5 Laws Anybody Working In Best Coffee Pod Machine Should Be Aware Of

The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and user-friendly. It warms up after switching on, and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in about 30 seconds.

Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee-making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in just 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a majority are not recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market, thanks to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This allows you to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. The machine is also one of the slimmest and lightest on the market that doesn't require a separate milk jug and its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.

However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those who want to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and every 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll have to replace it with a fresh one. This could 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 ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it will brew a cup in just 35 minutes.

If you're after a sleek, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple 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 top models are easy to operate. The majority of machines utilize the same process to make your coffee the water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pumped through the capsules you choose and extracted to form rich hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different needs, and you can save custom settings for a variety of models to streamline the process further.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players on the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then discarded, while others are designed for multiple uses. You'll need a strategy for your used pods to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.

The sleek SMEG model we tested features a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to give you various options. 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 stunning on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the compartment that stores empty pods. The machine has a water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.

The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are easy to operate, with the style of airplane toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening for dropping in your coffee maker. It requires a little effort to close, but our testers, including those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. You just put a pod in the machine, push a button and let it make coffee. It is pod and capsule coffee machines still necessary to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not being used.

The right coffee pod machine for you will be determined by your preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but some have more options for customization than others. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to help find the perfect coffee pod machine.

The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some 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 marked with a barcode, which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.

This approach means the machine takes all the guesswork out the process of making a cup, and makes sure that each drink is made perfectly every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a specific button, allowing you to create them at the push of a button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the right temperature and size for each beverage. It's more expensive than many other models but it offers the polished stainless steel design and top-quality customer service that's 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 larger models can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this and blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles, however once you've become accustomed to it, the machine is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be prepared in 30 minutes.

4. Customization

The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the best choice for you. Unless you purchase an additional milk frother, the only ways to add 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 won't be an issue for many people, but could be a problem for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee for the particular kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that performs its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customised drinks or altering the strength of the brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives precisely what they require.

This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir every so often. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as previously mentioned the pods that are used are ejected to a hidden receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's simple to use with an easy-to-use panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only downside is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set which is a minor issue. You also need to buy the brand's own capsules, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for anyone who wants a convenient and attractive appliance that will serve well at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a variety of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.