The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the renowned Sage quality and ease of use. It warms up after switching on, and makes an espresso with aroma or slightly longer lungo in 30 minutes.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines 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. They can typically make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. However, they come with some cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market due to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no possibility of getting a poor beverage. The machine is also one of the slimmest and lightest on the market and does not require an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge after this expires and could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds 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 workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage it is not only quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice cream frothing wand as well as an stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The top models are simple to use. The majority of machines use the same process to make your coffee the water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different needs, and you can save your own settings on many models to streamline the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules made by the most famous roasters. Some pods can be used just once before being thrown away however, others can be used a number of times. You'll need a plan to dispose of your old pods to prevent them from ending up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a water tank that is removable and easy to fill, and the machine automatically dispenses new capsules once the previous one has been chilled. It can brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who 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 is beautiful on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that stores your empty pods. The machine comes with a water filter system which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is quick and brews regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to operate, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening for dropping into the click here pod. It does take a little force to close but our test subjects, even those who have weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands. You simply load in the pod, press an icon and brew. You'll still have to clean your machine every now and then however not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. read more All pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation check here options than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the best machine.
The majority of people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are some newer rivals that could be worth considering. One is Bruvi which has its own pod system, known as B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods have an underside barcode that the machine scans to automatically adjust brewing settings.
The machine will take all the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a dedicated button so you can make them with the press of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than most, letting you choose a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is a hallmark of the Sage's My Way brand. This is a great choice for those looking for a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.
Certain models are larger and can brew lungos. The Lavazza read more A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this, and it is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It can be a little intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly enjoyable to use the lungo is made in only 30 seconds, and the pods that are used are deposited into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
One reason the pod coffee maker might not be right for you is its limited customization. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only options to add flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option, and then add milk to your cup manually. 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 uses barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does the job very well but lacks any options for customizing drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, however others will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are searching for.
Aside from filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not need a lot of 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 that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
It's a website gorgeous machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons and can accommodate both ground coffee and ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of an indicator that tells you when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You'll also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a great pod machine for those who want an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that is able to serve at a low cost. This model is compatible with a range of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.