15 Gifts For The Best Coffee Pod Machine Lover In Your Life
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The Best Coffee Pod Machine
The most sleek pod machine we've seen, this brushed-steel model offers the signature Sage quality and ease of use. It warms up after switching on, and then brews a delicious espresso or a slightly longer lungo in about 30 minutes.
Models for pods are an excellent alternative to bean-to-cup machines. They take the messiest components of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are typically quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with many can make coffee in just 30 seconds or less. But they come at a cost 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 pre-paid UPS labels to return them).
The Nespresso CitiZ has one of the fastest pod machines available due to the barcode scanner which scans each compatible pod's code prior to brewing. This ensures that you get consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is hardly any chance of having a bad drink. The machine is one of the lightest and slimmest on the market. It does not require an additional milk container, and its compact footprint makes it easy to fit into the smallest kitchens.
The CitiZ is not the best machine to minimize the environmental impact. The CitiZ does not have an automatic descaling feature. You'll have to manually descale the machine every 300 cups for hard water, and 1200 cups for soft water. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need replace it with a fresh one. This can be costly for some users.
The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another fast machine that has buttons that can be customized and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods, which are pre-dosed and tampered with grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on the surroundings and its workforce. Its only downside is that it takes a little longer to heat up, but once that happens it can brew a cup in around 35 seconds.
If you're looking for an elegant, stylish machine that can handle a variety of different sizes and styles then take a look at the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. 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 an stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
A pod coffee maker's ease of use is a major selling point and the best models are simple to operate. Most machines rely on the same general process to make your coffee by heating water inside a reservoir, and then pushed through your chosen capsules and extracted to create rich, hot coffee. Most brands offer different sizes of drinks for different needs. You can also save custom settings to streamline the process.
Keurig K-Cups are the biggest brands available on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also offer a large selection of capsules by famous roasters. Certain pods can be used only once before being thrown away, while others can be used several times. You'll need a plan for the pods you've used to avoid them from being thrown away.
The sleek SMEG model we tested features a water tank that is removable and easy to fill and the machine will automatically pour a fresh capsule once the previous one has been cooled. It brews lungo and espresso drinks, and comes with eight different blends that give you plenty of variety. This brewer is perfect for those who love coffee and want to make the switch from drip coffee.
In our tests in our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 proved to be the most enjoyable one to use. Its sleek design looks stunning on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the hidden compartment that holds your empty pods. The machine also has the added benefit of an filtration system for water, which is perfect for hard-water areas.
This machine is easy to use and brews regular coffee (240ml), ristretto, and lungo espresso drinks. The controls are simple to operate, using the style of airplane toggles that can be retracted easily and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into the pod. It requires some effort to close, but the majority of our test subjects even those with weak hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod makers take away all the mess from coffee making. All you have to do is put a pod in the machine, press a button, and let it make coffee. You'll still need 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 equivalents and can be stacked on the counter when not being used.
Whether a coffee pod machine is the right option for you depends on your preferences and what you're looking to get out of it. All pod machines are simple to use, however some have more options for customization than others. Take into consideration the variety of coffee pods as well as brew sizes, milk and frothing options when choosing the best machine.
The most popular pod-based machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However, there are some newer competitors that may be worth looking at. Bruvi uses a bespoke system of pods called B-Pods, which can only be used in its machines. These pods are marked with a barcode, which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This method removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and ensures each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can even save customised drinks to a separate button so you can create them at the push of a button.
Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more control over your cup of coffee than most models, allowing you to select the right size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than many other models, but it has the polished stainless steel build and top-quality customer service that's associated with the brand. It is a great choice for those who want an extra level of quality from their pod-based coffee maker.
While the majority of people will use the pod-based machine to create single-serve drinks however, there are a few larger models that can make longer shots, referred to as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, which is a perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It can be a little intimidating to use thanks to its airplane-style toggles and manual lever, but it's incredibly easy and incredibly satisfying to operate and brews a lungo in only 30 seconds, and the used pods are put into an internal bin at the touch of the button.
4. Customization
One reason a pod coffee maker may not be the best choice for you is its limited customizability. If you don't purchase an additional milk frother, the only methods to add flavor or creaminess is to make use of an in-mug hot chocolate or tea option, and then add milk to your cup manually. This won't be an issue for a lot of people, but could be an issue for those who like a fully automatic experience in the morning.
Bosch's Intellibrew technology utilizes barcode scanners to scan each capsule, and automatically pre-wet, infuse, and disperse the right amount of coffee that is coffee machines capsules appropriate for the kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine that does its job very well but lacks any options for customised drinks or varying the strength of the brew. This might be frustrating for some customers however for others, the easy automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) it gives precisely what they require.
In addition to filling up the water tank and decaffeinating the reservoir on occasion, this coffee maker will not need a lot of maintenance. It can dispense short espresso shots and tall travel mugs easily and, as previously mentioned the used pods are ejected into a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen clean. It also does a fantastic job of providing full-bodied, crema-topped coffees.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s-style range. It's simple to use with an easy-to-use panel of buttons and can be used with both ground coffee and ESE pods. The only issue is that it doesn't have an indicator that lets you know when it's time to descale, and the maximum water level cannot be set which is a minor inconvenience. You'll also have to purchase the brand's own capsules which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is a great pod coffee maker for those looking for a beautiful and functional appliance that will provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable cost. This model can be used with a variety of third-party capsules and also works with the Nespresso Vertuo range.