The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most elegant pod machine we've seen this brushed-steel model offers the signature Sage quality and ease of use. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in 30 seconds.

Unlike bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the most messed-up aspects of coffee-making out of your hands - including grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Fast

Pod machines are generally quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with the majority capable of making a cup of coffee in just 30 seconds or so. But they come at an expense as the pre-portioned pods of coffee that are used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans and they are not recycled. (though certain companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels for returning them).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available due to its in-built barcode reader that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures that you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad drink. This machine is among the tiniest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact footprint allows it to be easily incorporated into the tiniest kitchens.

The CitiZ isn't the best machine to minimize your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge runs out, you'll need to replace it with a new one. This can be costly for some users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option to use either ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed, tampered and squeezed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment as well as its workforce. Its only downside is that it takes longer to heat up, but once that happens it can brew one cup in just 35 minutes.

If you're looking for an elegant, sleek machine capable of handling a range of different drink sizes and styles then look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage it is not only 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 big selling point, and the best models are easy to operate. Most machines rely on the same basic process to make your coffee the water is heated inside a reservoir, then pressured through the chosen capsules and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. The majority of brands offer various sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to speed up the process.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading brands on the market, but each offers a wide selection of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are designed to be used just once and then discarded, while others are intended for multiple uses. Either way, you'll need to plan ahead for the way you'll dispose of your spent pods so they aren't thrown away in the trash.

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 coffee machines once the previous one has been chilled. It brews lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends to give you plenty of variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee drinkers who want to switch from drip coffee.

In our tests we found that the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to your countertop and opens with a simple touch to reveal a concealed compartment for your empty pods. It also comes with the added benefit of a water filtration system, which is perfect for hard-water areas.

This machine brews a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks, and is surprisingly quick. Its easy-to-use controls are a joy to use using the airplane-style toggles and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the opening which allows you to drop the pod. It takes a bit of effort to close, but our testers, including those with limitations in hand strength and mobility felt comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands. You simply need to load one of the pods, press the button, and then brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time to time, but not as frequently as you would with a bean-to cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are also smaller than their counterparts that are larger, so they can fit on the countertop and be kept out of view when not in use.

The right coffee pod machine for you will depend on your preferences and what you want to achieve. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some offer more customization options. Different pod types, brew sizes options, and milk frothing capabilities are all important to help find the perfect coffee pod machine.

The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth taking a look at. One of them is Bruvi which makes use of an exclusive pod system known as B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode, which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.

This approach means the machine removes all the guesswork of making a cup and guarantees that every drink is made perfectly every time. It is able to save your customized drinks to a button to allow you to create them with only one button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee machines with capsules and allows you to select the ideal temperature and size for each beverage. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and excellent customer service which is synonymous with the brand. It is a good choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.

Certain models are larger and can make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee machine and pods maker Lavazza. It's a bit difficult to operate due to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's easy and extremely enjoyable to use - a lungo is brewed in just 30 seconds and the discarded pods are deposited into an internal bin at the touch of the button.

4. Customization

The lack of customisation is a major reason it may not be the right choice for you. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only ways to add extra flavor or creaminess are to use an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option and to add milk to your cup manually. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem however it could be a problem for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of a barcode scanner to scan each capsule coffee machines. It then automatically pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee to the particular kind of pod. It's a simple hands-off device that does a great job but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) it provides exactly what they need.

Apart from filling the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir occasionally the coffee maker will not require a lot of maintenance. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly and, as we mentioned the used pods are ejected into a hidden container which keeps your kitchen spotless. 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 downside is that it doesn't come with an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale and the maximum water level can't be set, which is a minor issue. You'll also need to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be expensive. Nevertheless, this is an excellent pod coffee maker for anyone looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable cost. For those who want a little more variety, a wide range of third-party capsules is offered for this model and it's also compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.