A Guide to Buying a Capsule Coffee Machine
A capsule coffee machine will make it simple to make a quick cup of coffee. They're simple to operate and can be used with a variety of coffee pods.
Contrary to filter coffee machines capsule coffee machines tend to focus on black drinks such as lungos and espressos. They also have a few milky options for capspuccinos and lattes.
1. Easy to use
You can enjoy your coffee fix at home using a capsule machine. It's a great alternative to a bean-to-cup or filter machine. Whether you're an experienced coffee maker or just beginning your journey they're designed to be easy to use and operate smoothly. You can pick from a range of drink sizes, temperatures and flavors to meet your needs. Some models come with an integrated milk frother that can be used to make cappuccinos or lattes. These models are great for busy families that want to grab a cup of coffee before heading out.
There are a variety of capsule coffee machines models that can be found to meet your requirements. Budget friendly models tend to include a few buttons that display clearly. The more advanced models allow you to customize the brew you make by changing settings such as the temperature of the water, the type of capsule, and bar pressure. Certain models come with an app that permits more customization and recipes suggestions.
The Smeg model has a sleek style that works with any worktop. It's also quiet and makes it a great option for families with small children. Our test subjects found it easy to set up and used with a smooth and effortless operation of the water tank's capsule lever and a smart, responsive touchscreen.
More expensive models from likes of Dolce Gusto and Nespresso offer more customization, allowing users to save drinks that you have customised to a dedicated button. You can even alter the settings for your preferred blends to get the most optimal flavor and scent. The capsule recycler is included to ensure your kitchen is clean and free of waste. The more expensive models usually have 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 whenever you want.
2. Multi-faceted
Although capsule machines aren't as flexible as a bean to cup machine or filter machine, they can still yield delicious and consistent results. The simplest models start at less than PS50. Many of these machines even allow milk frothing which means you can make a cappuccino or latte at the touch of an button.
You will be limited in the types of coffee pods available because they come pre-packaged, with ingredients like sugar, cream and ground coffee. Nonetheless, you can still get high-quality coffee from a variety of brands, and there is a wide range of options available from Tassimo and Nescafe, for example, allowing you to choose from a range of milky and black coffees.
Similar to the capsule machines, some can also be used with various milky drinks using different kinds of capsules like those produced by Nespresso's Vertuo line. These offer the option of selecting a milky drink such as a latte, or cappuccino from a selection of four, with the machine automatically dispensing the right amount of milk.
The best pod coffee machines available are also designed to be as user-friendly as possible, with easy to read digital displays and automatic shut-off functions that help conserve energy. You should look for features such as drip trays with adjustable heights that can be moved up and down to suit the size of your cup and to minimise splashing, and a capsule holder that can be removed that's easy to empty and clean. Other attractive features include sleep modes that save energy, and eco-friendly settings.
The Morning Machine is a benchtop machine that you can operate either manually or with an application. It comes with precise controls to fine-tune the coffee's body and flavour. You can also alter the temperature, which will have an impact directly on the flavor of your coffee. Lower temperatures result in acidity, while higher temperatures give it more body.
3. Eco-friendly
Since their introduction by Nestle in 1986 the coffee pods (or capsules) have had a major impact on the way people consume coffee. They're easy to use, quick and make it easy to get a consistently great cup of joe every time. However, they're also quite wasteful. They're typically packed in aluminum and plastic, which can be difficult to recycle. In addition, they typically contain dregs of unutilised ground coffee that cannot be recycled as well.
However, research has shown that compared to filter and drip coffee, capsule machines is not as detrimental to the environment. This is due to the fact that single-serve capsules use an exact amount of water and coffee, cutting down on coffee waste that can occur when you make a large pot. Plus, heating the water in a single serve capsule uses less energy than making a large-sized pot.
However, it's important to remember that this research is based on the complete life-cycle of coffee production, which includes the growing, harvesting, and transportation of the beans, as well as heating the water. Look for a capsule machine that is made of recycled or biodegradable coffee pods. If you're looking to go even further, consider buying the recyclable capsule. These can be filled with ground coffee and used in the capsule machine you have - they're usually designed to be compatible with popular systems such as Nespresso.
If you want to reduce the environmental impact of your business consider a device that works with Lavazza's A Modo Mio Tiny Eco capsules. They're compostable in a way that is industrially, carbon neutral and come in a black design that's made from over 50% recycled plastic. Furthermore, they're the only capsules that can be added to food waste and collected by the council.
Finally, if you can't find compostable or biodegradable coffee pods for your capsule machine, you can try making coffee using a bean-to cup maker. They're expensive, but they're more sustainable than pod machines. They grind and brew coffee on demand instead of the process of cooling and brewing a large pot of coffee in advance, which consumes energy. They're also more efficient than a drip or espresso machine that is sat on a stove, since they require less power to run.
4. Cost-effective
If you're looking for an easy and convenient way to make your morning coffee the capsule machine is the ideal solution. The capsules are sealed and contain ground and roasted beans. They are then put into the machine and brewed for an exact amount of time. The machines are reasonably priced and simple to use, however, they can be costly if you go for high-end models from big brands. This is particularly relevant to the cost of the coffee pods which can be very expensive.
A capsule coffee maker will still be cheaper than filters or a bean-to-cup model. This is because the upfront cost of a capsule coffee machine will be lower, and you'll save money over the pod coffee makers long term because you won't need to purchase filters or ground coffee. The initial cost can be an obstacle for many. Consider the amount you'll be able to invest in the machine, and then add the pods that go with it.
Lavazza Vertuo pop is a capsule machine that is an excellent choice for those who are on a budget. This sleek and compact machine produces a top-quality espresso with the brand's EcoCaps. Its unique brewing system allows it to create a thick crema, despite the fact that it only makes black coffee. This is a welcome improvement over the thin, watery foam that often accompanies espresso drinks made in other pod machines.
The machine is easy to operate with the four buttons on the panel and has a compact footprint that doesn't take up any counter space. It has a steam wand and hot beverage capabilities which are both rare features for capsule machines. However, the jug that it dispenses the coffee into doesn't hold as much as glass carafes found on cheaper rivals.
The independently-made Morning Machine is a more sophisticated pod coffee maker that offers a range of additional options that set it apart from the competition. The Bloom & Brew option pre-wets ground coffee, resulting in an extra-strong, richer cup. It also offers adjustable settings for temperature, bar pressure and the amount of coffee extracted. This allows you to get more out of the capsules than ristretto, espresso and lungo options, and even recreates filters and drip-style drinks. It can also be connected to your smartphone to display recipes and track energy consumption.