The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. After switching on, it heats up and brews a fragrant espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.

The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. But they do come at an expense as the pre-portioned pods of coffee that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans and many are also not recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels to return them).

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code before brewing. This ensures consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no possibility of getting a poor drink. It is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market, with no need for a separate milk jug and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit in even the tiniest kitchen.

The CitiZ isn't the best machine to minimize the environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function and you'll need to do it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also have to put in a new filter cartridge once this runs out, which could be costly for certain users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds packed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done it will brew a cup in about 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed 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

The user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic process to brew a cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in reservoirs, then moved through capsules to make rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet various needs. You can save custom settings for a variety of models to simplify the process even more.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players on the market, but each has a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then be thrown away, while others are meant to be used multiple times. In either case, you'll have to plan ahead for the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.

The sleek SMEG model we tested features a water tank that is removable and easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour new capsules once the previous one has been cooled. It can brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with a set of eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee to drip.

In our tests we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to here use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and opens with just a touch to reveal the compartment that holds your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is ideal for areas with hard water.

This machine is quick and can brew regular coffee (240ml) as more info well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to operate, using airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place into your coffee maker. It requires some force to close, but the majority of our test subjects, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.

3. Size

The top coffee pod makers remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands - you simply put in a pod, hit a button and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not in use.

If a coffee pod machine is the right option 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 offer more customization options. Consider the coffee pod variety sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the right machine.

The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few newer competitors on the scene that could be worth considering. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to automatically adjust the brewing settings.

The machine will eliminate the guesswork and coffee pods machines make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button to allow you to create them with only one button.

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

Some models with larger capacities can also create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in just 30 seconds and the pods that are used are placed in an internal bin with the click of a button.

4. Customization

The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major more info reason it's not the right choice for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to coffee. For many people this won't pod-making machines be a problem however it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the right amount of coffee to the particular type of pod. It's a user-friendly and hands-off machine that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, however others will appreciate the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are seeking.

Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected in an unnoticed container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style collection. It's user-friendly with a simple control panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of a gauge that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and convenient appliance that will serve them well for an affordable price. If you're looking for some variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is available for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.