11 Ways To Completely Sabotage Your Best Coffee Pod Machine
11 Ways To Completely Sabotage Your Best Coffee Pod Machine
Blog Article
The Best Coffee Pod Machine
This sleek, brushed-steel appliance provides the Sage trademark quality and user-friendly. It warms up after switching on, and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in about 30 seconds.
Pod models are an excellent alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest aspects of making coffee off your hands, like grinding and measuring grounds.
1. Fast
Pod machines are generally quicker to set up and use than espresso machines, with most capable of making a cup of coffee in only 30 seconds or so. The pre-portioned pods used in these machines are generally more expensive than freshly roasted coffee beans, and many of them aren't recyclable.
The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the most efficient pod machines available that is available, thanks to its in-built barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod before brewing it. This ensures you get consistently high-quality coffee, every time. There is almost no chance of having a bad drink. It is also among the slimmest and lightest on the market, with no need for an additional milk jug, and a small footprint making it easy to fit into even the tiniest of kitchens.
However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those who want to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn't come with an automatic descaling function, and you'll have to descale it yourself once every 300 cups if you reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water zones. Once the filter cartridge is out, you'll need to replace it with a new. This could be expensive for certain users.
Tassimo Vivy 2 is a speedy machine that has customisable buttons. It can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods which are pre-dosed and tampered grounds compressed between filter paper. It is also B-Corp Certified, which means it is committed to lessening its negative impact on the environment as well as its employees. The only drawback is the time it takes to warm up. Once it is heated it, it can make one cup in just 35 seconds.
If you're looking for a sleek, stylish machine that can handle a range of different sizes and styles, you should look no further than the Vertuo Creatista from Nespresso. This glossy beauty, made in collaboration with Sage it is not only simple and quick to operate but also comes with an ice-cream frothing wand, as well as a stainless steel Jug.
2. Removable parts
The ease of using pod coffee makers is a major advantage. The top models are simple to use. Most machines use the same mechanism to brew the cup of coffee you want that is, heated water is placed in reservoirs, then pushed through capsules to create rich hot, hot java. Most brands offer a range of sizes for drinks to meet different requirements, and you can save custom settings on a number of models to simplify the process further.
Keurig's K-Cups and Nestle's Nespresso VertuoLine series are the two major players in the market, however each offers a wide selection of capsules from the most popular roasters and brands. Some pods are made to be used only once before being get thrown away, whereas others are designed to be used for a variety of purposes. You'll need a strategy for your old pods to prevent them ending up in landfill.
The SMEG we tested comes with a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispenses a new capsule after the previous one cools down. It brews coffee and lungo drinks and comes with eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer is perfect for coffee drinkers who wish to move away from drip coffee.
In our tests, the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most satisfying to use. Its sleek design is a looker on your counter, and it opens with a simple tap to reveal a hidden compartment to store your empty pods. It has an integrated water filter which is perfect for areas with hard water.
This machine is quick and brews regular coffee (240ml) as well as ristretto and lungo espresso drinks. Its intuitive controls are easy to use with the help of switches that resemble airplanes and a lever that retracts without much effort to reveal the space which allows you to drop the pod. It requires some pressure to close, however the majority of our testers who have limited hand strength and mobility, found it comfortable.
3. Size
The best coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply load in a pod, hit the button, and then prepare to brew. You will still need to clean the machine from time to time, but not as frequently as you would with a coffee maker that is a bean-to cup or espresso maker. The pod machines are smaller than their larger counterparts and can be tucked away on the countertop and be stored away from sight when not being used.
The best coffee machine for you will depend on your personal preferences and what you wish to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, however some offer more customisation options than others. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing features should all be considered to find the ideal coffee pod machine for your needs.
The most popular pod-based coffee machines are Nespresso, Keurig and similar brands. However there are a few newer competitors that may be worth a look. One is Bruvi which has a bespoke pod system called B-Pods, which can only be used with its machines. The pods are marked with a barcode that is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.
This means that the machine removes all the guesswork of brewing a cup and ensures each drink comes out perfectly every time. It can save your custom drinks on a button so that you can make them by pressing only one button.
Other machines, like Sage's My Way, offer more control over your cup of coffee than the majority machines, allowing you to choose the right size and temperature for each cup. It's more expensive than other models, but it has the polished stainless-steel build and excellent customer service that is a hallmark of Sage's My Way. This is a good option for those wanting to get a bit more out of their pod-based espresso maker.
Some larger models can also make lungos. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg, a excellent example, blends retro-fifties style from SMEG and Italian coffee brand Lavazza. It's a little intimidating at first thanks to the airplane-style toggles, however once you've become accustomed to it, it is easy and enjoyable to use. A lungo can be made in only 30 seconds.
4. Customization
One reason pod coffee makers might not be right for you is its limited flexibility to customize. If you don't have an additional milk frother, the only way to add flavor or creaminess is to use hot chocolate or tea option in your mug or to manually add milk to your coffee. This shouldn't be a problem for many people, but could be an issue for those who like an entirely automated 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 for that particular kind of pod. It's a simple, hands-off machine which does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or varying brew strength. Some customers will be irritated by this, but many will appreciate the ease of use and the variety of cup sizes (espressos, lungos and mugs) to be exactly what they're looking for.
The coffee maker is extremely low maintenance. It is all you need to do is to fill up the tank with water, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every time. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs effortlessly. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are ejected capsule machine coffee in a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It is also great at delivering full-bodied espressos with tops that are topped with crema.
This machine is part Smeg's 1950s-style range. It is easy to use with a simple interface and can accommodate ground coffee or ESE pods. Its only flaw is the absence of a display that lets you know when it's time to descale, as well as the inability to set the maximum level of water. You'll also have to purchase the capsules made by the company which can be costly. However, this is a great pod coffee maker for those looking for an attractive and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee at a reasonable price. For those who want a little more variety, a broad selection of third-party capsules is available for this model, and it's compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo line.