The Best Pod Coffee Machines

With pod coffee makers, you just insert a sealed capsule filled with roasted or ground coffee into the machine. The coffee is then poured into the machine for a set amount of time.

Some pod coffee machines have different sizes of cups and frothing milk capabilities. The ideal pod machine for you will depend on your lifestyle and personal preferences.

1. Keurig K-Select

If you're looking for a basic Keurig coffee maker without the bells and whistles that come with more expensive models, this one is a great choice. It's easy to use, has a beautiful design and can be stored into an area of the kitchen when not in use.

The machine can be loud but it's not a huge issue. It's also quite small and will fit on small counters. If you prefer a Keurig with a wider range of sizes or a carafe that can drip-brew your coffee, you may be interested in other alternatives.

Keurig K'Select is a single-serve coffee maker that combines a sleek design with more intuitive features. This lets you make the perfect cup of coffee every time. Pick from a variety of delicious K-Cups, or brew your coffee using a universal My-K-Cup filter (sold separately). Strong Brew increases the intensity and the strength of your coffee, making it a great choice for coffee enthusiasts who like strong cups.

This brewer is simple to use and has simple buttons. Just insert the K-Cup pod, choose the desired brew size and press brew. In less than a minute you'll have a fresh-tasting cup of coffee ready to enjoy. The large 52-ounce reservoir lets you brew up to five cups between refills, simplifying your morning routine.

This machine is easy to clean, with a removable water reservoir and lid that can be easily hand washed. To ensure that your Keurig is running at its peak, you must always descale it before cleaning. Follow the instructions in the user guide. This warranty covers the brewer as well as all original accessories, except for normal wear and tear, damages due to abuse or misuse or any other external cause of failure, such as power outages.

2. Tassimo My Way

If you're a coffee lover and are in search of an espresso machine that can make more than just your regular cup of joe, this is the best option. It's designed to create a wide variety of drinks including hot chocolate and tea. It features a large 1.3 millilitre water tank that can make multiple cups at the same time. The machine is warm in just three seconds and can produce an espresso or latte with its built-in milk jug. It also features a touch-sensitive display that lets you set the temperature, intensity and quantity of your preferred beverage.

Tassimo My Way uses T Discs, which are an assortment of ingredients you can use to make your drink. There are more than 70 varieties, including Kenco, Costa, Milka and Cadbury's. The machine also provides T discs for tea and hot chocolate as well.

We found the coffee it made to be of excellent quality, though just a little less than some of the other pod machines featured in this round-up. It also heated the milk for the caffe latte in a short time and gave a smooth mouthfeel, but not too thick. However, it must be noted that the frothy milk made from T Discs contains sugar which isn't a huge issue but isn't for everyone's taste.

Tassimo Myway's removable parts such as the drip tray and the water tank are all dishwasher-safe. A Brita filter is included, as is an ice-cleaning disk. A handy indicator light informs you when it's time to descale and a water reservoir keeps limescale to a minimum. The machine is Energy Star rated, which reduces its electricity consumption up to 15%..

3. Lavazza Lungo Pod Machine

This Nespresso-compatible pod coffee machine from Lavazza which was developed in collaboration with Sage, is one of the best-looking machines on the market. The machine is made of tough and attractive materials. It comes with a stylish steam wand that can be adjusted to make cappuccinos or lattes, and a stainless steel milk jug. The machine can brew espresso lungos, double espressos, mugs, and altos using thick layers of froth.

Like most pod machines, you load the pod via a hatch on the top of the machine and then drop it in the right spot. The machine penetrates the capsule and then closes it so that when you pull the lever, the pod falls into a specially spent pod tray that is located beneath the drip tray.

The machine isn't the fastest to brew espresso, it takes 30 seconds for a single shot and 90 seconds for the lungo. But the results are always amazing with a rich, smooth taste and a delicious crema. The machine will also inform you when it is time to refill the tank of water or the pod bin.

A big selling point for this machine is the ability to use it with any Lavazza brand pod There are seven in all, including espresso ground (Qualita Rossa, Intenso, Passionale and Delizioso) Two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso) and two organic coffees (!Tierra! Bio). The pod coffee machine isn't cheap but if you combine it with pod delivery services, the price can be similar to an ordinary bean-to-cup machine. The slim design of this machine allows it to fit into even the smallest kitchens. The pods are compostable in a way that you can dispose of them in food waste bins for your council bins or garden compost.

4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine

Nespresso machines are among the best pods coffee makers for those looking for a reliable, speedy and consistent brew. They heat up quickly and are super easy to use. Simply insert a capsule, press the button, and you're done. They also produce a rich crema that you can add to your drinks to add flavour and thickness. The official pods are not inexpensive and you'll need purchase them.

The Vertuo line is a different machine than the OriginalLine machines, which use espresso capsules. The Vertuo line reads the barcode on each capsule, and then automatically adjusts the brewing parameters to produce the perfect cup. They also have a centrifusion device which spins the capsules to extract the most flavor and thickest crema.

That said that, the machines aren't as intuitive as our other picks. For instance the lid is only opened when the machine is in its final stages, and it takes about 30 minutes to heat up enough to be able to fit into the capsule. They don't include a milk frother like some of the other pod coffee makers on this list, meaning you'll need to spend an additional PS90 or so to purchase an additional Aeroccino for those who want to make lattes and cappuccinos.

They also require more regular maintenance than other models, such as refilling the water tank, emptying used pod containers, and decaling. However, they have an app that reminds you of these tasks and includes tools such as store locators and capsule recycling. If you pair your machine with an IntelliPort you can control it via voice commands. This is ideal when you're making coffee at 4am in the dark or have a limited strength.

5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine

The sleek and stylish pod machine is the product of the adored Italian brand coffee machines for pods and a renowned manufacturer of kitchen appliances. It features the retro, sleek curves that SMEG are renowned for, and it can brew both lungo and espresso drinks. It also comes with an adjustable shot setting that can be programmed as well as dual-height drip trays and a pod bin that can be removed.

This coffee maker makes it simple to make an instant cup of single-shot or double-shot espresso in the morning, or for a lungo during your break at work. Its easy-to-use control panel looks sleek and doesn't interfere with its functionality. It comes with three different baskets for different types of capsules. You can use loose-ground beans (although an additional grinder is required).

The SMEG Barista Pod Machine does not include a milk pitcher. However, it has a Pannarello built-in milk frother that can froth cow and soymilk well. It also has the portafilter 51mm, which is smaller than a typical commercial-style filter. It's pressurised, which means you won't get the taste of stale food that is left behind. It also includes a plastic Tamper which can also be used as scoop.

The SMEG is among the most expensive pod machines we've reviewed however it's certainly worth it if you're a fan of the retro style or if you like being able to make espresso-based drinks. This is a great option for those who are new to coffee making and don't want to deal with the hassle of measuring, grinding and tamping beans by yourself.