The best coffee pod machine (Keep Reading)

This sleek, brushed-steel machine offers the Sage brand's distinctive quality and ease of operation. It heats up immediately after switching on and then brews a delicious espresso or slightly longer lungo in 30 seconds.

Models for pods are a great alternative to bean-to cup machines. They take the messiest components of making coffee off your hands, including grinding and measuring grounds.

1. Fast

Pod machines are typically quicker to setup and use than espresso machines, with the majority capable of making coffee in 30 seconds or less. But they do come at a cost: the pre-portioned coffee machines capsules pods used in these models tend to be more expensive than freshly roasted beans, and they're not always recyclable (though certain companies now offer recycling bags for free and UPS labels to return them).

The Nespresso CitiZ is one of the fastest pod machines on the market due to its built-in barcode scanner that scans the code of each compatible pod prior to making it. This ensures consistently top-quality coffee every time. There is virtually no possibility of getting a poor beverage. It's also among the slimmest and lightest available, with no need for an additional milk jug or its small footprint making it a breeze to fit into even the tiniest kitchen.

However, the CitiZ isn't the ideal machine for those who want to reduce their environmental impact. It doesn't have an automatic descaling function and you'll need to clean it yourself every 300 cups if reside in hard water, or 1200 cups in soft water areas. When the filter cartridge wears out, you'll need replace it with a fresh one. This could be expensive for some users.

The Tassimo Vivy 2 is another speedy machine with customisable buttons and the option of using ground coffee or ESE pods that are pre-dosed and tampered grounds squeezed between filter paper. This model is B-Corp Certified. It is committed to reducing the negative impact it has on its surroundings and its workforce. The only downside is the time it takes to heat up. Once it is heated, it can brew one cup in around 35 seconds.

Vertuo Creatista is a stylish sleek machine that is able to create a variety of drinks in different sizes and styles. This sleek machine designed in collaboration with Sage is not only easy to use, but it also comes with an ice cream wand stainless steel jug and milk frother.

2. Removable parts

The user-friendliness is a major draw and the top models are a breeze to use. The majority of machines use the same basic mechanism to brew your cup the water is heated inside a reservoir, and then pushed through the chosen capsules and extracted to form rich hot coffee. The majority of brands offer a variety of drink sizes to suit different needs, and you can save your own settings on a number of models to speed up the process further.

Keurig K-Cups are among the largest player on the market. However, Nestle Nespresso VertuoLine capsules also have a wide selection of capsules from well-known roasters. Some pods are designed to be used only once before being be thrown away, while others are designed for multiple uses. Whatever the case, you'll need to plan out how you'll deal with the pods you've used up so that they don't end up in landfill.

The SMEG we tested has a removable reservoir of water that is easy to fill. It also automatically dispensates an additional capsule once the previous one cools down. It can be used to brew coffee and lungo drinks and comes with a set of eight different blends that provide plenty of options. This brewer will appeal to those who love coffee and want to move away from drip coffee.

In our tests of the Tassimo My Way 2 was the most enjoyable to use. Its sleek design looks great on your counter and can be opened with a single touch to reveal the compartment that stores your empty pods. The machine has an integrated water filter that is perfect for areas that have hard water.

This machine is able to make a standard cup of coffee (240ml) and also serves as lungo and ristretto espresso-style drinks and is extremely fast. The controls are easy to operate, with the style of airplane toggles that can be easily pulled back and a lever which retracts to reveal the opening to drop into the pod. It takes a bit of force to close, but our test subjects, even those with limitations in hand strength and mobility were able to use it comfortably.

3. Size

The best coffee pod machines take all the messy parts of coffee making out of your hands - you simply put in the pod, press the button, and then prepare to brew. 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 also smaller than their bigger counterparts, so they can fit on the countertop and be stored away from view when not in use.

The best coffee machine for you will be determined by your preferences and the goals you'd like to achieve. All pod machines are easy to use, but certain models offer more customization options than others. Pod variety, brew size options, and milk frothing capabilities must be taken into consideration to determine the best coffee pod machine for you.

Many people associate pod-based machines with the likes of Nespresso and Keurig However, there are a few newer rivals which are worth looking into. One is Bruvi which makes use of an exclusive pod making machines system called B-Pods that can only be used in conjunction with its machines. The pods are marked by a barcode which is scanned by the machine to adjust the brewing parameters automatically.

The machine will eliminate all the guesswork out of it and ensure that every drink is perfect every time. It can save your customised drinks on a button so that you can create them using one button.

Other machines, such as Sage's My Way, offer more granular control over your coffee than others machines, allowing you to choose a specific size and temperature for each beverage. It's a little more expensive than some models, but it comes with the polished stainless steel build and the excellent customer service that is synonymous with the brand and is a solid choice for those who need a bit more from their pod-based coffee maker.

While most people are using pod-based machines to make single-serve beverages There are some larger models that are able to create longer shots, also known as lungos, also. Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg is a perfect example, blends retro style of the fifties from SMEG and Italian coffee maker Lavazza. It's a little intimidating initially due to the toggles that look like airplanes, but once you get used to it, the machine is quick and satisfying to use. A lungo can be made in just 30 seconds.

4. Customization

The limited capabilities of a pod coffee maker's customization is a major reason it's not the best option for you. Unless you purchase an additional milk frother, the only methods to add extra flavor or creaminess is to make use of a hot chocolate in-mug or tea option and add milk to your cup manually. For most people, this shouldn't be a problem, but it could be a problem for those who prefer an automated experience in the morning.

Bosch's Intellibrew makes use of barcode scanners to scan each capsule coffee makers. It then automatically pre-wets and infuses the correct amount of coffee machines for pods to the specific type of pod. It's a user-friendly and hands-off machine that does a great job but isn't able to customize drinks or varying brew strength. This might be frustrating for some customers but for others, the simple automation and variety of cup lengths (espresso lungo, espresso and mug) will provide precisely what they require.

This coffee maker is low-maintenance. It is all you need to do is to refill the water tank, and decaffeinate the reservoir each and every once in a while. It is able to serve espresso-style shots and tall travel mugs easily. As mentioned earlier, the used pods are then ejected from a hidden container that helps keep your kitchen tidy. It is also excellent at delivering full-bodied coffees with tops that are topped with crema.

This is a beautiful-looking machine that is part of Smeg's fifties-style range. It's simple to use with an easy-to-use panel of buttons, and it can handle ground coffee as well as ESE pods. The only drawback is that it lacks an indicator that lets you know when it's time for descale. Also, the maximum water level cannot be set, which is a minor issue. You will also have to buy the capsules of the brand, which can be costly. Nevertheless, this is a great pod coffee maker for those seeking a stylish and practical appliance that can provide them with quality coffee at an affordable price. This model is compatible with a range of capsules from third-party manufacturers and is compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo range.