The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most sleek pod machine we've ever seen, this brushed-steel model offers the signature Sage quality and ease of use. After switching on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the clumsiest components of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are typically quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with the majority able to make coffee in just 30 seconds or so. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are typically more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that you can find due to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no chance of having a bad drink. It's also among the tiniest and lightest available and does not require an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it easy to fit in even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and every 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds packed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. Its only downside is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once that happens it can brew one cup in just 35 seconds.
If you're after a sleek, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use but 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 benefit. The best models are simple to use. The majority of machines use the same general process to make your coffee: water is heated inside a reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to streamline 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. Some pods can be used only once before being thrown away, while others can be used several times. Whatever the case, you'll need to think about how you'll deal with the pods you've used up so that they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically releases a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer will appeal to coffee drinkers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that houses empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is perfect for hard-water areas.
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. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to navigate using the switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop your pod. It does take a little force to close but our test subjects, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take away all the mess from coffee making - you just load a pod in, press a button and let it make coffee. You'll still need to clean your machine from time to time but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. All pod machines are easy to use, but certain models offer more customization options than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the best machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are more recent competitors that are worth a look. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This approach means the machine removes all the guesswork of making a cup and ensures each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button, so that you can make them by pressing only one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee that allows you to select a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great option for those who want a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.
Certain models are larger and can brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and extremely enjoyable to use the lungo is made in just 30 seconds and the used pods are deposited into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons the pod coffee maker might not be the right choice for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. If you don't buy an additional milk frother, the only methods to add extra flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option, and then add milk manually to your coffee. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that performs its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customised drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of coffee pods machines serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons, and it can handle ground coffee and ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor issue. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for anyone who wants a convenient and attractive appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a range of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.