How to buy the best coffee pod machine
It's worth considering the following features when you're looking to buy a coffee pod machine:
Milk frother: If you want to recreate your favourite barista-style brews at home, choose a machine with an integrated milk frother. This allows you to whip up silky steamed milk to add a luxury touch to your mug of Joe. Although some models feature two-stage pods (a milk element and a coffee element) so you can create a frothy cappuccino pretty quickly without a frother (but you'll end up using double the capsules). Of course, you could always froth milk separately using a recommendation from our best milk frothers roundup.
Coffee settings: Coffee pod machines should offer the option of creating a longer shot (lungo) as well as a single shot. If you enjoy customising your coffee, pick a coffee pod machine that allows you to adjust the height of your drinks as well as the temperature and coffee strength. Some of the cheaper models may not offer as many features to play about with so think about what's important to you in terms of how you drink your coffee. It's also important to look at the shot settings to determine how much water your machine pulls through each pod.
Dual-height drip trays: If you'll be switching between standard coffee mugs, espresso cups and reusable coffee cups on a regular basis, it's worth looking for a cup stand and drip tray with an adjustable height to make sure you avoid any unnecessary spills.
Removable pod bin: You’ll want to be able to empty this and clean with ease when those pods fill up. You should get away with emptying once a week or so.
Some Mumsnetters use and recommend Nespresso pod coffee machines. Nespresso is owned by Nestlé. Mumsnet refuses advertising from all Nestlé-controlled companies as part of the Nestlé Boycott, a campaign run by Baby Milk Action to put pressure on formula manufacturers to act responsibly – particularly in the context of developing countries. We haven't included any Nespresso machines in this roundup as part of our support for the boycott.
Can you use any capsules in a coffee pod machine?
This will depend entirely on the brand you buy. Many manufacturers use one standard pod type which varies from brand to brand. Tassimo machines for example are only compatible with Tassimo coffee pods. On the other hand, Nespresso machines can work with different kinds of pods. All supermarket brands tend to have their own compatible version at a cheaper price. You can also look at refillable options and use your favourite ground coffee inside.
Can coffee pods be recycled?
The disposal of coffee pods has always been an environmental concern but coffee companies including Lavazza, Dolce Gusto, Nespresso, and Tassimo are trying to do the right thing and most now offer ways to recycle capsules. Some schemes may require you to dispose of your pods at a nearby centre, so be aware of your coffee brand’s scheme before you purchase. We recommend always buying eco or compostable pods, and avoiding pods made from a mix of aluminium and plastic.
What’s the best coffee pod machine to buy?
The Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie Espresso Coffee Machine is our top pod machine. It’s a brand recommended on the forums for its ability to make good quality coffee. It's an affordable option, easy-to-use and will make a sleek addition to your kitchen worktop. Although it only has one coffee length, there are plenty of flavours and coffee styles to try out and the parts can be put in the dishwasher, making it easy to maintain. Its eco pod range can be easily recycled at a nearby centre so it's a good all-rounder in our opinion.
How we chose our recommendations
Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which coffee pod machines parents were recommending and had bought. We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which coffee pod machines had been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites, and what customer reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we then narrowed our list down to the best coffee pod machines on the market.
Why you should trust us
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