The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most elegant pod machine we've ever seen, this brushed-steel model offers the signature Sage quality and user-friendly. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.

Pod models are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in 30 minutes. But they come at a cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning them).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This makes it easy to make consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, and there is virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is also among the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug, and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit in even the smallest of kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function and you'll need to clean it yourself every 300 cups if live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water areas. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need replace it with a new. This could be expensive for some users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in about 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage it is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel Jug.

2. Removable parts

A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a big selling point and the top models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same general method to make your cup the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pumped through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save custom settings on many models to streamline the process even more.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest brands on the market, but each has a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods can be used once before they are discarded and others can be used several times. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them from ending up in the garbage.

The sleek SMEG model we tested has a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has been cooled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.

In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your countertop and it can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a concealed compartment to store your empty pods. The machine has an integrated water filter that is ideal for areas that have hard water.

This machine is quick and can make standard coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. 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 pod. It takes a bit of pressure to close, however the majority of our testers, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod machines take away all the mess from coffee making. You just add a pod the machine, push a button and let it be brewed. It is still necessary to clean your machine from time to time however not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of sight when not in use.

The ideal coffee maker for you will be determined by your preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, however some offer more customisation options than others. Consider the coffee pod variety, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the right machine.

The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few more recent competitors that are worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will take all the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button to allow you to make them by pressing only one button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee and allows you to select the right temperature and size for each beverage. It's more expensive than some models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel build and excellent customer service synonymous with the brand and is a great option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.

While the majority of people will use a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages There are some larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you get used to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be brewed in only 30 seconds.

4. Customization

A pod coffee maker's limited flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the best option for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem, but it could be a problem for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the right amount of coffee to the specific type of pod. It's an easy-to-use hands-off device that does an excellent job, however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers however for others, the easy coffee machine with capsules automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide precisely what they require.

This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir every time. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as mentioned the used pods are ejected to a hidden container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style collection. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of a display that lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. Nevertheless, this is a great pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.