The Best Pod Coffee Machines

With pod coffee machines, you place a sealed capsule with roasted or ground beans into the machine. The coffee is poured through the machine for a set amount of time.

Some pod coffee makers have different sizes of cups, a built-in filter, and milk that froths. Choosing the best pod coffee maker is dependent on your individual preferences and your lifestyle.

1. Keurig K-Select

If you're looking to buy a basic Keurig coffee maker without all the bells and whistles of higher-end models, this one is a good choice. It's easy to use, has a great design and can be stored into the corner of your kitchen when it's not in use.

The machine can be loud but that's not a major issue. It's also quite small and will fit in tiny counter spaces. If you'd prefer a Keurig with a greater variety of sizes, or a carafe to drip-brew your coffee, you may be interested in other options.

The Keurig K-Select single serve coffee maker comes with a sleek design and more efficient features to help make the perfect cup every time. Choose from hundreds of delicious K-Cup pods, or make your own ground coffee with My-K-Cup's universal, reusable coffee filter (sold separately). The Strong Brew feature kicks up the intensity and strength of your coffee which makes it the ideal option for those who enjoy a bold cup.

This brewer is easy to use, with simple button controls. Place the K-Cup and then select the desired brew size and press to brew. In less than a minute, you'll have a fresh-tasting cup of coffee ready to drink. The large reservoir of 52 ounces allows you to make five cups before refilling, making it easier to manage your morning routine.

The machine is simple to clean, and comes with the ability to remove the reservoir of water and lid that can be easily washed. But, you must descale your Keurig prior to cleaning it, and follow the instructions in the user's guide to ensure that your machine is operating at its peak. The warranty covers the brewer and all original accessories, except for normal wear and tear, damages due to abuse or misuse or any other external cause of failure like power outages.

2. Tassimo My Way

This is the best choice for coffee lovers looking for a machine that can do more than just make your typical cup. It can make a variety drinks, including tea and hot cocoa. The huge 1.3-litre water tank lets multiple cups to be brewed at the same time. The machine can be warmed up in three seconds, and it has a built-in milk container that lets you to make latte or cappuccino. It also features touchscreen that lets you adjust the temperature, intensity, and quantity of your drink.

The Tassimo My Way uses the brand's T Discs which include everything you need to make your favorite drink. There are more than 70 kinds, including Kenco, Costa, Milka and Cadbury's. The machine also provides T discs for hot chocolate and tea as well.

We found the coffee it made to be of good quality, although slightly less than the other pod machines featured in this round-up. It also heated the milk for an espresso fairly quickly and produced a creamy taste without being too thick. It is important to note that the milk's frothy texture has sugar in it, which, while not a major issue however, might not be for everyone's taste.

The Tassimo My Way is easy to clean, thanks to the drip tray, the removable components of the brewing unit and the water tank being dishwasher-safe. There's an Brita filter that is included as well as a cleaning disc that can be used. A useful indicator light will let you know when it's time to descale, and the water reservoir helps keep the limescale to a minimum. The machine is Energy Star rated, which reduces its electricity consumption up to 15%..

3. Lavazza Lungo Pod Machine

This Nespresso-compatible pod coffee maker from Lavazza created in collaboration with Sage is among the most beautiful machines available. It's built with durable and attractive materials, comes with an adjustable steam wand to make cappuccinos and lattes and an stainless milk jug made of steel. It can make espresso lungos, double espressos, gran lungos, mugs and altos, all with an incredibly thick layer of foam.

Similar to most pod machines, you load a pod using an opening at the top of the machine, and then drop it in place. The machine punctures the capsule then seals it. When you lift the lever, the pod will fall into a designated spent pod tray beneath the drip tray.

It's not the fastest machine to make coffee it takes 30 seconds to make an espresso shot and around 90 seconds for a lungo - but the results are consistently impressive, with great crema and a smooth, rich taste. The machine also alerts you when the water tank or pod bin needs refilling.

This machine is a big seller due to the fact that you can use any Lavazza pod. There are seven total, including ground espresso (Qualita Rossa) and decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso) and two organic coffees. Bio). The pod coffee machine isn't expensive, but if you pair it with pod delivery services the cost could be similar to the regular bean-to-cup machine. Its slimline design allows it to be tucked away in the smallest kitchens, while the pods themselves are industrially compostable, which means you can place them in your council food waste bins or own garden compost.

4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine

Nespresso machines are some of the top pod coffee makers for those who want a fast reliable, consistent, and reliable brew. They heat up quickly and are extremely simple to use--just put a capsule in, push the button, and you're done. They also produce a rich crema that can be added to your drinks for added thickness and flavor. They're not cheap however, and you have to buy their official pods.

The Vertuo line is based on different technology than OriginalLine machines that use espresso capsules (and still exist). The Vertuo line scans the barcode of each capsule and adjusts the brewing parameters to create an ideal cup. They also have a centrifusion machine that spins the capsules in order to make the best flavor and the thickest crema.

However they're not as intuitive as some of our other picks. The lid is only opened when the machine is ready, and it takes about 30 seconds for the capsule to heat up. The machine doesn't come with milk frothers as do other pod coffee makers on this list, so you'll need an additional PS90 or so to buy an additional Aeroccino in order to make lattes and cappuccinos.

They also require more regular maintenance than other models--refilling the water tank, emptying the pod containers, and decaling. However, they have an app that reminds you of these chores and includes tools such as store locators and capsule recycling. And if you connect your machine to an IntelliPort you can operate it using voice commands which is a nice feature if you're making coffee in the dark at 4am, or have limited hand strength.

5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine

This sleek pod machine is the result of a lovechild between the adored Italian brand, and a well-known company that manufactures kitchen appliances. It has the retro, sleek curves that SMEG are known for, and can make the espresso and lungo drinks. It comes with a programmable setting for the shot, dual-height dripping tray, and a pod bins that can be removed.

This coffee maker lets you make one or two cups of lungo or espresso in the morning or during your work break. The simple control panel makes it look sleek and doesn't distract you from its function. It comes with three baskets that can be swapped for different capsule types. You can use loose-ground beans (although a separate grinder is required).

The SMEG Barista Pod Machine does not come with a milk pitcher. However, it has a Pannarello built-in milk frother that is able to froth soymilk and cow milk very efficiently. It also has an oversized portafilter of 51mm that is smaller than a conventional commercial-style filter. It is pressurised coffee machines capsules which means you won't have the stale, leftover taste. It also comes with a tool which can also be used as a scoop.

The SMEG is among the most expensive pod machines we've reviewed however it's certainly worth it if your a fan of the retro look or like the ability to make espresso-based drinks. This is a great choice if you are new to coffee making and do not want to tackle the difficulty of measuring, grinding, and tamping the beans yourself.