The Best Pod Coffee Machines

With pod coffee makers, you just place a sealed capsule with roasted or ground coffee into the machine. The coffee is poured through the machine for a set amount of time.

Certain pod coffee makers offer various sizes of cups as well as a built-in filter and milk frothing capabilities. The best pod coffee maker for you is dependent on your individual preferences and your lifestyle.

1. Keurig K-Select

If you're looking to buy a basic Keurig coffee maker without the bells and whistles that come with more expensive models, this machine is a great choice. It's easy to use, has a great design, and can be easily stored away in the corner of your kitchen when it's not in use.

The machine can be loud but it's not a huge issue. It's also small enough to fit on a counter that is small. But, if you're looking for a Keurig that has a larger range of sizes or a carafe for traditional drip brewing, consider other options.

The Keurig K-Select single serve coffee maker is a blend of sleek design and more efficient features to help make your perfect cup every time. Choose from hundreds delicious K-Cups and brew coffee with the universal filter for coffee pod machine My-K-Cup (sold separate). Strong Brew increases the intensity and strength of your coffee making it a perfect option for coffee lovers who enjoy strong cups.

The brewer is simple to operate using buttons. Simply insert a K-Cup, select your desired size of brew, and press brew. In less than one minute, you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee pods machine. The large 52-ounce water reservoir lets you brew up to five cups in between refills, easing your morning routine.

The Keurig is easy to clean. The reservoir for water and lid can be cleaned and removed by hand. However, it is recommended to remove the scale from your Keurig before cleaning, and follow the directions in the user manual to ensure that the machine is performing optimally. This warranty covers all accessories and the brewer, excluding for normal wear or abuse as well as external causes like power outages.

2. Tassimo My Way

If you're a coffee enthusiast and are in search of a pod machine that can make more than just your daily cup of joe it's the ideal option. It's designed to make a wide variety of drinks including hot chocolate and tea, and features a large 1.3 Liter water tank that can make multiple cups at the same time. The machine is warm in only three seconds and can produce the perfect cappuccino or latte using its built-in milk jug. It also has a touch-sensitive display that allows you to set the temperature, intensity, and volume of your chosen drink.

The Tassimo My Way uses the brand's T Discs which contain everything you require for your preferred drink. There are more than 70 varieties which include Kenco, Costa, Milka, and Cadbury's. The machine also provides a selection of T Discs for hot chocolate and tea as well.

We found the coffee it produced to be of a high quality, albeit slightly less than other pod machines featured in this round-up. It also produced a silky mouthfeel, and steam-cooked milk to make caffe lattes in a short time. It is important to know that the milk that is frothy has sugar, which, while not a major problem it might not be to everyone's liking.

The Tassimo My Way is easy to clean, thanks to the drip tray, the removable components of the brewing unit and the water tank being dishwasher-safe. There's a Brita filter that is included as well as a cleaning disc that can be used. A useful indicator light will inform you when you need to descale. water tanks will help keep limescale to an absolute minimum. The machine is rated Energy Star, which helps reduce the amount of electricity it uses by up to 15%..

3. Lavazza Lungo Pod Machine

This Nespresso-compatible pod coffee maker from Lavazza, made in collaboration with Sage, is one of the best-looking machines on the market. It's constructed with durable and attractive materials, it comes with an elegantly adjustable steam wand that can be used to make lattes and cappuccinos as well as a stainless milk jug made of steel. Put a pod in, select your cup size and the machine will whir into action - brewing espresso lungo, double espresso, gran lungo, alto drinks and mugs with a thick layer of silky frosting.

As with most pod machines you load the pod using a hatch on the top and then drop it into the right spot. The machine punctures the capsule then seals it. When you press the lever the used pod will fall into a designated spent pod tray beneath the drip tray.

It's not the fastest machine to make coffee it takes 30 seconds to make an espresso shot and 90 seconds for a lungo - however, the results are always impressive, with excellent crema and a rich, smooth taste. The machine also warns you when the water tank or pod bin needs refilling.

One of the main selling points for this machine is that it can use it with any Lavazza-branded pod There are seven in total including espresso ground (Qualita Rossa, Intenso, Passionale and Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso) and two organic coffees (!Tierra! Bio). The pod coffee pods coffee machine machine isn't inexpensive, but if you combine it with pod delivery services it can cost similar to that of the regular bean-to-cup machine. The machine's slim design means it can be tucked away in the smallest kitchens. Furthermore, the pods themselves are industrially compostable, which means you can place them in your council food waste bins or your own garden compost.

4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine

Nespresso machines make some of the top pods coffee makers for those who are looking for a reliable, fast and consistent brew. They heat up fast and are simple to use. Simply insert a capsule and press a button, and you're good to go. They also create a rich crema that can be added to your drinks for extra flavour and thickness. The official pods aren't cheap and you will have to purchase them.

The Vertuo line is based on a different technology than OriginalLine machines that use espresso capsules (and still exist). They read each capsule's barcode and automatically adjust the brewing parameters to make a perfect cup. They also have a centrifusion machine that spins the capsules in order to make the Best Pod Coffee Machine flavor and the most thick crema.

The machines aren't quite as intuitive as our other choices. The lid opens only when the machine is in its final stages and it takes around 30 seconds for the capsule to heat up. The machine doesn't come with milk frothers, as do some of the other pod machines on this list. Therefore, you'll need to shell out an additional PS90 to buy an additional Aeroccino to make cappuccinos and lattes.

They also require more maintenance than other models - filling the water tank, emptying used pod containers and descaling - however, they come with an app which reminds you to complete these tasks, and offers tools such as capsule recyclers and store locators. If you connect your machine with an IntelliPort you can control it using voice commands. This is great when you're making coffee at 4am in the dark or have limited power.

5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine

This sleek pod machine is the result of a lovechild between the adored Italian brand and a renowned manufacturer of kitchen appliances. It has all of the retro, sleek curves that SMEG is known for, along with the ability to make espresso and lungo drinks with ease. It has a programmable setting for the shot, dual-height dripping tray, and a pod bins that are removable.

This coffee maker makes it simple to make an instant cup of single-shot or double-shot espresso in the morning, or to make a lungo during breaks at work. Its simple control panel looks sleek and doesn't detract from the functionality. If you're looking to spice up your daily joe even more, it has three interchangeable filter baskets that allow for different capsule types. You can also use ground beans that are loose (although you'll need an additional grinder).

The SMEG Barista Pod Machine does not come with a milk pitcher. However, it has a Pannarello built-in milk frother which can froth cow and soymilk nicely. It also comes with the portafilter 51mm, which is smaller than a conventional commercial-style filter. It's also pressurized which is great because it means you won't get that stale, leftover grind taste. It comes with a plastic tamper that can also double as a spoon.

The SMEG is one of the most expensive pod machines we've reviewed, but it's definitely worth it if you're a lover of the retro style or if you like being able to whip up espresso-based drinks. It's also a great choice if you're new to the world of coffee and don't want to have to deal with the hassles of grinding, measuring, and the process of tamping your own beans.