Grind One Pod coffee maker review: Barbie would have this machine in her dreamhouse kitchen

I'm seriously fussy about coffee. So I was praying the Grind One Pod coffee maker meant business. I'm the kinda girl who likes, no loves, good quality coffee. So, when it comes to choosing a single-serve coffee maker to use day in, day out, it’s safe to say I'm pretty picky. Enter, Grind. The pretty pink and silver offering from the Shoreditch-based coffee house that's known for its striking pink branding and coffee subscription services. And yes, you can buy this coffee maker in the US. Hallelujah!

Admittedly, for single-serve coffee, Nespresso tends to be the name that springs to mind. Their machines are cheap (and come in a wide range of styles) and are usable with a wide plethora of coffee pods that cater to a super diverse range of tastes. However, Nespresso isn’t the only company offering pod coffee machines, as the Grind (Nespresso compatible) pod machine proves. 

With a sleek stainless steel design — complete with pretty pink accents and vintage-style features — the Grind One Pod maker is designed to be harder-wearing than the standard plastic machines that most of us are used to. Thanks to its sleek and simple design that's inspired by the professional, no-nonsense coffee makers you'll find in a café, it has the kind of design that won't age out in a few years. 

To see if the Grind One Pod coffee maker is worth adding to your countertop, I’ve put it to the test, using it for everything from single shots of espresso to iced lattes —and pretty much everything in between.

Grind One Pod coffee maker review

What we thought of the Grind One Pod coffee maker

One of the really great features of the Grind One Pod maker — which is made in Stockholm in a partnership with Sjöstrand — is the fact it’s designed to be "an antidote to the mass-market plastic machines that seem destined for landfill." Admittedly, it’s easy to assume that a pod coffee maker could never be one of the best coffee makers to buy when it comes to being eco-friendly. But, believe it or not, its Nespresso-compatible pods (which are available to buy from Amazon) are free of plastics and fully compostable, plus delivery is carbon-positive, and the coffee itself is organic and ethically sourced. 

Price-wise, it’s a slightly more expensive choice when compared to other pod coffee makers we've tested. However, despite the higher price tag of the machine itself, the pods (which Grind offer a subscription for) are relatively cheap to buy. So, once you have the machine, the running costs are fairly low. 

Testing the Grind One Pod coffee maker

Not one, but two members of the Real Homes team were lucky enough to test this coffee maker for us, for different lengths of time and at different times of the year. I was one of them...

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Beth Mahoney

I'm Beth, staff writer at Real Homes. I love testing out new products, whether it’s ice cream makers, coffee machines, or air fryers. The Grind One Pod coffee machine was sent to me by Grind (while I was in my previous role), and I've been using it in my kitchen daily for the past six months.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Millie Fender

Millie is head of reviews at Real Homes, specializing in small appliances and all things cooking. Millie initially tested this coffee maker for us when it first launched. She was sent it by Grind and she tested it for two weeks before returning it to them. 

The important stuff

• Type: Pod
• Pressure: 19 bar 
• Capacity: 1.2 ltr water tank 
• Dimensions (in. ): ‎15.4 x 11.9 x 8.8
• Price: $375 or $438 with frother

Unboxing and setting up the Grind One Pod coffee maker

The Grind One Pod coffee maker arrived in a very on-brand pink box, and assembly was very easy. All you need to do is insert the drip tray, which latches onto some notches alongside the waste bin for adjustable height, and fill up the water tank.

Before using the Grind One Pod coffee maker you need to run six glasses of water through the machine to flush out the inner workings. This doesn't take long — you can have the machine up and running in 20 minutes. 

The machine is powered by airplane-style toggle switches which are backlit to add a slightly elevated user experience. When switched on, the light below will illuminate, and the two coffee presets will flash until the machine is warmed up.

The Grind One Pod coffee maker can be bought with a tin of refillable coffee pods, and a milk frother, or bought alone. When bought alone, the machine cost $375 at the time of writing, and the added milk frother will cost a total of $438. 

The frother features two hot and cold settings, as well as being able to steam or froth milk. For hot milk, you simply press the power button and the button will glow red, while for cold milk you press and hold the button until it turns blue. 

How to use the Grind coffee maker

To use the machine you'll need to lift the lever and slot your pod in, and then pull the lever down to lock it into place (JSYK, it's a super satisfying motion). Oh and a word to the wise, leave the lever down between uses, or something could fall down the pod holder. 

To brew a coffee, you’ll need to choose between two coffee lengths — a short express or a lungo (this will depend on the pods you’re using and how strong you like your coffee, obvi). 

Once the coffee has been brewed, you can then opt to top it with your choice of hot or cold milk (seeing as the machine doesn’t come with an adjustable temperature setting, we’d recommend hot milk). 

For best results, heat up and froth your milk using the Grind Milk Frother (that can be used for both hot and cold milk), which comes complete with a removable whisk, allowing you to choose between steamed milk and frothy milk. Or, if you're less bothered to have coordinating kitchen appliances, take a look at our pick of the best milk frothers.

Oh, and as for the pod, when you release the lever the used pod falls automatically into a removable pod collector, situated below. So there's no need to worry about disposing of a pod each time you make a coffee. 

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Cleaning the Grind One Pod coffee maker

Because it's made of stainless steel, the Grind One Pod coffee maker marks easily. Both Millie and I noticed how quickly it started to look grimy (think spots, streaks, and splatters), causing it to need regular wiping down. After cleaning your coffee maker, watermarks are left quite easily, but you can easily buff them away with a microfiber cloth (these ones from Amazon would work well). 

Thanks to its unfussy design, the removable parts — aka, the drip tray, water dispenser, and pod bin — are super easy to remove, clean, and re-fit. 

Is the Grind One Pod coffee maker right for you?

If you’re looking for a single-serve coffee pod machine that is easy to use and looks as sleek and stylish as a coffeehouse-style espresso machine (or, if you’re as obsessed with pink as we are), this is the coffee maker for you. Two members of the Real Homes team have tested this coffee maker and both agree that it's a great machine.

Admittedly, the style is an undeniable part of the appeal of the Grind One Pod coffee maker. We get it. It has a fashionable brand behind it, it went viral on TikTok — it’s the pod machine to have. However, while the design is high-quality we do suspect you pay for the name when buying this coffee machine. 

That said, the Grind One Pod coffee maker is a refreshing step for pod machines, and unlike many plastic alternatives, it's designed to be an investment that will last for years and years, as proven by its two-year warranty. 

We both enjoyed the adjustable coffee presets and the stylish design of this small coffee maker, in fact, we agree that it perfectly suits smaller-sized kitchens. Plus, the selection of coffee pods available (both from Grind) and other Nespresso-compatible pod brands mean that you’re spoilt for choice for coffee.  

If you're not sure that this is the right coffee maker for you, then see some more pod coffee makers that we recommend just below...

How we reviewed this Grind coffee maker

Two members of the Real Homes team have reviewed this coffee maker, each giving their verdict in this review. While my colleague Millie initially tested the Grind One Pod coffee maker for two weeks, I've been using my machine for six months, which has allowed me to see how it performed over time. I've used it most days to make all different drinks, from flat whites for my fiancé each morning to iced coffees on hot summer's days and even, dare I say it, the odd espresso martini (yep, really) when I've hosted dinner parties. 

When testing a coffee maker, there are several different factors that we like to look out for. We always make a point to test out as many features of the coffee maker as possible, along with making a number of different coffee-based drinks. During testing, we make note of the following factors: 

• Performance: The best coffee makers are able to brew coffee that is packed full of flavor, boasts a coffee shop-level crema, and is at the right temperature. As part of the testing process, we consider factors like how long it takes to brew a coffee, how powerful the stream of coffee is, and the quality of the end result.
• Ease of use: Are the controls easy to use? Is it simple to add pods to the machine? Can you control how long each shot is? We consider all of these factors (and more) to determine whether coffee makers are convenient to use and actually worth recommending.
• Ease of cleaning: When adding a new coffee maker to your counter, you don't want one that's going to make more work for you. Hence why we always like to check how quick and easy each coffee maker is to clean (and keep clean). We look at how components need to be washed and how easy the washing process may be for users.