Ten Best Coffee Machine Pods That Really Make Your Life Better

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Pod coffee machines can alleviate the stress of getting your morning coffee fix. They are quicker than traditional machines due to the fact that they use pre-packaged pods that serve espresso or ground coffee.

If you are looking for the best pod coffee machine, select one that has the best options for adjusting drink sizes and temperatures. Also, make sure that the machine can accommodate reused pods.

1. Nespresso Vertuo

Nespresso is a leader in pod-brewing and is a favorite of coffee lovers. The machines and capsules of the company are highly rated in terms of quality and sustainability. The capsules are made from 80 percent recycled material and can be composted. They contain less plastic and have a lower carbon footprint than traditional coffee bags. Additionally, Nespresso partners with green-certified organisations to promote responsible farming and fair working conditions.

The Nespresso Vertuo range includes several machines that make a rich and delicious cup of coffee or espresso with a great crema. VertuoPlus Deluxe and VertuoPlus models have advanced features, like automatic milk heating as well as customizable drink settings. These machines are easy-to-use and have a sleek design that looks stunning on your kitchen counter.

Both the X and Deluxe models have a large reservoir of water and a slim machine body. Centrifusion, a brand new extraction technique, utilizes up to 7,500 revolutions per minute for brewing the coffee or espresso. This produces a smooth, consistent crema that is highly saturated even in smaller cups.

Nespresso's capsules may be a little more expensive than the third-party pods that are available in grocery stores and online retailers, but they have many different flavors and intensities to select from. The company also offers limited-edition products. The machines are easy to use, and the Vertuoline is less complicated than the original Nespresso which produces only espresso.

The Vertuoline also offers two different sizes of capsules - the smaller espresso size and the gran lungo size -- for those who prefer shorter drinks. The larger alto and mug capsules are ideal for rich cups that require more intensely roasted coffee. The Nespresso Vertuoline makes a great cup of drip coffee, which is different from some other pod machines that we tested.

2. Illy X7.1

This pod coffee machine is a top-quality machine made from tough and attractive materials. It's a bit more expensive than the other machines we have tested, but it delivers excellent, reliable performance with an attractive design that will be a perfect fit for any kitchen.

The X7.1 utilizes a patent-pending system that reads the barcode on every capsule to determine their identity. It is then pre-wets it and infuses the proper amount of distillate water. This is a huge plus for those who want to enjoy hassle-free automation. It may frustrate users who prefer to tweak settings and choose their own brew size and strength. The machine is able to serve espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, alto and mug drinks with a fine layer of crema.

The X7.1 isn't just an absolute standout in its brewing technology but also for its other features. It is one of only a handful of coffee makers we tested to offer an adjustable height tray that can be used to adjust the size and shape the coffee mug. It also comes with a stainless-steel milk jug for making cappuccinos or lattes. The X7.1 includes an energy-saving sleeping mode as well as a detachable holder for pods that makes cleaning simpler.

It's compatible with the majority of Keurig K-Cups and Nespresso capsules and Bruvi's own B-Pods. These pods differ from K-Cups and other popular pods as they are made of ground coffee instead of a tea bag and they contain more caffeine than regular coffee. The Bruvi also has app compatibility and can be set to brew at a remote location and on a time. It also comes with a handy steam wand that can be used to make frosty cappuccinos and lattes.

3. Grind One

If you're not a big fan of the plastic Nespresso pods or are looking for something that isn't quite as bulky, then the Stockholm-designed Grind One may be the best bean to cup coffee machine option for you. Two members of the Real Homes' team have tested it in their kitchens, and both are awestruck by it. It's a sleek stainless-steel geometric machine that looks stylish and is extremely easy to use. It's as simple as putting a coffee pod into the inlet, select either an express or lungo and press a button. The light that flashes indicates whether the coffee is in the process of brewing or is ready. There's no steam wand or milk carafe, but you can add toppings to your coffee with hot or cold milk if you like.

The beauty of this machine is that it's designed to work with Grind's own recyclable, plastic-free and compostable coffee pods. This means you're not only reducing your coffee waste (which can take hundreds of years to degrade) but the pods themselves have zero plastic and are organic. They cost about 50p each and you can throw them into your garden compost or in your food waste bin once they are empty.

The Grind One is PS275, and you can buy a bundle with a milk frother to it for an additional PS325. It is more expensive than other Nespresso pod machines, but it is an elegant, well-designed, and versatile machine. It's also the most compact of the bunch, which means it won't take up too much countertop space, and it has a raised drip tray that connects to a series of notches next to the waste bin to allow height adjustment.

4. Grind 2

This pod machine is perfect for those who love an espresso-like coffee in a snap. It can brew either one shot that is short or a longer shot, with three different extraction settings and temperature. Our coffee enthusiast was enthralled by its ability to create an excellent espresso. Its temperature and crema (which should have a chestnut hue that lasts until the final sip and is a warm shade of brown) were excellent. Its elegant design, as well its durable and attractive materials, helped it stand out among the crowd.

Our coffee lover also tried the Grind One to see if it was simple to use. The switch is heavy-duty and is a pleasant touch with the option to programme your preferred short or long shot, and a crisp display. You can also choose to automatically pour a shot of hot water with the espresso, which helps the grounds settle and improves the flavor of your beverage. A useful milk frother is included, making this pod coffee maker an ideal all-rounder.

These machines also take out the sloppy parts of espresso making like grinding dosing, tamping, and dosing of the beans. It also reduces the amount of equipment that needs to be cleaned and recycled. This makes them a good choice for those with small kitchen spaces. If you're looking to broaden your options, a separate milk frother will allow you to make cappuccinos and lattes as well. Alternately, you can opt for an manual coffee maker, such as the Aeropress which offers an environment-friendly design with a richer taste than machines can provide. However, it requires more effort on your part, so we wouldn't recommend it for everyone.

5. Lavazza Idola

This model is not as expensive as the Lavazza Voicy pod machine however, it's a great choice for those who like espresso coffee, ristretto, or caffe longo. It's also one of the quietest machines so you can sip your morning cup of coffee while your kids are asleep.

You can program a cup size that is suitable for your taste and choose to boost the temperature to help the brew to go through faster by pressing a button. You can also keep track on maintenance by getting alerts when the capsule bin is empty or the water tank needs to be topped off.

The machine does not do any frothing, however you can make cappuccinos as well as flat whites using separate milk containers. There are plenty of positive reviews from buyers on Amazon and at John Lewis. They laud the quiet operation as well as the flexible choices offered by the machine, including different lengths of brews and an adequate capacity for capsules that have been used.

There aren't many customer reviews but the consensus is that it is an excellent pod coffee machine if you like a simple set-up. It's a bit more expensive than the Nespresso Vertuo Pop, but it comes with excellent tasting Lavazza pods and is among the quietest machines available. It's not ideal if you want to make more than two kinds of coffee however, so we'd recommend one of our top-rated alternatives if that's what you're looking for. For more information, read our full Lavazza Idola review.