The 10 Scariest Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The best coffee pod machine (use socialbaskets.com)
The most elegant pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the renowned Sage quality and ease of use. It warms up after switching on, and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in just 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available due to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This makes it simple to make consistent high-quality, high-end coffee machine for pods every time, and there is virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. It's also among the tiniest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug or the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water zones. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge after this expires and could be expensive for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the surroundings and its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to warm up. Once it's done, it can brew one cup in around 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine capable of handling a range of different sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage, is not only simple and quick to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are simple to operate. The majority of machines employ the same process to brew a cup of coffee: water is heated inside reservoirs, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings on a number of models to streamline the process even further.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules by famous roasters. Certain pods can be used once before being thrown away however, others can be used multiple times. In either case, you'll have to plan out the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they don't end up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispenses another capsule 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 ideal for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that houses empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is ideal for hard-water areas.
This machine brews the standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its user-friendly controls are easy to use using the airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the area which allows you to drop the pod. It requires a bit of effort to close, but most of our testers, including those with limited hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of making coffee machines with capsules out of your hands - you simply load in one of the pods, press the button, and then prepare to brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of view when not in use.
If a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you want to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to use, but others offer more customization options. Be aware of the different coffee pods, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the right machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors that may be worth taking a look at. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods, called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods coffee machines have a barcode on the underside that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a specific button, allowing you to make them with the press of a button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee and allows you to select the right temperature and size for each beverage. It's a bit more expensive than some models but it offers the polished stainless steel build and top-quality customer service that's associated with the brand. It is a good option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people are using a pod-based machine to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this and is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating initially due to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you get used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be prepared in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it's not the right choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but it could be a problem for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the correct amount of coffee to the particular kind of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, however others will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they are seeking.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally This coffee maker does not require a lot of maintenance. It can make short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected in a container hidden from view that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style collection. It's user-friendly with simple buttons, and it can handle ground coffee as well as ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of a display that lets you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set a maximum water level. You will also have to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for those who want an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that will serve well at a reasonable cost. If you're looking for a little more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model, and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.