The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've ever seen, this brushed-steel model offers the signature Sage quality and ease of use. After switching on, it heats up and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
Models for pods are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the clumsiest components of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted coffee machine for pods beans, and a lot of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available due to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This allows you to ensure consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. It is also among the slimmest and lightest available, with no need for a separate milk jug and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to clean it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a fresh one. This can be costly 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. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once this occurs, it can make a cup in around 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage it is not only simple and quick to operate but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The top models are simple to use. The majority of machines utilize the same basic process to make your coffee by heating water inside a reservoir, then pumped through the capsules you choose and extracted to produce rich, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to streamline the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest brands on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used just once and then discarded, while others are intended to be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to think about how you'll deal with the pods you've used up so that they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with a set of eight different blends to give you plenty of variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the compartment that holds empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is great for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly 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 force to close but our testers, even those with weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best capsule coffee machine coffee pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply put in one of the pods, press an icon and prepare to brew. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally, but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts and can be tucked away on the counter and be stored away from sight when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, however some offer more customisation options than others. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to find the ideal coffee pod machine.
The majority of people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are some newer rivals which are worth looking into. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This approach means the machine eliminates all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and ensures each drink is made perfectly every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a separate button, allowing you to create them at the push of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your cup of coffee than most, letting you choose a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's a bit more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel design and excellent customer service synonymous with the brand and is a solid choice for those who want a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a perfect example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee pods coffee machine brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in just 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One reason a pod coffee maker may not be right for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. If you don't buy an auxiliary milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option, and then add milk manually to your coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule coffee machine, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and disperse the right amount of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally This coffee maker does not require much maintenance. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs easily. As previously mentioned, used pods are then ejected from an unnoticed container which keeps your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It is easy to use with a simple control panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level can't be set, which is a minor inconvenience. You'll also need to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve well at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.