The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most elegant pod machine we’ve ever seen, this brushed-steel model offers the renowned Sage quality and ease of use. After switching on, it heats up and makes a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.

Pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest aspects of making coffee machines with capsules off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Fast

Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in 30 minutes. But they come at a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and many are also not recyclable (though some companies are now offering recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning them).

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod’s code prior to brewing. This makes it easy to get consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. This machine is among the slimmest and lightest available. It doesn’t require a separate milk container and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into even the smallest kitchens.

The CitiZ is not the best device to reduce the environmental impact. The CitiZ isn’t equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You’ll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. You’ll also have to put in a new filter cartridge after this expires and can be expensive 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 ground that are compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it will brew a cup in around 35 seconds.

If you’re after 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 designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand an stainless steel jug and a milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of using pod coffee makers – over here – is a major benefit. The best models are simple to use. The majority of machines use the same general process to make your coffee: water is heated inside a reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet various needs. You can save your own settings on a number of models to speed up the process further.

Keurig’s K-Cups and Nestle’s Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players in the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Certain pods coffee machine can be used once before being thrown away however, others can be used multiple times. You’ll need a strategy for the pods you’ve used to avoid them from being thrown away.

The SMEG we tested comes with a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically releases a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and has eight different blends to give you the variety. This brewer is a great choice for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.

In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that holds your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is perfect for areas with hard water.

The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are easy to operate, using the style of airplane toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place in your pod. It requires a bit of pressure to close, however most of our testers even those with limited hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.

3. Size

The best pod coffee machine coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands – you simply need to load a pod, hit the button, and then make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time but not as often as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts which means they can be placed on the counter and be stored out of sight when not being used.

If a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you’re hoping to get out of it. All pod machines are easy to use, however some offer more customisation options than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the best machine.

Many people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few more recent competitors that could be worth considering. One of them is Bruvi which has its own pod system, known as B-Pods that can only be used with 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 can save your customised drinks in a single button to allow you to make them by pressing only one button.

Other machines, like Sage’s My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the right temperature and size for each drink. It’s more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is a hallmark of Sage’s My Way. This is a great option for those who want a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.

Some models with larger capacities can also brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It’s not easy at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you’ve gotten used to it, it is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be prepared in only 30 seconds.

4. Customization

One reason pod coffee makers might not be the best choice for you is the limited customizability. If you don’t purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only options to add flavor or creaminess are to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option, and then add milk to your cup manually. This won’t be an issue for many people, but it could be an issue for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.

Bosch’s Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and disperse the right amount of coffee required for that type of pod. It’s a user-friendly, hands-off machine which does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks or varying brew strength. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide exactly what they need.

This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir every once in a while. It can make short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected into a container hidden from view which keeps your kitchen clean. It is also great in delivering full-bodied coffees that have tops that are topped with crema.

This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style collection. It is easy to use with a simple control panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the lack of a gauge that lets you know when it’s time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum level of water. It is also necessary to purchase the brand’s own capsules which can be expensive. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a range of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.