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Pros
soft-lock textured lever arm, Rabot Coffee Estate detailing, free Podcycler included in the box
Cons
10 seconds of dripping after pulling shots, single height espresso cup holder 

At £149.95, it's perhaps a little pricey for the simple espresso and lungo functions it offers, compatible with Nespresso pods. More versatile machines are available for less. However, the quality of its build combined with the espresso it produces means it still feels worth paying that little bit extra for. A Podcycler is included in the box for prepping the pods for to be recycled – a good example that all coffee brands encouraging the use of coffee pods should follow.

Read our full guides to the best coffee machines, the best coffee pod machines and the best eco-friendly coffee pods

How easy is it to set up The Podster?

Hotel Chocolat presents its products in ways that make the unboxing feel like an event and this was no different. The packaging was also plastic-free, with the machine protected by a white fabric cloth rather than the traditional thin-film bag.

There's very little guidance on machine set-up or specifications, but thankfully it's very intuitive. The water tank slots into the back from above, but has a small flip-up door for top-ups. It's a practical capacity without being too large, meaning you're encouraged to change the water often. It can become all too tempting not to do this with larger water tanks, particularly considering the small coffee options. We flushed the machine through four times before use until getting a well-rounded coffee free from a plasticky smell.

On the countertop, it was compact in width, so slotted in nicely under cupboards, but we had to pull the machine forwards for every pod load to stop the handle from blocking the cupboard door. It's very quick to warm up, which is just what you want if half asleep or racing out the door.

Espresso results

If they produce over nine-bars of pressure, most single-serve coffee pod machines can produce a good espresso. It's the slightly longer Lungo drink where quality sometimes falls. However, the Podster performance stays strong: shots were consistently well-brewed, topped with a crema and full in flavour. Excitingly, its lungo boasted a similar finish. It pulled the single espresso with the quantity of water for a double without compromising on the aroma or flavour. There was a short period of dripping after every espresso so we emptied the drip tray daily.

olive's take: should you buy the Hotel Chocolat Podster coffee pod machine?

There's a lot about Hotel Chocolat's The Podster coffee pod machine that we love. It's got style, it's efficient, the espresso and lungo it produces have richness and depth. Something we also love is the addition of the Podcycler, which punches the coffee out of each cap meaning they can be rinsed, stacked and added to your recycling.

This is a small but positive statement from a brand that's new to coffee, and an example that even more established brands should arguably follow. If you're going to enable the use of aluminium coffee caps, you should offer your customers a solution to making the recycling process easier as a small step towards improving the sustainability of your offering.

Buy from Hotel Chocolat, £149.95

The Podster specifications

Drip tray: single height, removable
Coffee functions: espresso, lungo
Dimensions: L35.1 x W15.9 x H23.60cm
Weight: 4.4kg

Anya GilberteCommerce and Reviews Editor

Hotel Chocolat The Podster review

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