The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage distinctive quality and ease of use. It heats up immediately after switching on and makes an espresso with aroma or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.

The pod models are an excellent 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 some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though some companies are now offering recycling bags for free and UPS labels to return the pods).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available due to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any possibility of getting a poor beverage. It is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market that doesn't require a separate milk jug and its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.

However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those looking to minimize their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function and you'll need to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive 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, which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on its environment and its employees. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it's done it will brew a cup in just 35 minutes.

If you're after an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a variety of different sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just quick and simple to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel jug.

2. Removable parts

A pod coffee maker's user-friendliness is a major selling point, and the best models are easy to operate. The majority of machines use the same method to make your cup by heating water in an internal reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to produce rich hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save custom settings for a variety of models to streamline the process further.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players on the market, however each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used once before being thrown away however, others can be used several times. In either case, you'll have to think about how you'll deal with the pods that are no longer being used so they do not end up in the garbage.

The SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It can make espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to give you variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee lovers who want to switch to drip coffee.

In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design makes it an eye-catching addition to your countertop and it opens with a simple touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. It has an integrated water filter that is ideal for areas with hard water.

This machine is easy to use and can make regular coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to navigate with the help of aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space which allows you to drop your pod. It requires a little force to close, but our test subjects, even those with weak hand 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 load in one of the pods, press an icon and prepare to brew. It is still necessary to clean your machine every now and then however not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their bigger counterparts, and can be stored on the counter when not being used.

The right coffee pod machine for you will be determined by your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and frothing options when choosing the best machine.

Many people think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few newer competitors that are worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These 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 make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a separate button, allowing you to make them with the press of a button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your coffee than others models, allowing you to select the exact size and temperature for each drink. It's a bit more expensive than many other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and top-quality customer service that's associated with the brand. It is a good option for those looking to get a bit more from their pod-based coffee coffee capsule machine maker.

While most people will be using a pod-based machine to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that can also brew longer shots, known as lungos, too. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this, and it is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's not easy 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 made in 30 seconds.

4. Customization

The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's flexibility is one of the main reasons it might not be the right choice for you. Unless you purchase an auxiliary milk frother, the only ways to add extra flavor or creaminess are to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and to add milk to your cup manually. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem however it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes and infuses the right amount of coffee to the specific type of pod. It's an easy-to-use hands-off device 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) it gives precisely what they require.

Aside from filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as we mentioned, used pods are ejected to a hidden container which keeps your kitchen spotless. It also excels in delivering full-bodied coffees that have a crema-topped top.

This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style collection. It's user-friendly with an easy-to-use panel of buttons, and it can handle both ground coffee and ESE pods. It's only downside is the lack of a display that will let you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum water level. You will also have to buy the brand's capsules which can be expensive. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for anyone looking for an attractive and practical appliance that can provide them with a great service at a reasonable cost. For those who want some variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules are available for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.