10 Things We All Do Not Like About Best Coffee Pod Machine
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most elegant pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the trademark Sage quality and ease of use. After turning 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 messiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in 30 seconds. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are typically more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a majority of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines on the market due to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This makes it simple to ensure consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. It's also among the slimmest and lightest on the market and does not require an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it easy to fit in even the smallest of kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those looking to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have 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. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes a little longer to warm up, but once that is done, it will be able to brew one cup in just 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage it is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a major draw and the best models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same basic process to brew a cup of coffee: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then moved through capsules to make rich hot, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save your own settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also come with a variety of capsules from well-known roasters. Some pods can be used only once before they are discarded however, others can be used multiple times. You'll need a plan to dispose of your used pods to avoid them from ending up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine automatically dispenses new capsules once the previous one has been chilled. It can make espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer will appeal to coffee lovers who are looking to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it a looker on your counter and opens with a light touch to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is quick and can make regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are easy to use with the help of aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert your pod. It requires a bit of effort to close, but most of our testers who have limitations in hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the mess from coffee making. You just add a pod, press a button and let it brew. You'll still have to clean your machine occasionally, but not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their counterparts that are larger which means they can be placed on the countertop and be stored away from view when not being used.
The ideal coffee maker for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you want to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but others provide more options for customization. Be aware of the different coffee pods, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the best machine.
Most people will associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few newer rivals that could be worth considering. One is Bruvi which makes use of a bespoke pod system called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customised drinks to a specific button to allow you to create them at the push of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your cup of coffee than the majority, letting you choose a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's a bit more expensive than many other models, but it has the polished stainless steel construction and excellent customer service which is synonymous with the brand. It is a great option for those looking to get a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people will use pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos, too. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's difficult to use due to its toggles that resemble airplanes and a manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly enjoyable to coffee pod machine use the lungo is made in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are placed in an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
One big reason why a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your the 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, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and dispense the correct volume of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that performs its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for making drinks that are customized or varying the strength of the brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but others will find the ease of use and variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they are searching for.
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 can make short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected into a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s style range. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can be used with 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 an issue. You will also have to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for anyone who wants an attractive and convenient appliance that can be used at a low cost. For those who want more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules are available for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.