The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel appliance offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of use. It warms up after switching on, and makes an espresso with aroma or slightly longer lungo in 30 seconds.

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

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in 30 minutes. However, they come with some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods 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 prepaid UPS labels for returning the pods).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available due to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This makes it simple to ensure consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, and there is virtually no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. The machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It does not require an additional milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those who want to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge once this runs out, which could be costly for some users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does it, it can make one cup in about 35 minutes.

If you're after an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a variety 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 and Sage, is not just easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel Jug.

2. Removable parts

A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a big selling point and the best models are a breeze to use. Most machines rely on the same general mechanism to brew your cup the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pumped through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich hot java. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save custom settings on many models to simplify the process even further.

Keurig K-Cups are among the largest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules by popular roasters. Some pods are able to be used just once before being thrown away however, others can be used a number of times. You'll need a strategy for the pods you've used to avoid them ending up in landfill.

The SMEG we tested has a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses a new capsule coffee machines after the previous one cools down. It brews coffee and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to give you plenty of variety. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.

In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that houses empty pods. The machine has an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas that have hard water.

This machine is easy to use and brews regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to navigate with the help of airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space where you drop in the pod. It takes a bit of force to close, but most of our testers even those with limited hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines [Mysocialguides`s blog] take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply put in the pod, press the button, and then prepare to brew. You'll still have to clean your machine from time to time but not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their counterparts that are larger, so they can fit on the countertop and be kept out of view when not in use.

The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, however certain models offer more customization options than others. Different pod types, brew sizes options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for your needs.

Most people will associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are a few newer rivals which are worth looking into. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will take all the guesswork out of it and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a specific button, allowing you to create them at the push of a button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific temperature and size for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer service that is a hallmark of the Sage's My Way brand. This is a good option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.

While the majority of people will use the pod-based machine to create single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that are able to make longer shots, referred to as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this, and it is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are put into an internal bin at the touch of a button.

4. Customization

One of the main reasons a pod coffee maker may not be right for you is its limited customization. If you don't buy an additional milk frother, the only ways to add extra flavor or creaminess is to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and to add milk to your cup manually. This won't be an issue for a lot of people, but could be a problem for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and disperse the right amount of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that performs its job very well but lacks any options for customised drinks or varying the strength of the brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will appreciate the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are seeking.

The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected to a hidden receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a fantastic job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It is easy to use with a simple interface and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum water level. You also need to buy the capsules made by the company which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is a good pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.