Best pod coffee machines for 2025: Nespresso vs Tassimo vs Dolce Gusto and more

Pod or capsule coffee machines are a convenient and quick, easy way to make quality coffee at home. Read on for our Best Buy recommendations and expert buying advice.

However, you're usually restricted to a specific brand of coffee pod — and each has its own pros and cons.

Nespresso, Tassimo and Dolce Gusto might be the best-known pod types, but there are other options worth considering, including Dualit, Illy and Lavazza. 

See our coffee machine reviews for help choosing between pod, espresso and bean-to-cup machines.

Best pod coffee machines for 2025

We've selected some of the best pod coffee machines from our rigorous coffee machine tests, which include a blind taste test by our coffee experts.

Unlock our recommendations by logging in or, if you're not a member, join Which? to get access to all our reviews.

Pod coffee machine reviews by brand

• Dolce Gusto pod machine reviews
• Lavazza pod machine reviews
• Nespresso Original pod machine reviews
• Nespresso Vertuo pod machine reviews
• Tassimo pod machine reviews

Pod coffee machines by price

• Pod coffee machines under £50
• Pod coffee machines under £100
• Pod coffee machines under £200

Not sure you want a pod machine? See our picks of the best espresso machines and best bean-to-cup coffee machines.

Or browse all of our coffee machine reviews.

Why you can trust our pod coffee machine reviews

At Which?, we work hard to ensure our reviews are independent, unbiased and based on robust and accurate scientific data.

We pay for all the coffee machines we test and refuse free products from PRs and manufacturers.

The coffee machines we buy are tested to the same rigorous test programme, which ignores brand and price and focuses on the aspects of a coffee maker our members tell us are most important to them, including quality of coffee, ease of use, energy efficiency, quietness and personalisation.

Our tests show you don’t have to pay a lot to get a decent coffee machine. We’ve seen plenty of mid-range models that will make your life easier and make a great coffee.

Read more on how we test coffee machines.

Where to buy a pod coffee machine

If you're thirsting for a new pod coffee machine, there are plenty of places you can buy from. Here are some options to get you started.

• Amazon offers pod coffee machines from brands including DeLonghi, Krups and Philips. All orders of £35 or more of eligible items qualifies for free standard delivery. For Prime members, same-day and overnight delivery is free for eligible orders over £20.
• AO has a range over pod coffee machines from under £35 to over £350 from Bosch, Lavazza and Magimix, among others. The retailer promises to price match any product it sells against any other retailer – even matching discount codes and sales periods.
• Currys mainly sells pod coffee machines priced between £100 and £499, but it has models under £100 too. You'll find Bosch, DeLonghi and Krups among the brands and if you're desperate for a coffee, Currys offers free in-store collection in as little as an hour. For those content to wait, standard delivery is £3.99, or is free on orders over £40.
• Robert Dyas stocks a smaller range than others, but you can still find models from Bosch, DeLonghi, Lavazza and more. If you're replacing an old machine, Robert Dyas can recycle it for free. Simply bring it into a store within 28 days, show the receipt or order number for its replacement, and it will do the rest.
• Very stocks pod coffee machines from brands including Bosch, DeLonghi and Magimix. Standard delivery is free on click & collect orders over £30, or £3 if your order is under this amount. Standard delivery starts from £3.99.

How to buy the best pod coffee machine

There are three key questions to consider when choosing between brands.

• What drinks do you want to make? Lavazza, Illy and Nespresso focus on espresso coffee drinks, with a range of blends and strengths available. These usually also come with the option of frothing milk, so you can make lattes and cappuccinos too. Nescafé Dolce Gusto and Tassimo machines offer a wider range of drink options, including caramel macchiatos, hot chocolates and teas.
• How much do the pods cost and where can you buy them? Coffee pods vary in price from around 20p per drink to more than 60p – a difference that can really add up over time. Depending on which pods your machine uses, you might be able to buy compatible capsules for less than the branded version.
• Can the pods be recycled? Pod coffee machines make more waste than other types of coffee machines, and some pods are very tricky to recycle. Make sure you're happy with the recycling options for your choice of pod.

Our guide to the best coffee machine brands reveals which machines remain fault-free for longer.

Buying a Nespresso pod machine

You can get Nespresso machines from a range of brands, including DeLonghi, Krups, Magimix and Sage, with plenty of styles, colours and sizes to choose from. Pricier models include a built-in milk frother or steam wand, while cheaper models can be paired with the Aeroccino milk frother accessory for around £79 extra.

Which drinks can you make The Original makes small or large espresso-based coffees, so you can enjoy an espresso, americano, latte and cappuccino, as well as various types of tea. The Vertuo is designed for making bigger espressos and longer coffees as well as coffees to be served with cold milk.

Capsule price 39p-51p for Original Nespresso own brand. Vertuo capsules can cost up to 84p.

Branded pods Available from Nespresso boutiques and online at nespresso.com.

Compatible pods On sale in supermarkets and online from 16p-60p.

Recycling You can order or pick up a Nespresso recycling bag and arrange a free collection, or drop them off in-store. Alternatively, collect the used pods in a Podback bag ordered online from Nespresso and drop them off at a CollectPlus location.

Pros Makes excellent expressos. Plenty of machines to choose from.

Cons Pods are pricey and there are no compatible pods for the Vertuo system.

See all our Nespresso coffee machine reviews.

For more Nespresso machine advice, see our guide to the Best Nespresso machines. 

Buying a Tassimo pod machine

Tassimo machines work by scanning the bar codes on top of Tassimo pods (also known as T-discs) to select the correct water temperature, strength and brewing time for your drink. They also use milk pods rather than steaming fresh milk.

What drinks can you make Tassimo pods cover the full spectrum of hot drinks, including hot chocolate, tea and café-style coffee drinks.

Capsule price 31p-81p. 

Branded pods Available from large supermarkets nationwide, online.

Compatible pods None available.

Recycling Collect the used pods in a Podback bag ordered from Tassimo online and drop them off at a CollectPlus location.

Pros Easy to use. Can make more than 30 types of drink. Compact options available.

Cons Only uses expensive own-brand pods that are hard to recycle. Machines can be very slow and don't work with fresh milk.

See all our Tassimo coffee machine reviews.

Buying a Dolce Gusto pod machine

Most Nescafé Dolce Gusto machines are made by either DeLonghi or Krups. Like Tassimo machines, Dolce Gusto machines work with milk pods instead of fresh milk.

What drinks can you make A wide range of drinks including various types of coffee, hot chocolate and green tea.

Capsule price 30p-56p.

Branded pods Available from large supermarkets nationwide. 

Compatible pods Available and priced from 15p, although the range of options is relatively small.

Recycling Collect the used pods in a Podback bag ordered from Dolce Gusto online and drop them off at a CollectPlus location. 

Pros Compact options available. Makes decent drinks.

Cons Machines tend to drip and don't work with fresh milk. Pods can be pricey and a faff to recycle.

See all our Dolce Gusto coffee machine reviews.

Illy, Lavazza and Dualit machines

These pod coffee machine brands are also worth a look if you're after an alternative to the most popular brands we've already covered.

Buying an Illy pod machine

Illy coffee machines are made by several brands, including FrancisFrancis! and Illy. Depending on the brand and model, some have integral steam wands for manual milk frothing, and others have automatic milk frothers.

What drinks you can make Illy coffee pods (also know as IperEspresso capsules) are for making traditional espresso-based drinks. There is also a small range of filter coffee-style pods, for longer black coffees.

Capsule price 43p-44p

Branded pods Available from large supermarkets nationwide, online.

Compatible pods None available.

Recycling Collect the used pods in a Podback bag ordered from Illy online and drop them off at a CollectPlus location.

Pros Makes great-tasting coffees.

Cons Some parts are difficult to clean. Milk often not warm enough.

See all our Illy coffee machine reviews.

Buying a Lavazza pod machine

Most of Lavazza's range of A Modo Mio coffee machines don't come with milk frothers – something to consider if you're a fan of milky drinks.

What drinks you can make Lavazza's A Modo Mio range is designed to produce only espresso-based drinks.

Capsule price 27p-37p.

Branded pods Available from large supermarkets nationwide, online.

Compatible pods Available and priced from 24p, although the range of sellers is quite small.

Recycling The current pod range is claimed to be industrially compostable so can go in your food waste collection – if your council provides one. The pods won't break down on a home compost heap.

Pros Most make great-tasting coffee. Compact options available.

Cons Descaling could be quicker.

See all our Lavazza coffee machine reviews.

Buying a Dualit pod machine

Dualit makes a small range of compact coffee machines that give the flexibility of using either ground coffee, ESE pods or Dualit NX coffee pods which you use with a specially adapted portafilter.

What drinks you can make Plenty of coffee and tea options.

Capsule price 34p-40p.

Branded pods Available from stores including John Lewis and Lakeland, and online

Compatible pods Its pods are Nespresso-compatible so can be used in Nespresso Original machines and Nespresso-compatible models, as well as Dualit's own range.

Recycling Dualit has recyclable aluminium pods and also sells a range of compostable capsules that can be composted industrially using your local council’s food waste collection scheme (if available in your area).

Pros Easy to use.

Cons Some drinks are bland. Poor results from capsules.

See all our Dualit coffee machine reviews.

Best pod coffee machine features to look for

Beyond making great coffee, there are a few things you should expect from a good pod or capsule coffee machine:

Intuitive, easy-to-use controls

Pod coffee machines should be designed to be quick and easy to use. If coffee-making or cleaning seems a bit time consuming on a machine you're considering, look elsewhere.

Attractive, practical design

Pod coffee machines vary in design and colour, so you should have no trouble finding one to suit your taste. Sizes vary too – some pod machines are very compact and a good option for smaller kitchens. If you drink a lot of coffee or have a larger household, consider a machine with a large water tank.

Built-in milk frother

If you're a fan of milky drinks, consider buying a machine with a built-in frother for fresh milk.

Descaling program

To keep your machine in the best condition, it's worth descaling it regularly. Most pod machine manufacturers recommend only descaling with an approved descaling product. Always consult your manual for details.

Want frothy milk, but don't have a machine with this feature? See our guide to the best milk frothers.

Are cheap pod coffee machines worth the money?

Pod coffee machines are convenient, especially if you're working from home and no longer pass a coffee shop on your commute. But they're also an expensive way to drink coffee. If you're a daily coffee drinker and can afford it, an espresso machine or bean-to-cup machine is better value for money – and some purists claim the coffee tastes better, too.

Before deciding to buy a cheaper pod coffee pod machine, consider the following:

• Is it value for money in the long run? When doing your sums, make sure you take into account the initial outlay on the coffee machine, as well as the cost of pods or capsules over time.
• What's the cost to the environment? Making coffee at home means you're more likely to use a mug or reusable coffee cup, but also consider how easy it is to recycle pods and capsules.

Visit our best bean-to-cup machine guide to find out how much different coffee machines cost over time.

Are pod coffee machines bad for the environment?

The simple answer is yes. Bean-to-cup and traditional espresso (ground) coffee machines are more sustainable options, as the coffee-making process cuts down on waste that needs to be disposed of. 

If you're environmentally minded and still want to buy a pod coffee machine, choose one with pods that are easy to recycle or compost.

Find out more about recyclable, reusable and compostable coffee pods.