The 10 Scariest Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance provides the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. It preheats after switch-on, and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in 30 seconds.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee capsules machines making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally easier to set up and use than espresso machines, with most can make a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or so. However, they come with an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This ensures consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is almost no chance of getting a bad drink. It is also among the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug or a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
The CitiZ isn't the best capsule coffee machine machine to minimize the 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. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge after this expires and can be expensive for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and packed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on the surroundings and its workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated it, it can make one cup in around 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand a stainless steel jug, and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use is a major selling point, and the best models are a breeze to operate. Most machines rely on the same general mechanism to brew your cup by heating water 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 your own settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players on the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used once and be thrown away, while others are meant for multiple uses. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to give you variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to make the switch 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 opens with a simple touch to reveal a concealed compartment for your empty pods. It has an in-built water filter system which is perfect for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and brews regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever that retracts to reveal the hole to place into the pod. It requires a bit of pressure to close, however the majority of our test subjects, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best capsule coffee machine coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands. You simply need to load one of the pods, press the button, and then brew. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to get from it. All pod machines are easy to use, however certain models offer more customization options than others. Consider the coffee pod variety, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the best machine.
Most people will think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few newer competitors that could be worth considering. One of them is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are equipped with an underside barcode that the machine scans to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This method eliminates all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and guarantees that every drink is made perfectly every time. It is able to save your customized drinks in a single button so that you can create them using one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your cup of coffee than most machines, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, however it has the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with the brand. This is a great option for those who want a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.
Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a excellent example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee pods machine maker Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles however once you've become accustomed to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be brewed in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One big reason why the pod coffee maker might not be right for you is its limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother then the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for most people, but it could be an issue for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a user-friendly and hands-off machine that does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion the coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as previously mentioned, used pods are ejected to a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel of buttons and can be used with ground 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 a minor issue. You'll also have to purchase the brand's own capsules, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for those who want an attractive and convenient appliance that can be used at a reasonable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.
