The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most elegant pod machine we've ever seen, this model with brushed-steel features the signature Sage quality and is easy to use. When it is turned on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.

Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee-making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many of them aren't recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that you can find, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This allows you to ensure consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. It's also among the slimmest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug, and its small footprint making it easy to fit in even the smallest of kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those wanting to reduce their environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll have to 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 utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated, it can brew one 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 only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand an stainless steel jug and a milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of use is a major selling point and the best models are a breeze to operate. The majority of machines use the same process to make your coffee by heating water inside a reservoir, then pressured through the capsules you choose and extracted to produce rich, hot java. Most brands offer different drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.

Keurig K-Cups are the biggest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules from popular roasters. Some pods are made to be used once and be thrown away, while others are designed to be used multiple times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan out the way you'll dispose of your spent pods so they don't end up in landfill.

The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks and comes with eight different blends for the variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who want to switch from drip coffee.

In our testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that stores your empty pods. The machine comes with a water filter system that is perfect for areas with hard water.

This machine is easy to use and brews regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its user-friendly controls are easy to navigate with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the space that allows you to insert your coffee maker. It requires some force to close, but most of our testers who have limited 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, press a button, and let it brew. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts, so they can fit on the countertop and be kept out of view 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, however some have more options for customization than others. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine.

Most people will associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are a few more recent competitors that are worth a look. One is Bruvi which has its own pod system, called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.

The machine will eliminate the guesswork out of it and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button, so that you can create them with only one button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee and allows you to select the right size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer support synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.

While most people will use pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a great example, combines retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating initially due to the toggles that look like airplanes, however once you've become accustomed to it, the machine is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be brewed in 30 minutes.

4. Customization

One reason pod coffee makers might not be right for you is the limited customizability. If you don't buy an additional milk frother, the only options to add extra flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and add milk to your coffee manually. For many people this won't be a problem but it could be a problem for here those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of a barcode reader to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that performs its job very well but lacks any options for making drinks that are customized or altering the strength of the brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but others will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are searching for.

This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate it every once in a while. It can make short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned, the used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.

This machine is part Smeg's 1950s style range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons, and it can handle both ground more info coffee and get more info ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level can't be set which is an inconvenience. It is also necessary to purchase the capsules made by the company which can be costly. But, it's a best capsule coffee machine good pod coffee maker for anyone looking for an attractive and get more info practical appliance that can provide them with a great service at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.