The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most sleek pod machine we've seen this model with brushed-steel features the trademark Sage quality and is easy to use. After turning on, it preheats and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.

The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy parts of coffee making off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a majority of them aren't recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available on the market due to its built-in barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is almost no chance of having a bad drink. It's also one of the slimmest and lightest available and does not require an additional milk jug, and a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.

The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function, and you'll have to clean it yourself every 300 cups if you live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge once this runs out and can 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, tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in just 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of use of a pod coffee maker is a major benefit. The most effective models are easy to operate. The majority of machines employ the same basic method to make the perfect cup of coffee: water is heated inside reservoirs, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save your own settings on a number of models to speed up the process even more.

Keurig K-Cups are among the top player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules from famous roasters. Some pods are made to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are meant to be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to think about how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they don't end up in landfill.

The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a water tank that is removable and 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 provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to make the switch 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 an attractive addition to your countertop and opens with a simple touch to reveal a concealed compartment to store your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is great for hard-water areas.

This machine brews the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is extremely fast. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to use with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the area that allows you to insert the pod. It requires some pressure to close, however the majority of our testers even those with weak hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands. You simply load in one of the pods, press a button and prepare to brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.

If a coffee pod machine is the right option for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others provide more options for customization. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to find the ideal coffee pod machine.

The majority of people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few more recent competitors on the scene that are worth a look. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.

The machine will eliminate all the guesswork out of it and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button to allow you to create them at the touch of a button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee that allows you to select a specific temperature and size for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good choice for those looking for something more from their pod-based espresso maker.

While the majority of people are using the pod-based machine to create single-serve beverages There are some larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a perfect example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It can be a little intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's easy and extremely enjoyable to use the lungo is made in less than 30 seconds and the used pods are deposited into an internal bin at the touch of a button.

4. Customization

A pod coffee maker's limited flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother then the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your coffee. This won't be an issue for many people, but could be an issue for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee required for that type 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 for varying the strength of the brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and here mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are looking for.

This coffee maker is very low maintenance. It only requires you to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every so often. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected in a container hidden from view that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does a great job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It is easy to use with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level can't be set which is a minor issue. You'll also need to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve them well for a reasonable price. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.