The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage distinctive quality and ease of operation. After switching on, it heats up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are typically more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market due to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no chance of having a bad drink. It's also among the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require a separate milk jug and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
The CitiZ isn't the best device to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to do it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also have to put the filter cartridge when it runs out and can be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its employees. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done it will brew a cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks in 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 a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a big selling point, and the best models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same basic method to make the perfect cup of coffee the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich, hot java. The majority of brands offer various drink sizes 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 from well-known roasters. Some pods are made to be used once and get thrown away, whereas others are meant to be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to think about how you'll deal with the pods that are no longer being used so they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule once the previous one has been chilled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is perfect for coffee lovers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is an attractive addition to your countertop and can be opened with a gentle tap to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is great for hard-water areas.
The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to navigate using the switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert the pod. It requires a bit of effort to close, but most of our testers even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply put in one of the pods, press the button, and then make coffee. You will still need to clean the machine from time time however not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get from it. All pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. Consider the coffee pod variety, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth taking a look at. One is Bruvi, which uses an exclusive pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. These pods have a barcode on the underside that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and makes sure that each drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a specific button so you can create them at the touch of a button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more check here control over website your cup of coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with the brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
Certain models read more are larger and can brew lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this and combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It can be a little intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly satisfying to operate the lungo is made in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are put into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it may not be the right choice for you. If you don't buy an auxiliary milk frother, the only methods click here to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and to add milk to your cup manually. This won't be an issue for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the right amount of coffee for the particular type of pod. It's a user-friendly hands-off device that does an excellent job, however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or varying brew strength. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
In addition to filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally the coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as previously mentioned, used pods are more info ejected to a hidden receptacle which keeps your kitchen spotless. It also excels at delivering full-bodied coffees with crema-topped tops.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's simple to use with a simple panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee as well as ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of an indicator that tells you when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. However, this is a good pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and convenient appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.