The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most sleek pod machine we've seen, this model with brushed-steel features the renowned Sage quality and ease of use. When it is turned on, it warms up and makes a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.

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

1. Speedy

Pod machines are generally quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with the majority capable of making a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many of them aren't recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code before brewing. This ensures you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no chance of getting a bad drink. The machine is also among the tiniest and lightest available and does not require a separate milk jug and its small footprint making it easy to fit in even the tiniest of kitchens.

The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to minimize your environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need replace it with a new. This could be expensive for certain users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and packed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand an stainless steel jug and milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The top models are simple to use. Most machines utilize the same method to make the cup of coffee you want the water is heated inside reservoirs, then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich, hot java. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet different needs, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to speed up the process further.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players in the market, however each has a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are intended to be used for a variety of purposes. Either way, you'll need to think about how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.

The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and has eight different blends for various options. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.

In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your counter and can be opened with a gentle tap to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. It has an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas that have hard water.

The machine is fast and can make regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are easy to use with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space which allows you to drop your pod. It requires some force to close, but the majority of our testers even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod makers take the mess of coffee making out of your hands. You simply put in a pod, hit the button, and then brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time time but not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.

The ideal coffee maker for you will depend on your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but certain models offer more customization options than others. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to find the ideal coffee pod machine.

The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few more recent rivals that are worth a look. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to automatically adjust read more the brewing settings.

This method removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and ensures each drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customized drinks to a dedicated button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee that allows you to select the right temperature and size for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those who want something more from their espresso maker that is based on pods.

While the majority of people will use the pod-based machine to create 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 perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles but once you get used to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be brewed in only 30 minutes.

4. Customization

One big reason why a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is its lack of customizability. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother then the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk into your the coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem, but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's an easy-to-use and hands-off machine that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives exactly what they need.

Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally This coffee maker does not require much maintenance. It can make short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected in 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 that is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's easy to use via simple buttons and can accommodate ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't come with an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor issue. You will also have to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is a great pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.