The 10 Most Scariest Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The Best Coffee Pod MachineThis sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it preheats and makes a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messy aspects of coffee making off your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in just 30 minutes. But they come at a cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some 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 available on the market, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is virtually no chance of getting a bad drink. It is also among the tiniest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it easy to fit in even the tiniest of kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the best machine to minimize 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 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge when it runs out and can be expensive for certain 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 that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it's done, it can brew one cup in around 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage it is not only simple and quick to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and an stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The most effective models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same basic process to brew the cup of coffee you want the water is heated inside reservoirs, then moved through capsules to make rich hot java. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players on the market, yet both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Certain pods can be used only once before they are discarded however, others can be used multiple times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan out how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The SMEG we tested has a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses another capsule after the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to make the switch from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it an eye-catching addition to your countertop and opens with a simple tap to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine has an in-built water filter system which is perfect for areas that have hard water.
This machine is able to make an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are simple to operate, with switches that resemble airplanes, which can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the hole to place into your coffee maker. It takes a bit of pressure to close, however the majority of our testers, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod makers remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands - you simply put in the pod, press the button, and then make coffee. You'll still need to clean your machine from time to time but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts, so they can fit on the countertop and be stored away from sight when not being used.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you want to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the best machine.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors worth taking a look at. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a specific 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 most, letting you choose the right size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with a polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those wanting to get an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.
Some larger models can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a excellent example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's easy and extremely enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in only 30 seconds, and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
One reason the pod coffee maker might not be the best choice for you is its lack of customization. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, then the only option to add 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, but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee for the particular type of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customizing drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're looking for.
This coffee maker is low maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate it every time. It can make short espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned, the used pods are then ejected from a container hidden from view which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a fantastic job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This is a stunning machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of a display that best capsule coffee machine will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also need to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. Nevertheless, this is a great pod coffee maker for those looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will provide them with a great service at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.