The Best Pod Coffee Machines
Pod coffee machines allow you to put a capsule that contains ground or roasted coffee beans into the. The coffee is then poured into the machine for a specified amount of time.
Certain pod coffee machines come with different sizes of cups and the ability to froth milk. The best pod machine for you will depend on your lifestyle and personal preferences.
1. Keurig K-Select
If you're looking for a basic Keurig coffee maker that doesn't have all the bells and whistles that come with higher-end models, this one is a great choice. It's simple to use and has a stunning look. When not in use it can be placed in a corner of the kitchen.
One downside to this machine is that it could be a bit noisy, but this isn't a major issue. It is also fairly compact and can be tucked away in tiny counter spaces. If you prefer a Keurig with a larger range of sizes or a carafe that can drip-brew your coffee, you may be interested in other alternatives.
The Keurig K-Select single serve coffee maker combines sleek design and more efficient features to help make the perfect cup every time. Pick from a variety of delicious K-Cups and brew coffee with a universal My-K-Cup filter (sold separately). Strong Brew increases the intensity and the strength of your coffee, making it a great option for coffee lovers who like a strong cup.
This brewer is simple to use, with simple button controls. Just put in a K-Cup pod, select the brew size you'd like to use, and press brew. In less than a minute, you can enjoy a cup of fresh coffee. The large water reservoir of 52 ounces allows you to make up to five cups between refills, simplifying your morning routine.
The Keurig is simple to clean, and comes with an easily accessible reservoir for water and a lid that can be easily hand washed. To ensure that your Keurig is running at its peak you must remove the scale prior to cleaning. Follow the instructions in the user's manual. This warranty covers all original accessories and the brewer, excluding for normal wear misuse, abuse, and external causes like power outages.
2. Tassimo My Way
If you're a coffee lover and are in search of a pod machine capable of making more than just your daily cup of joe This is the best choice. It can make a variety drinks such as tea and hot cocoa. The huge 1.3-litre water tank allows for multiple cups to be brewed at the same time. The machine can be warmed up in three seconds, and also includes a milk container that lets you to make latte and cappuccino. It also features an LCD that can be touched to let you adjust the intensity, temperature and volume of your drink.
Tassimo My Way uses T Discs that are a set of ingredients can be used to make your drink. There are more than 70 flavors to choose from, including brands like Kenco and Costa to Costa, Milka and Cadbury's. The machine has a range of T Discs, including ones for hot and tea chocolate.
We found the coffee it produced to be of good quality, although just a little less than some of the other pod machines in this round-up. It also produced a creamy mouthfeel and steamed milk for a caffe lattes quickly. It is important to note that the frothy T Disc milk has sugar in it, which, while not a major problem it might not be to everyone's liking.
Tassimo Myway's removable parts, the drip tray and the water tank are dishwasher-safe. A Brita filter is included, as is cleaning disk. A useful indicator light will let you know when it's time to descale, and water tanks will help keep limescale at a minimum. The machine is classified as Energy Star, which helps reduce its electricity consumption by up to 15%.
3. Lavazza Lungo Pod Machine
This Nespresso pod coffee machine was designed in collaboration with Sage by Lavazza is one of the most appealing machines on the market. It is constructed of sturdy and attractive materials. It has a neat steam wand that can be adjusted to make cappuccinos or lattes, as well as a stainless-steel milk jug. The machine will brew espresso lungos, double espressos, gran lungos, mugs and altos with a thick layer frosting.
As with most pod machines you load the pod through an opening on top of the machine and then drop it in the appropriate spot. The machine pierces the capsule and then closes it so that when you pull the lever, the used pod is deposited into a spent pod tray that is located beneath the drip tray.
It's not the fastest machine to make coffee it takes 30 seconds pod coffee makers to make a shot of espresso and around 90 seconds for a lungo - however, the results are always impressive, with a great crema and a rich, smooth taste. The machine will also inform you when it is time to refill the water tank or pod bin.
One of the main selling points for this machine is that it can use it with any Lavazza brand pod Seven pods are available in all, including ground roasted espresso (Qualita Rossa, Intenso, Passionale and Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso) and two organic coffees (!Tierra! Bio). The pod coffee machine is not cheap but if you combine it with a pod delivery subscription, the price can be similar to that of the regular bean-to-cup machine. This machine's slimline design allows it to be easily incorporated into even the smallest kitchens, while the pods themselves are industrially compostable, which means you can place them in your council food waste bins or your own garden compost.
4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine
Nespresso machines are the top pods coffee makers for those looking for a reliable, fast and consistently brewed cup. They are quick to heat up and are super easy to use--just insert a capsule, push the button, and you're done. They create an intense, creamy crema that can be added to drinks for more flavor and thickness. They're not cheap, though they are expensive, and you need to buy their official pods.
The Vertuo line uses different technology than OriginalLine machines that work with espresso capsules (and are still in existence). The Vertuo line reads the barcode of each capsule and automatically adjusts the brewing parameters to produce the perfect cup. They also have a centrifusion machine which spins the capsules to extract the most flavor and thickest crema.
The machines aren't quite as intuitive as our other choices. The lid is only opened when the machine is ready and it takes about 30 seconds for the capsule to heat up. It doesn't include the milk frother like some of the other pod machines on this list. So you'll have spend an extra PS90 to buy a separate Aeroccino to make cappuccinos and lattes.
They also require more frequent maintenance than other models - refilling the water tank, emptying used pod containers, and decaling. However, they do come with an application that reminds you of these chores and offers tools like store locators and capsule recycling. If you connect your machine with an IntelliPort you can control it with voice commands. This is a great feature for those who make coffee at 4am in the dark or have a limited strength.
5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine
This sleek pod coffee maker is the love child of a well-known Italian brand and a renowned kitchen appliance company. It features the sleek, retro curves that SMEG are renowned for, and can brew both lungo and espresso drinks. It has a programmable setting for the shot, two-height drip trays, and pod bins that are removable.
This coffee maker lets you make one or two cups of lungo or espresso in the morning or during your break at work. The simple control panel makes it look sleek and doesn't detract from the functionality. It comes with three different baskets for different capsule types. You can even use ground beans that are loose (although you'll need to own a separate grinder).
The SMEG Barista Pod Machine does not include a milk pitcher. It does however have a Pannarello built-in milk frother which can froth cow and soymilk nicely. It also comes with a 51mm portafilter which is smaller than a conventional commercial-style filter. It's pressurised and this is a plus since it will not give you the old, unfinished grind taste. It also includes a plastic Tamper which doubles as scoop.
The SMEG is among the most expensive pod machines we've reviewed, but it's definitely worth it if you're a fan of the retro style or like the ability to quickly whip up espresso-based drinks. This is a great option when you're new to coffee making and do not need to go through the difficulty of grinding, measuring and tamping beans yourself.