The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've ever seen, this brushed-steel model has the trademark Sage quality and is easy to use. It preheats after switch-on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee-making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally easier to setup and use than espresso machines, with many able to make a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or less. But they do come at some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they are not recycled. (though some companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available on the market due to its built-in barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod coffee machines prior to brewing it. This makes it simple to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with next-to-no chance of the drink turning out badly wrong. This machine is among the tiniest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its small footprint makes it easy to fit into the smallest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to minimize 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 you live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water areas. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once this is done, it will be able to brew the cup in about 35 seconds.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand, a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use is a major draw, and the best models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same general mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated inside a reservoir, then pumped through your chosen capsules and extracted to create rich hot java. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major brands on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being discarded, while others are designed for multiple uses. In either case, you'll have to plan out how you'll handle the pods you've used up so that they don't end up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically releases an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is a great choice for coffee drinkers who want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that houses your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is great for hard-water areas.
This machine is quick and brews regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to operate, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily retracted and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place in your pod coffee machines. It takes a bit of effort to close, but our testers, including those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands. You simply need to load one of the pods, press a button and make coffee. You will still need 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 counterparts that are larger which means they can be placed on the countertop and be stored out of sight when not being used.
The right coffee pod capsule coffee machine machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others offer more customization options. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing features should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine for your needs.
Many people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent rivals which are worth looking into. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode, which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a dedicated button, allowing you to create them at the push of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than the majority machines, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's a little more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and top-quality customer service that's associated with the brand. It is a solid choice for those who want something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some larger models can also create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, however once you've become accustomed to it, it is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be made in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The lack of customisation is a major reason it might not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk into your the coffee. This won't be an issue for a lot of people, but it could be an issue for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a user-friendly, hands-off machine which does an excellent job, but isn't able to customize drinks or varying brew strength. Some customers might be disappointed by this, however others will find the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are seeking.
In addition to filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as we mentioned, used pods are ejected into a concealed container that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a beautiful-looking machine that is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's simple to use with a simple panel of buttons and can accommodate both ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of a display that lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. You also need to buy the brand's capsules, which can be pricey. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and convenient appliance that will serve them well for an affordable price. This model can be used with a variety of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.