brew strength. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank and decaffeinate it every so often. It can dispense short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are then ejected from a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a fantastic job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
It's a gorgeous machine and part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's easy to use via simple buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't come with an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set which is a minor issue. You'll also need to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be expensive. This is a great pod machine for those who want an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that can be used at a low cost. For those who want more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.