The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most elegant pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model has the signature Sage quality and ease of use. After turning on, it warms up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.

In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the messiest aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans and a lot are not recyclable.

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines that is available due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing 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, with no need for an additional milk jug, and a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those looking to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function and you'll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need to replace it with a new one. This can be costly for some users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment and its employees. Its only downside is that it takes longer to heat up, but once this happens it can brew the cup in about 35 seconds.

If you're after a sleek, stylish machine that can handle a range of different drink sizes and styles, look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not just simple to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The ease of use is a major selling point and the best models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic process to brew a cup of coffee that is, heated water is placed in a reservoir, then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot, hot java. The majority of brands offer various drink sizes for different needs. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.

Keurig K-Cups are the biggest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules by well-known roasters. Some pods are designed to be used once and get thrown away, whereas others are intended to be used multiple times. In either case, you'll have to plan ahead for how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.

The sleek SMEG model we tested features an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.

In our tests we found that 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 empty pods. The machine has a water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.

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

3. Size

The top coffee pod makers take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply need to load a pod, hit a button and brew. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.

The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but some have more options for customization than others. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine for best coffee machines with pods you.

The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some more recent competitors that are worth taking a look at. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will eliminate all the guesswork out of it and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks to a button to allow you to make them by pressing one button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than others machines, allowing you to choose the exact size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit 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 solid choice for those who need an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.

Some models with larger capacities can also brew lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and 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, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be prepared in just 30 seconds.

4. Customization

One big reason why a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is the limited customization. If you don't have an alternative milk frother then the only option to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk into your coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but it could be an issue for those who prefer a fully automatic experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses a barcode reader to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and disperse the right amount of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will appreciate the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're seeking.

Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as we mentioned, used pods are ejected to a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied espressos with crema-topped tops.

This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style collection. It's simple to use with a simple panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of a gauge that will let you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set a maximum water level. You also need to buy the brand's capsules, which can be pricey. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and practical appliance that can provide them with a great service at a reasonable cost. For those who want more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model, and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.