15 Gifts For The Best Coffee Pod Machine Lover In Your Life
The Best Coffee Pod MachineThis sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. It heats up immediately after switching on and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a little longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
Models for pods 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. Speedy
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in just 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a majority of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This ensures consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad beverage. This machine is among the tiniest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its small footprint makes it easy to fit into the smallest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those looking to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function and you'll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also have to put the filter cartridge after this expires and can be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered and compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once that occurs, it can make a cup in around 35 minutes.
If you're after a sleek, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use is a major selling point, and the best models are simple to use. Most machines rely on the same general method to make your cup by heating water inside a reservoir, then pressured through your chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit various needs. You can save your own settings on a number of models to simplify the process further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major brands on the market, but each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used once and get thrown away, whereas others are meant to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan to dispose of the pods you've used to avoid them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a water tank that is removable and easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour fresh capsules after the previous one has been chilled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to give you various options. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that holds empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is ideal for hard-water areas.
This machine is quick and can make standard 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 opening for dropping into your coffee maker. It takes a bit of force to close, but our testers, including those with weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands. You simply put in a pod, best pod coffee machine hit an icon and make coffee. You will still need to clean the machine from time to time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of sight when not being used.
The best coffee machine for you will depend on your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however certain models offer more customization options than others. The variety of pods, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to help find the perfect coffee pod machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee 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 known as B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode, which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This means that the machine removes all the guesswork of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button so that you can create them with one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your cup of coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select the exact size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit more expensive than many other models but it offers the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is which is synonymous with the brand. It is a great choice for those who want something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's easy and extremely enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the used pods are deposited into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited customisation is a major reason it's not the best option for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to the coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but it could be a problem for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes a barcode reader to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and give the correct amount of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customizing drinks or altering the strength of the brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, however others will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are searching for.
Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating it occasionally, this coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as previously mentioned, used pods are ejected to a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It is also great in delivering full-bodied coffees that have a crema-topped top.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style collection. It is easy to use with a simple panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set which is a minor inconvenience. It is also necessary to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants a convenient and attractive appliance that can be used at a low cost. For those who want more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.