The Best Pod Coffee Machines
With pod coffee makers, you just place a sealed capsule with ground or roasted beans into the machine. The coffee is poured through the machine for a set amount of time.
Certain pod coffee machines come with multiple cup sizes and the ability to froth milk. The ideal pod maker for you will depend on your lifestyle and your personal preferences.
1. Keurig K-Select
This machine is a great option if you're looking for a Keurig coffee maker that doesn't come with all the bells and whistles and features of more expensive models. It's simple to use, has a great design, and can be easily tucked into an area of the kitchen when it's not being used.
One downside to this machine is that it may be loud, but it isn't an issue. It's also small and will fit on small counters. If you prefer a Keurig with a wider range of sizes, or a carafe to drip-brew your coffee, you might think about other options.
Keurig K-Select is a single-serve coffee maker that combines a sleek style with more user-friendly features. This allows you to brew the perfect cup of coffee every time. Select from a wide selection of K-Cups, or brew your coffee using a universal My-K-Cup filter (sold separately). The Strong Brew feature kicks up the intensity and strength of your coffee, making it the best choice for those who love a strong cup.
This brewer is simple to use, with simple buttons. Simply add a K-Cup pod, choose the size of brew you want and press brew. In less than a minute, you'll be enjoying a cup of fresh coffee. The large 52-ounce reservoir allows you to brew up to five cups between refills, making it easier to manage your morning routine.
The Keurig is simple to clean, thanks to a removable water reservoir and lid that can be easily hand washed. To ensure your Keurig is operating at its best, you must always remove the scale prior to cleaning. Follow the steps in the user guide. The warranty covers the brewer as well as the original accessories, with the exception of for normal wear and tear, damages due to abuse or misuse and external causes of failure, such as power outages.
2. Tassimo My Way
This is the ideal choice for coffee lovers looking for a machine that does more than just make your typical cup. It's designed to create a diverse range of drinks, including hot chocolate and tea. It comes with a huge 1.3 litre water tank that can make multiple cups at the same time. The machine can be warmed up in three minutes, and includes a milk container that allows you to make latte and cappuccino. It also has touchscreen that lets you adjust the intensity, temperature and volume of your drink.
Tassimo My Way uses T Discs that are a set of ingredients can be used to create your drink. There are more than 70 different varieties to choose from, including brands such as Kenco and Costa to Costa, Milka and Cadbury's. The machine also offers a selection of T Discs for tea and hot chocolate as well.
The coffee that was produced by this machine was of good quality, but slightly less than other machines we reviewed. It also heated the milk for the caffe latte in a short time and gave a smooth mouthfeel without being overly thick. It is important to note that the milk's frothy texture has sugar in it that, while not a major issue however, might not be for everyone's taste.
The Tassimo My Way is easy to keep clean, with the drip tray, the removable components of the brewing unit and the water tank all being dishwasher-safe. A Brita filter is included, as well as a cleaning disk. A handy indicator light will tell you when it's time to descale, and water tanks will help keep limescale at a minimum. The machine is Energy Star rated, which reduces the power consumption of up to 15%.
3. Lavazza Lungo Pod Machine
The Nespresso-compatible pod espresso machine from Lavazza created in collaboration with Sage, is one of the most attractive machines available. It is constructed of sturdy and attractive materials. It has a neat steam wand that can be adjusted to make cappuccinos and lattes, and a stainless-steel milk jug. The machine can brew espresso lungos, double espressos, mugs, gran lungos and altos with a thick layer foam.
Like most pod machines, you load a pod via a hatch at the top of the machine, and then drop it into place. The machine pierces the capsule before closing it so that when you lift the lever, the used pod falls into a dedicated empty pod tray underneath the drip tray.
The machine isn't the fastest machine to brew espresso, it takes 30 seconds for one shot and 90 seconds for the lungo. However, the results are always impressive with a smooth, rich flavor and a great crema. The machine also alerts you when the water tank or pod bin is in need of refilling.
This machine is a huge selling item because it can be used with any Lavazza pod. There are seven pods in total that include ground espresso (Qualita Rossa) and decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso), and two organic coffees. Bio). It's expensive, but with the subscription deal that bundles the pod coffee machine with the delivery of pods that can come for a comparable price to a regular bean-to-cup machine. The slim design of this machine makes it possible to fit in even the smallest kitchens. The pods are also recyclable, so you can put them in your local food bins or garden compost.
4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine
Nespresso machines are some of the best pod coffee makers for those who want an efficient, reliable, and consistent coffee. They heat up fast and are simple to use. Just insert a capsule and press a button and you're good to go. They produce an extremely creamy, rich crema that can be added to drinks for greater flavor and thickness. They're not cheap, however they are expensive, and you need to purchase their official pods.
The Vertuo line is based on different technology than OriginalLine machines that use espresso capsules (and remain in operation). The Vertuo line reads the barcode of each capsule and adjusts the brewing parameters to produce an ideal cup. And they feature a centrifusion mechanism that spins the capsule in order to extract the best flavors and the thickest crema.
That said, the machines aren't as intuitive as some of our other choices. For instance the lid opens only when the machine is in its final stages, and it takes 30 minutes to heat up enough to be able to fit into a capsule. They don't include a milk frother like some of the other pod coffee makers on this list, meaning you'll have to shell out an additional PS90 or so to buy a separate Aeroccino for those who want to make lattes or cappuccinos.
They also require more frequent maintenance than other models - refilling the water tank, emptying the pod containers, and descaling. However, they have an application that reminds you of these tasks and provides tools such as coffee pods coffee machine store locators and capsule recycling. If you connect your device with an IntelliPort you can control it using voice commands. This is ideal for those who make coffee at 4am in the dark or are limited in power.
5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine
This sleek pod coffee maker is the lovechild of a beloved Italian brand and a renowned kitchen appliance company. It has all of the retro, sleek curves that SMEG is known for, along with the ability to make lungo and espresso drinks effortlessly. It also comes with an adjustable shot setting that can be programmed and dual-height drip tray, and a pod bin that can be removed.
This coffee maker makes it simple to whip up a quick cup of single-shot or double-shot espresso in the morning, or for a lungo during breaks at work. Its easy-to-use control panel looks elegant and doesn't take away from the functionality. It comes with three different baskets for different types of capsules. You can use loose-ground beans (although a separate grinder is required).
The SMEG Barista Pod Machine does not include a milk pitcher. It does however have a Pannarello built-in milk frother which can froth cow and soymilk well. It also comes with a 51mm portafilter which is smaller than the typical commercial filter. It's also pressurized, which is nice because it will not give you the old, unfinished grind taste. It also includes a plastic tamper which doubles as scoop.
The SMEG is one of the most expensive pod machines we've reviewed, but it's definitely worth it if you're a lover of the retro style or like the ability to whip up espresso-based drinks. It's also a great option when you're just beginning to learn about the world of making coffee and don't want to deal with the hassles of measuring, grinding and the process of tamping your own beans.