17 Signs You’re Working With Best Coffee Pod Machine

The best coffee machines with pods Coffee Pod Machine

The most sleek pod machine we’ve seen this brushed-steel model has the signature Sage quality and user-friendly. After turning on, it heats up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.

Pod models are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the clumsiest parts of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Speedy

Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in 30 seconds. But they come at some cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans and many are also not recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels to return the pods).

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod’s code prior to making coffee. This makes it simple to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, and there is virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market that doesn’t require a separate milk jug and its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.

However, the CitiZ isn’t the best machine for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn’t come with an automatic descaling function and you’ll need to clean it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. When the filter cartridge wears out, you’ll need to replace it with a fresh one. This can be costly for certain users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once that is done, it will be able to brew the cup in about 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage it is not only simple and quick to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel Jug.

2. Removable parts

The ease of using pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The best coffee pod machine models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same basic process to brew the cup of coffee you want: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot, hot java. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to make the process more efficient.

Keurig’s K-Cups and Nestle’s Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players in the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used just once before being thrown away, while others can be used several times. Either way, you’ll need to think about how you’ll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they aren’t thrown away in the trash.

The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with an ejectable water tank that’s easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour new capsules once the previous one has cooled. It can brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to give you plenty of variety. This brewer is a great choice for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.

In our testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter and opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that stores empty pods. The machine has an integrated water filter that is ideal for areas with hard water.

This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. Its intuitive controls are a joy to navigate using the switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space that allows you to insert your coffee maker. It takes a bit of effort to close, but our testers, including those who have limited mobility and hand strength, found it comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands. You simply put in the pod, press a button and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean your machine occasionally but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts which means they can be placed on the counter and be kept out of sight when not in use.

The ideal coffee maker for you will depend on your preferences and the goals you’d like to achieve. All 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 features should all be considered to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for your needs.

The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors worth taking a look at. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. These pods have a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to automatically adjust brewing settings.

The machine will take all the guesswork out of it and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a separate button so you can make them with the press of a single button.

Other machines, like Sage’s My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than others, letting you choose a specific size and temperature for each drink. It’s more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with the Sage’s My Way brand. This is a great option for those who want something more from their pod-based espresso maker.

While most people are using a pod-based machine to make single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that can also create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a excellent example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It’s intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it’s easy and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the pods that are used are placed in an internal bin at the push of a button.

4. Customization

A pod coffee maker‘s limited customisation is a major reason it may not be the right choice for you. Unless you purchase an additional milk frother, the only options to add flavor or creaminess are to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option, and then add milk to your coffee manually. For most people, this won’t be a problem however it could be a problem for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.

Bosch’s Intellibrew utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses, then dispensing the right amount of coffee for the particular type of pod. It’s a user-friendly hands-off device that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but others will appreciate the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they’re searching for.

The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate it every time. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with crema-topped tops.

This is a stunning machine that is part of the Smeg fifties range. It’s easy to use via a simple panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only downside is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it’s time for descale. Also, the maximum water level can’t be set which is an issue. You also need to buy the capsules made by the company which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for anyone looking for a convenient and attractive appliance that will serve well at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a range of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.