Think You're Cut Out For Best Coffee Pod Machine? Check This Quiz
Think You're Cut Out For Best Coffee Pod Machine? Check This Quiz
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've seen this model with brushed-steel features the trademark Sage quality and ease of use. It heats up immediately after switching on and brews an aroma-packed espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in just 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and a majority are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This allows you to ensure consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. This machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into the tiniest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those looking to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function and you'll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll have to replace it with a new one. This can be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds packed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. The only drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once that happens it can brew one cup in just 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand, a stainless steel jug, and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major selling point, and the best models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same method to make the cup of coffee you want: water is heated inside a reservoir, then moved through capsules to make rich hot, hot java. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players on the market, however each offers a wide selection of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used only once before they are discarded however, others can be used a number of times. Either way, you'll need to plan out how you'll handle the pods you've used up so that they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically releases an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can make espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to give you various options. This brewer is a great choice for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that stores empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is perfect for hard-water areas.
The machine is fast and can make regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its easy-to-use controls are easy to navigate, thanks to aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the space where you drop in your pod. It requires a bit of force to close, but most of our testers who have weak hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of making coffee out of your hands. You simply load in a pod, hit a button and brew. You'll still have to clean your machine occasionally but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The ideal coffee maker for you will depend on your preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some offer more customization options. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to find the ideal coffee pod machine for you.
Many people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent rivals that could be worth considering. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods have a barcode on the underside that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button so that you can create them with only one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than others models, allowing you to select the exact size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is a hallmark of Sage's My Way. This is a great choice pod capsule coffee machine for those looking for an extra bit of quality from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
While the majority of people will use the pod-based machine to create single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that are able to make longer shots, referred to as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a great example, combines retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are put into an internal bin at the touch of the button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your the coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee that is appropriate for the type of pod. It's an easy-to-use and hands-off machine that does an excellent job, however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but others will find the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are searching for.
This coffee maker is low maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir every so often. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as we mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's simple to use with an easy-to-use panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee and ESE pods. The only issue 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 also need to buy the brand's capsules, which can be pricey. Nevertheless, this is a good pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and practical appliance that can provide them with a great service at an affordable cost. If you're looking for some variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is available for this model, and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.