Great pod coffeemakers
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Single-serve coffeemakers that use coffee pods are gaining in popularity, and everyone wants a piece of the market, including Starbucks. Consumer Reports just tested the Starbucks Verismo machine and 21 others, costing from $25 to $300.
Testers found the fastest will rush you your caffeine in about a minute. But the Hamilton Beach Personal Cup 4997 took 3 minutes to deliver that first cup.
As for the Starbucks Verismo machine, you can make Starbucks' espresso, café latte, and brewed coffee, but it's pricey. It starts at $200, and it's pretty basic. For example, you can't adjust brew strength, and the manual says you should flush the machine with water after each brew.
Far better for less, says Consumer Reports, is a $150 DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Circolo. It brews a cup in a minute and makes cappuccinos, espressos, and other drinks as well. If you want a smaller pod coffeemaker that takes up less counter space, Consumer Reports recommends the Piccolo in the DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto line that goes for $100.
But be aware -- buying a pod machine is just the beginning. The coffee pods can be expensive, up to $1 a cup.
Testers found the fastest will rush you your caffeine in about a minute. But the Hamilton Beach Personal Cup 4997 took 3 minutes to deliver that first cup.
As for the Starbucks Verismo machine, you can make Starbucks' espresso, café latte, and brewed coffee, but it's pricey. It starts at $200, and it's pretty basic. For example, you can't adjust brew strength, and the manual says you should flush the machine with water after each brew.
Far better for less, says Consumer Reports, is a $150 DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Circolo. It brews a cup in a minute and makes cappuccinos, espressos, and other drinks as well. If you want a smaller pod coffeemaker that takes up less counter space, Consumer Reports recommends the Piccolo in the DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto line that goes for $100.
But be aware -- buying a pod machine is just the beginning. The coffee pods can be expensive, up to $1 a cup.
I got my single-cup Melitta coffee maker at a thrift store for 99 cents back in 1992 and it still makes a great cup of coffee.
if a person drinks 2 or 3 cups of coffee every morning, that would make 60 or 90 empty plastic pods monthly. How environmentally friendly are these plastic pods?
 @Michael Bullock I guess recycling is lost to you.
 @Barlion  @Michael Bullock i'm all into recycling...why create the problem in the first place?  making the plastic can be environmentally harmful in itself
@Barlion @Michael Bullock in order to make these pods recyclable you have to separate the aluminum tops from the plastic bottoms, then remove the paper filter that holds the coffee, empty the coffee grounds into the compost and rinse all components. How many people who buy a coffee brewer/pods for convenience are going to do that?
Keurig works well and has a My K cup which you can fill with your own coffee.
Just a note to add to this story. If you don't want to spend a ton and have to buy pods, you can get the Hamilton Beach "The Scoop Single Serve Coffeemaker". You can adjust the brew strength and use any coffee...no pods needed. It does take a couple of minutes, but well worth it if you want to save money and still have a single cup brewer. You can find in stores and online for under $80
http://www.hamiltonbeach.com/products/single-cup-coffee-makers-the-scoop-single-cup-coffee-maker-49981.html
Can you give any more information? Which brands did you test? Did you rank them? This gives no new information beyond your news report.