Best Coffee Pod Machine: It's Not As Difficult As You Think
Best Coffee Pod Machine: It's Not As Difficult As You Think
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model offers the renowned Sage quality and is easy to use. After switching on, it warms up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
Pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest parts of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with many able to make a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or less. 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 built-in barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This allows you to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is also one of the slimmest and lightest on the market and does not require an additional milk jug, and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic 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 with a new cartridge once this runs out, which could be costly for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once that occurs, it can make the cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles, take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are simple to use. Most machines utilize the same process to brew the cup of coffee you want the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then moved through capsules to make rich, hot java. Most brands offer different drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players in the market, yet both offer a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then be thrown away, while others are designed for multiple uses. You'll need a plan for the pods you've used to avoid them from being thrown away.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses another 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 that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is a great choice for coffee lovers who are looking to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it an eye-catching addition to your countertop, and it opens with a simple tap to reveal a hidden compartment for 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 easy to use and can brew regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to operate, with the style of airplane toggles that can be easily retracted and a lever that retracts to reveal the hole to place into your pod. It takes a bit of effort to close, but our testers, even those who have limited mobility capsule coffee machine uk and hand strength, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines remove all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is load a pod in, press a button and let it brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time time however not as often as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. The variety of pods, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to find the ideal coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors that may be worth a look. One is Bruvi which makes use of a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. The pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust brewing settings.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork of brewing a cup and ensures each drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customized drinks to a dedicated button to allow you to create them at the touch of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee that allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great choice for those looking for an extra bit of quality from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some larger models can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's quick and extremely enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the used pods are placed in an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons pod coffee makers might not be the best choice for you is its limited customization. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your coffee. For many people this won't be a problem, but it could be a problem 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, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or altering the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides precisely what they require.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as previously mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied espressos with crema-topped tops.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is that it lacks an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level can't be set which is an issue. It is also necessary to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. However, this is a good pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and functional appliance that will serve them well for a reasonable cost. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.