Ten Best Coffee Machine Pods That Really Improve Your Life

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Pod coffee machines make it easy to get your caffeine fix in the morning. They are faster than traditional machines due to the fact that they use pre-packaged pods that give espresso or ground coffee.

To find the top pod coffee machine, choose one that has the best espresso machine options for adjusting drink sizes and temperatures. Find out if the machine is compatible with refillable pods.

1. Nespresso Vertuo

Nespresso is a leader in pod-brewing and a favorite of coffee lovers. The capsules and machines of the company are highly rated for both quality and sustainability. The capsules are made of 80 percent recyclable materials and are completely compostable. They are made of less plastic and have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional coffee bags. Nespresso also partners with organizations that are certified green to ensure fair work practices and sustainable farming.

The Nespresso Vertuo line includes several machines that make delicious and rich cups of espresso or best affordable coffee machine with a perfect crema. The VertuoPlus X and VertuoPlus Deluxe models offer advanced features such as automatic heating of milk and customizable drinks settings. They are simple to use and have a sleek design that looks great on your kitchen counter.

Both the X model and the Deluxe model feature a large reservoir, as well as a slim body. They come with an innovative extraction technology known as Centrifusion that uses up to 7,000 revolutions per minute to make espresso or coffee. This creates a consistent, smooth crema that is saturated to a great extent even in smaller cups.

Nespresso capsules are more expensive than third-party compatible pods available in supermarkets and online retailers. However, they offer an array of flavors and intensities. The company regularly releases limited-edition options as well. The machines are very user-friendly and the Vertuoline requires fewer steps than the first Nespresso line which only produces espresso.

The Vertuoline also comes with two sizes of capsules - the smaller espresso size and the gran lungo size -- for those who prefer smaller drinks. The larger mug capsules as well as alto capsules are suitable to make mug-sized drinks that require a more intensely roasted cup of coffee. The Nespresso Vertuoline makes a great cup of drip coffee, unlike some other pod machines we tested.

2. Illy X7.1

This pod coffee maker is a elegant, high-quality machine built with durable and attractive materials. It's a little bit more expensive than other machines that we tested, but it provides excellent, reliable performance and is a stylish design.

The X7.1 utilizes a patent-pending system that reads the barcodes on every capsule to determine their identity. It then pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the right amount of water automatically. This is a major benefit for those who prefer hassle-free automation. However, it may frustrate those who like to tweak settings and select their own brew strength or size. The machine is able to serve espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug and alto drinks with a fine layer of crema.

In addition to its technology for brewing, the X7.1 comes with a variety of other features that make it stand out. It is one of only a handful of coffee makers we tested to have a height-adjustable tray for adjusting the size and shape the coffee cup. It also comes with a stainless-steel milk jug for making cappuccinos and lattes. The X7.1 features a sleep mode and a detachable holder for pods to make cleaning easy.

It's compatible with all Keurig K-Cups and Nespresso capsules and Bruvi's own B-Pods. These pods differ from K-Cups or other popular pods in that they contain ground coffee instead of a teabag, and have more caffeine than regular espresso. The Bruvi also comes with app compatibility and can be set up to brew on a remote basis and according to a time. It has steam wand that can be used to make cappuccinos or lattes frosty.

3. Grind One

The Grind One, designed in Stockholm could be the perfect choice for you if you don't enjoy Nespresso capsules that are plastic or prefer something that's not quite as heavy. Two members of Real Homes' team have tested it in their kitchens and they both adore it. It's a sleek stainless steel geometric machine that looks chic and is very simple to use. Simply place the pod, choose whether you'd like a lungo or a short express and press the button. The flashing light will tell you when it's completed, and the coffee starts to come out. There's no milk carafe or steam wand, but you can add hot or cold milk to your coffee as you like.

This machine is designed to work with Grind's own reusable, recyclable and compostable pods. So not only are you reducing your coffee waste (which can take hundreds of years to degrade) but the pods themselves are made of no plastic and are organic. They cost about 50p each, and you can chuck them into your food waste bin or garden compost once they're empty.

The Grind One costs PS275 and you can purchase it with the addition of milk frother for an extra PS325. It is more expensive than many Nespresso pod machines, but it is a sleek, well-designed, and versatile machine. It's also the smallest the bunch so it doesn't require too much countertop space, and it also has a raised drip tray that latches onto a series of notches next to the waste bin to allow height adjustment.

4. Grind 2

For those who enjoy simple and quick cups of coffee, this pod maker removes the hassle making espresso. It can brew a short or long shot, and has three different settings for temperature and extraction. Its ability to make a fantastic espresso impressed our coffee enthusiast. Its temperature and crema (which should be a dark chestnut color that lasts until the final sip and is a cosy shade of brown) were excellent. Its sleek design and tough attractive materials also made it stand out from the rest.

Our coffee aficionado also tested the Grind One for its ease of use. The heavy-duty switch is comfortable to use, with the option to program your preferred short or long shot, as well as a clear display. You can also choose to automatically pour hot water alongside your coffee that helps the ground settle and enhances your drink's flavour. This pod coffee maker comes with a helpful milk frother, making it a great all-rounder.

Another benefit of these machines is that they eliminate the messy parts out of making espresso, namely grinding dosing, tamping and grinding the beans. They also reduce the number of equipment that needs to be cleaned and reused. This makes them a great choice for those with small kitchen spaces. If you're looking to broaden your options, you can utilize a separate milk frother to make lattes and cappuccinos. You can also opt for an manual press like the Aeropress which has a lower carbon footprint and more affluent flavor than a machine. It's a bit more work, which means it's not for all.

5. Lavazza Idola

This model is not as expensive as the Lavazza Voicy pod machine but it's ideal for those who enjoy espresso or ristretto or caffe longo. It's also one of the most quiet machines, meaning you can sip your morning cup while the children are asleep.

You can programme the size of your cup to match your mood and there's an option to add a temperature boost to nudge your beverage to the press of an button. It's easy to keep on top of maintenance too with alerts to notify you when the capsule container needs emptying or if the water tank is running low.

The machine isn't capable of frost, but you can make cappuccinos as well as flat whites by using an additional milk container. Many buyers have left positive reviews on Amazon and John Lewis. They praise the machine's versatility, quiet operation, and different lengths of brews.

Although there isn't a large amount of customer reviews there is a general consensus that this is a great value pod coffee maker for those who like an easy set-up. It's more expensive than the Nespresso Vertuo Pop, but it comes with delicious tasting Lavazza pods and is among the quietest machines on the market. If you're looking to make a variety of coffees, we suggest you check out one of our top choices. For more information, read our full Lavazza Idola review.