The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage brand's distinctive quality and user-friendly. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in just 30 minutes.

Pod models are a great 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 and bean coffee machine machines are typically quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are typically more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a majority of them aren't recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines on the market, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This allows you to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. It's also among the tiniest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.

However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't 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. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need replace it with a new. This can be costly for certain 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 that are pre-dosed, tampered and compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done it, it can make one cup in just 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage, is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel jug.

2. Removable parts

A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a major selling point and the top models are easy to operate. Most machines use the same process to brew the cup of coffee you want: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot java. Most brands offer a range of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save your own settings on many models to speed up the process even further.

Keurig K-Cups are among the largest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules by popular roasters. Certain pods can be used only once before being thrown away and others can be used several times. Whatever the case, you'll need to think about how you'll deal with your spent pods so they do not end up in the garbage.

The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses an additional capsule coffee makers once the previous one cools down. It brews lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends that provide you with a wide selection. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.

In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is an attractive addition to your counter and it can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. The machine comes with a water filter system that is perfect for areas with hard water.

The machine is fast and can brew standard coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its easy-to-use controls are easy to navigate using the aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the area which allows you to drop your pod. It does take a little force to close but our test subjects, even those who have limited mobility and hand strength, found it comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands. You simply need to load a pod, hit a button and prepare to brew. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time but not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not being used.

The right coffee pod machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Different pod types, brew sizes options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for your needs.

Many people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few newer competitors on the scene that are worth a look. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. These pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will eliminate the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks to a button so that you can create them with only one button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than others machines, allowing you to choose the exact size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer support synonymous with the brand. This is a great option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.

Some models with larger capacities can also create lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic 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 little intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles but once you get used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in only 30 minutes.

4. Customization

The lack of customisation is a major reason it's not the right choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your coffee. This won't be an issue for many people, but could be a problem for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee that is appropriate for the type of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does the job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customizing drinks or varying the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, however others will appreciate the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they are looking for.

Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally the coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned, the used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view that keeps your kitchen tidy. It is also great at delivering full-bodied coffees with a crema-topped top.

This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s 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 issue is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set which is a minor inconvenience. You will also have to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. However, this is a good pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will serve them well for a reasonable cost. If you're looking for more variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is available for this model and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.