The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Best Coffee Pod Machine
The best coffee pod machine (www.plantsg.com.sg)
The most elegant pod machine we've ever seen, this model with brushed-steel features the trademark Sage quality and ease of use. When it is turned on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo in just 30 seconds.
As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messy aspects of coffee making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.
1. Rapid
Pod machines are generally quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making a cup of coffee in 30 seconds or less. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines tend to be more costly than freshly roasted coffee beans, and a lot of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines on the market due to its in-built barcode reader that scans code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This allows you to get consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, and there is virtually no chance of a drink coming out badly wrong. The machine is also among the slimmest and lightest available and does not require a separate milk jug and the smallest footprint, making it easy to fit into even the smallest of kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to minimize the environmental impact. The CitiZ doesn't have 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. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need replace it with a new 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 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 decreasing the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. Its only downside is that it takes longer to heat up, but once this is done, it will be able to brew a cup in around 35 minutes.
If you're after an elegant, sleek machine that can handle a range of different 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 simple to use but also comes with an ice cream wand, an stainless steel jug and milk frother.
2. Removable parts
The simplicity of pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The top models are easy to operate. Most machines use the same basic mechanism to brew the cup of coffee you want that is, heated water is placed in the reservoir, and then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot coffee. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet various needs. You can save your own settings on many models to simplify the process even more.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading players on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used just once before they are discarded, while others can be used several times. In either case, you'll have to think about the way you'll dispose of your spent pods so they do not end up in the garbage.
The sleek SMEG model we tested comes with an ejectable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule once the previous one has cooled. It can make lungo and espresso drinks and has eight different blends to offer variety. This brewer will appeal to coffee drinkers who want to switch from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that stores your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is ideal for areas with hard water.
This machine brews an ordinary cup of coffee (240ml), as well as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are simple to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever that retracts to reveal the hole to place in your pod. It takes a bit of force to close but our testers, even those who have limited mobility and hand strength felt comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod and capsule coffee machines machines take the mess of making coffee out of your hands - you simply load in one of the pods, press an icon and brew. It is still necessary 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 counterparts that are larger and can be tucked away on the countertop and be stored away from view when not being used.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the best choice for you is based on your preferences and what you're hoping to get from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to use, but others offer more customization options. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing capabilities should all be considered to help find the perfect coffee pod machine for you.
The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few more recent competitors that are worth looking at. One is Bruvi which makes use of its own pod system, called B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods have an underside barcode that the machine scans to automatically adjust brewing settings.
The machine will eliminate the guesswork out of it 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 push of a single button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a more granular level of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it comes with a polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer service that is a hallmark of Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their espresso maker that is based on pods.
Some models with larger capacities can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's easy and incredibly enjoyable to use and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin at the touch of a button.
4. Customization
A pod coffee maker's limited flexibility is one of the main reasons it's not the right choice for you. If you don't have an alternative milk frother, then the only way to add 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 most people, this shouldn't be a problem but it could be a problem for those who prefer a fully automated experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew uses barcode scanners to scan each capsule. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the right amount of coffee to the specific kind of pod. It's an easy-to-use, hands-off machine which does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. This may be a problem for some buyers however for others, the easy automation and range of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide precisely what they require.
The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It's all you have to do is to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir every so often. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as mentioned the pods coffee machine that are used are ejected into a concealed container that keeps your kitchen clean. It also does a great job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part of Smeg’s 1950s-style range. It is easy to use with a simple interface and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. The only drawback is the absence of an indicator that lets you know when to descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. It is also necessary to purchase the brand's own capsules, which can be pricey. Nevertheless, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee pods machines at a reasonable price. For those who want a little more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is offered for this model and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.