A Guide to Buying a Capsule Coffee Machine
A capsule coffee maker will allow you to enjoy an instant cup of coffee. They are simple to use and work with different coffee pods.
Contrary to filter coffee machines, capsule coffee machines tend to focus on black drinks such as lungos and espressos. They also have a few milky choices for lattes and capspuccinos.
1. Easy to use
With a capsule-based coffee maker, you can enjoy your coffee at home without the hassle of a full bean-to-cup or filter machine. These machines are easy to use and work well, regardless of whether you're a seasoned coffee maker or just a newbie. You can pick from a variety of drink sizes, temperatures, and flavors to match your tastes. Some models come with an integrated milk frothing wand to create cappuccinos and lattes. They're a convenient option for busy families who need coffee in a hurry on the way out the door.
There are a variety of capsule coffee machines in the UK that will meet your needs. The budget friendly options tend to be simple 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 to further personalize your drink and recipe ideas.
The slick design of the Smeg model is a big plus with a sleek and modern design that will blend in well on any work surface. It's also quiet, making it an excellent choice for families with small children. Our testers found it simple to set up and use with smooth operation of the water tank's capsule lever and a responsive, smart touchscreen.
The more expensive models, such as the ones from Dolce Gusto or Nespresso, provide more customisation. You can save your favorite drinks at the touch of a button. You can adjust the settings to get the most optimal flavour and aroma for your preferred blends. The capsule recycler is available to keep your kitchen clean and free of trash. The more expensive models usually include a built-in milk carafe to make creamy cappuccinos and lattes, while some come with steam wands that can be operated manually when you need to.
2. Versatile
Although capsule machines are not as flexible as a bean to cup machine or filter machine, they are able to provide delicious and consistently good results. Basic models start at less than PS50. A lot of these machines even froth milk, meaning you can make an espresso or cappuccino at the push of an button.
One thing to bear in mind when using capsule machines is that you will be limited to the type of drinks and coffee pods you can make with it, as these will have been packaged with ingredients like ground coffee sugar, cream, sugar and flavorings. Nonetheless, you can still be sure of high-quality coffee from a variety of brands, and there is a wide range of options offered by Tassimo and Nescafe for instance, allowing you to choose from a range of milky and black coffees.
Some capsule machines, like the Vertuo line of Nespresso can be used to prepare various milky drinks by using different capsules. They allow selecting a milky drink such as a latte or cappuccino from a selection of four, and the machine automatically dispenses the correct amount of milk.
The best pod machines in the UK are also designed with user-friendly features, like simple-to-read digital displays as well as automatic shut-off functions that conserve energy. Look for features like height-adjustable trays which can be adjusted to accommodate the size of your cup and minimize splashing. Also look for a movable capsule holder with an easy-to-empty and clean capsule holder. Energy-saving sleep modes and eco-friendly settings are a nice addition.
The Morning Machine is a tabletop machine that you can operate by hand or through an application. It has precise controls to adjust the coffee's body and flavor. Among other things, you can alter the temperature that has an immediate impact on the flavor of your coffee; lower temperatures can cause acidity while higher temperatures give it more body and bitterness.
3. Environmentally friendly
Since their introduction by Nestle in 1986, coffee pods (or capsules) have made a huge impact on the way people drink coffee. They're easy to use, quick and allow you to enjoy a consistently good cup of joe every time. However, they can be extremely wasteful. They are usually packaged in aluminium and plastic which is hard to recycle. Plus, they contain unused ground coffee that is not recycled.
Despite this, research has shown that compared to filter and drip coffee, a capsule machine is not as harmful to the environment. Single-serve capsules are eco green because they consume the exact amount of water and coffee which means less the amount of waste. Plus, it takes less energy to heat the water in a capsule than making a pot of coffee.
However, it's important to remember that this research is based on the complete life cycle of coffee production, including the cultivation, harvesting and transportation of the beans, as well as heating the water. Find a capsule maker that only uses recyclable or biodegradable coffee pods. If you want to go further, you can purchase an reused coffee capsule. These capsules can be used to fill your capsule with coffee ground. They're designed to be compatible with popular systems such as Nespresso.
If you're looking to reduce your impact on the environment further, you should consider an appliance that works with Lavazza A Modo Mio Tiny eco capsules. These capsules are carbon neutral, industrially compostable and made of more than 50% recycled plastic. Plus, they're the only capsules that can be used to add food waste for council collection.
If you cannot find compostable or biodegradable pods for your capsule maker, consider using a bean to cup coffee maker. These machines are more expensive but they are also more eco-friendly. They grind and prepare coffee on demand rather than the process of cooling and brewing a large pot of coffee in advance, which uses up energy. They are also more energy efficient than drip machines or espresso machine on stoves, since they use less energy.
4. Cost-effective
A capsule machine is an excellent option if you want to make coffee quickly and efficiently in the morning. The capsules are sealed and contain roasted and ground beans. They are then inserted into the machine, and brewed for a specific amount of time. The machines are simple to use and are relatively inexpensive however, they can be costly in the event you opt for high-end models by big brands. This is especially true of the cost of the coffee pods themselves that are typically pricey.
A capsule coffee maker is still less expensive than filter models or a bean-to-cup model. This is due to the initial price of a capsule machine will be less and you'll save money in the end because you won't need to purchase filters or ground coffee. However, the initial expense isn't a deterrent for many people and you should consider how much you're able to invest in the machine and then factor in the cost of the coffee pods that go with it.
If you're looking for a capsule machine that offers a budget-friendly option, look no further than the Lavazza Vertuo Pop. This sleek, compact machine utilizes the brand's compostable EcoCaps to provide a high-quality cup of espresso. Its unique brewing technology also allows it to produce a thick crema, despite only making black coffee. This is a significant improvement on the thin, watery foam that often accompanies espresso drinks made in other pod machines.
The machine is compact in its footprint and a simple four-button panel. It is easy to operate and doesn't take the most counter space. It also has a hot drink function and steam wands for milky drinks, which is rare for capsule machines. The jug used to dispense the coffee is smaller than glass carafes that are used on less expensive competitors.
Morning Machine, a pod coffee maker created by itself and is more sophisticated than its competitors and comes with a range of additional features that make it stand out. Its flagship Bloom & Brew setting pre-wets the ground coffee for a stronger, richer cup. It also has adjustable settings that allow you to alter the amount of coffee that is extracted as well as temperature, and bar pressure. This allows you to make more from the capsules than lungo, capsule machine coffee espresso, and ristretto options, and can even recreate filters and drip-style drinks. It can also be connected to your smartphone to display recipes and track the consumption of energy.