The Best Pod Coffee Machines
Pod coffee makers allow you to insert a capsule containing ground or roast coffee beans into the machine. The coffee is then poured through for a specified amount of time to make your beverage.
Some pod coffee machines have various sizes of cups as well as frothing milk capabilities. The best pod machine for you will depend on your lifestyle and your personal preferences.
1. Keurig K-Select
If you’re looking for a basic Keurig coffee maker without the bells and whistles of more expensive models, this machine is a great choice. It’s easy to use and has a great appearance. When not in use, it can be easily tucked into a corner in the kitchen.
The machine can be loud however it’s not a major issue. It’s also quite small and will fit in tiny counter spaces. If you’re looking for a Keurig with a larger variety of sizes or a carafe that is suitable for traditional drip brewing, you should consider other options.
Keurig K’Select is a single-serve coffee machine capsule maker that combines a sleek style with more user-friendly features. This lets you brew the perfect cup of coffee every time. Choose from a wide selection of delicious K-Cup pods, or make your own ground coffee with My-K-Cup’s universal, coffee filter that can be reused (sold separately). Strong Brew increases the intensity and strength of your coffee, making it a great choice for coffee enthusiasts who prefer a strong cup.
This brewer is simple to use and has simple button controls. Simply insert a K-Cup pod, choose the desired brew size, and then press brew. In less than a minute, you’ll have a fresh-tasting cup of coffee ready for you to enjoy. The large water reservoir of 52 ounces allows you to brew five cups before refilling, making it easier to manage your morning routine.
This machine is easy to clean, thanks to an easily accessible reservoir for water and a lid which can be easily washed. But, you must remove the scale from your Keurig prior to cleaning it, and follow the directions in the user manual to ensure that your machine is operating at its peak. This warranty covers the brewer and the original accessories, with the exception of for normal wear and tear, damages due to abuse or misuse or any other external cause of failure such as power outages.
2. Tassimo My Way
If you’re a lover of coffee and are in search of a pod maker that can produce more than just your regular cup of coffee, this is the best choice. It can create a variety of drinks including hot cocoa. The large 1.3-litre water tank allows for multiple cups to be brewed at once. The machine can be heated in three seconds, and it includes a milk container that allows you to make latte and cappuccino. It also has a touch-sensitive LCD that lets you set the intensity, temperature and volume of your chosen drink.
Tassimo My Way uses T Discs that are a set of ingredients you can use to make your drink. There are more than 70 varieties, including Kenco, Costa, Milka, and Cadbury’s. The machine also has a selection of T Discs for tea and hot chocolate as well.
The coffee made by this machine was of good quality, although slightly lower than the other machines in our round-up. It also produced a silky mouthfeel, and steam-cooked milk for a caffe lattes in a short time. However, it should be taken into consideration that the milk with a frothy texture made from T Discs contains sugar which, while not a huge issue, isn’t to everyone’s taste.
Tassimo My Way’s removable parts including the drip tray, and the water tank are dishwasher-safe. There’s a Brita filter that is included as well as a cleaning disc that can be used. A handy indicator light will let you know when it’s time to descale and the water reservoir helps keep limescale to the minimum. The machine is classified as Energy Star, which helps reduce the amount of electricity it uses by up to 15%.
3. Lavazza Lungo Pod Machine
This Nespresso-compatible pod coffee machine from Lavazza which was developed in collaboration with Sage, is one of the best-looking machines available. The machine is constructed of sturdy and attractive materials. It has a neat steam wand that can be adjusted to make cappuccinos and lattes, and a stainless steel milk jug. Pop in a pod and select the size of your cup and the machine will whir into action – brewing espresso lungo, double espresso gran lungo, alto and mug drinks with a thick layer of silky frosting.
Similar to most pod machines, you load a pod using an opening on the top of the machine and drop it in place. The machine punctures the capsule then seals it. When you pull the lever, the used pod will fall into a specially spent pod tray beneath the drip tray.
It’s not the fastest machine to brew in 30 seconds for an espresso shot and around 90 seconds for a lungo but the results are consistently impressive, with great crema and a smooth, rich taste. The machine will also notify you when it is time to refill the water tank or pod bin.
One of the main selling points for this machine is the ability to use it with any Lavazza brand pod There are seven in all, including espresso ground (Qualita Rossa, Intenso, Passionale and Delizioso), two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso) and two organic coffees (!Tierra! Bio). It’s not cheap, but with a subscription deal that combines this pod coffee machine (Highly recommended Web-site) with the delivery of pods it could come for a comparable price to a traditional bean-to-cup machine. This machine’s slimline design allows it to be tucked away in the smallest kitchens, while the pods themselves are compostable, so you can put them in your council food waste bins or your own garden compost.
4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine
Nespresso machines are among the best pod coffee makers for those looking for quick reliable, consistent, and reliable drink. They heat up fast and are easy to use. Simply place a capsule in and press a button and you’re done. They produce a rich, creamy crema that can be added to drinks to give greater flavor and thickness. The official pods aren’t inexpensive and you’ll have to buy them.
The Vertuo line is a different machine than the OriginalLine machines, which utilize espresso capsules. They read the barcode of each capsule and automatically adjust the brewing parameters to make the perfect cup. They also have a centrifusion machine which spins the capsules to get the best flavor and the thickest crema.
However they’re not as intuitive as some of our other choices. For instance, the lid only opens when the machine is in its final stages, and it takes around 30 minutes to heat up enough to put in a capsule. They don’t include milk frothers, as do some of the other pod machines on this list. You’ll have to shell out an additional PS90 to buy a separate Aeroccino to make cappuccinos and lattes.
They also require more frequent maintenance than other models, such as refilling the water tank, emptying used pod containers, and descaling–but they do come with an app that reminds you of these tasks and includes tools such as store locators and capsule coffee makers recycling. If you pair your machine to an IntelliPort you can control it via voice commands. This is ideal when you’re making coffee at 4am in the dark or are limited in power.
5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine
This sleek machine is the result of a lovechild between a beloved Italian brand, and a renowned company that makes kitchen appliances. It sports the retro, sleek curves that SMEG are famous for, and it can brew the espresso and lungo drinks. It also comes with a shot setting that is programmable as well as dual-height drip trays and a pod bin that can be removed.
This coffee maker allows you to make an instant cup of lungo or espresso in the morning or during your break at work. Its simple control panel looks sleek and doesn’t interfere with its functionality. It comes with three baskets that can be swapped for different capsule types. You can use loose-ground beans (although the use of a separate grinder is required).
The SMEG Barista Pod Machine does not come with a pitcher for milk. It does however have a Pannarello built-in milk frother that can froth cow and soymilk well. It also has the portafilter 51mm that is smaller than a standard commercial-style filter. It’s pressurized, which is nice because it means you won’t get the stale, lingering grind taste. It also includes a plastic tool that can also be used as a scoop.
The SMEG is the most expensive machine we’ve reviewed. However, it’s worth it if your style is retro or you enjoy making espresso drinks quickly. It’s also a great choice if you’re new to the world of coffee and don’t want to have to deal with the hassles of measuring, grinding and making your own coffee.