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The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel appliance comes with Sage distinctive quality and ease of use. After switching on, it heats up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.

In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the messiest aspects of coffee-making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Speedy

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. However, they come with an expense in that the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning them).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines on the market due to its built-in barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is virtually no chance of having a bad beverage. The machine is among the lightest and slimmest on the market. It does not require a separate milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into even the tiniest kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those looking to cut down on their environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need replace it with a fresh one. This 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, which are pre-dosed, tampered and compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. 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.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage, is not only quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel jug.

2. Removable parts

A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a major draw, and the best models are a breeze to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic method to make the perfect cup of coffee the water is heated inside reservoirs, then moved through capsules to make rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save custom settings on a number of models to speed up the process even further.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading brands on the market, yet both offer a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used just once before they are discarded however, others can be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for the pods you've used to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.

The SMEG we tested has a water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically releases a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who want to switch from drip coffee.

In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable 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. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is great for hard-water areas.

This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. The controls are simple to use, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily retracted and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening to drop into your coffee maker. It does take a little force to close but our testers, including those with limited mobility and hand strength, found it comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod makers remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands. You simply load in one of the pods, press an icon and make coffee. You'll still have to clean the machine from time time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts, so they can fit on the counter and be stored away from view when not in use.

If a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you want to get out of it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some have more options for customization than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the right machine.

The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few 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 the machine scans to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a specific button so you can create them at the touch of a single button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee that allows you to select the right temperature and size for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a good choice for those looking for a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.

While most people will use pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that are able to make longer shots, referred to as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and extremely enjoyable to use the lungo is made in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are deposited into an internal bin at the touch of a button.

4. Customization

One reason pod coffee makers might not be the right choice for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't buy an auxiliary milk frother, the only ways to add flavor or creaminess are to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and add milk to your coffee manually. For many people this won't be a problem but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the right amount of coffee for the specific kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that performs its job very well but lacks any options for customised drinks or for varying the strength of the brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, however others will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are searching for.

This coffee maker is low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the water tank, best coffee machines with pods and decaffeinate it every so often. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs easily. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied coffees with tops that are topped with crema.

This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's easy to use via a simple panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of a gauge that tells you when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for those who want an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve well at a reasonable price. If you're looking for more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules are available for this model and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.