The 10 Scariest Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model has the trademark Sage quality and ease of use. After switching on, it warms up and makes a scrumptious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 minutes.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee-making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with many capable of making a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or so. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee pods machines. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is virtually no possibility of getting a poor beverage. It is also among the tiniest and lightest on the market and does not require a separate milk jug and its small footprint making it easy to fit in even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need to replace it with a new. This could be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and packed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once that is done, it will be able to brew a cup in around 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a major selling point, and the best models are simple to operate. The majority of machines utilize the same basic mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated in an internal reservoir, and then pushed through the capsules you choose and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet various needs. You can save custom settings on many models to streamline the process even further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players in the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are intended to be used multiple times. Either way, you'll need to think about the way you'll dispose of the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has cooled. It brews lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends to give you plenty of 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 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your countertop and opens with a simple tap to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. The machine comes with an in-built water filter system that is perfect for areas that have hard water.
This machine is quick and can make regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to use, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily retracted and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening for dropping in the pod. It takes a bit of force to close but our testers, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands - you simply put in one of the pods, press the button, and then prepare to brew. You'll still have to clean your machine every now and then, but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts, so they can fit on the counter and be stored out of sight when not being used.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to use, but others offer more customization options. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to find the ideal coffee pod machine.
The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few newer rivals that could be worth considering. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This approach means the machine removes all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and guarantees that every drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button to allow you to make them by pressing only one button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the ideal size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is associated with the brand. It is a solid choice for those who need something more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While most people will be using the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that can also brew longer shots, known as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in just 30 seconds and the used pods are put into an internal bin at the push 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 alternative milk frother, then the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to your coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for many people, but could be an issue for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule coffee machine uk. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses, then dispensing the correct amount of coffee for the particular type of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but many will appreciate the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are looking for.
This coffee maker is low maintenance. It only requires you to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir every so often. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As previously mentioned, used pods are then ejected from a hidden container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does a great job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This is a beautiful-looking machine that is part of Smeg's fifties style range. It's simple to use with an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee as well as ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of an indicator that will let you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum water level. You also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. However, this is a good pod coffee machine for pods maker for anyone seeking a stylish and convenient appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.