A Guide to Buying a Capsule Coffee Machine
If you're looking for a simple and quick coffee, a capsule coffee machine is the best way to go. They are easy to use and can be used with different coffee pods.
Contrary to filter coffee machines capsule coffee machines tend to focus on black drinks like espressos and lungos with some milky options for cappuccinos and lattes.
1. Simple to use
With a capsule-based coffee maker you can enjoy your coffee at home without the fuss of a full-on bean-to-cup or filter machine. If you're a seasoned brewer or just starting out the process, these machines are designed to be user-friendly and operate effortlessly. You can choose from a variety of beverage sizes, temperatures and flavors to meet your needs. Some models come with an integrated milk frother to make lattes or cappuccinos. They're a great choice for busy families who want to grab a quick cup of coffee before heading out the door.
There is a variety of capsule coffee machine models that can meet the needs of different people. The budget-friendly models tend to be basic with a simple panel of buttons and a clear display, whilst more advanced models allow you to customize your brew via settings like water temperature, capsule type and bar pressure. Some have an app for further personalisation and recipe suggestions.
Smeg’s model has a sleek design that blends in well with any worktop. It is also very quiet and is a great choice for families with small children. Our testers found it simple to set up and used, with a smooth operation of the lever on the cap of the water tank and a responsive, smart touchscreen.
More expensive models from the likes of Dolce Gusto and Nespresso offer more customisation, allowing you to save drinks that you have customised by pressing a button. You can also alter the settings for your favorite blends to ensure the best taste and scent. They also come with an easy capsule recycler to keep your kitchen tidy and free of waste. The higher-end models typically come with a built-in milk cup to deliver creamy cappuccinos and lattes, while other models include steam wands that you can operate manually as needed.
2. Multi-faceted
While they're not as flexible as a filter machine or a bean-to-cup machine capsule machines are able to provide excellent results making delicious and consistent results. Basic models start at less than PS50. Many of these machines can even offer milk frothing which means you can make an espresso or cappuccino at the push of the button.
You'll be limited in the kinds of coffee pods you can use, as they will come pre-packaged, with ingredients like sugar, cream and ground coffee. But, you can get high-quality beverages from all brands, with the range of options offered by Tassimo and Nescafe, for example that let you pick from a wide selection of milky and black coffees.
Certain capsule machines, such as the Vertuo line of Nespresso can be used to create different milky drinks using different capsules. These machines let you choose a milky beverage like a cappuccino or the latte from a variety of four. The machine will automatically dispensate the right amount of milk.
The best pod machines in the UK are also designed with easy-to-use features, including clear digital displays that are easy to read and automatic shut-off features that help save energy. You should look for features such as height-adjustable trays which can be adjusted to accommodate 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 energy-saving sleep modes and eco-friendly settings.
The Morning Machine is a tabletop machine that can be operated by hand or through an application. It features precise controls that allow you to fine tune the coffee's body and flavour. You can alter the temperature setting, which has a direct impact on the flavor of your coffee; lower temperatures cause acidity, and higher temperatures provide more body and bitterness.
3. Eco-friendly
Since their introduction by Nestle in coffee machines with capsules 1986 the coffee pods (or capsules) have had a major impact on the way people consume coffee. They are convenient, quick and easy to make a great cup of coffee each time. Unfortunately, they can also be extremely wasteful. They are typically packaged in aluminium and plastic which is hard to recycle. Additionally, they contain unusable ground coffee that is not recycled.
However, research has shown that when compared to filter or drip coffee, using capsule machines is less harmful to the environment. This is due to single-serve capsules using the exact amount of coffee and water and reduce the amount of the waste of coffee that can happen when making a large pot. Additionally, it requires less energy to heat the water in a capsule than making a pot of coffee.
However, it's important to keep in mind that this study is dependent on the entire life cycle of coffee production, which includes the growing, harvesting, and transportation of the beans as well as heating the water. If you're thinking about capsule coffee machines, look for one that is made from biodegradable or compostable coffee pods. If you're looking to go further, buy a reused capsule of coffee. These capsules can be used to fill your capsule machine with coffee ground. They're designed to work with popular systems such as Nespresso.
If you're looking to lessen your impact on the environment, look for a machine that can be used with Lavazza's A Modo Tiny Eco capsules. They're industrially compostable and carbon-neutral. They're available in a black design made of more than 50 percent recycled plastic. Additionally, they're the only capsules that can be used to add food waste for council collection.
In the end, if you cannot find compostable or biodegradable coffee pods for your capsule machine, you can try using a bean-to-cup coffee maker. They're expensive, but they're more sustainable than pod machines. This is due to the fact that they grind and brew coffee on demand, rather than making a large pot in advance and then cooling it down, which wastes energy. They are also more energy efficient than a drip machine or espresso machine that is on stoves, since they use less energy.
4. Cost-effective
If you're looking for an easy and convenient way to make your morning cup of coffee the capsule machine is the ideal solution. The capsules are sealed and contain roasted and ground beans. They are then put into the machine, and brewed for a specific amount of time. The machines are easy to use and are relatively inexpensive however, they can be costly when you select high-end models by big brands. This is especially applicable to the coffee pods, which can be quite expensive.
A capsule coffee machine will still be cheaper than filters or a bean-to cup model. The capsule machine is less expensive initially, and you'll save money over time because you won't need to buy filters or ground coffee. However, the initial expense can still be a barrier for many, so consider how much you're able to spend on the machine, and then consider the cost of the coffee pods that you will need to fit it.
If you're looking for a capsule machine that is affordable take a look at the Lavazza Vertuo Pop. This sleek, compact machine makes use of the brand's compostable EcoCaps to provide a high-quality cup of espresso. The unique brewing system produces a thick and dense crema despite only making black coffee. This is a huge improvement over the thin foam that typically is found in espresso drinks made with other pod machines.
The machine is simple to operate using the four buttons on the panel and has a small footprint that doesn't take up the counter space. It has steam wands as well as a hot beverage function which are both rare features for capsule machines. However, the jug that it dispenses the coffee into doesn't hold as much as glass carafes on the cheaper competitors.
Morning Machine, a pod coffee maker created by itself and is more sophisticated than competitors and comes with a range of extra features that make it stand out. Its flagship Bloom & Brew setting pre-wets the ground coffee to create a richer, stronger cup. It also has adjustable settings that can alter the extracted coffee quantity, temperature, and bar pressure. This lets you get more out of the capsules than ristretto, espresso and lungo options, and even recreates drip and filter-style drinks. It also allows you to connect to your smartphone to display recipes and track the energy consumption.