The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The sleekest pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model has the trademark Sage quality and user-friendly. It heats up immediately after switching on and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a little longer lungo in about 30 seconds.

Models for pods are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Speedy

Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and a majority of them are not recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This makes it easy to make consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. It is also one of the slimmest and lightest available and does not require an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it easy to fit in even the tiniest of kitchens.

The CitiZ is not the best device to reduce the environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to clean 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 new one. This could be expensive for some users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee machine capsule or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once that occurs, it can make the cup in about 35 minutes.

If you're after an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. 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

A pod capsule coffee makers maker's user-friendliness is a major draw and the best models are a breeze to use. Most machines use the same basic process to brew a cup of coffee: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings on many models to simplify the process even further.

Keurig K-Cups are among the top players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules made by the most famous roasters. Some pods are made to be used once and discarded, while others are designed to be used for a variety of purposes. You'll need a plan to dispose of the pods you've used to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.

The sleek SMEG model we tested features an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule coffee machines once the previous one has been chilled. It brews coffee and lungo drinks and comes with a set of eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.

In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that houses empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is perfect for hard-water areas.

The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its user-friendly controls are a joy to navigate using the aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert the pod. It requires a little force to close but our test subjects, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pods coffee machine pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply load in a pod, hit the button, and then prepare to brew. You'll still have to clean your machine every now and then, but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts, so they can fit on the countertop and be stored out of view when not in use.

The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you want to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some offer more customization options. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and frothing options when choosing the right machine.

The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors that may be worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode, which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.

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

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than others models, allowing you to select the right size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great choice for those looking for a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.

While the majority of people are using pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you've gotten used to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be brewed in only 30 seconds.

4. Customization

One big reason why pod coffee makers might not be the right choice for you is the limited customizability. Unless you 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 to add milk to your coffee manually. This won't be an issue for a lot of people, but it could be an issue for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of a barcode scanner to scan each capsule coffee makers. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the right amount of coffee to the particular type of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does its job very well but lacks any options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives exactly what they need.

Aside from filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as we mentioned, used pods are ejected into a concealed container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It also does a fantastic job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.

This is a stunning machine that is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's easy to use via an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can accommodate both ground coffee and ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't come with an indicator to let you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is a minor inconvenience. You also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that will serve well at a low cost. This model can be used with a variety of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.