The Best Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel machine provides the Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. It warms up after switching on, and brews an aroma-packed espresso or a little longer lungo in about 30 minutes.

Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest parts of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making a cup of coffee in 30 seconds or less. But they do come at a cost in that 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 De'Longhi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS EDG 210.W: Buy Now for Premium Coffee Experience! offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels to return them).

The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the most efficient pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans each compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is almost no possibility of getting a poor beverage. The machine is one of the slimmest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact size allows it to be easily incorporated into the tiniest kitchens.

However the CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine for those wanting to cut down on their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling feature, 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 need replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for some users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option of using either ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds packed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on the surroundings and its workforce. The only drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once this happens it can brew a cup in around 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks with different sizes and styles. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just simple and quick to operate but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel jug.

2. Removable parts

A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a major draw and the top models are a breeze to operate. Most machines utilize the same basic method to make the perfect cup of coffee the water is heated inside reservoirs, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot coffee. Most brands offer different drink sizes for different needs. You can also save your own settings to speed up the process.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major brands on the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used only once before being thrown away, while others can be used several times. You'll need a plan to dispose of your used pods to avoid them ending up in landfill.

The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It brews espresso and lungo drinks, and comes with eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to switch to drip coffee to drip.

In our tests we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it opens with just a touch to reveal the hidden compartment that houses your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is great for areas with hard water.

This machine brews the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are simple to operate, using switches that resemble airplanes, which can be easily pulled back and a lever that retracts to reveal the hole to place into the pod. It does take a little force to close but our testers, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility were able to use it comfortably.

3. Size

The best coffee pod makers take away all the mess from coffee making. You just put a pod in, press a button and let it be brewed. You'll still have to clean your machine occasionally, but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. The Shop Pod and Capsule Coffee Machines Online machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger and can be tucked away on the countertop and be kept out of sight when not being used.

Whether a coffee pod machine is the right option for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to get out of it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, however some provide more options for customization. Different pod types, brew sizes options and milk frothing capabilities are all important to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for your needs.

The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few more recent competitors that are worth a look. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods have an underside barcode that machines scan to automatically adjust brewing settings.

The machine will take all the guesswork and ensure that each drink is perfect every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a separate button, allowing you to create them at the touch of a button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more precise level of control over your coffee that allows you to select a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a great choice for those looking for a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.

Certain models are larger and can brew lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this, and it combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you've gotten used to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be prepared in only 30 minutes.

4. Customization

One reason a pod coffee maker may not be the right choice for you is its lack of flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then the only option to add flavor or creaminess is to use hot tea or chocolate option in your mug, or to manually add milk to coffee. This won't be an issue for a lot of people, but it could be a problem for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's a user-friendly and hands-off machine that does a great 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 range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives exactly what they need.

This coffee maker is low maintenance. It only requires you to fill up the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir every time. It dispenses short espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned, used pods are ejected into a concealed container that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a fantastic job of serving full-bodied, crema-topped espressos.

This machine is part Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's simple to use with a simple panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee and ESE pods. The only downside is that it doesn't have an indicator to let you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level cannot be set which is an issue. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's capsules which can be expensive. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for those looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will serve them well for an affordable price. For those who want some variety, a large selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.