But choosing the pod coffee maker that’s right for you isn’t such a simple matter. Once you buy, you’re tied into the brand’s capsules for the life of the machine. Very few pods are cross-compatible. And different brands have different types of pods and different flavours of coffee.
For example, Tassimo’s T Discs and Nescafe’s Dolce Gusto capsule range includes milk capsules, so you can make lattes and cappuccinos directly from the machine. Nespresso Vertuo capsules are black coffee only, but they’re not just espresso based: you can opt for a big mug of coffee.
And Lavazza A Modo Mio capsules make not only make a very good espresso, but they’re industrially compostable too, so you can chuck them out with your food waste, rather than gathering them up for recycling.
But there are big difference between machines as well. Some are completely automatic, some give you options for tailoring your coffee, some have inbuilt milk frothers, some are espresso only and a few have smart features as well.
For help choosing the brand of capsules that are right for you, have a look at our buying advice after the chart. Otherwise read on for our recommendations: we’ve reviewed some of the best machines on the market.
Capsule coffee machine buying advice
Once you buy a pod coffee machine, you’re tied to that brand of pods for as long as you own the machine. As capsules from different brands can vary hugely, it’s a good idea to start off by finding the kind of coffee you prefer. Here are some pluses and minuses for each brand.
Four coffee length options Milk frothing and heating
Control panel more complicated than rival machines
This extra functionality means that it’s a bit more complicated to get to grips with than most pod machines but on the other hand, you can make cappuccinos, lattes and more with it, which is unusual among pod machines. It’s quiet in use as well.
It’s not available in the US, but the closest equivalent is Lavazza’s Classy Plus machine.
Enjoyable and easy to use machine Wide variety of capsules, with long drink options
Very few options for tailoring your coffee Black coffee only
The pluses and minuses of this machine really amount to the same thing: it is fully automatic. A barcode reader inside analyses the capsule and automatically pre-wets, infuses and dispenses the correct volume. You can stop the flow or add more water but there are generally no settings to fiddle with to tailor coffee, which will frustrate some. For others, the hassle-free, hands-off automation is exactly what they want.
It dispense coffee lengths from espresso to carafe, but it’s all dependent on which pods you use.
The Vertuo Next has smart features as well but these are really focused on ordering and recycling capsules, rather than remote operation or adjusting settings, so they will be of more use to busy people who want to automate their deliveries, or get reminders when they’re running low on capsules.
Cup detection Can save personal settings Pre-programmed recipes App and manual control
Doesn’t froth milk Expensive
It’s a lovely machine as well: pared-back and almost severe in its minimalism, with a high quality build and matching features, including an OLED screen and a scale beneath the cup stand for weighing out coffee. It has smart features as well, with a focus on finessing the coffee output to your taste.
It’s not flawless, however: navigating the menus can be less than intuitive and we found the automatic cup detection to be a bit spotty during testing.
Short heating-up time Small countertop footprint No splashing
Manual loading and discard Small 0.
7l tank Functional design
It has a 0.7 litre tank and a pretty functional design, but buy it in the cream or lupine blue colourway and it has a lot more personality.
Tassimo T-Discs are like Dolce Gusto capsules, in that you can make milky coffee drinks, hot chocolate, tea and specialist coffee drinks thanks to the two pod system (one for coffee, one for milk). This means you’re not limited to black coffee, nor do you have to fuss around with milk frothing. There are coffees from L’Or, Kenco and Costa, and hot chocolate from Cadbury and Milka.
This is a handy little machine but don’t buy it at full price: snap one up on sale.
Temperature, volume and strength customisation Easy-to-read display Automatic dispensing setting
Water tank at the back isn't easy to reach Dolce Gusto capsules aren't for everyone
Of the Dolce Gusto coffee makers, the Genio S Plus is one of the best. It’s compact (27.1 x 27.2 x 11cm), easy to use and best of all, it has more customisation options than any other machine in the range.
You can adjust the water temperature, add an espresso boost, and choose from seven volume options. But you can also opt for the automatic settings, in which case making coffee is as straightforward as can be.
It’s not available in the US, but you can buy the Dolce Gusto Genio 2, which has a similar design and the same feature set.
No milk tank or frother Expensive at full price Smart coffee options still limited
On the coffee-making side of things, you insert a pod and then choose an espresso or a long drink (and there are two cup tray positions to match). There is no milk frothing option and A Modo Mio capsules are coffee-only. Simple.
The smart features don’t complicate matters either. You can ask Alexa to make you a coffee (once you’ve added a pod and water IRL, so it doesn’t really save you much time or effort) or jump on the app to track your coffee consumption, check your stock of capsules or order more.
But the real benefit of this hybrid appliance is that it’s a space-saving way to bring a smart speaker into your kitchen, without having to find a dedicated spot for it. This means you can play music, check the weather, set timers and more – all while drinking a very nice espresso.
Auto dispense Auto open and close Auto capsule ejection
No carafe option Not easy to move No milk tank
Unlike classic Nespresso capsules, Vertuo pods aren’t just espresso-based. You can opt for a big mug of coffee, although you can’t fill a carafe as you can with the Vertuo Next. But it’s all done automatically, with the machine reading a barcode on the pod and pre-wetting, infusing and dispensing the correct amount of water automatically. This means that customisation is limited.
The machine opens and closes automatically as well, in response to a touch to the chrome lever, which is pleasing to use.
Bear in mind that it doesn’t include a milk frother, although you can buy the pint-sized Aeroccino separately.
Compact Stylish Industrially compostable capsules
600ml tank limit Small disposal drawer No pre-set dispensing volume
The space saving does come at a cost: its water tank is only 600ml and there are no pre-sets for dispensing volume, so you need to be on hand to stop the flow when you judge it’s enough. But if you’re an espresso drinker, you could easily find a spot for this handy little machine on a desk or bedside table and it’ll amply repay you with its easy, fuss-free operation.
The Jolie is not available in the US, but a similar model is the Lavazza Classy Mini.
Tiny footprint Budget-friendly
No automatic volume dispensing, so you have to guesstimate volumes Quite noisy
The only drawback with the Piccolo XS is that it is so simple that it doesn’t even feature automatic volume dispensing. That means you have to control the volume of water using a lever and can’t wander off while your coffee is brewing.
The nature of the Dolce Gusto system also means that making a cappuccino or latte involves going through the process twice: once with a coffee capsule and once with a milk capsule. But it’s still faster than frothing milk separately.
The Piccolo XS can be used to make both hot and cold drinks. It’s not available in the US, but the Piccolo is.
Eye-catching design Good tank size Automatic volume dispense
No tank max line Fiddly drip tray Pod drawer can get stuck
There are three height options for the cup tray: base level for a long latte glass, mid-level for a conventional cup and high for an espresso cup. But changing the height can be fiddly. We also found that the pod drawer can get stuck, so we have a few concerns about the longevity of this appliance.
Lavazza A Modo Mio
Pros:
High quality espressosIndustrially compostable pods you can dispose of in food waste or return36 varieties
Cons:
Fewer options than Nescafe/ NespressoEspresso-based drinks only
Nespresso Vertuo
Pros:
Espressos and long drinksOver 40 varieties
Cons:
Black coffee onlyYou have to return the capsules to recycle them
Nescafe Dolce Gusto
Pros:
Milk capsules for mixed drinksCheaper, compatible capsules widely available45 official varietiesHot chocolate, tea and Starbucks coffee also available
Cons:
Very sugaryYou have to return the capsules to recycle them
Tassimo T Discs
Pros:
Over 50 options, including coffee from Jacobs, Costa, L’Or, and KencoMilk-based drinks available Hot chocolate options from Cadbury and MilkaTassimo tea range and decaffeinated coffee optionsFrequent offers on pods
Cons:
You need to return them to recycle them
Independent brands
Independent brands can give you high-quality, fresh options but they can be pricier and less widely available than capsules from big brands.
For recommendations across all types of coffee machines, from espresso makers to bean-to-cup machines, have a look at our round-up of the best coffee machines we’ve tested.
Emma is Home Tech Editor at Tech Advisor. She covers everything from kitchen appliances to smart home devices, from floor care to personal care to air care technology. She’s particularly interested in environmentally conscious brands and products that save people time and money.
