The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The sleekest pod machine we've seen this model with brushed-steel features the renowned Sage quality and ease of use. When it is turned on, it preheats and brews a fragrant espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.

The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the clumsiest parts of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in just 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot of them are not recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This makes it easy to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with next-to-no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is among the tiniest 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 smallest kitchens.

The CitiZ isn't the best device to reduce 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. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need to replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for some 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, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it's done it will brew a cup in around 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and a milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of use is a major draw and the best models are easy to use. Most machines use the same basic process to brew the cup of coffee you want the water is heated inside a reservoir, then it is pushed through capsules to produce 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 major brands on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being discarded, while others are designed to be used for a variety of purposes. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them ending up in landfill.

The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is a great choice for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.

In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the compartment that holds your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is ideal for hard-water areas.

This machine is easy to use and can make regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are easy to navigate using the aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the space which allows you to drop the pod. It does take a little effort to close, but our testers, including those who have weak hand and mobility felt comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod machines remove all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is load a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it make coffee. You'll still have to clean your machine occasionally, but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.

The ideal coffee maker for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some offer more customisation options than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when selecting the right machine.

The majority of people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are some newer rivals that are worth a look. One of them is Bruvi, which uses a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods have a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will take all the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks to a button to allow you to make them by pressing only one button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than others, letting you choose the right size and temperature for each beverage. It's a little more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel design and excellent customer service synonymous with the brand and is a good choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.

While the majority of people are using a pod-based machine to make single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this, and it is a combination of the retro pod coffee makers style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be brewed in just 30 minutes.

4. Customization

The lack of flexibility is one of the main reasons it's not the best choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother then the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to your the coffee. For many people this won't be a problem, but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer an 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 hands-off device that does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or varying brew strength. 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.

This coffee maker is low maintenance. It only requires you to refill the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir every once in a while. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected into a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.

This is a beautiful-looking machine that is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's easy to use with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the lack of a gauge that lets you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You'll also have to purchase the brand's own capsules, which can be pricey. This is a good pod machine for those who want an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve well at a reasonable price. This model can be used with a variety of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.