A Productive Rant About Best Coffee Pod Machine
A Productive Rant About Best Coffee Pod Machine
Blog Article
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. It warms up after switching on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a little longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee making off your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines can be installed and used more quickly than espresso machines. Most of them can make a cup in 30 seconds. However, they come with a cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though some companies now offer free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines on the market due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before making it. This makes it simple to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, with virtually no chances of a drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require an additional milk container and its compact size makes it easy to fit into even the tiniest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need to replace it with a fresh one. This can be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed, tampered and compressed between filter paper. It 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 that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once this occurs, it can make one cup in just 35 seconds.
If you're after an elegant, stylish machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles then take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage, is not only simple and quick to operate but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The best models are easy to operate. Most machines use the same method to make a cup of coffee: water is heated inside reservoirs, then moved through capsules to make rich hot, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different needs, and you can save custom settings on many models to streamline the process even more.
Keurig K-Cups are among the top brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules by well-known roasters. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then be thrown away, while others are intended for multiple uses. You'll need a plan for your used pods to avoid them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule once the previous one has been chilled. It can be used to brew espresso and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to make the switch from drip coffee to drip.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and opens coffee machine capsule with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that stores your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of the water filtration system which is great for areas with hard water.
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 a joy to navigate with the help of aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with little effort to reveal the area where you drop in your pod. It requires a bit of force to close, but the majority of our testers, including those with limited hand strength and mobility, felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply put in the pod, press an icon and make coffee. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally, 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 in use.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you want to get out of it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but some have more options for customization than others. Be aware of the different coffee pods, brew sizes and milk frothing options when choosing the right machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are newer competitors worth a look. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of an exclusive pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. The pods are identified with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters 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 a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose the ideal temperature and size for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the brand and is a solid choice for those who need an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
Some larger models can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a great example, combines retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's not easy initially due to the airplane-style toggles but once you've gotten used to it, the machine is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be made in 30 seconds.
4. Customization
The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's flexibility is one of the main reasons it may not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk into your the coffee. This won't be an issue for most people, but it could be an issue for those who prefer an entirely 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 correct amount of coffee for the specific kind of pod. It's an easy-to-use, hands-off machine which does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks 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, espresso and mug) it provides precisely what they require.
This coffee maker is very low maintenance. It only requires you to refill the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir every once in a while. It can dispense short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly. As previously mentioned, used pods are then ejected from a hidden container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.
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 as well as ESE pods. The only downside 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 an issue. You also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is a great pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and convenient appliance that will serve them well for an affordable cost. For those who want more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model. It's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.