Which capsule coffee maker

Read member-exclusive reviews of the Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machines. In Australia, Caffitaly system coffee machines and the compatible capsules are now sold under the Grinders Coffee brand which is owned by Coca-Cola Amatil. If you bought a Caffitaly system coffee machine previously, you'll probably find that you can no longer buy the 'Caffitaly-branded' coffee capsules that were previously sold in retailers such as Gloria Jeans.

However, your machine will be compatible with capsules sold under the Grinders Coffee brand. Urban Brew also produces Caffitaly-compatible capsules. Although Vittoria produces Nespresso-compatible pods, the pods you need for the Espressotoria machine are a different shape to Nespresso pods so you need to buy that specific type.

There's a variety of Espressotoria-compatible pods on offer though, including Vittoria Coffee capsules and three options within the Caffe Aurora range and the Chicco D'oro blends all generally available to buy in supermarkets or direct from Vittoria.

Woolworths brand Nespresso-compatible capsules 37c each Compatible with all Nespresso original machines. You can also buy refillable stainless steel coffee pods to use in your machine, but check compatibility first. A huge factor to consider if you're thinking of buying a capsule machine is the environmental cost.

A downside of the convenience of pods is that most single-use pods are made of strong aluminium and plastic and will likely end up in landfill, taking between and years to break down. This is in contrast to coffee grinds from a manual espresso machine or plunger that you can throw in the compost. If you use Nespresso pods, you can recycle them by returning to a Nespresso boutique, dropping them at a participating collection point or posting them back to Nespresso, but it's not clear how many of them are actually being recycled.

There's also a recycling program available for Nescafe Dolce Gusto pods that's run in partnership with TerraCycle. Even if you do recycle your pods though, you need to consider the carbon footprint of production and distribution before you even buy them. Most single-use pods are made of strong aluminium and plastic and will likely end up in landfill, taking between and years to break down. There are many Australian brands on the market now that offer compostable, biodegradable or recyclable coffee pods, but these are mostly compatible with Nespresso machines only, so you may like to consider this before you buy a machine.

Pods from brands such as Republica are available from Coles. Capsule Coffee Machines. Coffee Machines Narrow Your Results Press enter to collapse or expand the menu. Facet Value Nespresso Facet Value Black Facet Value Essenza Mini 4. Facet Value Bonus Offer This writer received a variety box of 12 capsules with the test machine and can vouch that the Diavolitto Espresso and Double Espresso Scuro blends are strongest and by far the most satisfying.

But if you prefer a weaker blend, then there are plenty of those to choose from, too. After all, the whole point of this system is to cater for as wide a variety of tastes as possible. In that respect the Vertuo system is a winner on all fronts. Magimix has pulled off a doozy with this particular machine — it delivers consistent results and is just so easy to use. I also love the huge water reservoir, enormous capsule collector and its clever automatic capsule loading and unloading mechanism.

Once you have a taste for real espresso nothing else will do, least of all instant coffee. You can even take it camping. With the aid of a Nespresso adapter, this model produces espressos as rich and aromatic as any kitchen-bound machine on this page, though you are advised to use two pods for a decent strength-to-volume ratio.

Just fill the small chamber with hot water most hotels have a kettle in the room , slap a capsule into the adapter available separately , seal the lid and add a good dose of finger pressure to squeeze the piston closed.

Voila, instant espresso replete with a proper dollop of thick, rich crema. Highly recommended. The 0. That aside, this little workhorse makes a bloody excellent espresso replete with lush crema and all for around 27p a hit — and even cheaper if the pods are bought from John Lewis, for some reason. Top blend, top podder…. Want the world's most essential tech and lifestyle upgrade advice delivered right to you? T3 magazine is filled with reviews of the hottest new gadgets, as well as incredible technology you've never heard of, but you need to know.

It's the perfect gift, whether that's for someone else or just for yourself… choose digital, print, or get both in one bargain bundle! Any discerning coffee aficionado will agree that Illy makes one of the best domestic coffee blends on the market. This FrancisFrancis-branded model is available in the three colours — white, red and black — and at just 10cm in width, one of the slimmest.

All pod machines take the guesswork out of making espresso and this is no different. Lift the top flap which automatically ejects the previously used pod , chuck in a new pod choose from nine different blends , close it and press either the big cup button or the small cup button.

The Y3 uses a unique two-stage extraction process and the coffee it dispenses is so rich and rewarding I bought one, despite the 37p cost per pod. If full-bodied flavour and a strong, palette-smacking kick are your prerequisites to a good espresso then make this model among your first ports of call.

Sage has excelled with this stupendous, premium-priced addition to the Nespresso roster of third-party machines. The Creatista is superbly built, with a reassuringly large amount of metal used in the construction, but what impresses most here is the typically Sage-like, intuitive interface. The foaming wand, too, is excellent and almost entirely automatic — just set the amount of froth required and hit the button for anything from warm milk to a Matterhorn-style peak of rich, creamy froth.

Nespresso is the most popular coffee pod brand on the market, but finding the blend to suit your palette requires sipping through a chocolate box assortment of different flavours. Nespresso capsules are also the smallest on test so real fiends may need a couple of shots to get a decent morning buzz.

This standard Nespresso machine is superbly designed though we should add that it is much wider 38cm than other Nespresso-specific models and that may be an issue for anyone with a small kitchen worktop.

Available in black or dark grey, the Expert is equipped with a single digital control dial that provides four different lengths of extraction from single shot to Americano. Simply select your preferred beverage size and tap the top button. The bit we like most about this machine is the tactile nature of the capsule loading system.

Simply slide the spring-loaded aluminium cover to the right, pop in a Nespresso capsule of your choice and tap the cover again to close it. When spent, the capsule is automatically ejected into the container behind.

Nice touch. If you have the space to spare and enough wonga in the pocket, then this is the model for you. Ditching the plastic of some of the more popular pod machines, FrancisFrancis has created a swish, colourful chrome machine with a fascia reminiscent of Wall-E the robot. The X7. A simple touch of the centre button produces an exquisitely rich, aromatic Illy espresso with a lip-smacking crema.

It also heats up in 40 seconds flat — handy for those in a rush to get out of the house first thing in the morning. Just thought you should know. Nespresso is the most ubiquitous capsule brand on the market, with many upmarket hotels installing them in their rooms.

No wonder, as this attractive, well-designed DeLonghi-branded unit would sit very well in a boutique hotel space, taking up very little space, yet whipping up excellent espressos, lattes and, to some degree, cappuccinos. This machine brews small espressolike beverages and can even brew two cups at once. This Philips performs decently in our tests, but its strengths are its repeat cup speed and size consistency, with an Excellent rating for the former. In other words, it's a solid pod machine if you have multiple coffee-drinkers in the house.

It has a removable water reservoir and an auto-shutoff function. I'm obsessed with smart home tech and channel my obsession into new stories for Consumer Reports. When I'm not writing about products, I spend time either outside hiking and skiing or up in the air in small airplanes. For my latest obsessions, follow me on Facebook and Twitter danwroc. We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story.

Best Pod Coffee Makers of Our experts round up the most convenient single-serve machines. By Daniel Wroclawski.