The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most elegant pod machine we've ever seen, this brushed-steel model offers the signature Sage quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it preheats and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.

As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines are typically quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with many capable of making a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot of them are not recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that is available due to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This makes it simple to ensure consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. It is also one of the slimmest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug, and its small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.

However, the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those wanting to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll have to replace it with a new. This could be expensive for some users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds that are compressed between filter paper. It 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 downside is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once that occurs, it can make the cup in about 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage it is not only quick and simple to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel jug.

2. Removable parts

The user-friendliness is a major selling point and the top models are easy to use. The majority of machines use the same general mechanism to brew your cup by heating water in an internal reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save your own settings to make the process more efficient.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players on the market, yet each offers a wide selection of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used just once and then get thrown away, whereas others are intended to be used multiple times. You'll need a plan for the pods you've used to avoid them from being thrown away.

The sleek SMEG model we tested features an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically pours fresh capsules after the previous one has been chilled. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends to provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to switch from drip coffee.

In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that houses your 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 a standard cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are easy to operate, using 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 takes a bit of effort to close, but the majority of our test subjects, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod makers remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands - you simply load in a pod, hit a button and make coffee. You'll still have to clean your machine from time to time but not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts, so they can fit on the counter and be stored out of sight when not in use.

Whether a coffee pod machine is the right option for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to get from it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features must be taken into consideration to find the ideal coffee pod machine for you.

Many people think of pod-based devices in the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are some newer rivals which are worth looking into. One is Bruvi, which uses an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will eliminate the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks to a button so that you can make them by pressing only one button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the right temperature and size for each beverage. It's a bit more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the brand and is a great choice for those who need something more from their pod-based coffee maker.

Some larger models can also brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly satisfying to operate the lungo is made in less than 30 seconds and the used pods are put into an internal bin at the touch of a button.

4. Customization

One of the main reasons 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 enhance flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to the coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but it could be an issue for those who like an entirely automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew utilizes a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses, then dispensing the correct amount of coffee for the particular kind of pod. It's a user-friendly, hands-off machine which does an excellent job, but isn't pod-making machines able to customize drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they are seeking.

The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It only requires you to refill the tank with water, and decaffeinate it every so often. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected into a container hidden from view which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of a display that tells you when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for those who want an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that will serve well at a reasonable price. If you're looking for a little more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules are available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.