Pod coffee machines are less expensive than bean-to-cup models and take up significantly less space on the worktop. They also usually have adjustable cup platforms that raise smaller mugs to the spout for better crema.
Bruvi has entered the single-serve market long dominated by Keurig and Nespresso with a unique product that uses reusable capsules instead of disposable ones. It also features a few other neat tricks worth checking out.
1. Moccamaster KBGV Select coffee maker
The KBGV Select is the newest iteration of the Moccamaster brewer from Technivorm. It offers the same great build quality, exacting temperature consistency, and adjustable flow rate as older models, plus a few new features. The new design adds a 40-ounce capacity and half or full-pot options for brewing just the right amount of coffee. It is also Gold Cup Ready, meaning it brews at the ideal times and temperatures recommended by the Specialty Coffee Association. Other notable features include an automatic drip stop and a 5-year warranty.
The Moccamaster is a fantastic coffee maker for anyone looking for a more hands-off approach to filter coffee brewing. The machine synchronizes grind, brew time, and temperature to produce a world-class cup in six minutes or less. This is especially true for small-batch specialty beans that would otherwise taste sour and bitter in other machines with lower brew temperatures.
The brew process is simple and quiet. A copper boiling element heats water to a precise brewing temperature, and it flows up a glass tube and into the outlet arm. It then pulses over the grounds in a manual pour-over style, blooming them for maximum flavor extraction. The resulting brew is rich and aromatic with full body. The only drawback is that the carafe is a bit flimsy for such a premium device, and it can be difficult to pour with a single hand.
2. Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee maker
The Nespresso Vertuo Next is a great choice for coffee lovers who want a simple, user-friendly machine. It heats up quickly and has a minimal amount of moving parts. This makes it a breeze to clean. Its small footprint means it takes up little space on your countertop and comes in a variety of modern color options to match your kitchen.
As the name suggests, this model is part of Nespresso’s Vertuo line, so it only accepts Nespresso’s patented capsules. These have a bar code wrapped around the lid that allows built-in sensors to read it and determine how to brew the pod correctly. This includes determining the temperature, infusion time, and water flow.
You can use the included Nespresso app with this coffee maker to make the most of your experience. The app isn’t designed to brew your coffee from another room, but it can help you track your consumption, set up automatic delivery of new pods, and schedule maintenance like descaling.
A few Amazon customers have rated this machine highly, noting that it is sleek and modern-looking. They also appreciated that it’s easy to use and has a convenient capsule holder, which they found was the best way to keep their Nespresso capsules organized. Some buyers even purchased a separate capsule storage system to save more space on their counter and provide an eye-catching design in their kitchen.
3. Breville The Barista Touch Impress
Whether you’re an experienced home barista with professional training or a complete novice, the Barista Touch Impress will elevate your at-home coffee making. It has a wide range of automation features, including an automatic grinding process and smart-tamping system. This simplifies the espresso-making process and ensures that you’re using the correct amount of grounds. The machine also controls the pressure of the tamp to ensure that the grounds are packed evenly. The Barista Touch also has a pre-programmed setting for oat, soy and almond milks. This makes it easy to find your perfect double shot flat white, even if you’re not familiar with manual coffee machines.
Another great feature of the Barista Touch is that it heats up and is ready to make a cup of coffee in less than 3 seconds, thanks to its ThermoJet technology. This is an improvement over the previous model, which required 5 minutes to reach the right temperature. This is a huge benefit for anyone who wants to get a fresh cup of espresso quickly.
The Barista Touch is the best coffee maker for beginners and experienced espresso makers alike. Its high price tag may deter some people, but it’s worth the investment if you want to hone your DIY barista skills at home without paying for expensive cafe drinks. If you’re on a tight budget, consider the Oracle Touch, which is a bit cheaper but doesn’t have a touchscreen or offer advanced automation.
4. Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello
If you’re serious about home espresso and are willing to invest in a great machine, then the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello is a fantastic choice. This manual machine is simple enough to get the job done, but has plenty of fine control and innovation for growing enthusiasts. The only drawback to this model is the lengthy heat-up time, which may not be ideal for people who are short on time in the mornings.
The Diletta Bello uses a heat exchange boiler that constantly circulates some water to the group head for brewing, while retaining the rest of the steam pressure for frothing milk. This allows for simultaneous brewing and steaming and is a great option for those who like to make espresso-based drinks. The Bello is also PID controlled, which allows for easy adjustment of brew temperature – a sought-after feature amongst growing espresso fans.
The Diletta is built by hand in Milan and is crafted from stainless steel. The case, frame and boiler are all made from durable materials that will last for years to come. It is also a fairly long machine, so you’ll need to make sure your counter is free to accommodate it. It’s best to keep this machine away from top cabinets, as you won’t be able to reach the steamer or hot water wand without lifting it. This is one of the best coffee pod machines for those who are serious about making espresso at home.
5. Sage the Barista Express Impress
The Sage the Barista Express Impress is an attractive and well-featured machine. It comes in a range of colours including brushed stainless steel (the model we tested), black truffle, and sea salt. The machine is compact, so it fits comfortably on most kitchen benches and isn’t difficult to navigate or use.
It also includes a bean container that holds up to 250 grams, which is the typical size of a specialty bag of beans. The container has a silicone-sealed lid, so you can keep your coffee fresh and fragrant ahead of grinding. Waste water goes into a removable drip tray, which has an indicator that lets you know when it’s full.
The Barista Express Impress has a touch screen that lets you swipe through and set preferences for the type of drink you’re making. You can adjust settings for grind size, strength, and temperature. There’s also a switch on the side of the machine that can run hot water for Americanos, which is a handy feature to have if you’re making multiple espressos.
The Impress features a professional-grade 15-bar pump to extract a rich, smooth espresso. It uses the Impress Puck system to help achieve a precise dose and tamp, which helps reduce the amount of grounds left behind on your bench top. The pump also includes a low-pressure pre-infusion and 9-bar extraction to get the most out of your beans.
6. De’Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370
This is a nice looking machine with a color touch display. It can create a variety of different drinks with espresso, milk and both ground coffee and Nespresso pods. This includes the standard latte, cappuccino and macchiato as well as the trendy flat white and slow-brewed long coffee.
The menu is easy to navigate with clear illustrations on the display and a large number of options including different drink sizes and aromas. You can also customize your own recipes and manage user profiles via the smart app.
During our test this machine produced smooth and flavorful coffee, but we did notice that it took longer to fill the carafe than some of the other models. The brew cycle time is also a little longer at around 12 minutes than other machines in our review.
The coffee maker is fully automated and can be programmed to turn on and off automatically. This is especially useful if you are a busy parent or someone who needs to leave the house early for work. The machine will also rinse itself and remove excess water to prevent scale build-up. It can even be programmed to automatically empty the drip tray and milk frother at power-on and power-off as well as after each use.