A Guide to Buying a Capsule Coffee Machine
If you want quick and easy coffee, a capsule coffee machine is the best way to go. They’re easy to use and can be used with a variety of specialty coffee pods.
Contrary to filter coffee machines, capsule coffee machines typically focus on black drinks, such as lungos and espressos, with some milky options for lattes and capspuccinos.
1. Simple to use
With a capsule coffee machine you can enjoy your coffee at home without the hassle of a full-on bean-to-cup or filter machine. These machines are easy to operate and run smoothly, regardless of whether you’re an experienced coffee maker or are just beginning your journey. You can select from a variety of drink sizes, temperatures and flavours to meet your needs. Some models include an integrated milk maker to make lattes or cappuccinos. They’re a convenient choice for busy families who need coffee in a hurry before heading out the door.
There’s a wide selection of capsule coffee machine models that will meet your needs. These models are affordable and include a few buttons that display clearly. Advanced models let you alter the brew you make by changing settings such as temperature of water, capsule type, and bar pressure. Some even have a compatible app to further personalize your drink and recipe suggestions.
The sleek design of Smeg’s model is a big plus with a sleek and modern design that will blend in well on any worktop. It’s also very quiet in use, making it a good option for those with children who get up early. Our test subjects found it easy to set up and used, with a smooth operation of the water tank’s capsule lever and a responsive, smart touchscreen.
More expensive models from the likes of Dolce Gusto and Nespresso offer more customization, allowing users to save drinks that you have customised to a specific button. You can even alter the settings for your favourite blends to ensure the best taste and aroma. The capsule recycler is included to keep your kitchen tidy and free of trash. The more expensive models usually come with a built-in milk cup to deliver creamy cappuccinos and lattes, while others bundle steam wands that you can manually operate whenever you want.
2. Multi-faceted
Although capsule machines are not as flexible as a bean-to- cup machine or a filter machine, they can provide delicious and reliable results. They also offer the advantage of being simple to use and cost-effective the most basic models cost less than PS50. Many of these machines are capable of frothering milk, allowing you to make cappuccinos or lattes by pressing one button.
One thing to bear in mind with a capsule machine is that you’ll be limited in the kind of drinks and coffee pods you can drink with it because they are packaged with ingredients like ground coffee, cream, sugar and flavorings. You can still expect high-quality coffees from most brands. Tassimo and Nescafe offer a range of black and milky coffees for instance.
Similar to the capsule machines, some can also be used with different milky drinks by utilizing different kinds of capsules such as those made by Nespresso’s Vertuo line. These capsules allow selecting a milky drink like a latte or cappuccino, from a range of four, and the machine automatically dispenses the right amount of milk.
The top pod machines available in the UK are also designed with user-friendly features, such as simple-to-read digital displays as well as automatic shut-off functions that conserve energy. Look for features such as height-adjustable trays that can be adjusted to fit the size of your cup, and minimise splashing. Also, look for a removable capsule holder that is easy to empty and clean capsule holder. Other nice features include sleep modes that save energy, and eco-friendly settings.
The next level The Morning Machine, a sleek bench top machine that can be operated by hand or by apps, with precise controls that allow you to adjust the coffee’s flavor and body. You can also adjust the temperature, which has an immediate impact on the flavor of your coffee. Temperatures that are lower will cause acidity while higher temperatures impart more body.
3. Eco-friendly
Since their introduction by Nestle in 1986 the coffee pods (or capsules) have had a massive impact on how people consume coffee. They’re easy to use, quick and allow you to enjoy a consistently good coffee machine and pods every time. Unfortunately, they can also be extremely wasteful. They are usually packaged in aluminium and plastic, which is difficult to recycle. Additionally, they contain unusable ground coffee that can’t be recycled.
Research has revealed that using a capsule coffee machine is more eco-friendly than filter or drip coffee. This is due to the fact that single-serve capsules use exactly the same amount of water and coffee, cutting down on the amount of coffee that is wasted when making a large-sized pot. Furthermore, heating the water in a single-serve capsule is less energy-intensive than brewing a large pot.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that this research is based on the total life-cycle of coffee production, including the growing, harvesting, and transportation of the beans as well as heating the water. If you’re considering a capsule coffee machine, look for one that is made from biodegradable or compostable coffee pods. If you’re looking to go further, buy an recyclable capsule for coffee. These capsules can be used to fill your capsule with ground coffee. They’re designed to work with popular systems such as Nespresso.
If you’re looking to lessen your impact on the environment even further, find an appliance that works with Lavazza A Modo Mio Tiny eco capsules. These capsules are carbon neutral recyclable, industrially compostable and constructed of over 50% recycled plastic. Additionally, they’re the only capsules that can be added to food waste for council collection.
In the end, if you cannot find biodegradable or compostable coffee pods to fit into your capsule machine, try using a bean-to-cup coffee maker. They’re expensive however they’re more eco-friendly than pod machines. This is because they grind and brew coffee on demand, rather than making a large pot of coffee in advance, and then cooling it down, which consumes electricity. They are also more efficient than drip machines or espresso machine on stoves, as they consume less power.
4. Cost-effective
If you’re looking for a quick and easy method to make your morning coffee, a capsule machine is the perfect solution. Capsules are sealed roasts and ground coffee beans that are inserted into the machine and are brewed for a predetermined amount of time. The machines are reasonably priced and easy to use, however, they can be costly if you go for high-end models from the top brands. This is especially relevant to the cost of the coffee pods which can be very expensive.
Buying a capsule coffee machine is still significantly less expensive than buying the bean-to-cup or filter model, though. This is due to the upfront cost of a capsule coffee machine will be lower and you’ll save money in the end by not having to buy filters or ground coffee. However, the initial cost can still be a barrier for many, so consider how much you can afford to spend on a machine and then factor in the cost of coffee pods that will fit it.
For a capsule coffee machine that is budget-friendly look no further than the Lavazza Vertuo Pop. This sleek and compact machine produces a top-quality espresso with the brand’s EcoCaps. The unique brewing process allows it to produce a thick crema, despite the fact that it only makes black coffee capsule machine. This is a nice alternative to the thin, watery slush that often accompanies drinks made using other pod machines.
The machine is easy to operate using a panel of four buttons and has a small footprint that doesn’t occupy the counter space. It also offers hot drinks and steam wands for milky drinks, which is uncommon for capsule machines. The jug that it uses to serve coffee is smaller than glass carafes on cheaper competitors.
Morning Machine, a pod coffee machines coffee maker made independently, is more sophisticated than its competitors and offers a variety of additional features that make it stand out. Its flagship Bloom & Brew setting pre-wets the ground coffee for a richer, stronger cup, and it comes with adjustable settings that can alter the amount of coffee that is extracted, temperature and bar pressure. This lets you get more value from the capsules than just ristretto, espresso and lungo options, and can even recreate drip and filter-style drinks. It also allows you to connect to your smartphone to display recipes, and monitor the consumption of energy.