The 10 Scariest Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've seen this model with brushed-steel features the trademark Sage quality and is easy to use. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
Pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest parts of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with most can make coffee in just 30 seconds or so. The pre-portioned pods coffee machines that are used in these machines are typically more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that is available due to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is almost no chance of having a bad drink. It's also among the tiniest and lightest on the market and does not require an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
However, the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those looking to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and 1200 cups for soft water. It is also necessary to put with a new 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 utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing 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 happens it can brew the cup in about 35 seconds.
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 quick and simple to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The best capsule coffee machine models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same basic mechanism to brew the perfect cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various 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 popular roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used only once before they are discarded and others can be used multiple times. You'll need a strategy for your used pods to avoid them from being thrown away.
The SMEG we tested has a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to give you various options. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who wish to make the switch from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is an eye-catching addition to your countertop and opens with a light touch to reveal a concealed compartment to store your empty pods. The machine has an in-built water filter system that is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is quick and brews regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are a joy to use with the help of airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the space where you drop in the pod. It does take a little force to close, but our test subjects, even those with weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands. You simply load in a pod, hit an icon and prepare to brew. 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 also smaller than their larger counterparts and can be tucked away on the countertop and be stored out of view when not being used.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to use, however some offer more customization options. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine for you.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth looking at. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods coffee machine called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a separate button to allow you to create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than others models, allowing you to select the right size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great choice for those looking for a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some larger models can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a perfect example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in only 30 seconds, and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
One big reason why the pod coffee maker might not be right for you is the limited customizability. If you don't have an alternative milk frother then the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to your the coffee. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee to the specific type of pod. It's a simple and hands-off machine that does an excellent job, but isn't able to customize drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but others will find the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're searching for.
This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as we mentioned the used pods are ejected into a concealed container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It also does a fantastic job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's easy to use via an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can accommodate both ground coffee and ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't come with an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level can't be set which is an issue. You'll also need to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. However, this is a good pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.