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- Pod machines bring speed, convenience, and consistency to the coffee making process.
- You're not going to get the best shot of espresso or cup of coffee ever made, but you will get a nicely made drink that tastes good with minimal effort.
- The Nespresso Pixie by De'Longhi is the best pod machine you can buy because it makes a wide variety of coffee and espresso-based drinks quickly and efficiently.
Is a pod machine going to produce the perfect shot of espresso? No, and as a matter of fact, there's a lot of controversy as to whether these machines actually make espresso. That said, the coffee produced by pod machines comes pretty close. Pod machines are a great way for anyone to cut back on spending money at the cafe without shelling out for a $500 Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, or fiddling with manual espresso machines like the Flair or a stovetop espresso maker.
Pod machines are ideal for the working professional on the go who's looking for fast and affordable coffee and espresso-based drinks. But affordable is relative here: Keep in mind the cost of pods. You're still looking at spending roughly fifty cents to a dollar on each pod, which holds only about five grams of grounds.
In contrast, a true shot of espresso is roughly between seven and 11 grams. A one-pound bag of coffee beans will deliver more than 40 shots, and a pound of artisanal coffee generally won't run you more than $15 (about $.038 per shot), so depending on how much coffee or espresso you consume, a pod machine could be a more expensive investment over time.
The other major argument against pod machines is that they're not environmentally friendly. While almost all pod manufacturers offer recycling programs, participation involves a little more work than many people are willing to commit to, and the plastic and aluminum pods tend to end up in the garbage because recycling them isn't terribly convenient for most people. Fortunately, there's a whole host of companies making compostable and reusable pods for Nespresso machines.
All in all, if you're not terribly picky, or just want a backup for when you don't have the time or energy to buy or brew coffee and espresso your own way, a pod machine is a good buy. I keep a pod machine on my office desk, and while I have several other ways to administer caffeine into my person, I take solace in knowing it's there and I end up using it more often than not.
We've spent countless shaky, teeth-gritting hours testing all the coffee and espresso pod machines we could get our hands on to find the best.
Here are the best pod machines you can buy:
- Best pod machine overall: De'Longhi Nespresso Pixie
- Best Illy pod machine: Illy's Y3.2 iperEspresso Machine
- Best pod machine with a frother: De'Longhi Lattissima One
- Best Keurig K-Cup machine: Keurig - K- Classic K50 Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
- Best portable pod machine: Handpresso Hybrid Auto Set
Read on in the slides below to learn more about our top picks.
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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.