Pod Coffee Machine: The Ugly Truth About Pod Coffee Machine
Pod Coffee Machine: The Ugly Truth About Pod Coffee Machine
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The Best Pod Coffee Machines
With pod coffee machines, you place a sealed capsule with ground or roasted beans into the machine. The coffee is then poured through for a specified time period to create your beverage.
Some pod coffee machines offer different sizes of cups and the ability to froth milk. The ideal pod maker for you will depend on your lifestyle and personal preferences.
1. Keurig K-Select
If you're looking for a basic Keurig coffee maker that doesn't have all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, this one is a good option. It's simple to use and has a great look. When not in use it can be hidden away in the kitchen.
The machine can be noisy but that's not a major issue. It is small enough to fit on a counter with a small space. If you're looking for a Keurig with a greater variety of sizes, or a carafe to drip-brew your coffee, you may want to consider other options.
The Keurig K-Select single serve coffee maker combines sleek design with more intuitive features to help you make your perfect cup every time. Choose from a wide selection of delicious K-Cup pods, or brew your own ground coffee with My-K-Cup's universal coffee filter that can be reused (sold separately). Strong Brew increases the intensity and the strength of your coffee, making it an ideal option for those who enjoy strong coffee.
This brewer is simple to use, with simple buttons. Insert the K-Cup, select your desired size of brew, and press to brew. In less than a minute, you'll have freshly brewed coffee. The large reservoir of 52 ounces allows you to brew five cups before refilling, making it easier to manage your morning routine.
The machine is simple to clean, with an easily accessible reservoir for water and a lid that can be easily washed. But, you must clean your Keurig prior to cleaning it, and follow the instructions in the user's guide to ensure that your machine is operating at its peak. This warranty covers all original accessories and the brewer, with the exception of for normal wear, abuse or misuse, and external causes such as power outages.
2. Tassimo My Way
This is the ideal choice for coffee lovers looking for a machine that does more than just make your typical cup. It's designed to create a wide variety of drinks including tea and hot chocolate and features a large 1.3 millilitre water tank that allows you to brew multiple cups at once. The machine can be warmed up in three seconds, and it comes with a built-in milk container that allows you to make latte and cappuccino. It also has a touch-sensitive LCD that allows you to set the intensity, temperature and quantity of your preferred beverage.
The Tassimo My Way uses the brand's T Discs that contain everything you require for your desired drink. There are more than 70 different varieties to choose from, ranging from brands such as Kenco and Costa to Costa, Milka and Cadbury's. The machine also provides a selection of T Discs for hot chocolate and tea as well.
We discovered the coffee it produced to be of a good quality, although just a little less than some of the other pod machines in this round-up. It also produced a creamy mouthfeel and steaming milk to make caffe lattes in a short time. It is important to note that the milk's frothy texture contains sugar that, while not a major issue however, might not be to everyone's liking.
Tassimo Myway's removable parts, the drip tray and the water tank are dishwasher-safe. A Brita filter is included, as is a cleaning disk. A useful indicator light will inform you when you need to descale. water tanks will help keep the limescale to the minimum. The machine is certified Energy Star, which helps reduce its electricity consumption 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 durable and attractive materials. It has a sleek steam wand that can be adjusted to make cappuccinos or lattes, and a stainless-steel milk jug. The machine will brew espresso lungos, double espressos, gran lungos, mugs and altos, all with thick layers of frosting.
As with all pod machines you load the pod through an opening on the top and then drop it into place. The machine punctures the capsule and then closes it. When you press the lever, the used pod will fall into a designated spent Pod tray underneath the drip tray.
It's not the fastest to brew espresso. It takes 30 seconds for one shot and 90 seconds for the lungo. However, the results are always impressive with a smooth, rich flavor and great crema. The machine will also notify you when the water tank or pod bin requires refilling.
One of the main selling points for this machine is the ability to use it with any Lavazza-branded pod Seven pods are available in total 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 plan that combines the pod coffee machine with a pod delivery service it could come at a similar price to a traditional bean-to-cup machine. Its slimline design means it can be tucked away in the smallest kitchens, while the pods themselves are industrially compostable, which means you can place them in your council food waste bins or your own garden compost.
4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine
Nespresso machines are some of the best pod coffee makers for those who are looking for quick steady, reliable, and consistent drink. They heat up quickly and are incredibly simple to use. Simply insert a capsule, press a button and you're done. They produce an extremely creamy, rich crema that can be added to drinks for more flavor and a thicker layer. The official pods are not cheap and you will have to purchase them.
The Vertuo line is based on an entirely different method of technology from OriginalLine machines that work with espresso capsules (and remain in operation). They read each capsule's barcode, automatically adapting the brewing parameters to create a perfect cup. They also feature a centrifusion mechanism that spins the capsule to get the best flavors and the most thick crema.
That said that, the machines aren't as user-friendly as our other choices. The lid only opens when the machine is ready coffee machine for pods and it takes around 30 seconds for the capsule to warm up. The machine doesn't come with a milk frother like the other pod coffee makers on this list, so you'll have to shell out an additional PS90 or so to buy an additional Aeroccino for those who want to make lattes or cappuccinos.
They also require more maintenance than other models - refilling the water tank and emptying used pod containers and descaling - however, they have an app that reminds you to complete these tasks, and provides tools like capsule recyclers and store locators. If you connect your machine to an IntelliPort you can use voice commands to control it which is a nice touch if you're making coffee in the dark at 4am, or have a weak hand.
5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine
This sleek pod coffee maker is the product of a cherished Italian brand and a well-known kitchen appliance company. It has the modern, sleek curves SMEG are known for, and can make both espresso and lungo drinks. It has a programmable setting for the shot, dual-height dripping trays, and pod bins that can be removed.
This coffee maker makes it easy to whip up an instant cup of single-shot or double-shot espresso in the morning, or for a lungo during breaks at work. Its simple control panel makes it appear elegant and doesn't take away from its function. It comes with three baskets that can be swapped for different types of capsules. You can use loose-ground beans (although 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 which can froth cow and soymilk well. It also comes with the portafilter 51mm which is smaller than a standard commercial-style filter. It's pressurized which is great because it eliminates the stale, lingering grind taste. It also comes with a plastic tamper which doubles as a scoop.
The SMEG is one of the most expensive pod machines we've reviewed, but it's definitely worth it if you're a lover of the retro design or like the ability to make espresso-based drinks. It's also a great choice when you're just beginning to learn about the world of making coffee and don't want to go through the hassle of measuring, grinding and the process of tamping your own beans.