The list in brief ↴
1. Best overall: The Morning Machine
2. Best Nespresso: Nespresso Vertuo Creatista
3. Best single serve: Keurig K-Supreme SMART
4. Best budget: Nespresso Essenza Mini
5. Best with a carafe: Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker
6. Best for a variety: Ninja Dual Brew Pro
7. Best for iced coffee: Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker
8. Best for quick brews: Bruvi BV-03 Black Coffee Brewer
9. Best for lattes: Keurig K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker
10. Best low maintenance: Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima
How to choose
How we test
FAQs
The best pod coffee makers will upgrade your home coffee routine, whether you're switching from instant coffee or a different brand.
Unlike bean-to-cup coffee makers, brewing coffee with a capsule coffee maker leaves less mess on the countertop. They run on a simple process: a pod (capsule) is pierced, and hot water is run over the grounds to brew a quick, delicious espresso within a few minutes.
Many of the best coffee makers are high-end pod models with smart features, integrated milk frothers, or carafes. Most pod coffee makers are made from plastic, although you can also get your hands on elevated stainless steel models such as the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista, the best Nespresso machine.
A simple, one-touch model should satisfy espresso drinkers, whereas the best pod coffee makers for latte drinkers should have an integrated milk frother. Picky coffee drinkers may also want to explore models with carafes so that they can brew with coffee grounds and models with customizable settings to adjust brew strength, size, and temperature.
The quick list
If you're in a rush, use this quick list to skim through the best pod coffee machines. When a coffee maker captures your attention, simply jump down to read a more detailed review of the model. This will explain exactly who the machine is suited to and why you should or shouldn't introduce it into your kitchen.
The best pod coffee maker overall
The Morning Machine has nailed the art of brewing a flavorful espresso, as its app is packed with recipes informed by specialty roasters. It also offers plenty of brewing variety without making the process overly complicated.
The best Nespresso pod coffee maker
At $749, the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista has a lot to prove, but it's easily the best Nespresso pod machine on offer. It comes in stainless steel, features a milk wand, and has all the settings you need for a quick, flawless coffee.
The best pod coffee maker for single-serve coffee
The Keurig K-Supreme SMART may not look that professional. Still, it's an affordable coffee maker that can recognize pods and produce a quick, customized coffee whenever it is connected to Wi-Fi.
The best budget pod coffee maker
It may be simple, but it gets the job done. That should be the tagline for the Nespresso Essenza Mini, a single-serve machine that costs only $179 and brews espresso in just a few minutes.
The best pod coffee machine with a carafe
The Keurig K-Duo will help you brew a full pot as well as single cups of coffee, as it features a carafe. You can program it to serve coffee simultaneously daily, making it even more convenient for families.
The best pod coffee machine for a variety of brews
If you love variety, don't overlook the Ninja Dual Brew Pro. It has a milk frother, a 55-ounce carafe, and settings for brew sizes and styles - and it costs under $250, making it fairly budget-friendly.
Load the next products ↴
The best pod coffee machine for iced coffee
Easy to use, the Keurig K-Elite Single Serve has an awesome iced coffee setting and a bunch of other great features including settings for five different cup sizes and a stronger coffee.
The best pod coffee machine for quick brews
You can get on with more important matters after you've brewed espresso with the Bruvi BV-03 Black Coffee Brewer, an intuitive machine with auto pod recognition, multiple brew settings, and (most importantly) strong, flavorful coffee.
The best pod coffee machine for lattes
The K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker is an inexpensive option for anyone who loves a proper creamy latte or cappuccino, as it has multiple milk settings. You'll spend just $200.
The best low-maintenance pod coffee machine
The Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima is a no-fuss machine that is easy to use and clean. It's high-end and modern, with a steam wand and auto pod recognition which will brew your drink based on the capsule's barcode.
The best pod coffee makers we recommend in 2024
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The best pod coffee maker overall
✅ You’re a busy person: Once you’ve found the perfect brew settings for this machine, it’ll only take a few moments to insert a pod, select a recipe in the app, and get the coffee brewing. You’ll be out of the door and at your desk quickly.
✅ You're interested in speciality coffee: The recipes in the app are informed by speciality coffee roasters, so there are lots of nuanced flavors to explore when you use The Morning Machine.
✅ You like using technology: As the app is the easiest way to brew using the machine, The Morning Machine is not a good gift for parents or grandparents who prefer to use their machine manually.
❌ You want coffee at the touch of a button: Pod coffee makers are known for being easy to use, but this coffee maker has several settings.
❌ You drink from tall cups: The machine cannot produce coffees which fill a cup larger than 9.5 oz, so you will need to put your supersized coffee cups aside when using it.
❌ You drink lattes: This coffee maker has many great brewing settings and features, but unfortunately, it does not have a milk frother. If you drink lattes or cappuccinos, you’ll need a separate milk frother.
🔎 The Morning Machine could be just what you need to brew a quick, delicious espresso using a smartphone app. It can't steam milk, but the espressos made by this machine have an elevated flavor and come out hot. ★★★★★
The Morning Machine has a great formula if you want a quality espresso quickly. This quality pod coffee machine takes specialty capsules with bespoke brew profiles, which picky coffee drinkers should appreciate. The app also makes it incredibly easy to adjust the settings.
Design: To use The Morning Machine, you must be comfortable using a smartphone app. The rotatable wheel on the front of the machine can be used to browse the ten ready-to-brew recipes, but it's easier and quicker to set up your recipe on the app. This makes The Morning Machine more complicated than simple single-button coffee machines but lets you customize your bew.
The design does not feature a milk frother, so latte drinkers may want to keep browsing pod coffee makers or buy a separate device. When using the coffee maker, empty the capsule bin every few days as it holds 8 - 10 capsules.
Performance: Before The Morning Machine pours coffee, there is a 20-second lag where the machine heats up. This is far quicker than many of the other models we've reviewed. The timings and how hot the coffee is are dependent upon the recipe. Our reviewer measured coffee temperatures between 125 - 170 F. The machine is also quiet; it produces 68 dB max.
The espresso flavor is fruitier than Nespresso coffee. It’s also possible to get quite a thick crema. If you’re interested in specialty coffees from smaller roasters, this machine is for you. If not, you might struggle with the nuanced taste.
Price: Costing $445, The Morning Machine is more expensive than most comparable Nespresso machines but offers way more brew settings. If you don’t want a complicated machine, you can save money by getting a coffee maker with a single-button configuration.
Read more: The Morning Machine review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | The app is packed with great recipes. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Quiet to brew and the coffee is full of flavor. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | A bit pricey so it is best suited to those who want varied brew settings. | ★★★★ |
The best Nespresso pod coffee maker
✅ You drink milk coffee: There's no need to waste time heating milk in the microwave, as the integrated milk wand can steam milk at three different heats.
✅ You like your mornings fuss-free: The Vertuo Creatista will use auto pod recognition to read the barcode on the Nespresso Vertuo pods. It then adjusts the brew settings accordingly.
✅ You care about esthetic: The Creatista is a large stainless-steel machine with a steam wand. It looks far more professional than your typical plastic pod coffee maker, so much so that it may be mistaken for a bean-to-cup machine.
❌ You are a coffee snob: Users generally like the taste of the Nespresso Vertuo coffee pods, but it’s worth noting that fresh ground coffee or The Morning Machine pods are better known for their elevated fruity coffee flavor.
❌ You are short on counter space: The Creatista is a large machine that requires an allotted countertop space. If you live in a small apartment or have a small kitchen, you might struggle to fit it into your space.
❌ You are budgeting: If you’re limited by budget, it’s probably worth looking for a smaller pod coffee machine without the integrated milk wand or automatic pod recognition. You could save $500+.
🔎 The Nespresso Vertuo Creatista is a stunning stainless-steel pod coffee maker with a milk wand and the ability to brew a great cup of coffee quickly and quietly, but it's one of the most expensive pod machines you can buy. ★★★★★
Good looks, a household brand name, and an integrated milk frother—what else could you possibly ask for? The Nespresso Vertuo Creatista is our top pick if you want a Nespresso pod coffee machine. Made from stainless steel, it looks stunning on the countertop and delivers frothy lattes and delicious espresso time and time again.
Design: The Nespresso Vertuo Creatista is as professional-looking as a pod coffee machine can get. It has a barista-style steam wand and other sleek parts, including a drip tray with a temperature sensor and buttons to configure brew settings. That being said, the machine is bulky and requires much counter space.
As one of Nespresso’s Vertuo range models, it reads a unique barcode on the Vertuo capsule before brewing a coffee according to these settings. The bin holds 6 - 10 capsules and three different height positions for cups. The milk has three heat settings: 140 F, 155 F, and 176 F.
Performance: The Nespresso Vertuo Creatista takes approximately one minute to heat up, 55 seconds to brew a single espresso and 1 and 45 seconds to brew an 8oz mug of coffee. It’s also fairly quiet (78 dB). You can't control the coffee temperature, usually between 140 and 160 F.
Milk coffee drinkers may be looking for a thick, rich crema, but our reviewer found it thin and bubbly.
User reviews: Amazon reviews mention that the machine is prone to a ‘machine too hot’ error. Aside from this, the feedback is largely positive, with many reviews praising the taste of the coffee and how straightforward the coffee maker is to use.
Price: At $749, the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista is the most expensive model in our round-up, but it looks and plays the part. It’s available on Amazon or Nespresso.
Read more: Nespresso Vertuo Creatista review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Large stainless steel design with a milk wand. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Good flavor, quick to brew and quiet | ★★★★★ |
| Price | Steep price but it’s very professional looking | ★★★★ |
The best single serve pod coffee maker
✅ This is your first coffee maker: The Keurig K-Supreme SMART coffee machine has a simple, intuitive design, but it still has just enough customizable settings that you won’t feel unable to be creative.
✅ You want coffee quickly: This machine can save morning time. It brews an espresso in just a few minutes, helping you to stay on track with your morning routine.
✅ Your household has varied coffee tastes: This machine has several different settings for strength and temperature, meaning that each person in your family can brew coffee how they like it.
❌ You don’t want to connect to Wi-Fi: This coffee machine won’t work as it should if it isn't connected to the Wi-Fi.
❌ You want something professional-lookingg: The Keurig K-Supreme SMART coffee maker is made from plastic instead of stainless steel, and as a single-serve machine, it isn’t the most professional-looking model.
❌ You don’t care for smart features: The coffee maker has many smart features, but if you don’t plan on using them, you can save money by buying a cheaper machine.
🔎 The Keurig K-Supreme works best when connected to Wi-Fi, as it has smart features like BrewID. With five strength and six temperature settings, you have plenty of control over your brew. ★★★★½
Smart features make the Keurig K-Supreme SMART a stand-out pod coffee maker. It can automatically recognize K-cups to brew espresso quickly. It's also entry-level; the single-serve coffee maker retails for $180 and offers easy ways to customize your drink without feeling overwhelmed.
Design: The Keurig K-Supreme SMART is a good starting point if you’re new to brewing coffee at home. Its black, gray, or white plastic design is compact and lightweight. It has a 66-ounce water tank with a handle that is easy to refill.
The intuitive digital screen features options for four brew sizes (6, 8, 10, and 12 oz), five strength settings, and six temperatures. You can brew over ice or use hot water. The BrewID settings will automatically recognize K-cups and adjust the brew settings for you. However, there is no milk frother, which means no lattes or cappuccinos.
Performance: These features make the coffee maker a breeze to use. It brews espressos in just a few seconds. However, one of its quirks is that the BrewID only works quickly when connected to Wi-Fi, which can be frustrating if you want to use it manually.
User reviews: Most reviews on the Keurig website agree that the K-Cups offer enough variety to please different tastes. One reviewer added that it’s a ‘step up from the regular serve coffee maker.’ A few negative reviews mentioned having to refill the water tank regularly and the ‘flimsy’ plastic design.
Price: At $179.99, the Keurig K-Supreme SMART is cheaper than the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista and The Morning Machine. It’s great value for money if you don’t tend to drink milk coffee.
Read more: Keurig K-Supreme SMART review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Simple single serve machine with customizable brews. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Quick and reliable but the water tank often needs refilling. | ★★★★ |
| Price | Inexpensive considering that it offers some customization. | ★★★★★ |
The best budget pod coffee maker
✅ You’re a busy person: The Nespresso Essenza Mini will produce a delicious espresso at the touch of one button. If you want to be out of the door in just a few minutes with a coffee, this is the machine for it.
✅ You live alone: This small machine is suited to a couple or one person, as it has a small water tank perfect for a couple of espressos or mugs per day and a small bin for used capsules.
✅ You’re short on space: Don’t worry if you live in a box apartment or always have a cluttered kitchen countertop, as the machine is only 4.3 inches wide and 12.8 inches deep.
❌ You like trying different brew strengths: The Essenza Mini doesn’t offer any coffee strength customization. Instead, the Keurig K-Supreme is similarly priced and offers more customization.
❌ You love lattes: Latte drinkers need to buy a separate device to steam their milk, as the Essenza Mini only offers two cup sizes and does not come with an integrated milk frother.
❌ You want a professional-looking machine: Made from plastic and available in bright colors, this coffee maker is nowhere near as professional-looking as the stainless steel Nespresso Vertuo Creatista.
🔎 The Nespresso Essenza Mini is just a thing for one person or a couple. Compact and budget-friendly, the single-serve coffee maker quickly brews a tasty espresso; it gets the job done. ★★★★½
Weighing just 2.3 lbs, the Nespresso Essenza Mini is a compact pod coffee machine that makes a mean espresso. It only costs $179… imagine the long-term savings when you ditch shop-brought espressos.
Design: The Nespresso Essenza Mini is a single-serve coffee maker, part of the Original Nespresso coffee line. Everything from brewing coffee to clearing out the used pods and cleaning the machine is straightforward. If you're limited on counter space, it’s also ideal. Couples and singles who drink espresso only should get on with it fantastically.
It doesn't have fancy features like milk frothers. Instead, it can be brewed in an espresso or lungo, requiring a small or large cup. There’s one button for each option and a tiny 20.3-oz water tank at the back that needs to be refilled regularly. The drip tray and pod holder slide out easily, making cleaning easy.
Performance: Our reviewer has been using the Nespresso Essenza Mini since 2019 without problems. It's easy to use and gets your coffee sorted in a few minutes flat. Latte drinkers will have to steam milk separately.
User reviews: A few reviews on the Nespresso website report leaks. Otherwise, users seem happy with how easy the machine is to use and how much it speeds up their morning routine.
Price: $179 is attractive for a pod coffee maker, no matter how basic. It’s available from Amazon, Wayfair, and Sur La Table. It’s one of the cheapest models in our round-up, but it’s worth noting that the Keurig K-Supreme SMART costs just $1 more and lets you customize the strength and temperature of your espresso.
Read more: Nespresso Essenza Mini review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Very simple design with limited features. | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Durable and reliable but only fits two cup sizes. | ★★★★ |
| Price | Very attractive price although a bit simplistic. | ★★★★★ |
The best pod coffee maker with a carafe
✅ You are a family: Families should get on well with the Keurig K-Duo as their primary coffee maker because it has an Auto-Off feature and an intuitive LCD screen.
✅ You’d like to brew pots or cups: With a two-in-one pod and carafe system, the machine can brew either a full pot of coffee or a single cup, giving you various ways to drink coffee depending upon the number of guests.
✅ You drink coffee at the same time every day: If you’re a habitual coffee drinker, you can speed up your coffee routine by programing the machine to brew coffee simultaneously every day.
❌ You hate mess: If you choose to use coffee grounds, there's the potential for a lot of mess on the countertop. Ground coffee can also cause a mess, and users have complained about small leaks.
❌ You won't use a carafe: There’s not much point in buying this coffee maker if you don’t plan to use the carafe. A simpler pod machine is a cheaper and simpler solution.
❌ You want one-touch coffee: There are several steps in brewing coffee with the Keurig K-Duo; it's not a one-touch job.
🔎 The Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker will let you brew using K-Cups or ground coffee. It has a carafe, programmable features, and the ability to brew a cup or a pot of coffee. ★★★★½
The Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker has a carafe, which takes both K-cups and ground coffee. This means it has the potential to get messy.
Design: The coffee maker has a generously sized water tank that holds 60 ounces of water, which will be handy for families. If one person has one cup per day, they could go five to six days without re-filling the tank. Still, the overall design is sleek and compact, even with the additional carafe. There is also an Auto-Off safety feature.
The K-Duo has settings for four different cup sizes and different brew strengths. Using the LCD screen and illuminated buttons, you can direct it to make coffee simultaneously every day. The digital clock is also handy for timekeeping.
Performance: This machine is quieter than others we’ve reviewed; brewing only amounts to 52 dB. The taste is on par with barista-grade coffee and is not too bitter. Our reviewer noted that you can get a better brew by using the carafe rather than by inserting a pod, which is to be expected with fresh coffee grounds.
User reviews: The coffee maker got 3.5/5 stars on the Keurig website from 1832 reviews but 4.4/5 stars on Amazon, which probably reflects the experience of regular coffee drinkers versus the average Joe. On Keurig, users loved brewing a full pot or single cup but mentioned that the machine could be leaky and coffee grounds get all over the counter.
Price: We reckon that $189.99 is quite a bargain for everything you get. We’ve seen the Keurig K-Duo on sale for $98.99 in the past and for $78.14 on Amazon too.
Read more: Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Takes pods and coffee grounds, plus intuitive to use. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Prone to leaks and mess but delivers delicious coffee pronto. | ★★★★ |
| Price | An affordable price for a machine with different brew settings. | ★★★★★ |
The best pod coffee maker for a variety of brews
✅ You often have guests: This machine can brew lots of different cup sizes, up to a full pot of coffee, so there’s plenty of scope for serving to guests.
✅ You love variety: Whether you are brewing for yourself or guests, you can play around with the different strength and size settings.
✅ You drink milk coffee: The coffee maker features an integrated milk frother, meaning you can make lattes or cappuccinos with a thick, creamy top at home.
❌ You only drink espresso: It would be a waste to buy this coffee maker if you only drink basic espressos, as there are many different brew settings to experiment with.
❌ You are on a budget: While the Ninja Dual Brew Pro is by no means the most expensive pod coffee maker out there, it costs over $200, which many would agree is a significant investment for a coffee maker.
❌ You aren’t that interested in coffee: This coffee maker is best suited to someone interested in exploring different flavors and styles.
🔎 The Ninja Dual Brew Pro is great at producing many different brews, including lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, and over-ice coffee. Equipped with a carafe, it can brew a whole pot or a single cup. ★★★★½
'Variety is the spice of life.' You'll probably like the Ninja Dual Brew Pro coffee maker if you like such phrases. Equipped with a milk frother and a 55-oz carafe, it has settings for classic or over-ice brews. No wonder that it is pricier than a simple pod coffee machine.
Design: The Ninja Dual Brew Pro has features that can either aid your creativity or overwhelm complete beginners. First, it accepts coffee pods via the easy-to-install adapter or ground coffee via the generously sized carafe. There’s a wide range of brew styles and sizes (4 - 55 oz) and a milk frother.
Many of the coffee maker’s features are about convenience. A warming plate can keep your coffee hot for several hours, and the LCD panel is easy to use.
Performance: The milk frother quickly creates a deliciously creamy foam layer on lattes or cappuccinos. A separate water system means that the coffee comes out incredibly hot. When it comes to taste, the specialty brews are quite underwhelming and watered-down, but overall, they make a good coffee. With noise levels of 55 dB, it’s quiet.
User reviews: On Amazon, users love that they can brew a whole pot of coffee. They also mention how the temperature and taste of the coffee are great, although the coffee can become bitter when left on the warming plate. A few mention coffee grounds getting into their coffee despite their best efforts.
Price: Listed for $229.99 on the Ninja Kitchen website and also available from Amazon and Kohl’s, the Ninja Dual Brew Pro is attractively priced, considering it has a carafe, milk frother, and pod system. You can easily find a cheaper pod machine if you don’t care for the carafe or milk frother.
Read more: Ninja Dual Brew Po review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | A well-rounded coffee maker with a carafe and milk frother. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Great taste and temperature but specialty brews are underwhelming. | ★★★★ |
| Price | An attractive price considering all of its brew settings and features. | ★★★★★ |
The best pod coffee maker for iced coffee
✅ You love iced coffee: The Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker makes a tasty iced coffee at just the touch of a button, so if it’s your favorite drink, you're in luck.
✅ You hate refilling the water tank: The large 75-oz water tank can be left without a refill for several days, even with regular use.
✅ You want an easy-to-use coffee maker: The illuminated buttons and LCD screen are very easy to use, so you don’t need to worry about this machine being too high-tech for you.
❌ You want the best: Many pod coffee machines are more sophisticated and have additional features, like the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista.
❌ You’re a fan of milk coffee: The Keurig K-Elite does not have an integrated milk wand, so if you drink milk coffee daily, you may have to add cold or warm milk separately.
❌ You’re looking for a carafe: Coffee makers with a carafe include the Ninja Dual Brew Pro or the Keurig K-Duo Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker.
🔎 The Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker is small, modern, and easy to introduce to your lifestyle. What sets it apart is that it can make an epic iced coffee at the touch of a button. ★★★★½
You can rely on the Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker for iced coffee in the comfort of your backyard. It's modern, easy to use, and only costs $189.99 before sale.
Design: Re-filling the water tank isn’t an everyday chore, as the Keurig K-Elite has a generously sized 75-oz water tank. The brew settings are also quite generous; there are settings for five different cup sizes, different temperatures, dispensing hot water, and brewing 'strong' or iced coffee.
The Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker design isn’t very elevated, but it's still modern and comes in three colors. It has a digital clock, illuminated buttons, an auto-off button, and just one single-serve area with a drip tray. It does not have a milk frother, which may be a deal-breaker if you occasionally love a latte or cappuccino.
Performance: The ‘strong’ coffee may not be as intense as desired, but the machine excels at making iced coffee, and the hot coffee tastes earthy and high quality.
User reviews: With an average of 4.3 stars from 4,259 reviews on Keurig, it’s clear that this is a popular coffee machine. Many reviews talk about having owned the machine for years without any faults.
Price: The Keurig K-Elite costs $189.99, but it’s often on sale for up to $80 less on the Keurig website or Amazon. This is an average price for a pod coffee maker, although you can find similarly priced models with a milk frother, which the K-Elite lacks. Negative reviews mostly discuss one-off technical issues.
Read more: Keurig K-Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Modern and easy to use with a large water tank. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Produces delicious iced and hot coffee with ease. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | About average for a coffee maker but it’s missing a milk frother. | ★★★★ |
The best pod coffee maker for quick brews
✅ You want delicious coffee: Reviews rave about the taste of the Bruvi coffee pods, with many saying that they beat Keurig’s flavors. Our reviewer noted that the espresso is smooth and has a great crema.
✅ You love intuitive machines: This coffee maker has auto pod recognition, which can optimize the brew settings according to the B-pod, and the remainder of the touchscreen controls are intuitive.
✅ You are a family: The 70-ounce water tank provides plenty of back-up for a family who consumes a lot of caffeine.
❌ You want lattes: While the Bruvi BV-03 Black Coffee Brewer makes a great espresso, it lacks a milk frother or steamer, so you won’t be able to create lattes or cappuccinos from home.
❌ You like variety: One of the machine's main downfalls is that there are only a small number of B-cup flavors. If you like to vary the taste of your coffee, you may get bored quickly.
❌ You drink from tall cups: The largest cup size is 12oz, so don’t expect to be able to make family-sized pots of coffee with this coffee maker.
🔎 The Bruvi BV-03 Black Coffee Brewer will serve coffee quickly, and it's also quick and easy to use with intuitive touchscreen controls. The B-Cups also produce delicious espressos. ★★★★½
If you dislike waiting for your espresso, the Bruvi BV-03 Black Coffee Brewer will keep you on track. As a single-serve coffee maker, it’s not the most sophisticated machine. However, it still offers ways to customize your brew size and type.
Design: The Bruvi BV-03 Black Coffee Brewer cannot brew milk coffee, and there is also a limited selection of B-pods. However, it does have the option to customize brews using different settings for size and styles, such as espresso and cold brews. The touchscreen lights up, which is a small but significant design feature that makes things feel intuitive.
The machine is sleek despite having a very large 70-oz water tank. It’s a little larger than most pod coffee machines and weighs 13.2 lbs. While the machine is made of plastic, it feels sturdy and reliable.
Performance: Flavourful coffee is a must, and the Bruvi BV-03 Black Coffee Brewer delivers. However, the best part about the machine is that it makes an espresso in two minutes flat without heating it first. Aside from sending a notification when the coffee is brewed, the app isn't very helpful.
User reviews: The Bruvi BV-03 Black Coffee Brewer has a 4.7/5 rating from 269 reviews on the Bruvi website. Users praise the strong, delicious coffee, but some complain about poor customer support when encountering issues.
Price: The coffee machine costs $373 from Bruvi, which is more expensive than most single-serve pod coffee machines. It’s a good job. The machine has few flaws, but don't forget about the lack of pod variety and that there is no way to brew lattes or cappuccinos.
Read more: Bruvi BV-03 Black Coffee Brewer review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Nice touch screen with customizable brew settings. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Quick to make tasty coffee but the B-Cup flavors are limited. | ★★★★ |
| Price | More expensive than similar machines and lacks a milk frother. | ★★★★ |
The best pod coffee maker for lattes
✅ You’re a fan of a milky brew: If lattes and cappuccinos are your kryptonite, this machine is a good addition to your kitchen fleet. It has an integrated milk frother and several different milk settings.
✅ You’re on a budget: This coffee machine is several hundred dollars cheaper than the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima.
✅ Sometimes you want a strong coffee: The model has a handy ‘strong’ setting to make your coffee stronger whenever you need extra energy to get you through the day.
❌ You lack counter space: While the 60 oz water reservoir is handy if you don’t want to waste time refilling the water every day, it makes the coffee machine quite bulky.
❌ You only drink espressos: This machine has a lot of features that will go to waste if you only plan to drink espressos. It’s a good fit for people who change their coffee order every day.
❌ You hate things feeling flimsy: The water reservoir lid is quite easy to knock off, making that part of the machine feel quite flimsy.
🔎 The K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker is just for lovers of lattes and cappuccinos. Multiple brew settings, a large water reservoir, and a 'strong' button for a more intense coffee also exist. ★★★★½
If you’re a latte or cappuccino drinker, you should perk up when reading about the K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker. It’s modern, easy to use, and can still brew a latte, cappuccino, or regular espresso in just a few minutes.
Design: The design of the K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker Is straightforward. There are several buttons where you can select options like brewing a latte or cappuccino, adjusting the size of the brew, descaling, adding water, or adjusting the milk settings.
A couple of design flaws are noticeable, like the reservoir lid being quite loose and lines being hard to see on the milk frother. It’s larger than most Keurig coffee machines, so you’ll need plenty of countertop space. There’s also no LCD screen, although the buttons are large and illuminated.
Performance: Using and cleaning the K-Café is quick and intuitive. The coffee taste is on par with creamy barista-made coffee. The ‘strong’ button is also handy for a stronger, earthier brew. The machine also heats up within a few minutes.
User reviews: The coffee maker on Amazon has 4.7 stars out of 10, with over 7,000 five-star ratings. Users loved the strong setting, the coffee taste, and how easy it was to clean the milk frother.
Price: Costing $200 from Amazon or Keurig, the K-Café is about $20 cheaper than the Ninja Dual Brew Pro and almost $300 cheaper than the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima, other good milk coffee pod machines. That makes it very attractive.
Read more: K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Too bulky but offers customizable settings. | ★★★★ |
| Performance | Easy to use and clean, with great-tasting lattes in return. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | Cheaper than most comparable machines for milk coffee drinkers. | ★★★★★ |
The best low maintenance pod coffee maker
✅ You have a modern home: The Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima comes in modern matte black or matte white designs that look and feel high-quality.
✅ You drink lattes or cappuccinos: The Lattissima has a steam wand and multiple milk settings, making it easy to get delicious lattes and cappuccinos within a few minutes.
✅ You like easy routines: Not only does the machine produce coffee within a few minutes, but it’s also easy to use and easy to clean.
❌ You don’t like fiddly parts: The milk wand has seven parts that must be disassembled and reassembled every time you clean the wand.
❌ You drink espressos: The steam wand is one of the best parts of this Nespresso model and one of the reasons why the machine is so noteworthy.
❌ You are on a budget: The Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima costs $500, making it a significant investment if you only want a basic machine.
🔎 The Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima is a good-looking machine that has a milk wand, multiple brew settings, and the ability to pour a delicious Nespresso coffee based on the recipe of your chosen Vertuo pod. ★★★★½
Not only does the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima look gorgeous, but it's also easy to clean and comes equipped with a steam wand that can froth milk to perfection.
Design: The first thing to say about the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima is that it looks very sleek and modern. Still, it has an unusual and desirable balance between modern features like auto pod recognition and a milk frother and simplicity. There are just four buttons, for example.
The machine uses auto pod technology to brew an espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug, XL, or carafe. The Vertuo pods offer a variety of flavors, although Nespresso isn’t known for having the most nuanced flavors. The removable water tank holds 54 ounces, and the milk tank holds 16 ounces, which should be plenty.
Performance: The milk frother has six separate parts, so it can be fiddly to put it back together when cleaning the machine. Pouring coffee takes two to three minutes, which is quick. It also doesn’t splash coffee, helping to prevent messy countertops.
User reviews: On Amazon, reviewers liken the coffee to barista-grade buys. They note that the machine is modern and well-designed. In the very few negative reviews, some users complain of lukewarm coffee.
Price: The Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima costs nearly $300 more than the K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee Latte & Cappuccino Maker. Sometimes, it can be found on sale at Nespresso, De’Longhi, or Best Buy for around $370, as opposed to the full price of $499.
Read more: Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Sturdy, sleek and modern, with just four buttons. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Produces beautiful milk coffees in a few minutes. | ★★★★★ |
| Price | More expensive than other machines but feels high quality. | ★★★★ |
How to choose the best pod coffee machine for you
Choose a budget. Our round-up's most affordable pod coffee machine is the Nespresso Essenza Mini, which costs $179. Other capsule models sit around the $180 - 220 mark. However, these machines are mostly basic single-serve models. While they can produce a good espresso, a higher quality model costing between $300 and $500 has additional features such as a steam wand, extra customizable settings, or even a carafe. Your first step should be to decide which features you're willing to pay more for and how flexible your budget is.
Look at your space. Some pod coffee machines take up much counter space, especially if they have a large water reservoir (50 - 60 oz or more) or features such as a carafe or a milk wand. You should measure your space against the machine's dimensions before you purchase. Smaller machines are usually more basic in design. You will also need to fill their water tanks more regularly.
Design considerations. Does the design fit in with your modern kitchen appliances? Does the color fit in? Does plastic or stainless steel look best on your countertop? These are all important questions to ask yourself before you buy a pod coffee maker.
Pod types. If buying a Nespresso pod machine, you must buy the correct Vertuo or Original pods. Vertuo machines feature auto pod recognition, meaning the pod you buy dictates your coffee's flavor, size, and strength. If you’re buying K-Cups or another type of capsule, they must also be compatible with the machine. There are many different flavors of capsules, and some pods cost more than others, which can impact your ongoing monthly budget.
Milk frother. If you only drink espressos, getting a pod coffee maker with a milk frother will only eat into your budget. However, if you’re a huge fan of a morning latte or cappuccino, having a coffee maker with a steam wand may be worth the additional money. Cold milk can make your coffee lukewarm, whereas a milk wand adds a creamy layer to your coffee and keeps it hot.
How we tested the best pod coffee machines
Our reviewers tested the best pod coffee machines in their homes. The team is made up of regular coffee drinkers who have varied tastes. They have tested every part of the process, from unboxing and setting up the machine to brewing and cleaning coffee. They also rigorously try the different settings and features, recording noise levels and identifying potential problems. Read more about how we test coffee makers and other appliances.
Pod coffee machine FAQs
How does a pod coffee maker work?
At the most basic level, a pod coffee maker pierces a specially designed pod or capsule inserted into a chamber. The machine runs hot water through the coffee grounds inside the pod, which dispenses a cup of coffee into a mug. Different pod coffee maker models offer different strength and size settings. Some models also feature a milk wand, which steams milk and adds it to the coffee. We have written a more detailed breakdown to answer the question, ‘how do pod coffee machines work?’.
How to clean a pod coffee maker
A pod coffee maker needs descaling every few months using a solution consisting of a 1:1 ratio of distilled vinegar and water. This solution should be added to the tank and used by running a rinse cycle or initiating the machine’s descale settings. After approximately an hour, you should run two to three rinse cycles using plain water.
Basic cleaning of a pod coffee maker is easy. The machine can be wiped down using a damp cloth. Parts such as a drip tray or milk frother can be soaked and cleaned using warm water and dishwashing liquid.
Is Keurig better than Nespresso?
Keurig coffee makers are easy to use and compact, with some models measuring as little as five inches wide. However, they are usually less sturdy than Nespresso models, predominantly made from thicker plastic. Nespresso models can, therefore, feel higher quality than Keurig coffee makers.
Nespresso and Keurig pods are also very different, with the former producing thicker coffee. Nespresso pods are also made from 100% aluminum, making them easier to recycle than Keurig capsules, which are made from a combination of plastic and metal. Therefore, to conclude the debate of Keurig VS Nespresso, while Keurig is best for speed and small size, Nespresso machines feel higher quality and produce thicker coffee.
