The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most sleek pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the trademark Sage quality and ease of use. When it is turned on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.

The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Speedy

Pod machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with the majority able to make coffee in just 30 seconds or less. But they do come at some cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they're not always recyclable (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels to return them).

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This makes it easy to ensure consistent, high-quality coffee every time, and there is virtually no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is one of the lightest and slimmest available. It does not require a separate milk container and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into even the smallest kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those looking to minimize their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to clean it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge once this runs out and could be expensive for certain users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered and packed 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 that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once that happens it can brew the cup in about 35 minutes.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and milk frother.

2. Removable parts

A pod capsule coffee machine coffee maker's ease of use is a big selling point and the top models are easy to use. The majority of machines employ the same mechanism to brew a cup of coffee the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of drink sizes to suit different needs, and you can save your own settings on m machine occasionally however not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not being used.

The decision of whether a coffee 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 simple to use, but others provide more options for customization. Consider the coffee pod variety sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the right machine.

The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some more recent competitors that are worth looking at. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods have a barcode on the underside that machines scan to automatically adjust brewing settings.

This method eliminates all the guesswork of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a separate button, allowing you to make them with the press of a button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than most machines, allowing you to choose the exact size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.

Some models with larger capacities can also create lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this. It blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly satisfying to operate the lungo is made in less than 30 seconds and the used pods are placed in an internal bin with the click of a button.

4. Customization

One of the main reasons a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is its limited customization. Unless you 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 then add milk to your coffee manually. This won't be an issue for most people, but could be an issue for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee for the particular kind of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customizing drinks or varying the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives exactly what they need.

This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every time. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does a fantastic job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.

It's a gorgeous machine and part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's user-friendly with an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee pods coffee machine as well as ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't come with an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor issue. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that will serve well at a low cost. If you're looking for a little more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is available for this model and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.