17 Reasons You Shouldn't Be Ignoring Best Coffee Pod Machine

The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most elegant pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the trademark Sage quality and is easy to use. It warms up after switching on, and then brews a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.

As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest 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 in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot are not recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that you can find due to its built-in barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This makes it simple to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, and there is virtually no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. It is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug, and the smallest footprint, making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to cut down on their environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and 1200 cups for soft water. It is also necessary to put in a new filter cartridge after this expires and can 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 either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once this occurs, it can make a cup in around 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and a milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of using pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The top models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same process to brew the perfect cup of coffee: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of 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 offer a large selection of capsules from famous roasters. Some pods are made to be used once and get thrown away, whereas others are intended for multiple uses. Whatever the case, you'll need to think about the way you'll dispose of the pods you've used up so that they aren't thrown away in the trash.

The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends for the variety. This brewer is a great choice for 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 makes it a looker on your countertop and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. It has a water filter system which is perfect for areas with hard water.

The machine can brew a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its intuitive controls are easy to use using the airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space which allows you to drop the pod. It requires some effort to close, but the majority of our testers who have limited hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply load in one of the pods, press the button, and then make coffee. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time but not as often as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.

Whether a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and options for frothing when selecting the best machine.

Many people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent competitors on the scene which are worth looking into. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.

The machine will take all the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks in a single button, so that you can create them with one button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than most models, allowing you to select the right size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models but it offers the polished stainless steel construction and the excellent customer service that is associated with the brand. It is a good choice for those who want an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.

While most people will use a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages, there are some larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this, and it blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's easy and extremely enjoyable to use the lungo is made in only 30 seconds, and the pods that are used are placed in an internal bin at the touch of the button.

4. Customization

A pod coffee maker's limited customisation is a major reason it's not the right choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to the coffee. This won't be an issue for many people, but it could be a problem for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes 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 does its job well, but it pod capsule coffee machine doesn't have any options for making drinks that are customized or varying the strength of the brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide precisely what they require.

Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally, this coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as we mentioned the pods that are used are ejected to a hidden receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's easy to use via simple buttons and can be used with ground coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is the lack of an indicator that tells you when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that can be used at a low cost. This model is compatible with a range of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.