Think You're The Perfect Candidate For Best Coffee Pod Machine? Take This Quiz
Think You're The Perfect Candidate For Best Coffee Pod Machine? Take This Quiz
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model provides the Sage distinctive quality and ease of use. It preheats after switch-on, and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
Pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the clumsiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that you can find, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no possibility of getting a poor beverage. It's also among the slimmest and lightest available and does not require an additional milk jug, and its small footprint making it easy to fit in even the tiniest kitchen.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to minimize their 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 every 1200 cups for soft water. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need to replace it with a new. This could be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. Its only downside is that it takes longer to warm up, but once that occurs, it can make a cup in around 35 minutes.
If you're after a sleek, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a major draw, and the best models are simple to use. The majority of machines utilize the same general method to make your cup by heating water inside a reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot coffee. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save your own settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules from well-known roasters. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being discarded, while others are intended to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan to dispose of your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.
The SMEG we tested has a 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 variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who are looking to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design makes it a looker on your counter, and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. The machine comes with an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas that have hard water.
This machine is quick and can make standard coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its easy-to-use controls are easy to use with the help of airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert your pod. It does take a little force to close but our testers, even those who have weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take the mess of coffee making out of your hands. You simply put in the pod, press the button, and then prepare to brew. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stacked on the counter when not being used.
The ideal coffee maker for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but certain models offer more customization options than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and options for frothing when picking the best machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will take all the guesswork and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a separate button so you can make them with the press of a button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your cup of coffee than others models, allowing you to select the right size and temperature for each cup. It's a little more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel design and excellent customer service synonymous with the brand and is a good choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people are using a pod-based machine to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that can also create longer shots, also known as lungos, too. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you get used to it, it is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be brewed in just 30 minutes.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited customisation is a major reason it's not the best option for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, then the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to the coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem however it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses, then dispensing the right amount of coffee for the specific kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customised drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
Apart from filling the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected in a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied coffees with tops that are topped with crema.
This is a stunning machine and is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's user-friendly with simple buttons and can be used with ground pod coffee makers coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set which is an issue. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. But, it's a great pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and practical appliance that can provide them with a great service at an affordable price. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.