The best coffee machines with pods Coffee Pod Machine

This sleek, brushed-steel machine comes with Sage brand's distinctive quality and user-friendly. When it is turned on, it heats up and makes a scrumptious espresso or slightly longer lungo within 30 seconds.

The pod models are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest components of making coffee off your hands, such as grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Rapid

Pod machines can be set up and operated faster than espresso machines. The majority of them can make a cup of coffee in 30 seconds. But they come at an expense in that the pre-portioned coffee pods used in these machines tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans. And they are not recycled. (though some companies are now offering free recycling bags and pre-paid UPS labels for returning the pods).

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 prior to making coffee. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad drink. The machine is one of the tiniest and lightest available. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact size makes it easy to fit into the tiniest kitchens.

The CitiZ isn't the most efficient machine to reduce the environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll need to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water and every 1200 cups for soft water. You'll also have to put with a new cartridge once this runs out and could be expensive for certain users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another quick machine that comes with a customisable button and the option to use ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds packed between filter paper. This model is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment and its employees. The only drawback is that it takes longer to warm up, but once that happens it can brew the cup in about 35 minutes.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek beauty, created in collaboration with Sage and Sage, is not just quick and simple to operate but also comes with an ice cream frothing wand as well as a stainless steel Jug.

2. Removable parts

The ease of use of a pod coffee maker is a major benefit. The top models are simple to use. The majority of machines employ the same mechanism to brew a cup of coffee: water is heated inside the reservoir, and then it is pushed through capsules to produce rich hot, hot coffee machine for pods. The majority of brands offer a variety of sizes for drinks to meet different needs, and you can save custom settings on a number of models to streamline the process even further.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two leading brands on the market, yet each has a variety of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Certain pods can be used only once before they are discarded and others can be used a number of times. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan ahead for how you'll deal with your spent pods so they do not end up in the garbage.

The sleek SMEG model we tested features a removable water tank that's easy to fill, and the machine automatically dispenses new capsules once the previous one has cooled. It can make espresso and lungo drinks, and has eight different blends for variety. This brewer is ideal for coffee pods machines lovers who are looking to move away from drip coffee.

In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your counter and it can be opened with a gentle touch to reveal a concealed compartment for your empty pods. The machine comes with an integrated water filter that is ideal for areas that have hard water.

This machine is quick and can brew standard coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to operate, with airplane-style toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening to drop in your coffee maker. It requires a little force to close, but our testers, even those who have weak hand and mobility were able to use it comfortably.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands. You simply need to load the pod, press an icon and prepare to brew. You'll still have to clean your machine every now and then, but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be stored on the counter when not in use.

The decision of whether a coffee machine is the right choice for you is based on your preferences and what you want to gain from it. The majority of pod machines are easy to operate, however, some provide more options for customization. Be aware of the different coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and frothing options when choosing the best machine.

The most well-known pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some more recent competitors that are worth a look. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods known as B-Pods that can only be used in its machines. The pods are marked by a barcode which is read by the machine to adjust the brewing settings automatically.

This approach means the machine eliminates all the guesswork of brewing a cup and ensures each drink is made perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a dedicated button, allowing you to create them at the push of a button.

Other machines, like Sage's My Way offer a greater degree of control over your coffee, allowing you to choose a specific temperature and size 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 synonymous with Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those who want an extra bit of quality from their pod-based espresso maker.

Some models with larger capacities can also create lungos. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this. It combines the retro fifties styling of SMEG with the retro-fifties design of SMEG Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's not easy at first thanks to the toggles that look like airplanes, however once you've become accustomed to it, it is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be brewed in 30 seconds.

4. Customization

A pod coffee maker's limited customization is a major reason it may not be the best choice for you. If you don't have an additional milk frother then the only option to add more flavor or creaminess is to use a hot chocolate or tea option in your mug, or to manually add milk to 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 coffee maker. It then automatically pre-wettes, infuses and dispenses the correct amount of coffee for the particular kind of pod. It's a user-friendly and hands-off machine that does an excellent job, but lacks options for customising drinks or altering the strength of brew. This will irritate some buyers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso, lungo and mug) will provide exactly what they need.

This coffee maker is very low-maintenance. It's all you have to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate it every time. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs with ease and, as we mentioned the used pods are ejected to a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It is also great at delivering full-bodied coffees with a crema-topped top.

It's a gorgeous machine that is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It is easy to use with a simple panel and can take ground coffee or ESE pods. It's only downside is the absence of a gauge that tells you when you should descale, and the inability to set the maximum level of water. You will also have to purchase the brand's capsules which can be costly. This is a good pod machine for anyone who wants an easy-to-use and stylish appliance that is able to serve at a reasonable cost. This model is compatible with a variety of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.