Watch Out: How Best Coffee Pod Machine Is Taking Over The World And What Can We Do About It
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model offers the Sage distinctive quality and ease of operation. After switching on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the most messy components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup in 30 seconds. But they come at a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they are not recycled. (though some companies are now offering recycling bags for free and UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no chance of getting a bad drink. 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 machine to reduce the environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and every 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a new one. This can be costly for some users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be utilized with ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. The model is B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once that is done, it will be able to brew the cup in about 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use but also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a big selling point and the best models are a breeze to use. The majority of machines use the same basic process to make your coffee by heating water inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich hot coffee. Most brands offer different drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to streamline the process.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules by famous roasters. Certain pods can be used once before they are discarded, while others can be used a number of times. Either way, you'll need to plan out how you'll handle the pods that are no longer being used so they aren't thrown away in the trash.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses fresh capsules after the previous one has been chilled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with a set of eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer will appeal to coffee lovers who are looking to switch from drip coffee.
In our testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is an eye-catching addition to your counter and opens with a light touch to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is ideal for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and can brew standard coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are easy to operate, with airplane-style toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening for dropping into the pod. It requires some effort to close, but most of our testers who have weak hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take away all the mess from coffee making - you just add a pod, press a button and let it make coffee. You'll still have to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
The ideal coffee maker for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, however some offer more customisation options than others. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to find the ideal coffee pod machine for you.
Many people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few newer rivals which are worth looking into. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and make sure that each drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button so that you can make them by pressing only one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee that allows you to select a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer support synonymous with the brand. This is a good option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.
While the majority of people are using pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this, and it blends the retro-fifties style of SMEG with Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to operate due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in less than 30 seconds and the used pods are deposited into an internal bin at the push of a button.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it may not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to the coffee. This won't be an issue for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who like the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee for that particular kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does the job very well but lacks any options for making drinks that are customized or varying the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but others will appreciate the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're seeking.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots or tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected in a hidden container that keeps your kitchen tidy. pod and capsule coffee machines is also excellent at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's easy to use with a simple control panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level can't be set which is an inconvenience. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. But, it's a good pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and practical appliance that can serve them well for an affordable cost. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.