5 Best Coffee Pod Machine Myths You Should Avoid
5 Best Coffee Pod Machine Myths You Should Avoid
Blog Article
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of use. After switching on, it heats up and brews a fragrant espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
In contrast to bean-to-cup machines models take the most messy aspects of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with the majority able to make coffee in only 30 seconds or so. However, they come with a cost as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they're not always recyclable (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels to return the pods).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner that scans every compatible pod's code before brewing. This allows you to make consistent, high-quality coffee every time, with next-to-no chance of the drink turning out horribly wrong. The machine is one of the slimmest and lightest available. It doesn't require a separate milk container and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into even the smallest kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the best machine for those wanting to cut down on 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 every 1200 cups for soft water. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need to replace it with a new. This can be costly for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a quick machine with customizable buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered ground compressed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on its environment and workforce. Its only slight drawback is that it takes longer to heat up, but once that happens it can brew the cup in about 35 minutes.
Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage, is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with a milk frothing wand and a stainless steel jug.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of pod coffee makers is a major benefit. The top models are simple to use. Most machines rely on the same basic process to make your coffee: water is heated inside a reservoir, then pressured through your chosen capsules and extracted to produce rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet different needs, and you can save custom settings on many models to speed up the process further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players on the market, however both offer a variety of capsules from popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used just once and then get thrown away, whereas others are meant to be used for a variety of purposes. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll handle the pods you've used up so that they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested has a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It can be used to brew lungo and espresso drinks and has eight different blends to offer variety. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that houses your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is ideal for areas with hard water.
The machine can brew the standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto-style espresso drinks and is extremely fast. Its easy-to-use controls are easy to navigate, thanks to aircraft-style toggles as well as a lever that retracts with a minimum of effort to reveal the opening that allows you to insert your pod. It requires some effort to close, but most of our testers even those with weak hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The top coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands. You simply need to load a pod, hit the button, and then prepare to brew. You'll still need to clean your machine occasionally, but not as often as a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right choice for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. All pod machines are easy to use, however certain models offer more customization options than others. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for you.
Most people will think of pod-based machines as the likes of Nespresso and Keurig, but there are some newer competitors that could be worth considering. Bruvi utilizes a unique system of pods, called B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.
This method eliminates all the guesswork the process of making a cup, and makes sure that each drink is perfect every time. It is able to save your customized drinks on a button, so that you can make them by pressing a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee that allows you to select a specific size and temperature for each drink. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with 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 an extra bit of quality from their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a fantastic example of this and is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you get used to it, the machine is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be brewed in only 30 minutes.
4. Customization
One reason a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is the limited customizability. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, then the only way to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk into your coffee. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem, but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the best pod coffee machine morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and give the correct amount of coffee that is appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that does the job very well but lacks any options for customised drinks or for varying the strength of brew. Some buyers will be annoyed by this, but others will appreciate the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and mugs, lungos and espressos) to be exactly what they're looking for.
In addition to filling up the tank with water and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can make short espresso shots or tall travel mugs easily. As previously mentioned, used pods are ejected in a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This machine is part of Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's easy to use via an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can be used with ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of an indicator that will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum water level. You will also have to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. This is a great pod machine for anyone looking for an attractive and convenient appliance that is able to serve at a low cost. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.