The Best Pod Coffee Machines

With pod coffee makers, you just insert a sealed capsule filled with roasted or ground beans into the machine. The coffee is then poured into the machine for a predetermined amount of time.

Some pod coffee makers come with various sizes of cups, a built-in filter, and milk frothing capabilities. The ideal pod maker for you will depend on your lifestyle and personal preferences.

1. Keurig K-Select

If you're looking to buy a basic Keurig coffee maker that doesn't have all the bells and whistles that come with more expensive models, this one is a good choice. It's simple to use and has a great appearance. When not in use, it can be easily placed in a corner of the kitchen.

The machine can be loud but it's not a huge issue. It's also small enough to be able to fit on a counter that is small. If you prefer a Keurig with a greater variety of sizes, or a carafe to drip-brew your coffee, you may think about other options.

Keurig K-Select is a single-serve coffee maker that combines a sleek style with more intuitive features. This allows you to make the perfect cup of coffee every time. Choose from a wide selection of delicious K-Cup pods, or make your own ground coffee using a My-K-Cup universal coffee filter that can be reused (sold separately). The Strong Brew feature kicks up the strength and intensity of your coffee and makes it the perfect choice for those who love a strong cup.

This brewer is easy to use, using simple button controls. Simply put in the K-Cup pod, select the desired brew size and then press the brew button. In less than a minute you'll have a fresh-tasting cup of coffee ready to enjoy. The large 52-ounce water reservoir allows you to make up to five cups between refills, simplifying your morning routine.

This machine is very easy to clean. The reservoir for water and lid can be removed and cleaned by hand. To ensure your Keurig is working optimally, you must always clean it by descaler. Follow the guidelines in the user guide. This warranty covers the brewer and all original accessories, except for normal wear and tear, damage caused by misuse or abuse and external causes of failure, such as power outages.

2. Tassimo My Way

This is the ideal choice for coffee lovers looking for a machine that can do more than just make your daily cup. It's designed to create a wide range of drinks like hot chocolate and tea. It comes with a huge 1.3 Liter water tank that allows you to brew multiple cups at the same time. The machine warms up in just three seconds, and can create an espresso or latte with the built-in milk jug. It also comes with touchscreen that lets you adjust the intensity, temperature and volume of your drink.

Tassimo My Way uses T Discs that are an assortment of ingredients you can use to make your drink. There are more than 70 different varieties to choose from, including brands like Kenco and Costa to Costa, Milka and Cadbury's. The machine comes with a selection of T Discs, including ones for hot and tea chocolate.

We found the coffee it made to be of a excellent quality, though just a little less than some of the other pod machines featured in this round-up. It also steamed the milk for a caffe latte fairly quickly and produced a rich taste without being too thick. It is important to remember that the frothy T Disc milk has sugar in it which, though not a major issue however, might not be to everyone's liking.

Tassimo Myway's removable parts including the drip tray, and the water tank are all dishwasher-safe. A Brita filter is included, as is an ice-cleaning disk. A helpful indicator light will inform you when you need to descale. water tanks will help keep limescale to a minimum. The machine is Energy Star rated, which reduces the power consumption of up to 15%.

3. Lavazza Lungo Pod Machine

This Nespresso compatible pod coffee maker, designed in collaboration with Sage by Lavazza Jolie Coffee Capsule Machine - White is among the most attractive machines available. It's built with durable and attractive materials, it comes with an elegantly adjustable steam wand that can be used to make lattes and cappuccinos, and a stainless milk jug in steel. The machine can brew espresso, double espressos, lungos, mugs, and altos, all with thick layers of foam.

Like most pod machines, you load the pod via a hatch on the top and drop it in place. The machine penetrates the capsule before closing it so that when you press the lever, the pod is deposited into a spent pod tray beneath the drip tray.

The machine is not the fastest machine to brew espresso. It takes 30 seconds for one shot and 90 seconds for the lungo. But the results are always spectacular with a rich, smooth taste and a delicious crema. The machine will also alert you when it's time to refill the tank of water or the pod bin.

A big selling point for this machine is that you can use it with any Lavazza-branded pod Seven pods are available in all, including ground roasted espresso (Qualita Rossa, Intenso, Passionale and Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso) and two organic coffees (!Tierra! Bio). It's not cheap, but with a subscription deal that combines the pod coffee machine with the delivery of pods it could come at a similar price to a traditional bean-to-cup machine. Its slimline design allows it to be easily incorporated into even the smallest kitchens. Additionally, the pods themselves are compostable, which means you can place them into your council's food waste bins or own garden compost.

4. Nespresso Vertuo Pod Machine

Nespresso machines are among the best pod coffee makers for those who want a fast, reliable, and consistent coffee. They heat up fast and are simple to use. Just insert a capsule and press a button, and you're ready to go. They create a rich, creamy crema that can be added to drinks for greater flavor and thickness. The official pods aren't cheap and you will have to buy them.

The Vertuo line is a different model from the OriginalLine machines, which still make use of espresso capsules. The Vertuo line is able to read the barcode of each capsule and automatically adjusts the brewing parameters in order to make a perfect cup. And they include a centrifusion system that spins the capsule to extract the best flavors and the most dense crema.

That said they're not as intuitive as some of our other picks. For instance the lid opens only when the machine is ready, and it takes around 30 minutes to heat up enough to be able to fit into a capsule. They don't include the milk frother like some of the other pod machines listed on this list. So you'll have to shell out an additional PS90 to purchase a separate Aeroccino to make cappuccinos and lattes.

These machines also require more maintenance than other models, such as refilling the water tank, emptying pod containers that are used and descaling - however, they come with an app which reminds you to complete these tasks, and provides tools such as capsule recyclers and store locators. And if you pair your machine with an IntelliPort, you can even use voice commands to control it, which is a nice touch if you're making coffee in the dark at 4am or have weak hands.

5. SMEG Barista Pod Machine

This sleek pod machine is the result of a lovechild between the adored Italian brand, and a renowned company that makes kitchen appliances. It features all the retro, sleek curves that SMEG is known for, along with the ability to make lungo and espresso drinks effortlessly. It comes with a programable setting for the shot, dual-height drip tray, Coffeee and a pod bins that are removable.

This coffee maker makes it easy to make one-shot or double-shot espresso in the morning, or a lungo in the break at work. Its easy-to-use control panel looks sleek and doesn't distract from its purpose. If you want to spruce up your daily joe even more, it has three interchangeable filter baskets that allow for different capsule types. You can use loose-ground beans (although a separate grinder is required).

The SMEG Barista Pod Machine doesn't include a milk pitcher however, it has a built-in Pannarello milk frother, which froths both cow and soymilk quite well. It also comes with a 51mm portafilter which is smaller than the typical commercial filter. It's pressurized, so you won't have the stale, leftover taste. It also comes with a tamper which doubles as scoop.

The SMEG is the most expensive machine on our list. However, it's well worth it if you're retro or you enjoy making espresso drinks in a hurry. This is a great choice for those who are new to the art of making coffee and don't want to deal with the hassle of measuring, grinding and tamping the beans yourself.