Nespresso also recommends descaling the machine (video) every three months, which requires a kit that you can buy. If you clean a little less frequently-we are guilty of this-some sludge can build up in the drip tray, but it’s still fairly easy to clean. Nespresso recommends cleaning the machine after every use, which is as easy as rinsing the parts with dish soap. If convenience is your thing, a Nespresso machine is the fastest, most effortless way to make an espresso-like drink. It also has a cavernous water tank that makes back-to-back brewing easy, as well as an accessible interface friendly to first-timers.

We don’t like the watery taste of Keurig coffee much, either-and we don’t recommend those machines-but if you want the option to brew K-Cups, the Instant Pod offers the versatility to do both, while taking up less space on your counter than two machines and costing less than the cheapest Nespresso.

Nespresso’s line of Vertuo machines ostensibly make espresso and coffee, too, but we found the Vertuo coffee, which is capped with a thick layer of crema, unpleasant. And it can brew 8-ounce, 10-ounce, and 12-ounce Keurig coffees. Made by the company responsible for Instant Pot multicookers, the Instant Pod can make Nespresso drinks in 2-ounce, 4-ounce, and 6-ounce sizes, which are roughly equivalent, respectively, to a Nespresso espresso, lungo, and larger lungo-everything our main pick can brew, except the ristretto. The CatDog of pod coffee, the Instant Pod brews both Nespresso capsules and Keurig K-Cups, making it a good option-and the only option-for households that want both in one machine.

Empty capsules