The Best Coffee Pod Machine

The most sleek pod machine we've seen this model with brushed-steel features the signature Sage quality and ease of use. It preheats after switch-on, and then brews a delicious espresso or a little longer lungo in about 30 seconds.

As opposed to bean-to-cup machines, pod models take the messiest aspects of coffee-making out of your hands, such as grinding and dosing grounds.

1. Speedy

Pod machines are typically quicker to install and use than espresso machines, with many capable of making coffee in just 30 seconds or less. But they come at an expense as the pre-portioned pods of coffee used in these models are generally more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer free recycling bags and prepaid UPS labels for returning them).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines that is available due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This allows you to get consistent high-quality, high-end coffee every time, with virtually no chance of a drink coming out horribly wrong. The machine is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.

The CitiZ is not the best machine to minimize your environmental impact. It doesn't have an automated descaling function and you'll need to clean it yourself every 300 cups if you reside in hard water areas or 1200 cups in soft water areas. You'll also have to put in a new filter cartridge once this runs out and can be expensive for some users.

Tassimo Vivy 2 is a fast machine that can be customized with buttons. It can be used with either ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed, tampered grounds compressed 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. The only downside is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in just 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish, sleek machine that can make a variety drinks in different sizes and styles. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage it is not only easy to use and quick to start, but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as an stainless steel Jug.

2. Removable parts

A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a major selling point and the top models are a breeze to use. The majority of machines use the same basic process to make your coffee by heating water inside a reservoir, then pressured through the capsules you choose and extracted to produce rich hot coffee. Many brands offer a variety of sizes of drinks to meet different needs, and you can save custom settings on many models to simplify the process even further.

Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major brands on the market, but both offer a variety of capsules from top roasters and brands. Some pods are able to be used only once before they are discarded and others can be used a number of times. You'll need a plan for your used pods to avoid them ending up in landfill.

The SMEG we tested comes with a removable reservoir of water that is simple to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can make lungo and espresso drinks and comes with eight different blends to offer the variety. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee.

In our testing, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design is beautiful on your counter, and it can be opened in a matter of seconds to reveal the hidden compartment that houses your empty pods. It has a water filter system that is ideal for areas with hard water.

This machine brews a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as ristretto and lungo espresso-style drinks and is surprisingly fast. The controls are simple to use, with the style of airplane toggles that can be easily retracted and a lever that retracts to reveal the opening for dropping into the pod. It takes a bit of effort to close, but our testers, even those with weak hand and mobility, found it comfortable.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines remove all the messes of making coffee out of your hands. You simply put in the pod, press an icon and prepare to brew. It is still necessary to clean your machine occasionally, but not as often as a bean-to-cup or espresso maker. Pod machines are smaller than their larger equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not in use.

The right coffee pod machine for you will be determined by your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are simple to use, but others offer more customization options. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods, brew sizes and milk options for frothing when picking the right machine.

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

This approach means the machine takes all the guesswork out of brewing a cup and guarantees that every drink is made perfectly every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button, so that you can create them with one button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer greater control over your cup of coffee than most, letting you choose the right size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless steel construction and superior customer service that is synonymous with the brand. This is a great option for those who want something more from their espresso maker that is based on pods.

While most people will use a pod-based machine to make single-serve drinks, there are some larger models that can also create longer shots, also known as lungos, too. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is an excellent example of this and is a combination of the retro style of SMEG with the classic design of Italian coffee maker, Lavazza. It's a bit intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, but once you get used to it, it is quick and easy to use. A lungo can be made in just 30 minutes.

4. Customization

One reason a pod coffee maker may not be the right choice for you is its lack of customizability. If you don't have an additional milk frother, then the only way 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 pod machines. For many people this won't be a problem however it could be a nagging issue for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew technology makes use of a barcode reader to scan each capsule and automatically pre-wet, infuse and dispense the correct volume of coffee machines capsules that is appropriate for the type of pod. It's a hands-free, easy-to-use machine that performs its job flawlessly, but does not have any options for making drinks that are customized or for varying the strength of brew. Some customers will be irritated by this, but many will find the convenience and variety of cup sizes (espressos and lungos, as well as mugs) to be exactly what they are searching for.

The coffee maker is extremely low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the water tank and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every time. It can dispense short espresso shots or tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected in an unnoticed container which 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 collection. It's user-friendly with simple buttons and can be used with both ground coffee and ESE pods. Its only flaw is the lack of a display that will let you know when you should descale, and the inability to set a maximum water level. You also need to buy the brand's capsules which can be costly. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third-party manufacturers and works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.