The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of use. After switching on, it preheats and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the clumsiest components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally easier to set up and use than espresso machines, with most able to make coffee in only 30 seconds or less. However, they come with an expense as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available on the market due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad drink. It is also among the tiniest and lightest on the market that doesn't require an additional milk jug or the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those who want to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling feature, and you'll have to do it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll have to replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its employees. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it will brew a cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're after a sleek, stylish 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 also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The best pod coffee machine models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same process to brew the perfect cup of coffee: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save custom 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 leading brands on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used just once before being thrown away however, others can be used a number of times. You'll need a strategy for your old pods to prevent them from ending up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses a new capsule coffee machine uk after the previous one cools down. It brews espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to provide plenty of options. This brewer is a great choice for coffee drinkers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it can be opened with a single touch to reveal the hidden compartment that holds empty pods. The machine comes with a water filter system that is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is quick and can make regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to operate, using airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening for dropping into your coffee maker. It requires a little force to close, but our testers, even those with weak hand and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands. You simply need to load a pod, hit a button and make coffee. You'll still have to clean the machine from time to time but not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their counterparts that are larger and can be tucked away on the countertop and be stored away from view when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some offer more customization options. The variety of pods, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors 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 scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
The machine will take all the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a specific button to allow you to create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your coffee than others, letting you choose the exact size and temperature for each cup. It's a little more expensive than many other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel design and the excellent customer service that is which is synonymous with the brand. It is a good option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some larger models can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and extremely enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are put into an internal bin with the click of a button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it might not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but could be a problem for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule coffee machines. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the correct amount of coffee for the particular kind of pod. It's an easy-to-use hands-off device that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives exactly what they need.
The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir every so often. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as we mentioned, used pods are ejected into a concealed container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also excels in delivering full-bodied coffees that have a crema-topped top.
This is a stunning machine and part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons, and it can handle ground coffee and ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of an indicator that will let you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. However, this is a good pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and functional appliance that will serve them well for an affordable price. For those who want a little more variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is offered for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.
