The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 seconds.

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

1. Rapid

Pod machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with most can make coffee in only 30 seconds or so. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many 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 before brewing. This makes it simple to get consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. This machine is among the slimmest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into even the smallest kitchens.

However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those looking to cut down on their environmental impact. The CitiZ does not 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. It is also necessary to put the filter cartridge after this expires, which could be costly for some users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered ground that are compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.

If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a range of different sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and a milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of use of a pod coffee pods coffee machine maker is a major advantage. The best pod coffee machine models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same general mechanism to brew your cup the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich, hot java. Most brands offer different drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to streamline the process.

Keurig K-Cups are among the largest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules by famous roasters. Certain pods can be used only once before being thrown away however, others can be used a number of times. You'll need a plan to dispose of your old pods to prevent them from ending up in the garbage.

The SMEG we tested has a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can make espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer will appeal to coffee drinkers who want to switch from drip coffee.

In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be 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. It has a water filter system that is perfect for areas that have hard water.

The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. The controls are easy to operate, with the style of airplane toggles that can be easily retracted and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop in your coffee maker. It does take a little force to close but our testers, including those who have limited mobility and hand strength felt comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of making coffee out of your hands - you simply need to load one of the pods, press an icon and make coffee. 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 counterparts and can be tucked away on the counter and be kept out of sight when not in use.

If a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you want to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some offer more customization options. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and options for frothing when selecting the best machine.

The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth taking a look at. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used with its machines. The pods are identified by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

This method takes all the guesswork out of making a cup and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a dedicated button so you can make them with the press of a button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your cup of coffee than the majority models, allowing you to select a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer service that is synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great choice for those looking for something more from their espresso maker that is based on pods.

While the majority of people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages, there are some larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are put into an internal bin at the push of a button.

4. Customization

The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it may not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother then the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to the coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes a barcode reader to scan each capsule coffee machine and automatically pre-wet, infuse and disperse the right amount of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or altering the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives exactly what they need.

Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally This coffee maker does not require a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs easily. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden container which 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 collection. It's user-friendly with a simple panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor issue. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that will serve well at a reasonable cost. For those who want more variety, a wide range of third-party capsules are available for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.