The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance comes with Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. It preheats after switch-on, and then brews a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in 30 seconds.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are typically quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with most can make coffee in just 30 seconds or less. But they do come at an expense in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market due to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no chance of getting a bad beverage. It's also among the slimmest and lightest on the market that doesn't require an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those who want to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to do it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also have to put with a new cartridge once this runs out and could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done, it can brew one cup in about 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand, a stainless steel jug, and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The best models are simple to use. The majority of machines use the same general process to make your coffee the water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pumped 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 your own settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules made by the most famous roasters. Some pods are able to be used just once before being thrown away however, others can be used several times. In either case, you'll have to plan ahead for how you'll deal with your spent pods so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.
In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your counter and it opens with a simple tap to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is perfect for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and can make regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are easy to use, coffee machine with capsules thanks to airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space that allows you to insert your pod. It takes a bit of force to close, but our testers, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines 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 brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your preferences and what you want to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to help find the perfect coffee pod machine.
Most people will think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few more recent competitors which are worth looking into. One is Bruvi, which uses an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. These pods have a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a dedicated button, allowing you to create them at the push of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select the exact size and temperature for each beverage. It's a little more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel design and the excellent customer service that is which is synonymous with the brand. It is a solid choice for those who want a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles but once you get used to it, the machine is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be prepared in only 30 minutes.
4. Customization
One big reason why a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is its limited customizability. If you don't buy an auxiliary milk frother, the only options to add extra flavor or creaminess is to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and 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 technology uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or varying brew strength. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, however others will find the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're seeking.
Aside from filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally This coffee maker does not require a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as we mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied coffees with crema-topped tops.
This is a stunning machine that is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or 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 can't be set which is a minor issue. You also need to buy the capsules made by the company which can be expensive. But, it's a good pod coffee maker for those looking for a beautiful and practical appliance that can serve them well for an affordable price. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.