The 10 Scariest Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance provides the Sage brand's distinctive quality and user-friendly. After turning on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod 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. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee machines with capsules beans, and a majority are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available on the market due to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad beverage. The machine is among the slimmest and lightest available. It doesn't require an additional milk container, and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into even the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to reduce the environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge after this expires, which could be costly 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 with grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once this happens it can brew one cup in just 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use is a big selling point and the best models are simple to operate. Most machines utilize the same method to make the cup of coffee you want: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot java. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules by famous roasters. Some pods are made to be used just once and then be thrown away, while others are intended to be used for a variety of purposes. In either case, you'll have to plan out how you'll handle your spent pods so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested has a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and has eight different blends to offer various options. This brewer is a great choice for coffee lovers who are looking to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests of 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 houses empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is great for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) as well as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. The controls are simple to operate, using switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily retracted and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening for dropping in your coffee maker. It requires a bit of pressure to close, however the majority of our testers, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod pod-making machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply need to load one of the pods, press an icon and brew. You'll still need to clean your machine from time to time however not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of sight when not being used.
The right coffee pod making machines machine for you will be determined by your preferences and what you wish 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 are all important to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for you.
Most people will think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig however there are a few newer rivals which are worth looking into. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods have an underside barcode that the machine scans to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This method eliminates all the guesswork of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, like 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 drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the brand. This is a good option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some models with larger capacities can also brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles however once you've become accustomed to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The lack of flexibility is one of the main reasons it's not the right choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee to the particular type of pod and capsule coffee machines. It's a user-friendly and hands-off machine that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or varying brew strength. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides exactly what they need.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as we mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
It's a gorgeous machine and part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with an easy-to-use panel of buttons, and it can handle both ground coffee and ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of a gauge that will let you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum level of water. You also need to buy the brand's own capsules, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for those who want an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve well at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.