The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it heats up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.

Models for pods are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee machine for pods off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in 30 minutes. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many are not recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This makes it easy to ensure consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require a separate milk container and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.

However, the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those wanting to minimize their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function and you'll need to clean it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll have to replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for certain users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds packed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it, it can make one cup in just 35 minutes.

If you're after an elegant, sleek machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles, look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage it is not only 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

The simplicity of pod coffee makers is a major benefit. The best models are simple to use. Most machines rely on the same process to make your coffee the water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through your chosen capsules and extracted to produce rich hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to make the process more efficient.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players in the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used only once before being be thrown away, while others are intended for multiple uses. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them ending up in landfill.

The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has been chilled. It can make lungo and espresso drinks and has eight different blends to offer variety. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee machine capsule and want to make the switch from drip coffee.

In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your countertop, and it can be opened with a gentle tap to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is ideal for areas with hard water.

This machine is easy to use and can make standard coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be easily retracted and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening to drop in your pod. It requires a little effort to close, but our test subjects, even those who have limited mobility and hand strength were able to use it comfortably.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines take away all the mess from coffee making - you just add a pod the machine, press a button, and let it be brewed. You will still need to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not in use.

The decision of whether a coffee machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you want to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Different pod types, brew sizes options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to determine the best coffee pod machine for you.

The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors worth a look. One of them is Bruvi, which uses a bespoke pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that machines scan to automatically adjust brewing settings.

The machine will take all the guesswork out of it and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks in a single button, so that you can make them by pressing one button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it has the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the brand. This is a good option for those who want something more from their pod-based espresso maker.

While the majority of people will use pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are put into an internal bin at the push of a button.

4. Customization

One reason pod coffee makers 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 flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your the coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem however it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule coffee maker. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the correct amount of coffee pods coffee machine to the specific kind 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 altering the strength of the brew. This may be a problem for some buyers but for others, the simple automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives exactly what they need.

The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It's all you have to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does an excellent job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.

This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style collection. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or 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 capsules made by the company which can be expensive. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone seeking a stylish and convenient appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable price. For those who want some variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is available for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.