Yes, the commercially available pods are standardised so that they fit into all these machines. This increases the choice of available coffee manufacturers for pods many times over compared to capsule coffee machines.

There are special coffee machine cleaners for pad machines that you can use for cleaning. To do this, pour this solution into the water tank and then let the water tank run through several times without a coffee pod. Then put a pad back into the machine and pour away the first cup of coffee. Only now you have completed the descaling process and can use your coffee machine normally again.

First of all, of course, it's possible to have an espresso from a pod coffee machine. The difference lies in the preparation. Whereas in a pod coffee machine, you use pods that contain ground espresso, a modern espresso machine grinds the beans freshly right before brewing because it has a coffee grinder integrated in the machine itself.

The result is that an espresso, made with an espresso machine, will have a higher quality and fresher taste than an espresso made with the help of a pod coffee machine.