Coffee pod machines

About Coffee Pod Machines

Coffee pod machines are an excellent choice for the modern man, always on the search for maximum convenience and a way to enjoy everything to the fullest as quickly and easily as possible. Over the last decade, the popularity of these machines has been growing rapidly — they can now be encountered not only in people’s homes, but also in hotel rooms, cottages and summer houses. But why are capsule coffee machines in such great demand nowadays and how can you discover the capsule coffee machine that suits your needs best?

Easy, convenient and quick

These three words describe the very essence of the operation of capsule coffee machines. Capsule appliances brew aromatic coffee easily and quickly: all you have to do is insert a coffee capsule containing your chosen coffee variety into the machine and press the coffee brewing button. The appliance then pierces the capsule — with the help of high pressure, hot water is pushed through the coffee and poured straight into your cup. The result is a drink that is just as good as the one you’d be served in a restaurant!

Perfect cleanliness

The process of coffee brewing is especially neat when using a capsule machine. Because ground coffee is sealed inside a capsule, you can avoid mess in your kitchen and prevent the grounds from being spilled all over your kitchen counters.

Drinks that are equally delicious every single time

While each cup is usually a little bit different when preparing coffee in a semi-automatic machine or a filter coffee maker, a coffee pod machine guarantees drinks that are equally great every single time. The appliance and the coffee capsule are fully responsible for the flavour of your coffee. This is extremely convenient, as you don’t have to worry about choosing the right grind level, portion size or tamping pressure. There’s simply no room for error!

Wide selection of coffees — each cup can be brewed using a different coffee variety 

Sure, the selection of coffee beans and ground coffee varieties is much wider than that of coffee capsules, but there’s something else to consider here… When you open a packet of coffee beans or ground coffee, you probably try to empty the whole packet before choosing a different coffee variety you’d like to use — otherwise, if left in the opened packet for too long, the coffee gradually loses its aroma and flavour. With coffee capsules, everything’s a whole lot simpler: if you wish, you can purchase 100 coffee capsules, each of them belonging to a different variety, and enjoy new flavours every single day! The coffee is sealed in the capsules, so its aroma is guaranteed to be preserved. This is particularly convenient if the members of your family or your group of friends tend to enjoy different tastes.

Minimal maintenance

Coffee pod machines use capsules to brew coffee, so you can forget all about the maintenance related to coffee grounds. Daily maintenance of these appliances is so simple that it’s practically non-existent: if there’s no water in the tank, you have to fill it up, as well as throw out the used capsules. The only thing that you mustn’t forget is the coffee machine descaling procedure. Like all electrical appliances that use water, capsule coffee machines are susceptible to limescale deposits, so make sure to descale your coffee machine at least once every few months. By the way, most capsule coffee machines are equipped with an integrated automatic descaling program, so all you have to do is press a couple of buttons!

Stylish and compact

Coffee pod machines are extremely compact, which is why they’re perfect for those who don’t have much space in their kitchen or want to save it for other appliances. This feature of capsule coffee machines also means that they’re particularly mobile. You can take them with you when going on a trip or travelling to your summer house for the weekend. Moreover, the manufacturers of capsule coffee machines tend to pay special attention to the design of these appliances, so they’re usually extremely stylish and not reminiscent of bulky, industrial coffee machines at all!

Good price

Compared to other coffee machine types (such as manual or bean-to-cup machines), capsule coffee machines are very affordable. This means that even those who are on a budget can enjoy restaurant-style coffee, including milk-based drinks like cappuccino or latte macchiato! There’s no need to spend hundreds or even thousands of pounds to be able to drink delicious coffee day in and day out.

Coffee pod machines – are they environmentally friendly? 

Nowadays, people are conscious of the way their actions impact the planet and are looking for environmentally friendly solutions. Some of them are convinced that brewing coffee with the help of capsules is harmful to the environment, as coffee capsules are usually made of plastic and must be thrown out after use. The manufacturers of capsule systems are aware of this problem, so their capsules are often bio-degradable or there’s a recycling system in place. The impact on the environment is hence lessened. There are also reusable capsules on the market — they’re an excellent solution too.

Coffee pod machine types

It’s important to understand that there’s no universal capsule system and that no coffee capsules suit every capsule coffee machine out there. When choosing a capsule coffee machine, you must decide which capsule system is the right one for you and purchase capsules that are created for that system in the future. The best advice we can give you is this: choose one of the most popular capsule systems. Otherwise, finding the right capsules for your system might become a challenge later on. The most well-known capsule systems and the most popular capsule coffee machines are the product of two brands: Nespresso and NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto®.

“Nespresso” capsule coffee machines

Nespresso is one of the two most popular capsule systems. It’s become so well-known that other manufacturers have started producing capsules created for this system too! This means that the selection of Nespresso coffee capsules is extremely wide. Not only can you enjoy numerous different coffee blends, but you can also try specialty coffees originating from various regions. Even the pickiest coffee connoisseurs are guaranteed to find something that will suit their palate.

Moreover, what makes these coffee machines unique is the increased 19-bar pressure, which allows the fans of espresso to enjoy their favourite drink brewed to perfection — the espresso is thick and covered with crema that is absolutely flawless.

Those who like high-quality milk-based drinks can choose a Nespresso capsule coffee machine with an integrated milk system. The coffee machines produced by this brand are special in that all Nespresso milk systems use real milk instead of milk powder. You can go for a milk system with a manual steam wand, froth milk yourself and feel like a true barista (or you can even learn how to make latte art!). Another option is an integrated milk container that will allow you to prepare latte or cappuccino with the touch of a button. Finally, there are milk systems with integrated automatic frothers that froth milk straight inside your cup.

There are numerous Nespresso capsule coffee machines on the market and all of them are different from one another: the difference may lie in their design, the size of the water tank, the presence or absence of a milk system, as well as the type of the milk system, or the number of integrated coffee recipes. Pay attention to these features when choosing the coffee machine model that is right for you.

“NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto®” pod coffee machines

The capsule system and capsule coffee machines produced by NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® are also extremely popular. What’s particularly surprising here is the number of coffee capsules designed specially for various coffee recipes. You’ll be able to find capsules that are perfect for the preparation of cappuccino, caramel latte macchiato, cocoa, chocolate drinks or even the trendy cold brew coffee. Just like in the case of Nespresso, various manufacturers are nowadays producing coffee capsules created for the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® capsule coffee machines.

These coffee machines are sure to satisfy everybody: they’re equally beloved by adults, teenargers and even children (this is due to the fact that these appliances can produce an excellent cup of cocoa or hot chocolate). Contrary to Nespresso, when brewing milk-based drinks, NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® coffee machines employ capsules filled with milk powder. This is particularly convenient if you don’t have a fridge for fresh milk close by. It’s also an ideal solution for those who want to spend as little time as possible maintaining the milk system of their appliance: simply insert a capsule and enjoy perfectly thick milk foam!

The various models of NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® capsule coffee machines differ in their design, the size and shape of the water tank (some tanks may be easier to fill up and clean than others), as well their operation (some models are operated manually, while others allow you to program portion size). Consider these aspects when deciding on which NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® capsule coffee machine you’re going to purchase.

The best pod coffee machine for you

If you’re a true coffee connoisseur who enjoys traditional coffee recipes, such as espresso or lungo, yet cannot resist a cup of  cappuccino or latte from time to time, we recommend choosing a coffee machine manufactured by Nespresso. If you only drink espresso or black coffee, go for a Nespresso machine without a milk system — it’ll allow you to save even more space. However, if you do treat yourself to a milk-based drink every once in a while, choose one of the Nespresso models that are equipped with a milk system.

On the other hand, if it’s important for you to have a wide variety of coffees and coffee recipes to choose from, or if you like adding sugar, caramel, chocolate or other additional ingredients to your coffee, the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® capsule system is the best fit.

If you’re still unsure which capsule system suits your needs best or which coffee machine you should purchase, go ahead and reach out to the Coffee Friend’s consultants — they’ll be happy to help you pick the right capsule coffee machine for you!