Five Best Coffee Pod Machine Lessons From Professionals

How to Choose the Best Coffee Pod Machine

A pod machine is a fantastic option if you want to get a quick and messy morning cup of coffee. How do you pick the right one?

With  best bean to cup coffee machine  to retro design, this machine sports the SMEG and Lavazza branding across its front. It's more expensive and will take up a lot of space on your counter. It's a high-performance pod coffee maker that is solid.

1. Nespresso Compatible

If you are a Nespresso lover, you will want to select a coffee maker that can work with the capsules made by this brand. You might also want to choose models that work with different types of capsules too, like organic and Fairtrade options or specialty flavoured pods. They're usually sold at an equivalent price to the original ones, and some even include an integrated milk frother which allows you to make a cappuccino or latte.

The entry of Bruvi into the pod machine market in 2022 was greeted with excitement. This brightly-coloured device promised a variety of drink choices and a more satisfying cup of coffee than other pod machine, and pods that you could throw away without worrying about the environment.

It is a success on every single point. The pod coffee maker is small and inexpensive and yet produces an incredibly rich and robust cup of espresso every time. It's also among the most silent models available and you can prepare a cup of Joe before your morning alarm rings.

The Bruvi is available in two sizes and can be adjusted based on the type of beverage that you are making. It has three settings for temperature and texture of the milk when brewing the cappuccino or lattes. It can even brew hot chocolate, which is great for adults and kids who just want to warm themselves and relax.

Another major plus is the programmable sleep mode, which switches to standby after an hour of no use. It's also easy to clean and uses a minimal amount of water. If you're looking to keep your electricity costs low, you should consider purchasing an appliance that has a removable capsule holder for easier emptying.

There are a few other accessories that you can add to your coffee pod machine like a milk froth (unless it's included in the model you buy). Other items you may want to consider are a reusable filter for use with reusable capsules as well as a water kettle or thermometer for precise temperature control and an insulated travel mug.

2. Easy to Clean

A coffee pod machine is a convenient method to start your morning with a hot cup coffee. Simply load a pod, switch on and in a minute or two you'll have a freshly brewed beverage. These machines are also easy to clean and most of them don't require daily maintenance -- simply refilling the water tank and descaling every six months or so.

Keurig's K-Cups offer the widest selection on the market. They include national brands like Folgers and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters as along with grocery store favorites Dunkin' Donuts and Dunkin' Donuts. There are even some non-coffee options, such as tea and hot cocoa, available in K-Cups from various brands. You don't have to make use of Keurig K-Cups for a great cup. You can also make it with disposable filter capsules that are made of plastic or paper and can hold ground coffee, drippods that are pre-loaded, or loose grounds of coffee.

Many of these pod-based machines don't produce a rich strong brew that will be able to stand up to the most discerning taste. During our testing, we found certain pod coffee makers to produce watery or bitter cups of coffee. Some were difficult to use, taking up valuable counter space, and also running very loudly.

Fortunately, there are now several high-quality pod coffee makers that provide the ease of use and consistency of a single-serve machine without the sour taste and flimsy packaging. Some models have a built-in frother to make a froth and pour your cappuccino or latte, while others come with an extra frother that can connect to the machine to add an amazing frothy topping to your beverage.

In addition to producing an excellent cup of coffee the newer pod coffee machines have taken steps to address the growing concerns about environmental impact that come with using plastic-based single-serve pods. Both Keurig and Nespresso have made their aluminum pods recyclable by replacing them with polypropylene and the latter also offers free capsule-recycling bags which can be picked up at any of its retail outlets or UPS locations. A recently launched competitor, Bruvi, uses its own pods that can only be used in its own brewer and are designed to be able to break down quickly in landfills and without leaving microplastics behind.

3. Fast Brewing

If you do not want to deal with the grind of beans or boiling the kettle the pod coffee machine can be a lifesaver. These fool-proof machines allow you to brew coffee, tea or espresso in just a few minutes, without having to clean up. These machines create more waste than drip-style counterparts, but they are still much more simple to use than brewing whole beans in a French Press or Pour-Over.

A startup based in LA called Bruvi has launched its BV-01 pod-based machine at the end of 2022. It promised to create superior single serve coffee that tastes better, offer more drinks options than pod-based machines and provide reusable capsules which could be removed without breaking down into tiny microplastics. While the Bruvi brewer will cost more than Keurig or Nespresso but it is a great device in all aspects that is like the dawning of a new age in pod coffee.

When you are buying a coffee pod machine the size of the serving is a key factor to take into account. Certain models can make single-serve cups in a variety of sizes, ranging from huge travel mugs, to 2-ounce espresso shots. Other machines can brew entire pots of coffee, and some come with a milk frother to allow you to add a smooth cappuccino or latte into your morning cup of joe.

Another aspect to be considered is the design of a pod coffee maker. The color and finish of the machine and the size and location of the water reservoir and pod compartment will affect the way your machine appears on your counter. Some brands also offer a variety of colored pods that allow you to change up your drink to suit the season or your mood.

Pod coffee makers tend to be compact and occupy less space than single-serve or drip brewers. While a smaller footprint might be desirable, it's also important that your machine has the capacity to make multiple cups between refills. For the average home water tank, one that holds at least 40 ounces should suffice for the majority of pod coffee makers.

4. Variety of Drinks

Pod machines are surprisingly versatile, and depending on the brand, they can make a variety of drinks. Some brands, such as Keurig, which is a well-known system and Sage's Nespresso collaboration, can make four different sizes of drinks, while others offer just one or two. Some machines can also make tea, hot chocolate and cold drinks.

Some pod coffee machines come with built-in milk frothers that can create cappuccinos, lattes and other frothy drinks. Others, however, need an additional or conjoined jug for this purpose. The best milk-frothing coffee machines are easy to operate and provide precise control. They also feature a sleek design which fits into any kitchen.

The Grind One is a great example. It's a sleek design that's a step away from the curves that you see on other pod coffee makers. It is smaller than the majority of Keurig models making it a great choice for those who have small kitchens or dorm rooms. The water tank is simple to access and can hold up to 40 pounds. The machine is able to automatically deposit used capsules in a container which is attached to the machine. Apart from maintaining the reservoir and decaling it every six months, minimal maintenance is required.

The machine is more expensive than many of the other models we've reviewed however, it provides a superior experience. The brushed stainless steel finish is sleek and modern The drip tray can be adjusted to fit short espresso cups or tall travel mugs. It can brew five different beverages, due to a custom barcode system that scans every compatible pod and automatically adjusts its settings to create the perfect cup.

This is the best-looking coffee pod maker we've tested and has a great tasting beverage, particularly for an automatic. We didn't give this machine the top spot due to the fact that it has limited milk-frothing abilities. Its only option is to use dried, skimmed milk capsules, which do not taste as good as freshly squeezed milk. We would have awarded this pod machine top marks in the event that it had an integrated milk frother.