Quick Menu
The quick list
1. Best overall
2. Best sustainable
3. Best smart machine
4. Best looking
5. Best luxury
6. Best features
7. Best compact
8. Best lattes
9. Best for variety
10. Best espresso
How to choose
How we test
FAQs
If you love fresh coffee but don't want the fuss of grinding and brewing your own beans, look no further than the best pod coffee machines. These nifty machines are designed to sit pretty on your kitchen counter, with mess-free brewing and next-to-no maintenance. Simply find your favourite pod and slot it into place for espresso in a jiffy. We've reviewed each and every one of the best pod coffee machines in our guide, from Nespresso, Lavazza, Tassimo, Sage, and Dualit. There's even an entry from Grind, with a sustainable design that's as functional as it is beautiful.
While they are a lot less hands-on, the best pod coffee machines still deliver on the delicious taste you'd expect from many of the best coffee machines. They're also a lot more space-efficient than the best bean-to-cup coffee machines, and cost a fair deal less than a swanky number from Sage or Jura.
One thing to note with buying a pod coffee machine is the type of system you’re buying into, whether it's Nespresso, Grind, Lavazza or some other pod type. Whichever machines choose won't be compatible across all pod types, so investigate the range and cost of pods when looking at coffee machines.
While premium pod coffee machines can cost up to £400, thanks to additional features, more robust construction and an eye-catching design, there are also excellent options from under £100 that will keep you caffeinated, plus we keep our eyes peeled for the latest coffee machine deals for you. Keep reading to find our extensive round-up of the best pod coffee machines out there.
The quick list
If you want to quickly recap the highlights of the best coffee machines, then cast your eye over our quick list below. You'll find more information on each machine and a fuller review detailing why our testers recommend it further down the page.
Best pod coffee machine overall
Our reviewer didn't manage to find a single major downside to this machine, which is why it's reigning supreme in our guide. It's the perfect size, doesn't splash, has more options and programmes than most and is delightfully quiet.
Best sustainable pod coffee machine
Designed as an antidote to plastic machines, this metal option feels built to last and stay out of landfill. Plus, while this is Nespresso compatible Grind's own pods are compostable. It's also one of the most stylish in our guide.
Best smart pod coffee machine
The ideal choice for those obsessed with smart tech, this machine is Alexa compatible, and is easy to use with your voice, through the app or simply manually when preferred. There's also a speaker for music, or whatever else you ask Alexa for.
Best looking pod coffee machine
For a stylish retro look, this Smeg is the machine for you. Set-up is super simple, and there's no assembly required at all. While it doesn't have a milk-frother built-in, you can buy a matching Smeg one to complete the set.
Best pod coffee machine for everyday luxury
This design feels indulgent at every step – both in the coffee it produces and how it is to use, from the automatic capsule holder, adjustable chrome cup holder right through to the rich crema that feels more like a dessert than a drink.
Best pod coffee machine for custom features
Select from three different strengths (think of them as ranging from all-day sipping to wake up now), three different volumes and even three temperatures. There's a self-cleaning function, too, so it's delightfully low-maintenance.
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Best compact coffee machine
This coffee machine is seriously tiny, so it's perfect for offices, small kitchens, or even as a spare you use when you want a speedy brew. And because there's only one button, using it couldn't be easier.
Best pod coffee machine for lattes
Perfect for milky coffees, this machine has an in-built milk wand and comes with a jug for straightforward brewing. There are three drinks sizes so you can ensure the perfect amount of coffee for your drink of choice.
Best pod coffee machine for different types of coffee
This has four length options and you can also add to or decrease the temperature of your coffee, ideal for making iced coffees, or if you want your drink to stay warm for longer, you can just give it a bump in temperature.
Best pod coffee machine for espresso
This Illy option makes a mean espresso or americano, with an excellent quality of coffee. Available in red, white, black and blue, this coffee machine is only 10cm wide, so it's well-suited to smaller spaces. Cleaning is nice and easy, too.
Best pod coffee machines 2023
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Best pod coffee machine overall
Love cappuccinos but not the mess and clean-up that goes with frothing and decanting hot foamed milk? Then the Deséa is the pod coffee machine for you.
Compact, yet with a good-sized 1.1-litre water tank, and compatible with the brand’s eco-friendly compostable capsules, it comes with a dishwasher-safe glass cup that serves as both your frothing vessel and mug.
This means that you can fill the cup with milk, slot it into the machine, add a capsule, and the machine will do the rest, producing a café-worthy latte or cappuccino with a single button press. There’s no pouring or splashes – so you can walk away and return to find a drink that’s ready to go.
It’s not just convenience that the Deséa has in spades, it also comes with more options than the average pod coffee machine. For example, there’s a button for more foam, a coffee temperature boost and a cleaning cycle that can be run to make sure that your first beverage will always be as good as the last.
Its five milk programmes include hot and cold frothing for making hot chocolate or milkshakes, plus there’s a choice of espresso, long espresso, long coffee and a free dose for those who like their drink just so.
A final reason to love it is how quiet it is during operation – a mere 43dB during coffee delivery. Perhaps the only downsides to be aware of are that capsule disposal isn’t automatic, so you’ll still have to remember to raise the lever at the end to release the pod into the integral bin, and that the frothing boost button isn’t suitable for larger volumes of milk as it’ll overflow.
Read our full Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea review for more information.
Best sustainable pod coffee machine
Sustainability isn't something we often associate with pod coffee machines, but the Grind One pod coffee machine is designed with just this in mind. Made in Stockholm in a partnership with Sjöstrand, it's designed to be an antidote to plastic pod coffee machines, and the metal design really does feel built to last and stay out of landfill. The Grind pods are also made with plastic-free and compostible packaging, but all the convenience of a normal coffee pod.
At 22cm wide, this is a neat option for any kitchen, but it's not the smallest pod coffee machine in our guide. A step away from the curves of options from Tassimo and Lavazza, the Grind One is block-like and simple in its design. The metal exterior is very smart though, and it has Grind's classic logo on the front which pairs perfectly with the Grind pod coffee container.
It has two preset coffee lengths, but the Grind One will allow you to adjust the length of these presets by simply holding the button down, which is perfect for those who like a longer drink. You can buy it with a matching Grind milk frother or on its own. Or, take a look at our other best milk frother picks for more options.
Read our full Grind One Pod Coffee Machine review for more information.
Best smart pod coffee machine