11 best coffee pod machines for making quick and delicious coffee in 2023

Of course, these machines come with the heavy caveat of environmental impact. There are many types of coffee pods sold in UK shops and online, including, but not limited to, Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, T-Discs (Tassimo), Iperespresso (Illy), Lavazza, and Dualit NX ESE (easy serve espresso) pods. Whereas other coffee-making options simply produce used grinds as waste, the casings of coffee pods often contain both plastic and aluminium; recyclable alone but an environmental nightmare when mixed together.

Figures recently compiled by Halo Coffee revealed that for every 39,000 capsules produced around the world every minute, 29,000 end up in landfill. ESE (easy serve espresso) pods are a compostable alternative, consisting of dosed and tampered ground coffee sealed between filter paper. Many third-party brands are working to make compostable alternatives more widely available and for a cheaper rate.

Our reviews experts tested over 20 coffee pod machines with compatible eco pods as similar in variety and roast strength as possible, to bring you this list of the best currently available. We regularly update this guide with models that impress with their performance. Find out more about how we test products.

We test appliances every year to bring you impartial advice on the best products to spend your hard-earned cash on. For the full roster of our tried-and-tested coffee recommendations, visit our guides to the best espresso machines, the best coffee pod machines and the best bean-to-cup coffee machines. For more, visit our reviews section and find over 400 practical buyer's guides and product reviews offering unbiased advice on what equipment is worth investing in. For more on coffee, we've reviewed coffee grinders and reusable coffee cups, too.

Jump to section:

• How to choose the best coffee pod machines
• Best coffee pod machines at a glance
• Best coffee pod machines to buy in 2023
• How we tested coffee pod machines

How to choose the best coffee pod machine

Features to look out for:

• Dual coffee settings: Although coffee pods tend to be a single shot (Nespresso's dome pods being the big exception here), coffee pod machines should give you the option to pull a longer shot called a Lungo.
• Easily removable pod bin: for emptying used pods and easily cleaning the container.
• Programmable shots: For setting your machine to pull a certain amount of water through each pod.
• Dual-height drip trays: To accommodate both espresso cups and standard cups or mugs without letting espresso splash out.
• Automatic sleep setting: To save power between espressos.

Check out expert barista Celeste Wong's recommendations for the best moka pots, gooseneck kettles, coffee grinders and decaf coffee to buy on our sister brand, olive magazine:

• Best moka pots to buy
• Best gooseneck kettles to buy
• Best coffee grinders to buy
• Best decaf coffee to buy

The best coffee pod machines at a glance

• Best for pod versatility: Nespresso Vertuo Next, £149
• Best eco-buy: illy ESE coffee pod machine, £115
• Best affordable coffee pod machine: Lavazza Jolie, £95
• Best for retro styling: Lavazza A Modo Mio SMEG, £249
• Best all-round coffee pod machine: Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa coffee machine, £249
• Best coffee pod machine for flavour: illy Iperespresso X7.1 coffee maker, £109
• Best cheap coffee pod machine: Bosch Tassimo Vivy 2 TAS 140X, £29.99
• Best versatile coffee pod machine: Lakeland 2-in-1 pod machine, £99.99
• Best coffee pod machine for busy households: Russell Hobbs 22630 Brew and Go, £35.99
• Best value coffee pod machine: IKOHS Potts capsule coffee machine, £114.95
• Best dual-purpose coffee pod machine: Dualit Espress-auto 4-in-1 coffee and tea maker, £199.99

The best coffee pod machines to buy in 2023

Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee pod machine

Best machine for pod versatility

Pros:

• Reliable crema every time, no matter the drink size.
• Made from 54% recycled plastic
• Versatile range of Nespresso pods available

Cons:

• Tad loud
• Takes Nespresso pods only

Star rating: 4.5/5

Wattage: 1260W

This coffee pod has a single button, but can make five different drinks. How? Because each has a bespoke barcode on the underside that the machine scans to know which drink to brew. Pop a pod into this machine, manually adjust the drip tray to accommodate your chosen cup and the machine whirrs into life, brewing espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug, and alto drinks, each with a thick layer of silky froth. It's the right hazelnut colour for a crema and although a tad foamy, is a reliable addition for crema lovers.

illy ESE coffee pod machine

• Available from illy (£115)

Best eco-buy

Pros:

• Low wattage
• Flip-down espresso cup holder
• Easy serve espresso pods (ESE) compatible

Cons:

• The lungo coffee isn't as long as we'd have liked
• The illy ESE pods were individually wrapped in protective sleeves

Star rating: 4/5

Wattage: 800W

illycaffè is B-Corp Certified, which is one way in which a brand can show it's committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment, its workforce and chain of production. As part of its energy-saving range, this 800W appliance is compatible with ESE pods (easy serving espresso), with pre-dosed and tampered ground coffee compressed between filter paper. Being biodegradable, ESE pods are an excellent lower-impact alternative to even recyclable coffee pods. This is a slimline machine featuring a particularly satisfying flip-down espresso cup holder and produced richly dark espresso full of body and topped with crema.

Available from illy (£115)

Lavazza Jolie coffee pod machine - Star Buy

Best affordable coffee pod machine

Pros:

• Small footprint and easy to store
• Does the basics well

Cons:

• Manual stop for single espresso

Star rating: 5/5

Wattage: 1250W

For anyone who likes espresso or the slightly longer drink, the Lavazza is an affordable option that does the basics really well. Its footprint is only 3cm longer than your average 30cm ruler and at 12cm wide, is one of the smallest coffee pod machines on the market. The statement handle locks in the Lavazza pods and this is a versatile shape, as many independent roasteries sell compatible alternative roasts.

Lavazza A Modo Mio SMEG coffee pod machine

Best coffee pod machine for retro styling

Pros:

• Removable dishwasher-safe components
• Adjustable cup holder
• 900ml water tank

Cons:

• Expensive
• Bulky

Star rating: 3.5/5

Wattage: 1250W

For fans of SMEG's 1950s styling, this is the perfect statement coffee pod machine. It bares the iconic curves and logo across its front, along with that of Italian brand, Lavazza. The result of their collaboration brews excellent espresso, packed with body and flavour. Espresso or lungo drinks are on offer, brewed in 30 seconds. The only drawbacks of this machine are its chunky footprint on the countertop and price. Performance-wise, you can match it with a much more affordable machine.

Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa coffee machine - Star Buy

Best all-round coffee pod machine

Pros:

• User-friendly
• Feature-rich
• Efficient milk frothing

Cons:

• Eco caps can't be composted at home

Star rating: 5/5

Wattage: 1200W

The Lavazza Deséa is about as close to perfect as a pod coffee machine can be: feature-rich, user-friendly, and capable of making beautiful coffee. There are effectively two sides to its functionality: making coffee, and foaming milk. These features are enabled elegantly through a symmetrical control interface, with coffee controls to the left and milk controls to the right. Read our full Lavazza A Modo Mio Deséa coffee pod machine review.

Illy Iperespresso X7.1 coffee maker

Best coffee pod machine for flavour

Pros:

• Excellent coffee
• Attractive materials
• Nifty steam wand

Cons:

• A little wide in footprint
• Pods can't be recycled in the UK
• Interface could be clearer

Star rating: 4.5/5

Wattage: 1200W

The beautiful Illy X7.1 Iperespresso pumps out some of the best coffee we’ve ever tasted from a coffee pod machine. It’s made with tough, attractive materials, and features a nifty steam wand for making lattes and cappuccinos. This isn’t the easiest pod coffee machine to master, but it’s also one of the best. If and when Illy rolls out pod recycling in the UK, as it has done abroad, this could become one of the best machines all round. Read our full Illy Iperespresso X7.1 coffee pod machine review.

Bosch Tassimo Vivy 2 TAS 140x

Best cheap coffee pod machine

Pros:

• Easy to store
• Shallow footprint
• Recyclable packaging

Cons:

• Easily marked with fingerprints
• Only compatible with Tassimo Pods

Star rating: 4/5

Wattage: 1300W

This is a clever beast. Using an in-built barcode reader, it scans compatible pods and adjusts its settings to suit each drink. This makes for a supremely easy coffee-making process, with next-to-no-chance of the drink coming out horribly wrong. On a more negative note, this does remove the small degree of personal input from the user which other machines still allow. Nonetheless, if ease-of-use is what you’re after, you can’t do better than the Vivy 2. Read our full Bosch Tassimo Vivy 2 TAS 140x coffee pod machine review.

Lakeland 2-in-1 pod coffee machine

Best versatile coffee pod machine

Pros:

• Compatible with two pod systems
• Small footprint

Cons:

• No milk frother
• Dull styling

Star rating: 4/5

Wattage: 1400W

Want the freedom to choose between Nespresso and Dolce Gusto pods? Lakeland’s 2-in-1 machine can make coffee from both systems, by way of two removable adaptors which can be switched easily between uses. This isn’t the flashiest option, nor the most feature-rich, but it does the basics effectively. Read our full Lakeland 2-in-1 pod coffee machine review.

Russell Hobbs 22630 Brew and Go

Best coffee pod machine for busy households

Pros:

• For making tea and coffee
• ESE coffee bags are compostable

Cons:

• Max fill indicator tricky to see

Star rating: 3.5/5

Wattage: 650W

The Brew and Go is not strictly a coffee pod machine; rather, it uses ESE coffee pods and coffee bags, which both work like tea bags. They provide a similar experience to regular coffee pods: you fill the machine’s reservoir with water, add a bag, press a button, get a coffee. The drink produced is more akin to a filter coffee, though. As an added eco bonus, the bags can be composted at home. Read our full Russell Hobbs 22630 Brew and Go review.

IKOHS Potts capsule coffee machine

• Available from IKOHS (£89.95)

Best value coffee pod machine

Pros:

• Great value for money
• Nice design
• Compatible with ground coffee in addition to Nespresso and Dulce Gusto pods

Cons:

• No milk frother

Star rating: 4/5

Wattage: 1450W

This neat, versatile machine from chic Spanish brand IKOHS is up there with our favourites. It’s one of the best value machines we encountered, with good performance, attractive design, and the capability to make coffee from a huge array of pods. Read our full IKOHS Potts coffee pod machine review.

Available from IKOHS (£61.16)

Dualit Espress-auto coffee and tea machine

Best dual-purpose coffee pod machine

Pros:

• Versatile

Cons:

• Expensive

Star rating: 4/5

Wattage: 1250W

Attractively designed, stoutly made and brilliant at making both coffee and tea, this is one of the best coffee pod machines money can buy. That’s just as well – it isn’t cheap. This machine makes a great hot drink: well-heated but never burnt. It’s highly versatile, with the capability, via its brew head and adaptors, to make drinks using various capsules, pods and even ground coffee. Read our full Dualit Espresso-auto 4-in-1 coffee and tea maker review.

How we tested coffee pod machines

The coffee pod machines in this guide were the best performing from the test, using as similar a roast strength and bean variety as possible across compatible eco pods. Our reviews experts marked against the following core and contributing criteria.

• Coffee quality

We looked for a dark espresso, richly flavoured with a strong aroma and hazelnut coloured layer of crema on the top.

• Quality of materials

These machines need to withstand daily use, so those with flimsy, cheap-feel or rickety components were drastically marked down.

• Value for money

Every criteria plays into this. The performance, coffee quality and feel of materials all had to be worth the quantity you fork out for investment.

• Assembly and packaging

This included set-up time and clarity of instructions. Those with an abundance of unnecessary single-use plastic packaging were marked down.

• Ease of use

Coffee pod machines are all about mess-free convenience so every stage of use, from filling the tank to selecting your coffee and emptying the pod bin had to be easy.

The following criteria also played into our decision-making.

● Extra functions e.g. milk frother, temperature control
● Kitchen footprint
● Ease of cleaning
● Ease of storage
● Eco-friendly credentials

We expect many pod coffee machine users will be seeking convenience above all other factors. Such buyers should look out for the functionality and ease-of-cleaning ratings in our individual pod coffee machine reviews.

Others may be looking for a little more finesse from their pod coffee machine, in which case we suggest looking out for the ‘results’ rating for each machine.

This type of buyer may also benefit from choosing a machine with a milk frother or steam wand, as having a good feature for foaming milk is essential to recreating drinks like lattes or cappuccinos.

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