Capsule coffee makers get a bad rap, but if you choose the right machine and the right pods, you can enjoy genuinely delicious espresso drinks at home in two minutes flat. I'm TechRadar's resident coffee expert, and I've put together a list of the top four capsule machines I recommend if you need your coffee in a hurry.
When picking a capsule coffee maker, it's important to consider not only the price of the machine itself, but also the ongoing cost of the pods, as some brands are much more expensive than others, and unless you pick one that takes Nespresso Original style capsules (the ones shaped like a top hat), you'll be tied into a specific brand. More on that shortly.
Also take a look at the types of pods available for each machine. Some will include lots of fancy flavors, while others will just give you different espresso beans and roasts.
Finally, consider how easily you'll be able to recycle the pods. Capsules made of aluminum are much easier to process and will be more widely accepted than ones made from plastic, or a combination of materials.
Nespresso
Ninja Prestige DualBrew System
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I test over a dozen coffee makers every year here at TechRadar, and the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System (known as the Ninja Espresso and Coffee Maker Barista System in the US) is one of the most versatile I've ever used. If you're an omnivorous coffee fan who loves both filter and espresso, it's a great option (albeit a little large).
On one side you have a fully-featured drip coffee maker, complete with timer (ideal for busy mornings), a large glass carafe, a drip-stop valve, and a smart hotplate that keeps your brew warm without stewing it. There's even a flip-down drip tray behind the carafe so you can brew directly into your travel mug in the morning.
On the right, you have a capsule espresso machine, which uses Nespresso Original capsules and can brew in various different sizes. Nestlé no longer owns the patent on this style of pod, so you can get them anywhere; I used the DualBrew System with pods of fresh decaf from one of my local coffee roasters, and it was almost as good as brewing with beans.
The milk whisk around the back of the machine isn't as good as using a proper steam wand (it whips in air, but doesn't heat the milk) but the rest of this capsule coffee maker is so good, I wouldn't dock it points for that. You could always pick up a standalone milk frother like the Philips Baristina Milk Frother or Smeg Mini Milk Frother if you're a latte-lover.
Read our full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System review
Keurig
Keurig K-Mini Mate
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Keurig is one of the biggest names in capsule coffee makers in the US, and the K-Mini Mate (a US-exclusive model) is its smallest machine to date. It's slim enough to fit into even the tiniest kitchen (and tuck into a cupboard when not in use), but still generates enough pressure to extract full-bodied, tasty coffee from K-Cup pods.
When we tested the K-Mini Mate, we were pleasantly surprised by how rich its coffee tasted, even though it took less than two minutes to prepare from start to sip. It's very reasonably priced as well, and although it has a list price of around $90, it's often on sale for as little as $60.
This is really a coffee maker for one person, and you'll need to refill the water tank between drinks if you're brewing for a group, which can be a hassle. We also noticed some splashing as the coffee poured into our cup, but not enough to be a serious issue. If you like the sound of the various coffees and roasts available in K-Cup form, this could be the machine for you.
Read our full Keurig K-Mini Mate review
Lavazza
Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg
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Lavazza is known for its great quality coffee, and Smeg for its iconic retro-style designs. Put them both together and you get a cute little capsule coffee maker that looks fabulous and brews a superb espresso in two minutes flat.
This is one of the more expensive coffee makers in this roundup, but the Lavazza A Modo Mio pods are much cheaper than some other brands. Lavazza doesn't offer fancy flavors like cinnamon bun or gingerbread — just a good selection of different beans and roasts for you to experiment with.
For me, the biggest downside of this cute little coffee maker is the fact that the pods are harder to recycle than K-Cups or Nespresso pods. Although they are compostable, they can only be processed at specialized facilities, which are relatively rare.
Read our full Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg review
Tassimo
Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly
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Capsule coffee makers are always easy to use, but the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly is even simpler than most thanks to its orange 'maintenance disc', which makes backwashing the machine effortless, keeping it clean and hygienic.
That's particularly important because unlike most coffee pod machines, the Finesse Friendly can create rich foam using pods of long-life milk. You can get plain milk for regular cappuccinos and lattes, or capsules of flavored milk designed to pair with a particular coffee capsule (like cinnamon roll latte, for example). I'm not usually a great fan of flavored coffee capsules, but Tassimo pods are genuinely tasty, and not overwhelmingly sweet.
The Finesse Friendly is cheap too, and is often discounted to £49.99 (about $70 / AU$100). The downside is that the capsules can be quite expensive, particularly for drinks that require two pods (one for coffee and one for milk). It still works out cheaper than an elaborate takeout habit, but bear in mind that this machine isn't currently available outside Europe.
Read our full Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly review
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