The 10 Most Scariest Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance comes with Sage distinctive quality and ease of operation. After turning on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making out of your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with most can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that you can find due to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This makes it easy to make consistent, high-quality coffee machine with capsules every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out badly wrong. It's also among the tiniest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug, and the smallest footprint, making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't 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 in a new filter cartridge when it runs out and can be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds packed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated it will brew a cup in about 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The best models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic mechanism to brew a cup of coffee: water is heated inside reservoirs, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to make the process more efficient.
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 popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used once and discarded, while others are designed for multiple uses. In either case, you'll have to plan ahead for how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to switch to drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that houses empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is great for hard-water areas.
The machine can brew an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its intuitive controls are easy to navigate, thanks to switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening where you drop in the pod. It requires some effort to close, but the majority of our test subjects, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, 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 prepare to brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. Consider the coffee pod variety sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors worth looking at. One of them is Bruvi, which uses its own pod system, called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that the machine scans to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This means that the machine removes all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and ensures each drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks in a single button so that you can create them with a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than most, letting you choose the exact size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is a hallmark of Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those who want a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will be using the pod-based machine to create single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that can also make longer shots, referred to 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 a bit difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly enjoyable to use the lungo is made in less than 30 seconds and the pods that are used are put into an internal bin with the click of a button.
4. Customization
One reason a pod coffee maker may not be the right choice for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother then the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to use hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your the coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem however it could be a sticking point for those who prefer an automated 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 that is appropriate for the type of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does its job very well but lacks any options for making drinks that are customized or varying the strength of the brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will appreciate the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they're seeking.
This coffee maker is low maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It can dispense short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
It's a gorgeous machine that is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it lacks an indicator to let you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is a minor issue. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that will serve well at a low cost. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.