A Guide to Buying a Capsule Coffee Machine

If you want fast and simple coffee, a capsule machine is the way to go. They are easy to use and can work with various coffee pods.

Unlike filter coffee machines, capsule machines usually concentrate on black drinks - lungos and espressos, with a few milky options for lattes and cappuccinos.

1. Easy to use

You can enjoy your cup of coffee at home with the capsule machine. It's a great alternative to a bean-to-cup or filter machine. These machines are easy to operate and run well, regardless of whether you're a seasoned coffee maker or just a newbie. You can pick from a variety of drink sizes, temperatures and flavors to suit your preferences. Some models also feature an integrated milk frothing wand to create cappuccinos and lattes. These models are great for families with busy schedules who are looking to grab a cup of coffee before heading out.

There are a variety of capsule coffee machines models that will meet your needs. The budget-friendly options tend to be basic with a panel of buttons and a clear display, while more sophisticated models allow you to customize your brew via settings such as temperature of the water, capsule type and bar pressure. Some even have a compatible application for further personalisation and recipe ideas.

Smeg’s model has a sleek design that blends in well with any work surface. It's also very quiet in use, making it a good choice for parents with young children who wake up early. Our testers found it easy to set up and used, with a smooth operation of the lever for the water tank's cap and a responsive, intelligent touchscreen.

The more expensive models, like those from Dolce Gusto or Nespresso, offer a greater level of customization. You can save your favorite drinks with a click. You can adjust the settings to get the best flavour and aroma for your preferred blends. They also come with an efficient capsule recycler that will keep your kitchen neat and free of waste. Some of the most expensive models have an inbuilt carafe that can be used for lattes or creamy cappuccinos. Others come with an additional steam wand which you can operate manually.

2. Versatile

Although capsule machines are not as versatile as a bean-to cup machine or filter machine, they can provide delicious and consistently good results. The simplest models start at less than PS50. Many of these machines are capable of making frothy milk so you can make cappuccinos or lattes by pressing a button.

There are a few limitations to the types of coffee pods that you can choose from, as they will come pre-packed, with ingredients such as sugar, cream and ground coffee. You can still expect high-quality beverages with the majority of brands. Tassimo and Nescafe offer a range of black and milky coffees for example.

Similar to the capsule machines, some can be used with different milky drinks by utilizing different capsules, like those manufactured by Nespresso's Vertuo line. These offer the option of selecting a milky beverage like a latte or cappuccino, from a range of four options, with the machine automatically dispensing the correct amount of milk.

The top pod machines in the UK are also built with user-friendly features, such as clear digital displays that are easy to read and automatic shut-off features that help save energy. Look for features like height-adjustable drip trays that can be moved up and down to fit your cup size and reduce splashing, and a reusable capsule holder that is easy to empty and clean. Energy-saving sleep modes and eco-friendly settings are a nice addition.

The Morning Machine is a tabletop machine that you can operate manually or via an app. It comes with precise controls that allow you to fine tune the coffee's body as well as flavour. You can also alter the temperature, which has an impact directly on the flavor of your coffee. Temperatures that are lower will cause acidity while higher temperatures give it more body.

3. Environmentally friendly

Since their introduction by Nestle in 1986 the coffee pods (or capsules) have had a major impact on how people consume coffee. They are convenient, fast and easy to make a perfect cup of coffee every time. However, they're also extremely wasteful. They're typically packed in aluminium and plastic which are difficult to recycle. In addition, they are filled with unneeded ground coffee that can't be recycled.

Research has revealed that the use of a capsule coffee maker is more sustainable than drip or filter coffee. Single-serve capsules are environmentally sustainable because they use the exact amount of coffee and water which means less waste. Furthermore, heating the water in a single serve capsule uses less energy than making a large-sized pot.

However, it's important to note that this research is based on the total life cycle of coffee production, including the growing, harvesting, and transportation of the beans, as well as heating the water. Choose a capsule that is made of recycled or biodegradable coffee pods. If you're looking to go a step further, think about purchasing the reuseable capsule. These capsules can be used to fill your capsule with ground coffee. They're designed to be compatible with popular systems such as Nespresso.

If you're looking to cut down your environmental impact further Look for a pod coffee machines machine that can be used with Lavazza's A Modo Mio Tiny Eco capsules. These capsules are carbon neutral, industrially compostable and made from more than 50 percent recycled plastic. They're also the only capsules that can be added to food waste for council collection.

If you can't find compostable or biodegradable pods for your capsule maker, you might consider using a bean-to-cup coffee maker. They're costly, but they're more eco-friendly than pod machines. They grind and brew the coffee at the moment, rather than making a large pot of coffee in advance and cooling it down, which uses energy. They're also more efficient than a drip or espresso machine that is sat on a hob, since they require less energy to operate.

4. Cost-effective

A capsule machine is a great option if you want to make coffee quickly and easily in the morning. Capsules are sealed roasts and ground coffee beans that slot into the machine and are brewed for a predetermined amount of time. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to use, but they can be expensive especially if you opt for top-of-the-line models from big brands. This is particularly applicable to the coffee pods which can be very expensive.

The purchase of a capsule coffee machine is still considerably cheaper than purchasing the bean-to-cup or filter model however. This is due to the upfront price of a capsule machine will be less and you'll save money in the end because you won't need to purchase filters or ground coffee. However, the initial expense could be a hurdle for many people, so consider the amount you're able to invest in the machine and then consider the cost of coffee pods that will fit it.

If you're looking for a capsule coffee maker that is affordable take a look at the Lavazza Vertuo Pop. This sleek, compact machine utilizes the brand's compostable EcoCaps to give you a premium cup of espresso. Its unique brewing system lets it produce a thick crema, despite only making black coffee. This is a huge improvement on the thin foam that typically is found in espresso drinks made with other pod machines.

The machine is easy to operate using the four buttons on the panel and has a compact footprint that won't take up the counter space. It also offers hot drinks and steam wands for milky drinks, which are rare for capsule machines. However, the jug that it serves coffee in doesn't hold as much as the glass carafes that are found on less expensive rivals.

The independently-made Morning Machine is a more sophisticated pod coffee machine that comes with a variety of additional options that sets it apart from the competition. The Bloom & Brew option pre-wets ground coffee to produce an even stronger, more rich cup. It also has adjustable settings for temperature, bar pressure, and the amount of coffee extracted. You can get more from the capsules than simple lungos, espressos, and ristrettos and even recreate drinks with drips and filters. It can also be linked to your smartphone for recipes and for monitoring energy consumption.