Cat Ellis

Cat Ellis

Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, and worked on print magazines including PC Plus, Official Windows Magazine, and PC Format before moving online. She's also a Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) certified barista, so whether you want to upgrade your smart lights or pick up a new espresso machine, she's the right person to help.

Articles by: Cat Ellis

Woman wiping coffee maker drip tray with cloth

How to deep-clean your coffee maker for a better-tasting espresso in 2026 – a barista's guide

By Cat Ellis published

Deep clean your coffee maker for the tastiest espresso ever – six top tips from a barista

Philips Hue Essential bulb next to Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance bulb, both on dimmest setting

Philips Hue Essential lights are spectacular value, but the originals outshine them in one key way

By Cat Ellis published

Hue Essential bulbs are just as good as the originals in most situations, provided you don't need to dial the brightness right down.

Jura J10 machine dispensing cold extracted espresso

I've reviewed over a dozen coffee makers this year, and these are my 3 favorites from 2025

By Cat Ellis published

Three outstanding options to help you through the daily grind

Split image of three home security cameras

Want a home security camera without a subscription? I test smart home tech for a living, and these are my 3 recommendations

By Cat Ellis published

These feature-packed home security cameras offer crisp 4K footage, solar charging, local storage for your videos, and AI smarts too – with no extra fees.

Split image of fries cooked using air fryer, Ninja 5-in-1 air fryer, and burger cooked using air fryer

Looking for a Ninja air fryer? I test them for a living, and these are the 3 I'd buy for my own kitchen

By Cat Ellis published

Whether you're cooking a side of fries or dinner for the whole family, there's a Ninja air fryer for your kitchen.

Split image of iced coffee, coffee machine dispensing espresso, and espresso cup on coffee maker drip tray

The 3 best De'Longhi coffee makers you can buy – recommended by a barista

By Cat Ellis published

De'Longhi makes some of the best espresso machines I've ever used, and these are my top picks.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro

Your Ring doorbell can now use Alexa+ to identify who's calling and give them an appropriate greeting

By Cat Ellis published

Alexa+ Greetings can recognize and give instructions to delivery people, greet friends and family, and (politely) turn away cold callers.

Split image of three coffee makers

Looking for a cheap coffee maker? I'm a trained barista and these are my three top recommendations

By Cat Ellis published

The cost of takeout coffee has rocketed, so pick up one of these excellent budget brewers and save cash by making your own at home.

IMOU home security camera

This home security cam monitors your property 24/7 with 'unlimited' battery life – and it costs less than you might expect

By Cat Ellis published

IMOU's latest point-and-tilt camera uses a solar panel, high-capacity battery, and power-efficient recording for constant surveillance.

Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker with caffe latte

The Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly is a super affordable coffee maker, but beware – there's a catch that means it could cost you in the long run

By Cat Ellis published

Looking for a cheap and cheerful coffee maker? The Finesse Friendly could be the one for you, but mind how much you're spending on pods.

Split image of three drip coffee makers on kitchen counter

Want a new drip coffee maker? I'm a trained barista, and these are my 3 top recommendations for your kitchen

By Cat Ellis published

Upgrade your mornings with a new brewer for perfect pour-over every time.

Split image of three video doorbells mounted on walls

Want a cheap Ring doorbell alternative? I'm a smart home tech expert, and these are the 3 I recommend

By Cat Ellis published

Affordable video doorbells with no subscription fees

Coffee maker dispensing steamed milk into glass cup

Love lattes? I test coffee makers for a living and these are my top 3 recommendations for the creamiest drinks

By Cat Ellis published

Tired of paying a premium for take-out lattes? These three coffee makers will handle all the prep for you.

Lavazza Assoluta coffee machine with drink and two bags of coffee

The Lavazza Assoluta is a quirky coffee machine that adjusts its own settings to suit your beans – provided you buy the right ones

By Cat Ellis published

If you don't mind sticking with Lavazza's own beans, the Assoluta will deliver consistently well-extracted coffee every morning.

Coffee beans in hopper, latte macchiato, and person's hand using bean-to-cup coffee machine

I've tested over a dozen coffee makers this year, and these are the 3 top bean-to-cup machines I recommend

By Cat Ellis published

Enjoy perfect coffee at the touch of a button, whether you prefer a strong espresso or a silky latte.

Nespresso Festive Collection Sweet Almond and Hibiscus capsules

I tried Nespresso's Christmassy new Sweet Almond and Hibiscus coffee, and it was like sipping a marzipan-infused latte

By Cat Ellis published

The festive flavor of a German Christmas market, ready within one minute.

Nesprsso Festive Collection Double Espresso capsules

I tried Nespresso's Festive Edition Double Espresso, and it gave me the energy to finish my Christmas shopping a month early

By Cat Ellis published

A toasty and fruity espresso that tastes festive but doesn't rely on added flavors.

Russell Hobbs Calm Kettle boiling water

The color-changing Russell Hobbs Calm Kettle is giving me a moment of peace in the morning, and it's perfect for Christmas

By Cat Ellis published

Turn your first brew of the day into a minute of mindfulness with soothing sounds and shifting light effects.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Need help buying the best phone for you? Here’s what the TechRadar experts use, and how to score a good deal

By Roland Moore-Colyer published

With the Black Friday deals already here, now's a great time to snap up a brilliant phone that has the TechRadar seal of approval.

Nespresso machine dispensing coffee, latte made using Nespresso machine, and Nespresso capsules

The 3 best Nespresso machines for delicious coffee in an instant, recommended by a trained barista

By Cat Ellis published

If you want your coffee as quickly as possible, a Nespresso machine could be exactly what you need, and these are three of the best.

Coffee grounds in brew basket, cup of drip coffee, and settings on drip coffee machine

The 3 best drip coffee machines for your kitchen, recommended by a qualified barista

By Cat Ellis published

The best batch brewers for preparing delicious drip coffee and keeping it hot and tasty for hours.

Lavazza Assoluta espresso machine

The Lavazza Assoluta adjusts its own brew settings to suit your beans, but does it make a good espresso?

By Cat Ellis published

An espresso machine that aims to take the trial-and-error out of espresso.

Smeg ECF03 espresso machine

The chic Smeg ECF03 looks like it came straight out of the 1950s, and brews consistently great hot and cold espresso

By Cat Ellis published

The new ECF03 is the most stylish way to prepare your morning pick-me-up.

Split image of three home security cameras

The best home security cameras: indoor, outdoor and subscription-free cams

By Cat Ellis last updated

Updated We've tested masses of security cameras in our own homes to bring you this guide to the very best.

Sliced cucumber in food processor, food processor containing berries, and grated carrot in food processor

The best food processor 2025: from KitchenAid, Ninja, Magimix and more, tested by kitchen experts

By Cat Ellis last updated

Updated These are the best food processors for every kind of cook and every kind of kitchen, from big names including Ninja, Magimix, and KitchenAid.

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