The 10 Most Scariest Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of use. It preheats after switch-on, and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 minutes.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the most messy parts of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 minutes. However, they come with a cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod capsule coffee machine machines that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This makes it simple to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. It's also one of the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require a separate milk jug and its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to reduce your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling feature, and you'll have to clean it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a new one. This could be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and 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 workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does it, it can make one cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a variety of different drink sizes and styles then take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage, is not only quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are simple to use. Most machines use the same basic process to brew a cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in reservoirs, then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major brands on the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Certain pods can be used only once before being thrown away however, others can be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for your old pods to prevent them ending up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour fresh capsules after the previous one has been cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to switch to drip coffee to drip.
In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and opens with just a touch to reveal the compartment that houses your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is ideal for hard-water areas.
This machine brews the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are easy to use, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily retracted and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place into your pod. It requires a little force to close but our testers, including those who have weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands. You simply load in the pod, press an icon and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean your machine from time to time, but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, however some offer more customization options. The variety of pods, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine.
The majority of people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few newer competitors on the scene that are worth a look. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of a bespoke 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.
This method removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It is able to save your customized drinks in a single button, so that you can create them with one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee machines with pods and allows you to select the ideal size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a good option for those who want an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.
Certain models are larger and can create lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this. It blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly satisfying to operate - a lungo is brewed in less than 30 seconds and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
The lack of customisation is a major reason it's not the right choice for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule machine coffee, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does an excellent job, but isn't able to customize drinks or altering the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally, this coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As previously mentioned, used pods are then ejected from a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied espressos with a crema-topped top.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It is easy to use with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor inconvenience. It is also necessary to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for those looking for a beautiful and convenient appliance that will serve them well for an affordable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.