Best Pod Machines Under $250
The best pod machines under $250, ranked by our review scores. Enough money to expect published specifications, so this list is unforgiving about makers who do not give you any.
Ranked by our review score, which is worked out from the specifications each maker publishes rather than from opinion, so you can open the arithmetic on any product page. Anything commercial is labelled and sits outside that order, and how we score explains what each criterion measures.
Ranked, and why
scored on what the maker publishes · open a row for the working1
Nespresso Lattissima One8.0- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 8.7
- Capsule System & Choice
- 8.5
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 10.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 7.8
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 6.0
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 6.0
- Machine Value for Money
- 9.6
Weakest link: Build Quality & Reliability — 6.0 of 10, carrying 14 of the 87 points scored here.
2
Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker7.2- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 6.3
- Capsule System & Choice
- 8.5
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 10.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 7.5
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 5.0
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 4.5
- Machine Value for Money
- 10.0
Weakest link: Maintenance & Cleaning — 4.5 of 10, carrying 10 of the 87 points scored here.
3
Keurig K-Classic7.0- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 5.0
- Capsule System & Choice
- 10.0
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 10.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 6.0
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 4.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 5.0
- Machine Value for Money
- 10.0
Weakest link: Build Quality & Reliability — 4.5 of 10, carrying 14 of the 87 points scored here.
4
Keurig K-Express Single-Serve7.0- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 5.0
- Capsule System & Choice
- 10.0
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 10.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 6.0
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 4.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 5.0
- Machine Value for Money
- 10.0
Weakest link: Build Quality & Reliability — 4.5 of 10, carrying 14 of the 87 points scored here.
5
Nespresso Inissia6.6- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 6.3
- Capsule System & Choice
- 8.5
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 10.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 6.0
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 4.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 6.0
- Machine Value for Money
- 5.5
Weakest link: Build Quality & Reliability — 4.5 of 10, carrying 14 of the 87 points scored here.
6
Nespresso Pixie6.6- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 6.3
- Capsule System & Choice
- 7.0
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 10.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 7.0
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 5.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 4.0
- Machine Value for Money
- 7.0
Weakest link: Maintenance & Cleaning — 4.0 of 10, carrying 10 of the 87 points scored here.
7
Keurig K-Supreme6.5- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 6.3
- Capsule System & Choice
- 7.0
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 10.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 6.5
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 4.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 5.5
- Machine Value for Money
- 6.6
Weakest link: Build Quality & Reliability — 4.5 of 10, carrying 14 of the 87 points scored here.
8
Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System6.3- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 7.0
- Capsule System & Choice
- 5.0
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 5.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 5.8
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 7.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 8.0
- Machine Value for Money
- 6.0
Weakest link: Capsule System & Choice — 5.0 of 10, carrying 18 of the 87 points scored here.
Read review →PriceFrom $1649
Nespresso Essenza Mini Espresso Machine by Breville6.1- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 6.3
- Capsule System & Choice
- 7.0
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 10.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 6.5
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 4.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 3.0
- Machine Value for Money
- 5.3
Weakest link: Maintenance & Cleaning — 3.0 of 10, carrying 10 of the 87 points scored here.
10
Nespresso Vertuo Next5.1- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 8.7
- Capsule System & Choice
- 0.0
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 0.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 9.5
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 5.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 6.0
- Machine Value for Money
- 4.9
Weakest link: Capsule System & Choice — 0.0 of 10, carrying 18 of the 87 points scored here.
11
Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Deluxe5.0- Drink Quality (pump pressure not published)
- 8.3
- Capsule System & Choice
- 0.0
- Running Cost Per Cup (cost per cup not published)
- 0.0
- Ease of Use & Speed
- 8.5
- Build Quality & Reliability
- 4.5
- Maintenance & Cleaning
- 6.5
- Machine Value for Money
- 7.6
Weakest link: Capsule System & Choice — 0.0 of 10, carrying 18 of the 87 points scored here.