The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it heats up and brews a fragrant espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest parts of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in 30 minutes. However, they come with a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that you can find, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no possibility of getting a poor drink. It is also one of the slimmest and lightest on the market that doesn't require an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to minimize the environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have 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. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge when it runs out, which could be costly for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once that happens it can brew a cup in around 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a major draw, and the best models are simple to operate. The majority of machines employ the same basic mechanism to brew the cup of coffee you want: water is heated inside reservoirs, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different needs, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to simplify the process even further.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules by popular roasters. Some pods are able to be used once before they are discarded however, others can be used several times. Either way, you'll need to think about how you'll deal with your spent pods 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 dispenses another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends for various options. This brewer is a great choice for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your counter and can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a concealed compartment for empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is ideal for hard-water areas.
This machine is easy to use and can make regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening to drop in your coffee maker. It takes a bit of pressure to close, however most of our testers, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines remove all the mess from coffee making. You just load a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it brew. You'll still have to clean your machine occasionally however not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger and can be tucked away on the countertop and pod coffee makers be stored out of sight when not being used.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right option for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to get out of it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to help find the perfect coffee pod machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors worth a look. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, called B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This approach means the machine takes all the guesswork out of brewing a cup and ensures each drink is made perfectly every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a separate button so you can create them at the push of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than others machines, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each cup. 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 Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those wanting to get something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will be using the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that can make longer shots, referred to as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in just 30 seconds and the used pods are put into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
One reason the pod coffee maker might not be the best choice for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk into your the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does the job flawlessly, but does not have any options for making drinks that are customized or varying the strength of brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but others will appreciate the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are seeking.
Aside from filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally This coffee maker does not need a lot of maintenance. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied espressos with a crema-topped top.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s style range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of a gauge that will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and functional appliance that will serve them well for an affordable cost. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.