Best Coffee Pod Machine: 11 Things You're Not Doing

The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel appliance comes with Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. After turning on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.

Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Speedy

Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with the majority able to make coffee in only 30 seconds or less. However, they come with an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they are not recycled. (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning the pods).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines on the market, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This makes it easy to ensure consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with next-to-no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. It is also among the slimmest and lightest available and does not require an additional milk jug, and its small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to minimize their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also need to swap with a new cartridge when it runs out and can 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, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it's done, it can brew one cup in around 35 minutes.

If you're after an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a range of different sizes and styles, look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use but also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and a milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of use of a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The top models are easy to operate. The majority of machines employ the same method to make the perfect cup of coffee: water is heated inside a reservoir, then moved through capsules to make rich hot, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes for different needs. You can also save custom settings to streamline the process.

Keurig K-Cups are among the top brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules made by the most well-known roasters. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then discarded, while others are intended to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan for the pods you've used to avoid them from being thrown away.

The SMEG we tested has a water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and has eight different blends for various options. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee.

In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that stores your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is perfect for areas with hard water.

This machine brews an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are simple to use, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be retracted easily and a lever that retracts to reveal the hole to place in the pod. It requires a little force to close, but our testers, even those with limited mobility and hand strength were able to use it comfortably.

3. Size

The top coffee pod makers take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands. You simply need to load a pod, hit a button and prepare to brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time time but not as often as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts which means they can be placed on the countertop and be kept out of view when not in use.

If a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine.

The majority of people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are some newer 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. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to automatically adjust brewing settings.

This means that the machine removes all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and guarantees that every drink comes out perfectly every time. It can even save customized drinks to a dedicated button, allowing you to make them with the press of a button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the ideal size and temperature for each drink. 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 good option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.

Some larger models can also brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and extremely enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the pods that are used are deposited into an internal bin with the click of the button.

4. Customization

One reason the pod coffee maker might not be right for you is its limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to coffee. This won't be an issue for a lot of people, but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automatic experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of the brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide exactly what they need.

The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir every so often. It can make short espresso-style shots and tall travel coffee pod machines mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from an unnoticed container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

It's a gorgeous machine and part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's easy to use with a simple control panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of a gauge that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also have to purchase the brand's own capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for anyone looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that is able to serve at a low cost. This model can be used with a variety of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.