Pod Espresso Makers

Pod espresso makers are almost foolproof

Experts agree that making espresso at home is a complicated business. You have to buy fresh coffee beans and store them properly. Then, each time you pull a shot, you have to grind the beans to the proper fineness, decide how much coffee to use and tamp the grounds down with the right amount of pressure. The intricacy of this process is the target of many complaints about espresso machines; it can take considerable practice to fine-tune all the details necessary for a fine cup of espresso. You can avoid a lot of grief by purchasing a machine that accepts pods (prepackaged filter packets that resemble round tea bags) or cones (such as K-Cups). Purists disdain these types of espresso makers because they take away a lot of the skill from making espresso, but consumers love the convenience that pods offer. All three of our best-reviewed models can brew pods as well as freshly ground beans, making them more versatile than machines that solely brew pods.

Cleanup with a pod coffee maker couldn't be easier, users say. Most can only make one shot at a time (regular espresso makers generally let you make two shots), and the pods cost more (about 50 cents each) in the long run than buying coffee and grinding it yourself. Pods are available online, as well as at some retail stores. Espresso purists say that pods cannot compete with freshly ground coffee beans for flavor, but many owners say espresso from pods tastes just as good as coffee shop espresso, and the pods stay fresh for months, so you can keep a large supply on hand. The downside is that some manufacturers require you to buy proprietary coffee pods or cones. Nespresso, for example, has a line of 16 cones that are designed exclusively for their machines. All Gaggia and Rancilio espresso machines work with both traditional ground coffee and prepackaged ESE pods, which are readily available from several companies, such as Starbucks and Timothy's.

The Nespresso Lattissima (*Est. $600) , made by DeLonghi, garners rave reviews from editors at Newsweek magazine, where it is compared to several other machines. Reviewers are pleased with the simplicity of the Nespresso Lattissima, which lets you make several types of coffee drinks and steam milk with just the touch of a button. The automatic Nespresso Lattissima machine has a removable half-liter milk container that can be stored in the refrigerator when not in use. Reviewers say the Nespresso Lattissima is easy to use and to clean, but owners posting to Amazon.com complain that the Nespresso Lattissima doesn't get hot enough, and some report problems with the frothing wand. Overall, most owners are pleased; the Nespresso Lattissima has an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 in more than 25 owner-written reviews. The downside to Nespresso machines is that they only accept Nespresso cones; other prepackaged coffee pods aren't compatible.

Nespresso CitiZ & Milk Espresso Machine (*Est. $350) is a more affordable option that scores points with editors of CNET U.K., where it earns the highest rating among five espresso machines tested. Editors say the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk machine "would probably look at home in the most swanky penthouse in Milan." In addition to its sleek look, the Nespresso CitiZ and Milk produces the best-tasting espresso among the five tested models, and editors praise its simple-to-use milk frother for lattes and cappuccinos. The Nespresso CitiZ and Milk has a 19-bar pressure pump, a 34-ounce removable water reservoir and an energy-saving mode to reduce electricity use. More than 90 owners posting to Amazon.com contribute to a perfect 5-star average rating. Owners say beverages are hot, full-bodied and perfectly flavored, and the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk works quickly. One owner calls the frothing unit "nothing short of black magic," but there are a few others who say the frothing unit is inconsistent, malfunctioning after a few months. In addition, some complain that the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk's footprint is too large and say they wish they'd purchased the Nespresso Aeroccino Automatic Milk Frother (*Est. $100) . Aside from these few complaints, consumers rave about the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk Espresso Machine.

If you don't care about frothing milk to make cappuccino, but still like the idea of a pod espresso maker, the Nespresso Essenza C100 (*Est. $250) earns high marks for its espresso. The Nespresso Essenza is one of five espresso machines recommended in Australia's Choice magazine, earning points for its programming features, easy cleanup and compact size. It doesn't have a milk-frothing wand, so if you plan to make cappuccino you'll need to purchase a separate frother. More than 20 owners posting reviews to Viewpoints.com contribute to an average rating of 4.45 out of a possible 5; owners say the Nespresso Essenza is easy to use, stylish and convenient, but some note that it uses only Nespresso pods, which are expensive.