10 best coffee pod machines in 2026 (90+ compared)

Topping the Ariete selection for ESE pods is Ariete 1313, earning an overall score of 6.69 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 2.000 L, and costing around £410.

The Ariete 1313 is a semi-automatic espresso machine featuring a full stainless steel body, a 1600W power system, and a 15-bar pump with an integrated pressure gauge. Its standout characteristics include a built-in coffee grinder with an 11-step adjustment knob, a 220g bean hopper, a large 2-litre removable water tank, a Maxi Cappuccino steam wand, and a heated cup warming base.

Runner-up: Ariete Espresso Slim 1381, with an overall score of 5.98 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.100 L, and a price of around £110.

Check out our in-depth best Ariete coffee machines guide to view detailed specifications and ratings.

The best De'Longhi coffee machine for ESE pods is De'Longhi EC860.M, with an overall score of 7.1 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.000 L, and a price of around £310.

The De'Longhi EC860.M is a hybrid semi-automatic espresso machine featuring a 15-bar pump pressure, a 1-liter removable water tank, and a 1450-watt Dual Thermoblock heating system that maintains optimal temperatures for both brewing and steaming. Its main characteristics and pros include a premium stainless steel body, an active cup warmer, compatibility with both ground coffee and E.S.E. pods, and an Automatic Cappuccino System with a detachable milk carafe for one-touch specialty drinks alongside a traditional manual panarello steam wand.

Runner-up: De'Longhi Scultura Traditional Barista ECZ351BK, with an overall score of 6.28 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.400 L, and a price of around £110.

Explore our dedicated best De'Longhi coffee machines guide for full model rankings.

Leading the Klarstein lineup for ESE pods is Klarstein Bellavita COF8, delivering an overall score of 7.33 points, a pump pressure of 20 bar, a water tank of 1.400 L, and retailing for around £120.

The Klarstein BellaVita (COF8) is a 3-in-1 espresso machine operating with 1,450 watts of power and an intensive 20-bar pump pressure to efficiently extract rich flavor from ground coffee. It features a removable 1.4-liter water tank, a detachable 0.4-liter milk foam container, and a straightforward touch control panel featuring pre-programmed presets for one-touch preparation of espressos, cappuccinos, and latte macchiatos.

Runner-up: Klarstein Arabica Comfort TK42, with an overall score of 7.32 points, a pump pressure of 20 bar, a water tank of 1.8 L, and a price of around £130.

Leading the Krups lineup for ESE pods is Krups XP344010, delivering an overall score of 5.94 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.100 L, and retailing for around £130.

The Krups XP344010 Calvi is a compact manual espresso machine featuring a 15-bar pump pressure, a 1460W heating system with an aluminum/stainless steel thermoblock, electronic temperature regulation, and a removable 1.1-litre water tank. Its main pros include an exceptionally fast 40-second preheating time, an incredibly small countertop footprint under 6 inches wide, a manual selection dial for customized cup sizes, compatibility with both ground coffee and E.S.E. pods, and an integrated storage compartment for its 1-cup and 2-cup filters and measuring spoon.

Runner-up: Krups Virtuoso XP442C, with an overall score of 5.86 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.000 L, and a price of around £110.

See our complete best Krups coffee machines guide for in-depth comparisons and alternatives.

Topping the Princess selection for ESE pods is Princess 249412, earning an overall score of 6.27 points, a pump pressure of 20 bar, a water tank of 1.500 L, and costing around £70.

The Princess 249412 is an 1100-watt manual espresso and capsule machine featuring a high-pressure 20-bar pump and a 1.5-litre removable transparent water tank with a water level indicator. Designed with a dual-spout portafilter, it includes three stainless steel insert filters that allow users to brew one or two cups simultaneously using either ground coffee or Nespresso-compatible capsules.

Runner-up: Princess 4 In 1, with an overall score of 6.08 points, a pump pressure of 19 bar, a water tank of 0.800 L, and a price of around £60.

Our top-rated Breville coffee machine for ESE pods is Breville Prima Latte III VCF147X, achieving an overall score of 6.93 points, a pump pressure of 19 bar, a water tank of 1.400 L, and priced around £200.

The Breville Prima Latte III VCF147X is a versatile 1470W espresso machine featuring a powerful 19-bar Italian pump, a 1.4-litre removable water tank, and a 600ml detachable milk carafe that can be stored in the refrigerator. Its main advantages include an intuitive touch panel with an illuminated progress bar, a rapid 30-to-35-second heat-up time, dual compatibility with both ground coffee and ESE pods, and an automatic milk frother that handles dairy or plant-based milks at the touch of a button.

Runner-up: Breville One-Touch CoffeeHouse VCF107, with an overall score of 6.27 points, a pump pressure of 19 bar, a water tank of 1.400 L, and a price of around £140.

The best Create coffee machine for ESE pods is CREATE Thera Matt Pro, with an overall score of 6.27 points, a pump pressure of 20 bar, a water tank of 1.500 L, and a price of around £110.

The CREATE Thera Matt Pro is a retro-style semi-automatic espresso machine featuring a powerful 20-bar stable flow high-pressure pump, a 1250W instant-heating stainless steel boiler, and NTC temperature control. It comes equipped with a removable 1.5-liter water reservoir, a dual-outlet portafilter for ground coffee (1 or 2 cups), and a built-in 0.5-liter milk tank with an adjustable automatic frothing level for lattes and cappuccinos.

Runner-up: CREATE Thera Classic, with an overall score of 6.19 points, a pump pressure of 20 bar, a water tank of 1.250 L, and a price of around £95.

Leading the Didiesse lineup for ESE pods is Didiesse Baby Frog, delivering an overall score of 5.05 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.5 L, and retailing for around £110.

The Didiesse Baby Frog is a compact semi-automatic coffee machine engineered for 44mm E.S.E. pods, featuring a 15-bar pump pressure, a low 450W power consumption with an integrated standby mode, and a 1.5-litre water tank that uniquely houses a 0.5-litre mineral water bottle directly for enhanced hygiene. Weighing 2.85 kg and measuring 29.5 cm in height, 17.1 cm in width, and 28.4 cm in depth, its core characteristics include a patented flavor diffuser for maximum creaminess, a robust closing lever mimicking professional extraction pressure, and a fully removable pod holder for effortless cleanup.

Runner-up: Didiesse Frog Revolution, with an overall score of 4.54 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.5 L, and a price of around £110.

Explore our dedicated best Didiesse coffee machines guide for full model rankings.

Our top-rated Gaggia coffee machine for ESE pods is Gaggia RI8525/01 Carezza Deluxe, achieving an overall score of 6.31 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.400 L, and priced around £220.

The Gaggia RI8525/01 Carezza Deluxe is a compact, semi-automatic espresso machine featuring a 1900W stainless steel boiler, 15-bar pump pressure, and a front-loading 1.4-litre water tank. Key characteristics include an integrated retro temperature gauge, automatic pre-infusion for enhanced flavour extraction, and a pressurized "Crema Perfetta" portafilter compatible with both ground coffee and E.S.E. pods.

Runner-up: Gaggia Classic Pro 886948011010, with an overall score of 6.05 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 2.100 L, and a price of around £440.

For more top-rated models from this brand, check our best Gaggia coffee machines guide.

Ranking first among Kotlie models for ESE pods is KOTLIE CM5403F-GS, with an overall score of 6.84 points, a pump pressure of 20 bar, a water tank of 1.500 L, and available for around £80.

The KOTLIE CM5403F-GS is an 1100-watt espresso machine featuring a 20-bar high-pressure professional pump, a 1.5-litre removable water tank, and an intuitive LED touch screen control panel with 5 keys. It operates at an optimal extraction temperature of 85°C and offers three versatile extraction modes, including 15-second single cup (50 ml), 25-second double cup (100 ml), and customizable volume settings, paired with a 6-speed adjustable steam wand for custom milk texturing.

Runner-up: KOTLIE 4 in1, with an overall score of 6.35 points, a pump pressure of 19 bar, a water tank of 0.800 L, and a price of around £95.

Ranking first among Lelit models for ESE pods is Lelit Anita PL042EMI, with an overall score of 6.35 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 2.700 L, and available for around £530.

The Lelit Anita PL042EMI is a compact, Italian-made all-in-one espresso machine featuring a robust stainless steel chassis, a 250 ml brass boiler for optimal thermal stability, and a 2.7-litre water tank. Key specifications include an integrated coffee grinder with 38 mm conical burrs and micrometric stepless adjustment, a 130g bean hopper, a built-in tamper, a backlit brew pressure manometer, and a multidirectional steam wand.

Best value alternative: Lelit Anna PL41TEM, with an overall score of 6.33 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 2.700 L, and a price of around £440.

The best Russell Hobbs coffee machine for ESE pods is Russell Hobbs 26450-56, with an overall score of 5.66 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.100 L, and a price of around £170.

The Russell Hobbs 26450-56 Distinctions is a semi-automatic espresso machine featuring a 1350-watt thermoblock heating system, a 15-bar pressure pump, and a 1.1-litre removable water tank. It accommodates ground coffee and ESE pods using a versatile portafilter that supports both automated single or double shot dispensing and manual volume adjustments.

Best value alternative: Russell Hobbs 28250-56, with an overall score of 5.58 points, a pump pressure of 15 bar, a water tank of 1.100 L, and a price of around £70.

Topping the Ufesa selection for ESE pods is Ufesa Monza 71705461, earning an overall score of 6.54 points, a pump pressure of 20 bar, a water tank of 1.500 L, and costing around £80.

The Ufesa Monza 71705461 is a 1050W espresso and cappuccino coffee machine equipped with a powerful 20-bar pressure pump and an intuitive LED digital touch screen control panel. It features a dual-preparation system compatible with both traditional ground coffee and E.S.E. single-dose pods, alongside a removable 1.5-litre water tank, an adjustable swivel steam nozzle for milk frothing, an integrated top cup-warmer tray, and an automatic energy-saving shut-off system.

Runner-up: Ufesa CE7240, with an overall score of 6.02 points, a pump pressure of 20 bar, a water tank of 1.600 L, and a price of around £120.