Costa launches first-ever pod coffee machine – but you may struggle to get one

Costa Coffee has just announced the launch of its first-ever pod coffee machine – the Podio X1. It’s a big move for the brand, featuring patented pod technology and an intuitive design. However, before you get too excited, the average coffee lover might struggle to get their hands on one.

That’s because the Podio X1 is designed mainly for professional use, making it a better fit for offices, hotels and leisure spaces. This is because it's clearly built for brewing coffee on a larger scale rather than your morning flat white.

The machine is available now direct from Viking for £359.99 (around $420) including VAT.

At first glance, the Podio X1 features everything you'd expect from one of the best pod coffee machines, especially when it comes to its compact, stylish design. As for the coffee itself, the Podio X1 uses Costa’s own patented pods, sold exclusively through Viking, with a pack of 48 costing £22.99 or around $30. That exclusivity could be another reason it’s geared toward businesses, as it’s not quite as convenient as picking up pods from the supermarket.

That said, there’s technically nothing stopping you from ordering the machine or the pods yourself. Still, it’s interesting to see Costa stepping into the coffee machine space, and this could always be the first step towards a consumer-friendly Costa pod machine in the future.