The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The sleekest pod machine we've ever seen, this model with brushed-steel features the trademark Sage quality and user-friendly. After turning on, it warms up and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.

Pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Speedy

Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot are not recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This makes it easy to get consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is among the lightest and slimmest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container, and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those who want to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also have to put the filter cartridge after this expires, which could be costly for some users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done it will brew a cup in about 35 seconds.

If you're after an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a range of different sizes and styles, look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage, is not only simple and quick to operate but also comes with an ice cream frothing wand as well as an stainless steel jug.

2. Removable parts

The user-friendliness is a big selling point and the top models are a breeze to operate. The majority of machines employ the same method to make the cup of coffee you want that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich, hot java. Most brands offer different drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to streamline the process.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest brands on the market, however each offers a wide selection of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being discarded, while others are designed for multiple uses. In either case, you'll have to plan out how you'll deal with the pods you've used up so that they aren't thrown away in the trash.

The SMEG we tested has a water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who are looking to switch from drip coffee.

In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your countertop, and it opens with a light touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. It has an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas with hard water.

This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. The controls are simple to operate, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily retracted and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening for dropping into your coffee maker. It requires a little force to close, but our testers, even those with limited mobility and hand strength felt comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply need to load the pod, press a button and make coffee. You'll still need to clean your machine from time to time but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not in use.

Whether a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to help find the perfect coffee pods coffee machine pod machine.

The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors worth taking a look at. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod and capsule coffee machines system, called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will take all the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a dedicated button to allow you to create them at the push of a button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee that allows you to select a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than some models, but it has the polished stainless steel construction and excellent customer service which is synonymous with the brand. It is a great option for those looking to get a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.

While most people will be using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages There are some larger models that can also create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example, combines retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, however once you've become accustomed to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be brewed in just 30 seconds.

4. Customization

A pod coffee maker's limited customization is a major reason it might not be the right choice for you. If you don't buy an additional milk frother, the only ways to add extra flavor or creaminess are to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and to add milk to your coffee manually. This shouldn't be a problem for most people, but it could be an issue for those who prefer a fully automatic experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a user-friendly hands-off device that does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers however for others, the easy automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives exactly what they need.

Aside from filling up the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally This coffee maker does not require a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As previously mentioned, used pods are then ejected from a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

It's a gorgeous machine and part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's user-friendly with an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of a gauge that will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. It is also necessary to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. However, this is a good pod coffee maker for anyone looking for an attractive and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable cost. If you're looking for some variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model. It's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.