Lakeland Coffee Pod Machine review

All the coffee pod machines we review are tested both at our Saga Exceptional testing centre and in a home environment. 

The Lakeland Coffee Pod Machine was tested in various ways. This included looking at the temperature, the time it takes to make an espresso, noise levels and even how much force it takes to close the lever.

Our in-house testers also looked at the quality of the final output, using tools such as a coffee refractometer to discern extraction levels and caffeine concentrations in the coffee produced.  

The machine was then tested at home for a week. Using the machine daily, we looked at how easy it is to use, from the set-up to cleaning. 

Finally, we performed the all-important taste test, evaluating each cup of coffee on taste and visual appeal, assessing as many different types of coffee as we were able to during this period. 

Compared to some of the machines we’ve tested, our first thought on the Lakeland machine was that it’s a bit ordinary looking – or, as noted by one of our in-house testers, “uninspiring”.  

The white plastic makes it feel a bit cheap. However, one redeeming factor is the compact size, making it perfect for smaller kitchens. It would also make a great buy for a caravan or a holiday home that doesn’t have much space. We also found that it fitted neatly within our cupboards, more so than many of the other machines we’ve tested.  

With a decently long cable (96cm or just under 37in), it also means you don’t have to keep it housed right next to a socket, giving you more scope for where to place it within the kitchen.  

Ultimately, this is a no-frills coffee pod machine. Don’t expect lots of different settings or a milk frother – it produces just two types of coffee, an espresso or a lungo (basically a longer black coffee). You can buy a separate milk frother, such as the Lakeland Milk Frother (£59.99), but this will obviously add to the cost.

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Lakeland Milk Frother and Hot Chocolate Maker

RRP: £59.99

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With just two buttons (espresso and lungo) the Lakeland Coffee Pod Machine is not overly complicated to use. In fact, we were easily able to work out how to use it without any instructions, and making our first cup of coffee was very straightforward. When we did consult the manual, it was well written and easy to follow.  

This machine required the least force to push down the pods of all those we tried – a mere 9.7 N-m (Newton-metre), compared to the illy Easy Coffee Machine, which requires a massive force of 92 N-m. The buttons to press for the coffee dispensing needed to be pushed down hard though, so if you have issues with your fingers it could be tricky. 

We also found the water tank a bit tricky to remove to fill up, so our advice is once it’s in, leave it there and fill it up with a jug of water instead.

The small 700ml (24 fl oz) water tank also means it is better suited to a small household, probably of no more than two people as it would need constant refilling for more uses.  

The machine comes with a little ledge and drip tray for a smaller espresso cup. If you want a larger cup, you push the tray up and rest the cup on the work surface, rather than the machine. With no tray to catch those end-of-coffee drips, we had to regularly clean the kitchen counter, which was a tad annoying.

When it comes to cleaning the machine, it is again very straightforward. You can remove certain parts such as the drip tray and used-capsule container and wash them with soapy water.

The machine also has a descaling mode, which you turn on by pressing a combination of the two buttons. We managed to do this first time and the whole process was pretty swift, taking just under two minutes in total.  

As tested in our lab, with 14 seconds to heat up and an 18-second pour, this is great machine if you are looking for coffee in a hurry. And while it wasn’t quietest of our machines, at 68 decibels it’s similar to a vacuum, so isn’t too noisy.  

Being quick and relatively quiet is all well and good, but the proof is in the drinking, and if you’re a fan of regular coffee this machine should serve you well.

We preferred the espresso to the lungo as it had a richer flavour. The lungo was a bit watery, and once we added milk it went cold quite quickly. This is where a heated milk frother comes in handy.

The tests we conducted at our centre using a coffee refractometer showed that the programmed dosing is not very accurate. The brews we made were either weak or bitter.

The major plus point for this Lakeland coffee machine is that it takes Nespresso-style pods, which allows for a greater range of coffee blends. Many coffee roasters now supply this style of pod, so it will allow you to dabble in different tastes. This style also comes as recyclable and sustainable options, so if you’re worried about the environmental impact of coffee pods, this is a good choice.  

Overall, while the coffee didn’t blow us away, it was drinkable. We just wish there were a few more options, or even the ability to adjust the temperature or pour a smaller or larger measure. 

This is without a doubt a basic machine, but that isn’t reflected so well in the price, which is a little inflated – especially when there are plenty of alternatives that offer more options at just a slightly higher price point.  

Lakeland does offer regular sales, and if you sign up to its loyalty reward scheme – My Lakeland – you will receive vouchers that can be used against products either online or in-store. The added bonus is that this machine does come with a three-year guarantee, one of the longer ones offered from all the machines we’ve tested.

As it takes Nespresso pods, this will also save you money as they are at the cheaper end of the market, plus you have much more choice when it comes to blends.  

While you can easily splash the cash on coffee pod machines, there are plenty of budget options out there as well. 

If you’re on a budget but also like the thought of being able to make a wide variety of  drinks – including coffee, hot chocolate and even chai lattes – with one machine, this is a great buy.

While it usually retails at £99.99, there are deals to be had and, at the time of writing, we found it for £64.99 at Currys. Compatible only with Bosch T-Disk, the pods are on the slightly pricey side at around £5 for 16, but these do include milky drinks as well as coffee.

Super-stylish and a bargain at under £50, the Infinissima is another great buy for smaller kitchens. Despite its compact measurements (just 14cm/5.5in wide x 27cm/10.5in deep), it comes with a large water tank, so would work for larger households.

It only takes Dolce Gusto pods, but these come in a variety of blends, including Starbucks, as well as drink styles such as hot chocolate and plant-based flat whites.

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Dolce Gusto by De'Longhi Infinissima

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We’ve come to trust Lakeland as a brand that delivers reliable and useable products. While its one and only coffee pod machine is easy to use and compact, it is very basic and may not suit everyone. It makes a decent cup of espresso; however, if you want a wider variety of drinks, you’ll need to invest in a milk frother as well, which then pushes the price up. 

There are also some design faults with the machine – such as the lack of a drip tray for bigger cups – but we do love how simple it is to use. It’s also very quick to make a coffee, which adds to the convenience of the whole experience.  

Especially suitable for small kitchens, or even caravans or home offices, if you love a regular cup of coffee, this is a decent buy. If you’re a bit of a coffee connoisseur though, this definitely won’t tick all your boxes and you’d be better off investing in something more premium.