The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel appliance offers the Sage distinctive quality and ease of operation. It warms up after switching on, and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 minutes.

Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee-making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Speedy

Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in 30 minutes. But they come at some cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they are not recycled. (though some companies are now offering recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning them).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that you can find, thanks to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before making it. This makes it easy to ensure consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. It is also among the tiniest and lightest available and does not require a separate milk jug and a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those who want to reduce their 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 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need replace it with a new. This could be expensive for some users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds squeezed 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 slight drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once that occurs, it can make one cup in just 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 quick and simple to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel Jug.

2. Removable parts

The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The most effective models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated inside a reservoir, then pumped through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich hot java. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different needs, and you can save custom settings on many models to streamline the process even further.

Keurig K-Cups are among the largest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules made by the most well-known roasters. Some pods can be used just once before being thrown away, while others can be used several times. You'll need a strategy for your used pods to avoid them from being thrown away.

The SMEG we tested has 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 be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to switch to drip coffee.

In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that houses empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is perfect for areas with hard water.

This machine is quick and can make regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to operate, using the style of airplane toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into your pod. It requires a bit of effort to close, but most of our testers who have limited hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of making coffee out of your hands - you simply put in the pod, press a button and make coffee. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time to time but not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not in use.

The decision of whether a coffee machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to use, but some have more options for customization than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and options for frothing when selecting the best machine.

The majority of people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few more recent competitors on the scene that are worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode, which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.

The machine will take all the guesswork and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a separate button, allowing coffee machines capsules you to create them at the touch of a single button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer support synonymous with the Sage's My Way brand. This is a good choice for those looking for something more from their espresso maker that is based on pods.

While the majority of people are using pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages however, there are a few larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and extremely enjoyable to use the lungo is made in just 30 seconds and the used pods are put into an internal bin at the touch of a button.

4. Customization

The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it might not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to coffee. For most people, this won't be a problem but it could be a sticking point for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and disperse the right amount of coffee that is appropriate for the type of pod. It's an easy-to-use and hands-off machine that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or varying brew strength. This will irritate some buyers but for others the hassle-free automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide exactly what they need.

This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate it every once in a while. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as mentioned the pods that are used are ejected to a hidden container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.

This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't have an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level can't be set, which is a minor inconvenience. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. This is a good pod machine for anyone looking for an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that is able to serve at a low cost. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.