The 10 Scariest Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it preheats and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with the majority able to make coffee in only 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are typically more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that you can find, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This makes it simple to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chance of a drink coming out badly wrong. It's also among the slimmest and lightest on the market and does not require an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to minimize your environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also have to put with a new cartridge once this runs out and could be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with 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 reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once that is done, it will be able to brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a big selling point and the best models are a breeze to use. Most machines use the same basic mechanism to brew the cup of coffee you want that is, heated water is placed in reservoirs, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot java. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to make the process more efficient.
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 designed to be used only once before being discarded, while others are designed for multiple uses. You'll need a plan to dispose of your old pods to prevent them ending up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule coffee machine uk once the previous one has cooled. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks and comes with eight different blends for the variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who want to make the switch from drip coffee capsule machine.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the hidden compartment that holds empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is perfect for hard-water areas.
This machine is able to make an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are simple to operate, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening for dropping in your coffee maker. It requires a little effort to close, but our test subjects, even those who have limited mobility and hand strength, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machine coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands. You simply put in a pod, hit an icon and brew. It is still necessary to clean your machine occasionally but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of sight when not being used.
The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities are all important to find the ideal coffee pod machine.
The majority of people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few newer rivals that are worth a look. One is Bruvi, which uses a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This method takes all the guesswork out the process of making a cup, and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can even save customized drinks to a separate button to allow you to create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and excellent customer service synonymous with the brand and is a great choice for those who need something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that can also brew longer shots, known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this and blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are put into an internal bin with the click of a button.
4. Customization
One reason a pod coffee maker may not be the right choice for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only ways to add extra flavor or creaminess are to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option, and then add milk manually to your coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem, but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule machine coffee. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee to the particular kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does its job well, but it doesn't have any options for customizing drinks or varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives exactly what they need.
This coffee maker is very low maintenance. It only requires you to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As previously mentioned, used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is the lack of an indicator that lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also need to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and functional appliance that will serve them well for a reasonable cost. If you're looking for some variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.