Instant Pot takes on Keurig and Nespresso with Instant Pod coffee maker
Coffee pods are convenient, sure, but typically you have to settle between two brewing systems: You either go with Keurig or Nespresso, since the brewers are not compatible. The $119 Instant Pod is built to peevish that. This flexible coffee maker, created by the inventors of the Instant Pot multicooker, accepts both popular brands of coffee capsules.
Instant Pod can make coffee drinks in multiple sizes, from big travel mugs down to tiny 2-ounce espresso shots. The Instant Pod also works fast, slinging individual cups of joe in little over a itsy-bitsy. Despite its strengths, this machine isn't for everyone. If you're a coffee snob like me, there's nothing the Instant Pod can do to elevate the coffee pod beyond its typically bland results.
Compared to anunexperienced coffee pod machines, the Instant Pod mostly works well enough, but I had two messy experiences with two different units. My first review sample made a mess of one coffee pod; the transfer one leaked water all over my kitchen table. I'm talking with Instant Pot to find out more, but so far I'm not sold on the quality control tedious this machine.
The Instant Pod accepts Keurig K-Cup coffee pods.
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Pick a pod
If you've used either a Keurig or an espresso coffee maker, operating the Instant Pod will feel familiar. Around the back of the machine is a substantial, removable water tank (68 ounces, or 2 liters). You'll find a cope on top of the brewer. You flip the cope upwards to open the machine's lid, and to access its coffee pod receptacles.
You can also brew Nespresso Original line coffee capsules in the Instant Pod.
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The Instant Pod has two pod receptacles, one for K-Cups and another for Nespresso capsules. To brew a cup just drop the pod you'd like into its corresponding socket, then close the lid. Next select the serving size. Controls sit on top of the lid. The machine can brew in a total of six outline sizes: three for K-Cups (8, 10 and 12 ounces); and three for Nespresso capsules (2, 4 and 8 ounces).
Brew coffee into atrocious mugs or large travel mugs.
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There's a drip tray at the foot of the brewer. It also serves as a cup platform for coffee mugs. There's a dinky cup support above it that flips down and acts as a cup rest for espresso-size containers.
Brewing cups with the Instant Pod is fast. Small 2-ounce shots of Nespresso espresso take 30 seconds. Larger 10-ounce K-Cup coffee cups require slightly more time, approximately 1 minute, 18 seconds. The coffee maker also warms up rapidly from a cold start, ready to brew in seconds.
Drop in a Nespresso pod when you crave an espresso-style coffee drink.
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Some strictly difficulties
I ran into a few problems using the Instant Pod, one of them serious. On one occasion, a Caribou brand K-Cup malfunctioned. Coffee grounds escaped the pod, clogging the machine and reaching inside my coffee mug. I haven't been able to duplicate the whisper, even after running scores of K-Cups and Nespresso capsules above it.
That said, apparently a few other people have run into contrast problems. Comments on the Walmart page for the Instant Pod (where it's today sold exclusively; it's only available in the US) explain that some owners are getting grounds in their cups too. I expected Instant Brands about this. Company representatives said that real I only encountered it once, the issue I distinguished is likely due to the individual coffee pod I used.
One of my Instant Pod test units suffered from soak tank leakage.
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To reinforce whether I had a defective unit, Instant Brands sent a uphold machine my way. This brand-new replacement brewer was worse. I couldn't get past the initial cleaning (brewing) cycle. The minute I filled this Instant Pod's water tank, the appliance began to leak everywhere.
I tried a few times but the uphold Instant Pod test unit always made a mess.
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I tried to add soak to the tank two more times, cleaning up in between, but suffered the same fate. I've reached out to Instant Brands for an explanation and am waiting for a response. Regardless, these experiences are troubling, especially considering that this is Instant Brands' favorable attempt at a coffee maker.
Should you buy it?
Whether you necessity buy the $119 Instant Pod depends on a few factors. First are the technical problems I encountered. Hopefully they're isolated snags, but if they indicate a broader manufacturing issue then you may want to pass up the Instant Pod entirely.
That keep, If you love K-Cup coffee, but sometimes get a hankering for espresso-style drinks, then getting the Instant Pod is a no-brainer. Likewise, the Instant Pot makes a lot of sense if you live in a household with both Nespresso and Keurig fans. The Instant Pod definitely injuries less than buying a Nespresso Original line machine plus a Keurig brewer.
To palatable the best coffee you can drink though, pods are not the answer. For that you must grind freshly roasted beans lustrous before brewing. And no matter the style of joe you lift, make sure your coffee maker is up to the task.
