How to Find the Best Coffee Pod Machine
Pod machines make it easy to use by removing the grinding, dosing and tamping steps involved in coffee making. Look for one that takes a capsule, press an button, and then pumps hot water through the pod to make your coffee in a matter of seconds.
The SMEG-designed Illy Iperespresso X7.1 pumps out flavour filled, full bodied espresso shots and lungo drinks in just 30 seconds. Additionally, it comes with the benefit of a milk frothing wand as well as an energy-saving sleep mode.
1. Simple to use
When you're making a cup of coffee you can either create a mess by grinding beans, or you can opt for a more convenient option by using a pod machine. These foolproof machines take the hard work out of making coffee by putting all the essential ingredients in one plastic pod that is disposable. The pod is simply inserted into the machine, hit a button and you'll get a cup of freshly brewed coffee with crema in a matter of seconds.
The best coffee pods are not just fast and easy to use, but also provide a wide range of drinks that will suit any taste and budget. They can make anything from cappuccinos to espresso to lattes and iced coffee. Certain models come with modern features that allow for greater precision and customization while others feature sleek aesthetics to fit in any kitchen.
A few of the less expensive coffee pods are able to be used by anyone however the higher-end models are specifically designed to give the best user experience. These machines are usually equipped with digital displays as well as custom settings to create the perfect brew. Some are smart and connect to apps, while some can keep recipes you love. Some are small and have minimalist design that will work in any kitchen.
Selecting a model that fits your lifestyle and kitchen is the first step to selecting the best pod maker. Take into consideration factors such as how many buttons you will need to press before you can brew and whether it has multiple setting for different sizes of drinks and whether it has accessories such as milk frothers.
The Morning Machine is the most practical and user-friendly coffee pod machine available on the market. Its sleek and compact design is perfect for any workplace and the water tank can be removed. It comes with ten standard brew modes and you can also create your own recipes using the Morning App. It's a great option for allergy sufferers as both the reservoir for water and the coffee pods are made of BPA-free material.
The Bruvi is a different popular pod machine. It was released in 2022 with three promises that it would make better coffee than other machines that make use of pods, it would provide a wider variety of drinks and its treated polypropylene pods wouldn't decay in landfills, like K-Cups or Starbucks Verismo pod casings. It's not expensive, but it's the ideal pod machine for those who want to reduce the amount of disposables that are thrown away.
2. Fast
The top coffee pod machines are brewers that have a quick time to get you freshly hot coffee with little effort. They typically take less than a minute for eight-ounce cups of coffee (although this is contingent on the model). You should also consider a machine with a big reservoir of water that is able to be filled with water for quick refills and also one with a built in milk frother if you're a lover of lattes and cappuccinos.
While some of the best coffee pod machines require a certain amount of user interaction to guarantee an excellent brew, other brands like the Bosch Tassimo Vivy 2 offer advanced features that can speed up the process. For instance, the barcode reader in this model automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of water that is appropriate to the coffee type. It shuts off automatically once the brewing process has been completed to save energy. This is a fantastic feature to include in a kitchen that is busy however it does eliminate certain of the customisation and personalisation options other machines provide to make an individualized beverage.
Another brand that provides a more hands-off approach for pod coffee making is Bruvi. This company released in 2022 a product that uses its own capsules for brewing that can be chucked into the trash after use, rather than going through a lengthy recycling process. It's a great alternative to the traditional Nespresso and Keurig systems, which have for years dominated this market.
Whether you choose an basic or advanced pod machine, it's essential that you find one that is designed for your home. You want a machine that is easy to look at so that it blends in with the other kitchen appliances. Also consider the amount of counter space you have available and what kinds of drinks you prefer, as a lot of pod-based coffee makers are limited to certain sizes or kinds of drinks.
While pod-based machines are convenient but they don't offer the same quality of the brew that traditional drip machines do. This is because they do not grind and brew full beans or get the full range of flavours that a good roast and ground coffee can deliver.
3. Removable parts
You can make your cappuccino, flat white, or espresso with the right pod coffee makers. These machines eliminate the time-consuming and messy parts of traditional brewing: grinding or weighing, as well tamping. Instead, you load a pre-packaged pod into the machine and press a button. The machine then makes hot water from its in-built reservoir through the pod, and into your cup as coffee.
Our reviewers' expert opinion was that of the top coffee pods that were simple to use for all types of customers. We looked at the number of buttons the user needed to press before the machine started brewing and also the ease of use when the machine was turned on, and the choices offered for the size of the drink and strength. We also considered the dimensions of the reservoir and whether it was necessary to be refilled every time.
The Illycaffe XS1 provides the most user-friendly experience coffee machines for pods of all of our tested machines. The control panel is easy to comprehend and its design makes it small enough to fit on any countertop. It also comes with a large but small water tank that requires fewer refills than average, and it can brew a full-sized pot of coffee in just over four minutes. Our test subjects found it to produce an incredibly balanced, rich coffee with a consistent taste.
This sleek modern-looking, contemporary-looking coffee pod by Sage comes with a variety of beverage options as well as an easy automatic cleaning and descaling mechanism. The removable 40-ounce tank is situated in a stowable compartment at the back of the machine and it has a receptacle to store used pods that is automatically lowered into the bottom of the machine. It's also compatible with Nespresso pods, which offer a range of drink sizes and strengths.
You can buy a coffee pod with an automatic milk frother which will heat and froth your milk of choice. It's an excellent option for those who prefer coffee drinks like latte or cappuccino, and some brands even sell their own pods that have built-in milk. It's important to know that not all pod machines work with third-party capsules of milk.
4. Convenient
All pod machines work in the same way: the user simply inserts the coffee pod in the machine and presses the button. The hot water is transferred through the pod into the cup. They take a lot effort out of making coffee, like grinding and dosing coffee grounds, or portafilters for espresso. Some pod machines have advanced features for a more immersive experience with coffee, such as touchscreens and app connectivity.
Some models have the ability to program shots, which allow you to customize the espresso size. Others come with a dual-height drip tray that can accommodate both regular cups as well as mugs. Some also come with automatic sleep settings to save power between uses and a reusable pod bin that is easy to clean. Some of our top-rated models come with a reservoir for brewing hot chocolate and tea too.
The pods are designed to be used only once and then discarded, but there aren't all brands that offer an easy recycling process for the empty pods. To make your decision more sustainable, you should look for a machine that allows you to use any brand of pods, including compostable ones.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus comes with an elegant design and simple interface. It's a great choice for those who prefer single-serve coffee but don't want to invest in a coffee bean grinder. Vertuo Plus, unlike many Nespresso machines accepts refillable pods. However, it has some drawbacks. One of them is that the lid will not open until it's warmed up. This can be frustrating when trying to get rid of an old pod. It also doesn't permit users to alter the amount of espresso it pulls which could be a problem for those who like a strong espresso.
The Keurig K-Classic is another viable alternative for those who want a quick, convenient brew. It's a bit more expensive than the OPAL but it comes with some perks that make it worth it. It comes with a built-in grinder that can grind both drip coffee and K-Cups. It has a range of brewing options such as iced or decaf. This is useful for those who enjoy the taste of a cappuccino or lattes.