Best Coffee Pod Machine: 11 Thing You're Not Doing
Best Coffee Pod Machine: 11 Thing You're Not Doing
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most sleek pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model offers the signature Sage quality and is easy to use. When it is turned on, it heats up and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
The pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the most messy aspects of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines are generally easier to install and use than espresso machines, with most can make a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or so. But they 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're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market due to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to making coffee. This makes it easy to ensure consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chance of the drink turning out badly wrong. The machine is among the slimmest and lightest on the market. It doesn't require a separate milk container and its small footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the smallest kitchens.
However the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those looking to minimize their environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You will need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also need to swap the filter cartridge after this expires, which could be costly for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to decreasing the negative impact it has on the environment and its employees. Its only slight drawback is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once this happens it can brew a cup in around 35 seconds.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice cream frothing wand as well as an stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of a pod coffee maker is a major selling point. The most effective models are simple to use. Most machines rely on the same general mechanism to brew your cup by heating water in an internal reservoir, then pressured through the capsules you choose and extracted to form rich, hot java. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different requirements. You can also save custom settings to make the process more efficient.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players on the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods can be used just once before they are discarded and others can be used multiple times. Whatever the case, you'll need to think about the way you'll dispose of your spent pods so they do not end up in the garbage.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can make lungo and espresso drinks and comes with eight different blends for variety. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to switch to drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design is an attractive addition to your countertop and can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a hidden compartment for empty pods. The machine has an in-built water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.
The machine is fast and can brew standard coffee (240ml) and ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are a joy to use, thanks to switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the area where you drop in the pod. It takes a bit best coffee machines with pods of force to close but our testers, including those with limited mobility and hand strength were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of coffee making out of your hands. You simply load in the pod, press the button, and then make coffee. You will still need to clean the machine from time time, but not as frequently as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts which means they can be placed on the countertop and be stored out of sight when not in use.
The decision of whether a coffee machine is the best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're hoping to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to use, but others offer more customization options. Pod variety, brew size options and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some more recent competitors that are worth a look. One is Bruvi, which uses its own pod system, called B-Pods that can only be used by its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
The machine will eliminate all the guesswork and make sure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks to a button to allow you to create them with one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than others machines, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit more expensive than many other models but it offers the polished stainless steel build and excellent customer service which is synonymous with the brand. It is a solid choice for those who want an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people are using pod-based machines to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating initially due 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 only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited customization is a major reason it may not be the right choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to use a hot tea or chocolate option in your mug or to manually add milk to the coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for most people, but could be an issue for those who prefer an entirely automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode readers 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 user-friendly, hands-off machine which does an excellent job, however it isn't equipped with options for customizing drinks or varying brew strength. This might be frustrating for some customers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally the coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as mentioned the pods that are used are ejected into a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It is also great in delivering full-bodied coffees that have crema-topped tops.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style collection. It is easy to use with a simple control panel and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't come with 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. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's own capsules which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for those who want an attractive and convenient appliance that is able to serve at a low cost. This model can be used with a variety of third-party capsules and also is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.