Best Coffee Pod Machine Explained In Less Than 140 Characters
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've ever seen, this model with brushed-steel features the trademark Sage quality and is easy to use. best coffee pod machine Coffeee heats up immediately after switching on and makes an espresso with aroma or a little longer lungo in 30 seconds.
Pod models are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the clumsiest parts of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are typically 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 on the market due to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This makes it easy to get consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. It's also one of the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require a separate milk jug and its small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to minimize the environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to do it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also need to swap with a new cartridge when it runs out and could be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. The only downside is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated, it can brew one 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 sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage, is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are a breeze to operate. The majority of machines utilize the same basic mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pumped through the capsules you choose and extracted to produce rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings for a variety of models to simplify the process even further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players in the market, however each has a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used only once before being discarded, while others are intended for multiple uses. Either way, you'll need to think about the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It can make espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee lovers who want to switch to drip coffee.
In our testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is an eye-catching addition to your countertop and it opens with a light tap to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. It has a water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are easy to use, with airplane-style toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into your coffee maker. It takes a bit of effort to close, but our testers, even those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands. You simply need to load a pod, hit an icon and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean your machine occasionally however not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right option for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few more recent competitors that are worth taking a look at. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods have a barcode on the underside that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This approach means the machine takes all the guesswork out of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button to allow you to make them by pressing one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee and allows you to select a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.
Some larger models can also brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example, combines retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It can be a little intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the used pods are put into an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
One reason the pod coffee maker might not be the best choice for you is its lack of customizability. If you don't purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only ways to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and to add milk to your coffee manually. For most people, this won't be a problem however it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the right amount of coffee to the particular kind of pod. It's an easy-to-use hands-off device that does an excellent job, but isn't able to customize drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it provides precisely what they require.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected into a container hidden from view that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also excels in delivering full-bodied coffees that have tops that are topped with crema.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee as well as ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of an indicator that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that can be used at a low cost. If you're looking for some variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is offered for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.