Best Coffee Pod Machine Explained In Less Than 140 Characters
Best Coffee Pod Machine Explained In Less Than 140 Characters
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage trademark quality and ease of use. After turning on, it preheats and makes a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
Models for pods are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. But they do come at some cost in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And many are also not recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This ensures consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad beverage. It is also one of the slimmest and lightest available that doesn't require an additional milk jug, and a small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.
However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those wanting to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling feature, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water areas. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for some 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, which are pre-dosed, tampered and packed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to decreasing its negative impact on the environment and its workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to heat up. Once it does it will brew a cup in about 35 minutes.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a variety of different sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This gorgeous, glossy machine, developed in collaboration with Sage, is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The best models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same basic method to make the perfect cup of coffee: water is heated inside reservoirs, then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save custom settings for a variety of models to simplify the process even more.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players in the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used only once before being discarded, while others are designed to 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 SMEG we tested has a reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It can brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to give you plenty of variety. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is an eye-catching addition to your countertop and it opens with a light tap to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is great for hard-water areas.
This machine brews a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to use using the switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the space that allows you to insert the pod. It requires a little effort to close, but our testers, including those who have limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. All you have to do is put a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it be brewed. It is still necessary to clean your machine from time to time but not like a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents, and can be stored on the counter when not being used.
If a coffee pod machine is the right option for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some offer more customization options. The variety of pods, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for you.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some more recent competitors that are worth a look. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods known as B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. The pods have a barcode on the underside that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This method eliminates all the guesswork of brewing a cup and ensures each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can save your customised drinks to a button, so that you can make them by pressing one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee and allows you to select the right size and temperature for each beverage. It's a little more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and excellent customer service associated 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 are using a pod-based machine to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this. It combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee brand, Lavazza. It's difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles as well as the manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in just 30 seconds and the used pods are placed in an internal bin with the click of the button.
4. Customization
One reason pod coffee makers might not be right for you is its limited customizability. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only methods to add extra flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and add milk to your coffee manually. This won't be an issue for most people, but it could be a problem for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode readers to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's an easy-to-use hands-off device that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy 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 it occasionally, this coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as previously mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a concealed receptacle that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent coffee machines with capsules job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style collection. It is easy to use with a simple panel and can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of a gauge that tells you when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. You also need to buy the brand's capsules, which can be pricey. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve well at a reasonable cost. If you're looking for some variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.