The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it preheats and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy parts of coffee making off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with the majority able to make coffee in 30 seconds or so. However, they come with an expense as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans and many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that you can find due to its built-in barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This allows you to get consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. It is also among the tiniest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug, and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best device to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. It is also necessary to put with a new cartridge after this expires and could be expensive for some 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 and tampered grounds squeezed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. Its only downside is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once this occurs, it can make a cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as an stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are a breeze to use. The majority of machines employ the same process to brew the cup of coffee you want that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot, hot java. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules from popular roasters. Some pods are made to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are designed to be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for the pods you've used to avoid them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has been chilled. It brews espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who wish 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 it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that stores your 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) as well as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is extremely fast. Its user-friendly controls are easy to navigate with the help of airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the opening where you drop in your pod. It requires a little effort to close, but our testers, including those with limited mobility and hand strength, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands. You simply load in the pod, press a button and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean your machine from time to time, but not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts which means they can be placed on the countertop and be kept out of view when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get out of it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and options for frothing when picking the right machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few more recent competitors that are worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods have a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to automatically adjust brewing settings.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a specific button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than the majority, letting you choose the exact size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with a polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some models with larger capacities can also create lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this. It combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's intimidating to pods coffee machine use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in only 30 seconds, and the pods that are used are put into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
One reason a pod coffee maker may not be right for you is its lack of customization. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only ways to add extra flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option, and then add milk to your cup manually. For many people this won't be a problem but it could be a problem for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses, then dispensing the correct amount of coffee to the particular type of pod. It's an easy-to-use hands-off device that does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives exactly what they need.
Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally the coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can make short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also excels at delivering full-bodied coffees with a crema-topped top.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s style range. It is easy to use with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of a gauge that will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You also need to buy the capsules made by the company, which can be pricey. However, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and functional appliance that will provide them with a great service at an affordable cost. For those who want a little more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.