10 No-Fuss Strategies To Figuring Out Your Best Coffee Pod Machine
10 No-Fuss Strategies To Figuring Out Your Best Coffee Pod Machine
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel model comes with Sage trademark quality and ease of use. After switching on, it preheats and brews a fragrant espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 minutes.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee making off your hands, including grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Speedy
Pod machines can be set up and used faster than espresso machines. They can typically make a cup in just 30 seconds. But they do come at some cost: the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines on the market due to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code before brewing. This allows you to make consistent quality, high-end coffee each time, and there is virtually no chances of a drink turning out badly wrong. The 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 even the tiniest kitchens.
The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce your environmental impact. The CitiZ isn't equipped with an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also have to put in a new filter cartridge when it runs out, which could be costly for certain users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to lessening the negative impact it has on its environment and workforce. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated it will brew a cup in about 35 seconds.
If you're after an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a variety of different drink sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This sleek machine, created in collaboration with Sage is not just easy to use, but also comes with an ice cream wand, stainless steel jug and a milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using a pod coffee maker is a major advantage. The most effective models are simple to use. Most machines utilize the same basic process to brew the cup of coffee you want the water is heated inside the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot java. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save your own settings for a variety of models to streamline the process further.
Keurig K-Cups are among the largest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules by famous roasters. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then be thrown away, while others are meant for multiple uses. In either case, you'll have to think about how you'll deal with the pods that are no longer being used so they don't end up in landfill.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with a water tank that is removable and easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour new capsules once the previous one has cooled. It can brew lungo and espresso drinks and has eight different blends to give you variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee lovers who want to move away from drip coffee.
In our testing we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design makes it a looker on your counter and it opens with a light tap to reveal a hidden compartment for your empty pods. The machine comes with a water filter system that is ideal for areas that have hard water.
The machine is fast and brews regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to operate, using airplane-style toggles that can be easily retracted and a lever that retracts to reveal the hole to place in the pod. It requires some effort to close, but most of our testers even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility, were able to use it comfortably.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers eliminate all the mess that comes with coffee making. You just put a pod in, press a button and let it make coffee. You will still need to clean the machine from time to time but not as often as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their larger counterparts which means they can be placed on the counter and be stored out of view when not in use.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right option for you is based on your preferences and what you're looking to gain from it. All pod machines are simple to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods sizes, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the right machine.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors worth taking a look at. One is Bruvi which has an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are equipped with a barcode on the underside that machines scan to automatically adjust the brewing settings.
This means that the machine eliminates all the guesswork of brewing a cup and guarantees that every drink is made perfectly every time. It is even able to save custom drinks to a dedicated button so you can create them at the push of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than the majority, letting you choose a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's a bit more expensive than some models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and top-quality customer service that's associated with the brand. It is a solid option for those looking to get an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
While most people will be using the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a great example of this. It is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you get used to it, it is easy and enjoyable to pod coffee machines use. A lungo can be brewed in only 30 minutes.
4. Customization
One reason the pod coffee maker might not be the right choice for you is its lack of customizability. If you don't have an auxiliary milk frother, 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 to your the coffee. For many people this won't be a problem, but it could be a problem for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode readers to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and give the correct amount of coffee for that particular type of pod. It's a user-friendly hands-off device that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or varying brew strength. This will irritate some buyers however for others, the easy automation and range of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
Aside from filling up the water tank and decaffeinating it occasionally the coffee maker will not require much maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned, the used pods are then ejected from an unnoticed container which keeps your kitchen clean. It also does an excellent job of delivering full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This is a beautiful-looking machine and is part of the Smeg fifties range. It's user-friendly with a simple panel of buttons and can accommodate ground coffee as well as ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of a display that will let you know when to descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You'll also need to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.