The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model has the trademark Sage quality and ease of use. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 minutes.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the clumsiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with many able to make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds or less. But they come at some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines on the market due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This allows you to get consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, and there is virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is one of the tiniest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into even the tiniest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function and you'll need to clean it yourself every 300 cups if you live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge after this expires, which could be costly for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods, which 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 the environment and workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it, it can make one cup in just 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This glossy beauty, made 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 an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The top models are simple to use. Most machines rely on the same basic process to make your coffee by heating water in an internal reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to produce rich hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various 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 players in the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used only once before being thrown away however, others can be used several times. You'll need a plan to dispose of the pods you've used to avoid them ending up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can brew lungo and espresso 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 testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it can be opened with a single touch to reveal the hidden compartment that holds empty pods. It has a water filter system that is ideal coffee machine with capsules for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and brews standard coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are easy to use with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop your pod. It requires a little force to close but our test subjects, even those who have weak hand and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply load in a pod, hit the button, and then prepare to brew. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time but not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts which means they can be placed on the counter and be stored out of view when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the right option for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to get out of it. All pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the right machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth a look. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used by its machines. The pods are marked by a barcode which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This method takes all the guesswork out of brewing a cup and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks to a button to allow you to make them by pressing only one 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 ideal size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel design and the excellent customer service that is associated with the brand. It is a solid choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this and blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles however once you've become accustomed to it, the machine is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be prepared in 30 minutes.
4. Customization
The lack of customisation is a major reason it's not the best option for you. If you don't purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only ways to add extra flavor or creaminess are to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and add milk to your cup manually. This won't be an issue for many people, but could be a problem for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the correct amount of coffee to the particular kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does the job well, but it doesn't have any options for customised drinks or varying the strength of the brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned the used pods are ejected into a hidden container that keeps your kitchen clean. It is also excellent in delivering full-bodied coffees that have crema-topped tops.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of a display that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also need to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. But, it's a good pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and practical appliance that can 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.