A Guide to Buying a Capsule Coffee Machine
A capsule coffee machine will make it simple to make a quick cup of coffee. They are simple to use and can be used with a variety of coffee pods.
Contrary to filter coffee machines, capsule machines usually concentrate on black drinks - lungos and espressos - but with a few milky options for lattes and cappuccinos.
1. Simple to use
You can get your coffee fix at home using capsule machines. It's an excellent alternative to a bean-to cup or filter machine. No matter if you're an experienced coffee maker or are just beginning to learn they're designed to be simple to use and run smoothly. You can select from a variety of beverage sizes, temperatures and flavors to match your tastes. Some models come with an integrated milk frother to make lattes or cappuccinos. These models are ideal for families who are busy and would like to have a cup of coffee before leaving for work.
There are a variety of capsule coffee machines uk models that can be found to meet your requirements. Budget friendly models tend to include a few buttons with a clear display. The more advanced models let you customize your brew by changing settings like temperature of water, capsule type, and bar pressure. Certain models come with an app that permits more customization and recipe suggestions.
The Smeg model is sleek in design that is a perfect match with any work surface. It's also quiet when in use making it an ideal option for those with children who are up early. Our testers found it simple to set up and use with smooth operation of the water tank's capsule lever and a responsive, intelligent touchscreen.
The more expensive models, such as the ones from Dolce Gusto or Nespresso, provide more customization. You can save your most-loved drinks with a click. You can also alter the settings for your favorite blends to get the best taste and aroma. The capsule recycler comes with it to keep your kitchen clean and free of trash. The pricier models often come with a built-in milk cup to make creamy cappuccinos and lattes, while some come with steam wands that can be operated manually as needed.
2. Multi-faceted
Although capsule machines aren't as versatile as a bean-to cup machine or a filter machine, they are able to provide delicious and consistent results. They also have the benefit of being simple to use and relatively cheap starting at under PS50. A lot of these machines even offer milk frothing, meaning you can make a cappuccino or latte at the touch of a button.
One thing to keep in mind with capsule machines is that you'll be limited in the kind of drinks and coffee pods you can drink with it because they are pre-packaged with ingredients such as ground coffee, cream, sugar and flavorings. You can still expect top-quality brews with most brands. Tassimo and Nescafe offer a variety of milky and black coffees, for instance.
Similar to the capsule machines, some can also be used with different milky drinks using different kinds of capsules like those produced by Nespresso's Vertuo line. They allow selecting a milky drink such as a latte, or cappuccino from a selection of four, with the machine automatically dispensing the correct amount of milk.

The best pod coffee machines in the UK are also designed to be as user-friendly as is possible with clear digital displays and automatic turn-off functions that help conserve energy. You should look for features such as height-adjustable drip trays, which can be moved up and down to suit the size of your cup and to minimise splashing, and a removable capsule holder that's easy to empty and clean. Other nice features include energy-saving sleep modes and eco-friendly settings.
Taking things to the next level is the Morning Machine, a sleek bench top machine that can be operated manually or by apps, with precise controls that let you adjust the coffee's flavor and body. You can also alter the temperature, which will have an immediate impact on the taste of your coffee. Lower temperatures result in acidity while higher temperatures give it more body.
3. Environmentally friendly
Since their introduction by Nestle in 1986, coffee pods (or capsules) have had a massive impact on how people drink coffee. They are convenient, quick and easy to make a good cup of coffee each time. However, they can be quite wasteful. They are typically packaged in aluminium and plastic which is hard to recycle. Plus, they often contain dregs of unutilised ground coffee that cannot be recycled as well.
Despite this, research has shown that compared to filter and drip coffee, using a capsule machine is less detrimental to the environment. This is due to single-serve capsules using exactly the same amount of water and coffee and reduce the amount of coffee waste that can occur when you make a large pot. Furthermore, heating the water in a single-serve mug uses less energy than brewing a large pot.
It's important to remember that this study only covers the entire cycle of coffee production. This includes growing, harvesting, transporting, and heating the water. Find a capsule maker that is made of biodegradable or recyclable coffee pods. If you're looking to go even further, think about purchasing an reusable capsule. These capsules can be used to fill your capsule with ground coffee. They're designed to be compatible with popular systems, such as Nespresso.
If you want to reduce your environmental impact further consider a device that can be used with Lavazza's Modo Mio Tiny Eco capsules. They're industrially compostable, carbon neutral and come in a black color made of more than 50 percent recycled plastic. Plus, these are the only capsules which can be added to food waste and disposed of by the council.
If you are unable to find biodegradable or compostable pods for your capsule maker, you might consider using a bean-to-cup coffee maker. They're costly, but they're more sustainable than pod machines. They grind and brew coffee on demand instead of the process of cooling and brewing a large pot of coffee in advance, which wastes energy. They're also more efficient than drip or espresso machine that is sat on a stove, since they require less energy to operate.
4. Cost-effective
A capsule machine is a fantastic option if you want to make coffee quickly and easily in the morning. The capsules are sealed, and they contain ground and roasted beans. coffee machine with capsules are then put into the machine, and brewed for an exact amount of time. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to use however, they can be costly especially if you opt for top-of-the-line models from the top brands. This is especially true for the price of the coffee pods that can be quite expensive.
A capsule coffee maker is still cheaper than filters or a bean-to-cup model. The capsule machine is less expensive initially, and you'll save money in the long run by not having to purchase filters or ground coffee. The initial cost is an obstacle for some. So, consider the amount you'll invest in the machine, and then add on the cost of the pods that fit the machine.
Lavazza Vertuo pop is a capsule machine that is an excellent choice for those who are on a budget. This compact, stylish machine makes use of the brand's compostable EcoCaps to deliver a quality cup of espresso. The unique brewing system produces a thick, rich crema despite only brewing black coffee. This is a nice contrast to the thin, watery slush that is typically served with drinks made using other pod machines.
The machine is simple to operate with the four buttons on the panel and has a small footprint that doesn't occupy any counter space. It has a steam wand and hot beverage functions which are both rare features for capsule machines. The jug that it uses to pour the coffee is smaller than the glass carafes found on the cheaper machines.
Morning Machine, a pod coffee maker created by itself and is more sophisticated than its competitors and offers a variety of additional features that help it stand out. The Bloom & Brew option pre-wets ground coffee to create an extra-strong, richer cup. It also has adjustable settings for temperature, bar pressure and the amount of coffee extracted. This lets you get more value from the capsules than just ristretto, espresso and lungo options, and even recreates filters and drip-style drinks. It can also be connected to your smartphone to display recipes and track energy consumption.