The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of use. It warms up after switching on, and makes an espresso with aroma or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messy aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. But they do come at an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models 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 to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This makes it easy to get consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is one of the lightest and slimmest available. It doesn't require a separate milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into even the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce the environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge once this runs out and could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed in 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 this occurs, it can make one cup in just 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just simple and quick to operate but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major draw, and the best models are simple to use. Most machines use the same process to brew the perfect cup of coffee the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to streamline the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules from well-known roasters. Certain pods can be used just once before being thrown away, while others can be used multiple times. In either case, you'll have to think about how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to give you the variety. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your countertop and opens with a light tap to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is great for hard-water areas.
The machine is fast and brews standard coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to operate, with airplane-style toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop in your pod. It requires a little effort to close, but our test subjects, even those with weak hand and mobility were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines remove all the mess from coffee making. You just add a pod the machine, push a button and let it be brewed. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally however not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you want to get from it. All pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for your needs.
The majority of people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent competitors that could be worth considering. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings 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 so that you can make them by pressing a single button.
Other machines, coffee pod machine such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, however it has the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those wanting to get something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this. It combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you get used to it, it is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be prepared in 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One reason a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only options to add extra flavor or creaminess are to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and 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 an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or varying brew strength. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but many will find the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they are seeking.
This coffee maker is very low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate it every so often. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as we mentioned the used pods are ejected into a hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also excels at delivering full-bodied espressos with a crema-topped top.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style collection. It's easy to use via simple buttons and can be used with ground coffee and ESE pods. The only downside is that it lacks an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set which is an issue. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for those who want an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.