20 Up-And-Comers To Watch In The Best Coffee Pod Machine Industry
The Best Coffee Pod MachineThe most sleek pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the trademark Sage quality and is easy to use. After turning on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee-making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or so. However, they come with an expense in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and many are also not recyclable (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any possibility of getting a poor drink. The machine is one of the slimmest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into even the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need replace it with a new one. This could be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it will brew a cup in about 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, a stainless steel jug, and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use is a big selling point and the best models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same general mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through your chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot java. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to streamline the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules made by the most famous roasters. Certain pods can be used once before they are discarded however, others can be used several times. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll deal with your spent pods so they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has been chilled. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to switch to drip coffee to drip.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its read more sleek design is an attractive addition to your countertop and can be opened with a gentle tap to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine has a water filter system which is perfect for areas that have hard water.
This machine brews an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to use with the help of airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area which allows you to drop your pod. It takes a bit of effort to close, but our testers, even those with weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. You just load a pod in, press here a button and let it brew. You'll still have to clean your machine occasionally but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to get from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however certain models offer more customization options than others. click here Consider the coffee pod variety sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the best machine.
Many people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent competitors on the scene that are worth a look. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
The website machine will eliminate the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button so you can create them at the push of a button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each beverage. It's a bit more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel construction and top-quality customer service that's which is synonymous with the brand. It is a good choice for those who want a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While most people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that can also create longer shots, also known as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this, and it blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's quick and extremely enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
One big reason why pod coffee makers might not be the right choice for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. If you don't purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only options to add extra flavor or creaminess are to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and to add milk manually to your coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer an 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 type of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does the job well, but it doesn't have any options for making drinks that are customized or altering the strength of the brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides precisely what they require.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected to a hidden receptacle which keeps your kitchen spotless. It also does a great job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style collection. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue read more is that it doesn't come with an indicator to let you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is a minor issue. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for those looking for a beautiful and convenient appliance that will serve them well for a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a range of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.