10 Myths Your Boss Is Spreading About Best Coffee Pod Machine
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage distinctive quality and user-friendly. It preheats after switch-on, and makes an espresso with aroma or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest components of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with most can make coffee in only 30 seconds or so. But they do come at an expense: the pre-portioned coffee pods that are used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they are not recycled. (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available, thanks to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This makes it simple to get consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. It is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market that doesn't require a separate milk jug and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit in even the smallest of kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those who want to minimize their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if live in hard water or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll have to replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and workforce. The only drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once this happens it can brew a cup in around 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The user-friendliness is a major draw, and the best models are a breeze to operate. The majority of machines employ the same basic method to make the cup of coffee you want: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich, hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit various needs. You can save custom settings on a number of models to streamline the process even further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two biggest players on the market, however each offers a wide selection of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used just once before they are discarded however, others can be used a number of times. You'll need a plan for your old pods to prevent them ending up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour fresh capsules after the previous one has been cooled. It can brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to give you the variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who wish to switch to drip coffee.
In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the hidden compartment that houses empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is great for hard-water areas.
This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its intuitive controls are easy to use, thanks to switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop your coffee maker. It requires a bit of force to close, but the majority of our testers, including those with weak hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. All you have to do is load a pod in, press a button and let it brew. It is still necessary to clean your machine from time to time, but 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.
If a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to get from it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few more recent competitors on the scene that could be worth considering. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is read by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This means that the machine takes all the guesswork out of brewing a cup and makes sure that each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a specific button so you can create them at the touch of a single button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific temperature and size for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with the polished stainless-steel construction and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the brand. This is a great choice for those looking for an extra bit of quality from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
While most people will use pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that can create longer shots, also known as lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro fifties styling from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to use due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's quick and incredibly satisfying to operate - a lungo is brewed in only 30 seconds, and the pods that are used are placed in an internal bin at the touch of a button.
4. Customization
One of the main reasons a pod coffee maker may not be right for you is its limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk into your coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for many people, but could be an issue for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse and give the correct amount of coffee required for that kind of pod. It's a hassle-free, hands-off machine that does the job very well but lacks any options for making drinks that are customized or for varying the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate it every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned, the used pods are ejected into an unnoticed container that keeps your kitchen tidy. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a stunning machine that is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It is easy to use with a simple interface and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of a display that lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You will also have to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for those who want an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve best coffee machines with pods well at a reasonable cost. For those who want more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules are available for this model and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.