20 Things You Should Know About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The sleekest pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model has the trademark Sage quality and is easy to use. After switching on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messy aspects of coffee making out of your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with most can make coffee in just 30 seconds or less. However, they come with some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they are not recycled. (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no chance of getting a bad drink. It's also among the slimmest and lightest on the market that doesn't require a separate milk jug and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to do it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a fresh one. This can be costly for some 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, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once that occurs, it can make one cup in just 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major draw and the best models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated in an internal reservoir, then pressured through your chosen capsules and extracted to form rich, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings on a number of models to streamline the process further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest brands on the market, however each offers a wide selection of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used once and get thrown away, whereas others are intended to be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.
The SMEG we tested has a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can make espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends for various options. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to make the switch from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design makes it an eye-catching addition to your countertop and opens with a light touch to reveal a concealed compartment for empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is ideal for hard-water areas.
The machine can brew a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are easy to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into the pod. It requires some force to close, but most of our testers who have limitations in hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the mess from coffee making. You just load a pod in, press a button and let it make coffee. You will still need to clean the machine from time 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 which means they can be placed on the countertop and be kept out of view when not in use.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but some have more options for customization than others. The variety of pods, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for you.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are more recent competitors that are worth taking a look at. Bruvi uses a bespoke 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 the brewing settings.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a separate button to allow you to create them at the push of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than others, letting you choose the right size and temperature for each beverage. coffee machines capsules 's more expensive than other models, however it has the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those who want a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Certain models are larger and can create lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example, combines retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you get used to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be prepared in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One big reason why a pod coffee maker may not be right for you is its limited flexibility to customize. If you don't buy an auxiliary milk frother, the only methods to add extra flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and add milk manually to your coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but it could be an issue for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule. 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 making drinks that are customized or varying the strength of brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but others will find the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're searching for.
This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As previously mentioned, used pods are then ejected from a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It is also great in delivering full-bodied coffees that have crema-topped tops.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons and can be used with ground coffee as well as ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of an indicator that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You'll also have to purchase the brand's own capsules, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for a convenient and attractive appliance that will serve well at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a variety of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.