A Guide to Buying a Capsule Coffee Machine
If you're looking for a quick and easy coffee, a capsule machine is the way to go. They're simple to use and work with a variety of coffee pods.
Contrary to filter coffee machines, capsule machines usually concentrate on black drinks, such as lungos and espressos - but with some milky options available for cappuccinos and lattes.
1. Simple to use
You can enjoy your coffee fix at home with the capsule machine. It's a great alternative to a bean-to-cup or filter machine. If you're a seasoned coffee maker or just beginning your journey, these machines are designed to be simple to use and run smoothly. You can choose from a range of drink sizes, temperatures and flavors to meet your needs. Some models have an integrated milk frother that can be used to make lattes or cappuccinos. These models are great for families who are busy and are looking to grab an espresso before leaving for work.
There are a variety of capsule coffee machines in the UK that can be found to meet your requirements. The budget-friendly options tend to be basic with a panel of buttons and a clear display, while more sophisticated models allow you to customize the brew by altering settings such as temperature of the water, capsule type and bar pressure. Some have an app to further personalize your drink and recipe ideas.
The slick design of the model from Smeg is a major benefit with a sleek and modern design that will blend in well on any work surface. It's also extremely quiet and is a great option for families with small children. Our test subjects found it easy to set up and use with smooth operation of the lever on the cap of the water tank and a responsive, smart touchscreen.
The more expensive models, such as the ones from Dolce Gusto or Nespresso, provide more customization. You can save your most-loved drinks to a button. You can adjust the settings to achieve the best taste and aroma for your preferred blends. The capsule recycler comes with it to keep your kitchen tidy and free of trash. Some of the more expensive models include an inbuilt carafe that can be used for creamy cappuccinos or lattes. Some models come with an additional steam wand that you can manually operate.
2. Versatile
Although capsule machines aren't as versatile as a bean-to cup machine or a filter machine, they can provide delicious and consistently good results. They also have the benefit of being easy to use and affordable the most basic models cost just PS50. A lot of these machines can also handle making frothy milk so you can make cappuccinos or lattes with the click of the button.
One thing to keep in mind when using a capsule machine is that you'll be limited in the kind of coffee pods and drinks you can make with it, because they are pre-packaged with ingredients such as ground coffee, cream, sugar and flavourings. You can still expect top-quality coffees from most brands. Tassimo and Nescafe offer a variety of black and milky coffees, for example.
Similarly, some capsule machines can also be used with various milky drinks using different capsules, such as those made by Nespresso's Vertuo line. These machines allow you to choose a milky beverage such as a cappuccino or latte from a selection of four. The machine will automatically dispensate the right amount of milk.
The best pod coffee machines uk are also designed to be as user-friendly as they can with easy-to-read digital displays and automatic turn-off functions that help conserve energy. Look for features like drip trays that can be adjusted in height, which can be moved up and down to accommodate your cup size and to reduce splashing and a reusable capsule holder that's easy to empty and clean. Sleep modes that save energy and eco-friendly settings are a nice bonus.
The Morning Machine is a benchtop machine that can be operated by hand or through an app. It has precise controls to fine-tune the coffee's body and flavor. You can also adjust the temperature, which will have an impact directly on the flavor of your coffee. Lower temperatures result in acidity, while higher temperatures provide it with more body.
3. Environmentally friendly
Since their introduction by Nestle in 1986 the coffee pods (or capsules) have made a huge impact on the way people consume coffee. They're easy to use, quick and easy to enjoy a consistently good coffee every time. However, they're also extremely wasteful. They are usually packed in plastic and aluminium, which is difficult to recycle. In addition, they typically contain dregs of ground coffee that can't be recycled either.
Despite this, research has shown that compared to filter and drip coffee, using a capsule machine is less detrimental to the environment. Single-serve capsules are more environmentally green because they consume the exact amount of coffee and water which means less the amount of waste. Furthermore, heating the water in a single-serve mug uses less energy than making a large-sized pot.
It is important to remember that this research is only based on the complete life cycle of coffee production, including the growing, harvesting, and transportation of the beans as well as heating the water. Find a capsule maker that is made of recycled or biodegradable coffee pods. And if you want to go further, you could consider purchasing the recyclable capsule. These can be filled with ground coffee and placed in your capsule machine. They're usually designed to be compatible with popular systems such as Nespresso.
If you're looking to cut down your environmental impact further, look for a machine that works with Lavazza's A Modo Mio Tiny Eco capsules. These are industrially compostable, carbon neutral and come in a black style which is made from more than 50 percent recycled plastic. Plus, they're the only capsules that can be added to food waste for council collection.
If you are unable to find compostable or biodegradable coffee pods for your capsule machine, try using a bean-to-cup maker. These machines are more expensive however they are also green. They grind and brew coffee at the moment, rather than making a large pot in advance, and then cooling it down, which wastes electricity. 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 a quick and convenient way to make your morning coffee the capsule machine is the perfect solution. The capsules are sealed, and they contain ground and roasted beans. They are then inserted into the machine and brewed for a precise amount of time. The machines are simple to operate and fairly inexpensive however, they can be costly in the event you opt for premium models made by major brands. This can be especially in the case of the coffee pods themselves which can be quite pricey.
The purchase of a capsule coffee machine is still considerably cheaper than getting an espresso machine or a bean-to-cup filter however. The capsule machine is cheaper initially, and you'll save money over time by not buying filters or ground coffee. However, the initial cost isn't a deterrent for many So, think about how much you're able to invest in the machine and then factor in the cost of the coffee pods that you will need to fit it.
Lavazza Vertuo pop is a capsule machine that is a great option for those on a tight budget. This sleek, compact machine utilizes the brand's compostable EcoCaps to provide a high-quality cup of espresso. Its unique brewing technology also lets it produce an extremely thick crema, despite only making black coffee. This is a welcome improvement on the thin foam that typically is found in espresso drinks made with other pod machines.
The machine is simple to use via a panel of four buttons and has a compact footprint that doesn't take up too much counter space. It has a coffee machine for pods steam wand and hot beverage functions which are both rare features for capsule machines. The jug that it uses to dispense the coffee is smaller than the glass carafes that are used on less expensive competitors.
Morning Machine, a pod coffee maker made independently is more sophisticated than its competitors and comes with a range of additional features that help it stand out. The Bloom & Brew option pre-wets ground coffee to produce an even stronger, more rich cup. It also offers adjustable settings for temperature, bar pressure and the amount of coffee extracted. This allows you to get more value from the capsules than just espresso, ristretto and lungo options, and even recreates drip and filter-style drinks. It can also be linked to your smartphone to make recipes and monitoring of energy consumption.