The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most sleek pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the renowned Sage quality and user-friendly. After switching on, it heats up and makes a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.

As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Fast

Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with the majority can make coffee in 30 seconds or less. But they come at an expense as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and many are also not recyclable (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning them).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that you can find due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any chance of getting a bad drink. This machine is among the tiniest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into the smallest kitchens.

However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to minimize their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function and you'll need to clean it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also need to swap with a new cartridge once this runs out and can be expensive for certain users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed in between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and workforce. Its only minor drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it does, it can brew one cup in about 35 minutes.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage, is not only quick and simple to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel jug.

2. Removable parts

The ease of using pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The most effective models are easy to operate. Most machines utilize the same process to brew the perfect cup of coffee the water is heated inside reservoirs, then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich, hot java. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players on the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used just once and then get thrown away, whereas others are designed to be used for a variety of purposes. Either way, you'll need to plan out how you'll handle your spent pods so they aren't thrown away in the trash.

The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a removable water tank that's easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour fresh capsules after the previous one has been chilled. It can brew lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends to provide plenty of options. This brewer is ideal for those who love coffee and want to move away from 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 counter and it opens with a simple tap to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is great for areas with hard water.

The machine is fast and can brew regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to navigate using the switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the opening where you drop in your coffee maker. It requires some effort to close, but the majority of our testers who have limited hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.

3. Size

The top coffee pod machines eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making - you just put a pod in, press a button and let it be brewed. You will still need to clean the machine from time time but not as often as you would with a bean-to-cup cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their bigger counterparts which means they can be placed on the counter and be kept out of view when not being used.

The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some offer more customization options. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and options for frothing when selecting the best machine.

The majority of people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are a few more recent rivals which are worth looking into. Bruvi has a custom-designed system of pods called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

The machine will eliminate the guesswork out of it and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your custom drinks in a single button, so that you can create them using one button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee that allows you to select the right size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is a hallmark of the brand. This is a good choice for those looking for a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.

Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this, and it combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee capsule coffee makers brand, Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be prepared in just 30 seconds.

4. Customization

The lack of flexibility is one of the main reasons it may not be the right choice for you. If you don't buy an auxiliary milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess are to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option, and then add milk to your coffee manually. This shouldn't be a problem for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who prefer the convenience of a fully automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses, then dispensing the right amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that performs its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for customizing drinks or for varying the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives exactly what they need.

This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every time. It can dispense short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It also does an excellent job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.

This is a stunning machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor issue. You will also have to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. However, this is a good pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that will serve them well for an affordable cost. If you're looking for more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model, and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.