10 No-Fuss Methods To Figuring The Best Coffee Pod Machine You're Looking For

The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most sleek pod machine we've ever seen, this brushed-steel model has the trademark Sage quality and is easy to use. When it is turned on, it warms up and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.

In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messy aspects of coffee-making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Speedy

Pod machines are generally easier to setup and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making coffee in only 30 seconds or so. But they do come at a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they are not recycled. (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning them).

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is virtually no chance of having a bad drink. It's also among the tiniest and lightest on the market, with no need for a separate milk jug and the smallest footprint, making it easy 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. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function and you'll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge once this runs out and can be expensive for some 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, which are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in about 35 minutes.

If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a variety of different drink sizes and styles then you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of using pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The most effective models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same mechanism to brew the perfect cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in a reservoir, then moved through capsules to make rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used once before they are discarded, while others can be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.

The sleek SMEG model we tested has an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule once the previous one has cooled. It brews coffee and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to make the switch from drip coffee.

In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that houses your empty pods. The machine comes with an integrated water filter which is perfect for areas that have hard water.

The machine can brew a standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. The controls are simple to use, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place in the pod. It requires a bit of force to close, but most of our testers, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod makers take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply need to load a pod, hit a button and brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger, so they can fit on the counter and be kept out of sight when not in use.

If a coffee pod machine is the right option for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. Consider the coffee pod variety, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the best machine.

The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors worth taking a look at. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods, called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.

This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button to allow you to make them with the press of a single button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than others machines, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each drink. It's a bit more expensive than many other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel design and top-quality customer service that's synonymous with the brand and is a great choice for those who want something more from their pod-based coffee maker.

While the majority of people are using pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages, there are some larger models that can brew longer shots, known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this, and it combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly enjoyable to use the lungo is made in less than 30 seconds and the pods that are used are placed in an internal bin at the touch of the button.

4. Customization

One big reason why the pod coffee maker might not be the best choice for you is its lack of customizability. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, then the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to the coffee. For many people this won't be a problem coffee capsule machine but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses, then dispensing the right amount of coffee to the particular type of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of the brew. This might be frustrating for some customers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide precisely what they require.

This coffee maker is very low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as previously mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a hidden receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.

It's a gorgeous machine and is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's user-friendly with an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only downside is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is an issue. You'll also need to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for those who want an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.