Watch Out: How Best Coffee Pod Machine Is Taking Over And What You Can Do About It
Watch Out: How Best Coffee Pod Machine Is Taking Over And What You Can Do About It
Blog Article
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most sleek pod machine we've seen, this model with brushed-steel features the renowned Sage quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 seconds.
Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee making out of your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with many can make coffee in only 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods that are used in these machines are typically more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans and a majority of them are not recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This makes it easy to ensure consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is one of the tiniest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into even the tiniest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those who want to minimize 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 every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap in a new filter cartridge once this runs out, which could be costly 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 that are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment and its employees. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in just 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 only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use of pod coffee makers is a major selling point. The most effective models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic process to brew the perfect cup of coffee: water is heated inside a reservoir, then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich, hot java. The majority of brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different requirements, and you can save your own settings on a number of models to simplify the process even further.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules made by the most famous roasters. Some pods can be used only once before they are discarded and others can be used multiple times. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically pours fresh capsules after the previous one has been cooled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design makes it a looker on your counter and opens with a light touch to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of the water filtration system which is ideal for hard-water areas.
This machine brews the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. Its intuitive controls are easy to navigate with the help of aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert your coffee maker. It takes a bit of effort to close, but the majority of our testers, including those with limited hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take away all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is add a pod the machine, press a button, and let it be brewed. It is still necessary to clean the machine from time to time however not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger which means they can be placed on the counter and be kept out of sight when not in use.
The right coffee pod machine for you will be determined by your preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but some offer more customisation options than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the best machine.
The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent competitors on the scene that are worth a look. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used by its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork of making a cup and guarantees that every drink comes out perfectly every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a separate button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee and allows you to select a specific temperature and size for each beverage. It's a little more expensive than many other models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel design and excellent customer service synonymous with the brand and is a good option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
Certain models are larger and can brew lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this, and it is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you've gotten used to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be brewed in just 30 minutes.
4. Customization
One reason a pod coffee maker may not be right for you is its limited customization. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, the only way to enhance flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to coffee. For many people this won't be a problem, but it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of a barcode reader to scan each capsule coffee makers capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee required for that kind of pod. It's a user-friendly and hands-off machine that does a great job however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or altering the strength of brew. Some customers might be disappointed by this, but many will appreciate the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they are searching for.
Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally the 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 mentioned the used pods are ejected into a hidden receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s style range. It's user-friendly with a simple control panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of an indicator that lets you know when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. But, it's an excellent pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and convenient appliance that will provide them with a great service at an affordable cost. If you're looking for some variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model, and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.