How to Choose the Best Coffee Pod Machine
A pod machine is an excellent option if you want to have a quick and messy morning coffee fix. But how do you pick the best one?
This machine has a retro style and sports the SMEG Lavazza logos on its front. It is more expensive and requires a large space on your counter. It's a premium pod coffee maker that feels solid.
1. Nespresso Compatible
If you're a Nespresso fan, you'll need to select a coffee pod machine that's compatible with the capsules of the brand. It's possible to select a model which can also use other capsules, including organic and Fairtrade or special flavored pods. These are often available for an equivalent price to the originals and some come with an inbuilt milk frother, which allows you to make an espresso or cappuccino.
Bruvi's entry into the pod machine market in 2022 was greeted with excitement. The vibrantly-colored machine promised three things: a more flavorful cup of coffee than other pod machines, a vast variety of drink options, and pods you could toss in the garbage without worrying about the environmental impact.
It's a three-pronged winner. This compact pod coffee machine is reasonably priced and produces a rich, robust espresso every time. It's one of the quietest machines on the market. You can make coffee Joe even before your alarm sounds.
The Bruvi is available in two sizes and can be adjusted based on the type of drink you're making. If you're brewing a latte or cappuccino, it has three texture and temperature settings for the milk so you can make your froth. It also makes hot cocoa, which is great for kids and adults who are looking to relax.
Another major plus is the programmable sleep mode, which goes to standby after a period of one hour of non-use. It's also easy to clean and consumes only a small amount of water. Think about a machine with an open capsule holder that can be removed to make emptying the capsule easier.
There are a few other accessories you can add to your coffee pod machine, including a milk frother (unless it's part of the model you purchase). Other things to look into include the possibility of a reusable filter to use with capsules that are reusable as well as a water kettle or thermometer for precise temperature control, and an insulated travel cup.
2. Easy to Clean
A coffee pod machine is a convenient way to start your morning with a hot cup coffee. In just a few minutes, you can have a freshly-brewed drink. Just add a pod and then turn it on. These machines are also very easy to clean, and most of them don't require daily maintenance -- simply refilling the water tank and descaling every six months or more.
Keurig's K-Cups offer the largest selection of choices available, including national brands and supermarket favorites such as Folgers, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and Dunkin' Donuts. There are also some non-coffee options, such as hot cocoa and tea, available in K-Cups from various brands. It's not necessary to use Keurig K-Cups to enjoy a great cup. You can also make it using filters that are reusable and made of paper or plastic and hold ground coffee, pre-loaded drippods, or loose grounds of coffee.
But a lot of these machines aren't known for delivering a strong, rich brew that can stand up to the most discerning palate. During our testing, we found certain pod coffee makers to produce watery or bitter cups of coffee. Others were so difficult to operate that they occupied a lot of space on your counter, and they were also likely to run loudly.
There are high-end coffee makers that provide the convenience and consistency of single-serve machines without the wasteful packaging and disappointing taste. Some have a built-in milk frother that allows you to foam and pour your cappuccino or latte, while others have separate frothers that which you can connect to the machine to create an amazing foamy top to your drinks.
In addition to making an excellent cup of coffee, these newer pod coffee machines have taken steps to address the growing environmental concerns caused by plastic-based single-serve pods. Both Keurig and Nespresso have made their aluminum pods more recyclable by replacing them with polypropylene and the latter now offers free capsule recycling bags which can be picked up at any of its retail outlets or UPS stores. A competitor that was recently launched, Bruvi, uses its own pods that can only be used in its own brewer. They are designed to break down in landfills quickly and leave no microplastics behind.
3. Fast Brewing
If you don't want the grind of beans or boiling a kettle, a pod coffee maker can be a real lifesaver. These nifty devices can make your cup of espresso, coffee or tea in just minutes with no clean up. These machines create more waste than their drip-style counterparts but are still much more simple to use than making whole beans in a French Press or Pour-Over.
In the late 2022's, a startup based in Los Angeles named Bruvi introduced its BV-01 coffee pod machine. It promised to produce superior single serve coffee that tastes better, offer more drinks options than pod-based machines and provide recyclable capsules that could be taken away without breaking into tiny microplastics. Although the Bruvi brewer is more than Keurig or Nespresso but it is a fantastic device that is like the dawning of a new era in pod coffee.
One of the biggest things to take into consideration when buying a coffee maker is the size of the serving. Some models produce single-serve cups with different sizes, ranging from large travel mugs, to 2-ounce espresso shots. Other machines can make entire pots of coffee, and some even have a milk frother to allow you to make a delicious cappuccino or latte to your morning cup of joe.
The design of a coffee pod maker is a different aspect to consider. The color and the finish of the machine, as well as the placement and size of the reservoir and pod compartment will determine how your machine looks on your counter. Some brands offer different colored pods, so you can change your drink to suit the season or mood.
Pod coffee makers tend to be compact and take up less space than drip or single-serve brewers. While a smaller footprint is nice however, it's essential to ensure that your machine is able to make several cups between refills. Most pod coffee makers should work with a water tank of at 40 ounces at the minimum for an average household.
4. Variety of Drinks
Pod machines are surprisingly versatile, and depending on the manufacturer, they can make a variety of drinks. Certain brands, like Keurig, which is a well-known system and Sage's Nespresso collaboration, can brew four different sizes of drinks, whereas others only offer one or two. Some machines can also brew tea, hot cocoa and cold drinks.
Certain pod coffee machines have built-in milk frothers which can make cappuccinos, lattes and other drinks that are frothy. Some, however, require a separate or conjoined milk jug to accomplish this. The best pod coffee makers for milk-frothing have precise control and user-friendliness, as well as a sleek design that fits in with any kitchen.
The Grind One is a great example. Its minimalist design is a step away from the curves that are seen on other pod coffee machines. It's also smaller than most Keurigs, which makes it ideal for small kitchens and dorms. The reservoir can hold up to 40 ounces and is easy to access. The machine automatically deposits used capsules in a container which is attached to the machine. Apart from maintaining linked resource site and decaling it every six months, minimal maintenance is required.
This machine is more expensive than some of the other models we've reviewed however, it provides a superior experience. The stainless steel finish brushed is modern and sleek, while the drip tray can be adjusted to fit shorter espresso cups or tall travel cups. It can brew five different drinks, due to a custom barcode system that scans each compatible pod and automatically adjusts its settings to make the perfect cup.
This is the best-looking machine we've tested. It also produces delicious tasting brews - especially for an automatic. We didn't award this machine the top spot because it's not able to milk froth. The only option is to use dried, skimmed milk capsules that do not taste as good as freshly squeezed milk. We would have given this pod machine high marks with an integrated milk frother.