Skip to main content

Instant Pod Review: A simple way to start your morning

Instant Pod
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Instant Pod Review: A simple way to start your morning
MSRP $119.00
“Nothing's simpler, easier to use, and saves space like the Instant Pod.”
Pros
  • Space saving design
  • Brews coffee quickly
  • Minimum upkeep
  • Large water container
Cons
  • No option to dispense more water

“Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.“

Having conquered the slow cooker and pressure cooker markets, small appliance maker Instant Brands, known for its exquisite line of Instant Pots, is branching out and tackling the coffee making world. Attached with an irresistible $119 price tag, the Instant Pod looks mighty tempting, being a 2-in-1 system — capable of brewing both coffee and espresso in one, easy-to-use machine. With that combination, it certainly will give other popular brewers a run for their money.

Recommended Videos

Easy to use

I may not be a coffee snob, but coffee is the first thing on my list to have every morning before starting work. In that sense, I prefer something that’s quick, simple, and doesn’t require a whole lot of cleanup afterwards. Well, you know what? The Instant Pod is the kind of machine that I need to help get me started because brewing a cup of joe is so simple and straightforward.

Instant Pod dispensing coffee
John Velasco / Digital Trends

Whether you prefer coffee or espresso, it has you covered because it can brew both. Pulling open the top lid reveals two compartments, one for coffee via any of your favorite K-Cup pods, and the other for espresso via Nespresso’s bullet-shaped capsules. Whatever preference, you pop it in, close the lid, place your mug/cup into the appropriate spot, and then you choose a drink size. For coffee, you have three options: eight, ten, or twelve ounces. For espresso fill ups, you also have three to choose from: two, four, or six ounces. That’s it!

In under a couple of minutes, you’ll have a fresh cup of coffee or espresso to wake you up — and there’s barely any cleanup! Sure, a few drops may splatter inexplicably, but you can remove the plate from the base and rinse it off quickly. Thanks to its simplicity and ease of use, you can still be half-awake and brew a cup of coffee with zero problems.

Great taste

Coffee snobs will argue about what’s the best brewing method to get the richest and boldest taste out of your coffee, but the K-Cup I brewed came out just as I like it. There’s no harsh or bitter taste; despite the injection of piping hot water into the plastic pod, the outcome is no different from other Keurigs I’ve used in the past — and that also applies to reusable K-Cups with your own grinds.

Instant Pod Review holding cuo
John Velasco / Digital Trends

If you prefer espresso drinks, the Instant Pod gets the job done using just about any of the Nespresso original capsules, but it’s worth pointing out that it does not accept Vertuo capsules (due to the slightly more oblong shape). The only missing option with the Instant Pod is the ability to manually dispense hot water. If you want to add in just a little bit more water to dilute the drink, there’s no option here for that.

The design save space

Compared to the first Keurig single cup coffee brewer I used, the Instant Pod is a space saver with its narrow design, although it’s a little deep in terms of its front-to-back measurement. Despite that, the all-plastic construction feels solid and incorporates a pull-out tray for those espresso brews. It will also discard used Nespresso capsules into a compartment inside of the machine so that you don’t have to take them out after every brew.

It’s a low-maintenance machine that I adore.

If you’re the kind of person who drinks one cup of coffee a day, the Instant Pot will be more than enough to carry you through a work week. That’s because it features a 68 oz water tank that’s positioned in the rear of the coffee machine, which can be removed for quick and easy refilling and cleaning. Like I said, it’s a low-maintenance machine that I adore.

Our take

Single cup coffee drinkers will absolutely fall in love with the Instant Pot, more so when it can brew either coffee or espresso. It’s priced accordingly at $119, making it an easy investment that’s sure to keep you powered through your mornings.

How long will it last?

Even though it’s made primarily out of plastic, there’s very little to worry about because it’s going to remain stationary wherever you put it. If you’re worried about something going bad, such as its touch-sensitive top panel, there’s a one-year limited warranty that covers manufacturer defects.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, but you won’t find the same space-saving design, ease of use, and minimal cleanup that the Instant Pod offers. Other combo machines that can brew coffee and espresso also tend to be pricey, easily going for as much as $200+ — plus, they’re more traditional brewers that can be more complicated to operate.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. You get the best of both worlds without having to spend a fortune.

John Velasco
John is the Smart Home editor at Digital Trends covering all of the latest tech in this emerging market. From uncovering some…
Tineco’s docking vacuum has a special Prime Day price, but you can get it cheaper
A Tineco Pure One next to its charging base.

Vacuums feel like they're getting more and more expensive, and not just robot vacuum and mop combos, but ordinary hand vacs. You can go to Walmart and see bagged, corded vacuums that cost hundreds of dollars. It doesn't have to be that way. Tineco's Pure One vacuum brings power and convenience for the same price that other vacuums have, but with new features instead of going backwards into the world of cords and bags. Usually $459, it is down to $319 for Prime Day (that's a savings of $140 already) and we're happy to report you can get an extra 5% off with the code TIN25PDPR on Amazon. Tap the button below to see the vacuum yourself and snag this great deal, or keep reading for what makes this vacuum truly unique.

BUY NOW

Read more
This AI mower finally got a discount — grab it before it’s gone
m800 doing work on the lawn

If you’ve been holding off on getting a robot mower because you can’t stand the idea of burying boundary wires or babysitting your lawn from a clunky app, Prime Day is delivering for you once again. The Yardcare M800 Plus is one of the most intelligent, user-friendly smart mowers you can buy and now it's on sale. Pick-up the M800 Plus for $719.99, a savings of $180 (regular price $899.99).

A smarter way to mow

Read more
This Beatbot robotic pool cleaner gets all the leaves — 47% off for Prime Day
The Beatbot iSkim Ultra in the swimming pool.

Are you growing tired of gathering the leaves that are floating around in your swimming pool? Then you shouldn't miss this chance to get the Beatbot iSkim Ultra with a huge discount from Amazon's Prime Day. From $1,499 originally, it's on sale at 47% off for a lowered price of only $799. That $700 in savings are among the largest that you can get from the offers for Beatbot robotic pool cleaners during the shopping event -- act now and complete your purchase immediately to make sure that you get this device at nearly half-price.

BUY NOW

Read more