Best Coffee Pod Machine: What's New? No One Is Discussing
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage trademark quality and ease of use. After switching on, it preheats and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are typically quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making coffee in just 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available due to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any chance of getting a bad beverage. The machine is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market and does not require an additional milk jug, and a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient 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 every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also have to put in a new filter cartridge when it runs out and can be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option of using either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds packed 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. Its only downside is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once that happens it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, a stainless steel jug, and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The top models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic process to brew a cup of coffee: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then moved through capsules to make rich, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save custom settings on many models to streamline the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules by famous roasters. Some pods are made to be used just once and then discarded, while others are designed to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan for the pods you've used to avoid them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically pours a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is perfect for coffee lovers who want to switch to drip coffee to drip.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your counter and opens with a light touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system 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-style espresso drinks and is extremely fast. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to use, thanks to aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop your pod. It requires a bit of effort to close, but most of our testers even those with weak hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands - you simply need to load a pod, hit the button, and then brew. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time but not as often as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, 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 the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but certain models offer more customization options than others. Consider the coffee pod variety sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the right machine.
Many people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are some newer competitors on the scene that are worth a look. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust brewing settings.
This method takes all the guesswork out the process of making a cup, and ensures each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a specific button, allowing you to make them with the press of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the right temperature and size for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer support synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a good option for those wanting to get something more from their pod-based espresso maker.
While most people will be using the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It can be a little difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate - a lungo is brewed in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are deposited into an internal bin at the push of the button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons a pod coffee maker may not be right for you is the limited customization. Unless you purchase an additional milk frother, the only ways to add extra flavor or creaminess are to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and add milk manually to your coffee. For many people this won't be a problem but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee required for that type of pod. It's a user-friendly, hands-off machine which does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but others will find the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they're seeking.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally the coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can make short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected in a container hidden from view that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also excels at delivering full-bodied coffees with tops that are topped with crema.
This is a stunning machine that is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's easy to use via an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. The only issue is coffee capsules machines that it lacks an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set which is an issue. You also need to buy the capsules made by the company which can be expensive. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for anyone looking for an attractive and functional appliance that will provide them with a great service at an affordable price. This model can be used with a variety of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.