The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance provides the Sage trademark quality and ease of use. It preheats after switch-on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines 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. Most of them can make a cup in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available on the market due to its built-in barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad beverage. The machine is among the slimmest and lightest available. It doesn't require a separate milk container and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into even the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have 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 the filter cartridge after this expires, which could 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, which are pre-dosed, tampered and compressed 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 downside is that it takes longer to heat up, but once this happens it can brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage it is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a major draw, and the best models are easy to use. Most machines utilize the same mechanism to brew a cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet various needs. You can save custom settings for a variety of models to streamline the process even further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players on the market, however each offers a wide selection of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Certain pods can be used once before they are discarded and others can be used several times. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested has a water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically releases another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can make espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends to offer variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who are looking to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your countertop, and it opens with a light tap to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is perfect for hard-water areas.
This machine is able to make an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are simple to use, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place into the pod. It requires a little effort to close, but our testers, even those with weak hand and mobility were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of making coffee out of your hands - you simply load in one of the pods, press an icon and prepare to brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time to time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you want to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to use, however some provide more options for customization. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to determine the best coffee pod machine.
The majority of people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a more info few newer competitors on the coffee capsules machines scene which are worth looking into. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks to a button, so that you can create them with only one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than the majority, letting you choose the exact size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with 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 who want something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While the majority of people will be using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages, there are some larger models that can also create longer shots, also known as lungos, too. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and combines the retro fifties styling coffeee of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you get used to it, the machine is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be made in 30 seconds.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but it could be a problem for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses a barcode reader to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee required for that 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 varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also excels at delivering full-bodied espressos with a crema-topped top.
It's a gorgeous machine and is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It is easy to use with a simple panel and can be used check here with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't have an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor inconvenience. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. However, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish more info and convenient appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.