17 Signs To Know You Work With Best Coffee Pod Machine
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model provides the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of use. After turning on, it warms up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in 30 minutes. But they come at an expense in that the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines 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 for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that you can find due to its built-in barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod prior to brewing it. This ensures consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is almost no chance of getting a bad beverage. The machine is one of the tiniest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the tiniest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those wanting to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function and you'll need to do it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need to replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated it will brew a cup in around 35 minutes.
If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a range of different sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of use is a major selling point, and the best models are simple to use. The majority of machines utilize the same basic mechanism to brew your cup: water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the capsules you choose and extracted to form rich hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of drink sizes to suit various needs. You can save your own settings on a number of models to speed up the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest players on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules made by the most popular roasters. Certain pods can be used only once before being thrown away, while others can be used a number of times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll handle the pods you've used up so that they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It can brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends to provide you with a wide selection. This brewer is a great choice for coffee lovers who are looking to switch 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 can be opened in a matter coffee pod machine of seconds to reveal the compartment that houses empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is great for areas with hard water.
This machine is able to make an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is extremely fast. Its user-friendly controls are easy to use using the airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening where you drop in your pod. It does take a little force to close but our testers, even those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making - you just add a pod the machine, push a button and let it be brewed. You will still need to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts and can be tucked away on the countertop and be stored away from sight when not being used.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some offer more customization options. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the best machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are more recent competitors that are worth a look. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods have a barcode on the underside that the machine scans to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork out of it and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It can even save customized drinks to a separate button, allowing you to create them at the push of a single 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 cup. It's more expensive than other models, however it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is a hallmark of the Sage's My Way brand. This is a great option for those who want a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
While the majority of people will be using pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are able to brew longer shots, known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a perfect example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One reason the pod coffee maker might not be right for you is the limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to your coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but it could be an issue for those who like the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses a barcode scanner to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the right amount of coffee to the particular kind of pod. It's a user-friendly hands-off device that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally, this coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected to a hidden receptacle that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does a fantastic job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style range. It's simple to use with a simple panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee and ESE pods. The only drawback is that it lacks an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level can't be set, which is a minor issue. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for those who want a convenient and attractive appliance that can be used at a low cost. For those who want a little more variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is available for this model, and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.