Best Coffee Pod Machine: It's Not As Expensive As You Think

The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage distinctive quality and ease of use. After turning on, it preheats and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.

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

1. Speedy

Pod machines are typically quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with many able to make coffee in just 30 seconds or less. However, they come with a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels to return them).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This makes it easy to get consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. This machine is among the tiniest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into even the tiniest kitchens.

The CitiZ is not the best device to reduce the environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge once this runs out, which could be costly for some users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does it will brew a cup in just 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use but also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of use of a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The top models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same method to make a cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in a reservoir, then moved through capsules to make rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save your own settings on many models to streamline the process even more.

Keurig K-Cups are the biggest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules by famous roasters. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are designed for multiple uses. In either case, you'll have to plan out the way you'll dispose of your spent pods so they aren't thrown away in the trash.

The sleek SMEG model we tested has an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule once the previous one has cooled. It brews lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who want to move away from drip coffee.

In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your counter, and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a concealed compartment to store your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is great for hard-water areas.

This machine brews the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. The controls are simple to use, with airplane-style toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into your coffee maker. It requires some effort to close, but the majority of our testers even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making - you just load a pod in, press a button and let it brew. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally however not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.

The best coffee machine for you will depend on your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and options for frothing when selecting the best machine.

The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some more recent competitors that are worth a look. One is Bruvi which has an exclusive pod system called B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button so you can create them at the push of a single button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than others, letting you choose the exact size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with the brand. This is a great choice for those looking for an extra bit of quality from their espresso maker that is based on pods.

While the majority of people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages, there are some larger models that can also make longer shots, referred to as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this. It blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's not easy initially due to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be prepared in just 30 seconds.

4. Customization

One reason pod coffee makers might not be the right choice for you is the limited customizability. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to the coffee. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but many will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they're looking for.

The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It's all you have to do is to refill the tank with water, and decaffeinate it every so often. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.

It's a gorgeous machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with an easy-to-use panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of a display that lets you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set a maximum water level. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants an attractive best coffee machines with pods and convenient appliance that will serve well at a low cost. This model can be used with a variety of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.