Cat Ellis

Cat Ellis

Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor, covering smart home tech, kitchen appliances, vacuums, haircare and more. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, having worked on print magazines including PC Plus and PC Format, and is a Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) certified barista. Whether you want to invest in some smart lights, find your ideal hair styler, or pick the espresso machine of your dreams, she's the right person to help.

Articles by: Cat Ellis

KitchenAid KF4 espresso machine evaporating water from system

I test a lot of espresso machines, but the new KitchenAid KF4 has one of the smartest features I've ever seen — and it'll stop your coffee maker from getting gross

By Cat Ellis published

Automatic coffee makers can get pretty gross, but KitchenAid's latest model can evaporate all the water inside to keep itself fresh.

Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Espresso Machine on kitchen counter

Ninja just gave you a good reason to upgrade your coffee maker, with a new compact version of the Ninja Luxe Café that's perfect for small kitchens

By Cat Ellis published

The Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus is a semi-automatic espresso machine that offers almost all the same features as its full-size counterparts, for a lower price.

A collection of portable health and wellness devices in a hotel room in a tropical location

Look and feel amazing on vacation with these travel-friendly hair dryers, stylers, red-light devices and fans — picked by TechRadar's Homes Editor

By Cat Ellis published

Look flawless, not frazzled on your summer vacation with my pick of the best beauty gadgets for travel.

Spot+Scrub Ai robot vacuum

'Elon Musk said he thinks humanoid robots will be in many homes in three years, and I agree with him.' I sat down with Jake Dyson to hear his predictions for AI and robotics in your home — and why you shouldn't throw out your stick vac just yet

By Cat Ellis published

Dyson's Chief Engineer says robots will be in homes within the next three years — but you shouldn't throw out your stick vacuum just yet.

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool fan in woman's hand

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is the powerful personal fan you won't want to live without this summer — and it's surprisingly reasonably priced, too

By Cat Ellis published

Editor's Choice

Wear it, hold it, or keep it on your desk — this stylish portable fan will keep you cool anywhere your summer takes you.

People's hands adjusting Hive Thermostat (left) and Google Nest Learning Thermostat, which are number four and number one in our guide respectively

The best smart thermostat 2026: the easy way to make your heating more efficient

By Cat Ellis last updated

Updated We've tested the best smart thermostats from top brands to find the smartest ways to heat and cool your home.

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

The best bean-to-cup coffee maker 2026: quick and convenient espresso machines tested

By Cat Ellis last updated

Updated We've tested the best bean-to-cup coffee makers to find the best options from De'Longhi, Breville, Ninja, Gaggia and more.

Split image of IKEA Ankarlägg light on a wall in a dark room, and by itself

IKEA's stick-up wireless light is a game changer for dark hallways and closets — and you can snag one now for only $4

By Cat Ellis published

Light up dark corners with no wires and no effort

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-In-1 Vac & Mop in green and bronze, in dock in hallway

Tired of your ugly robot vacuum? Shark has a solution — designer robovacs in chic colors that blend with your decor rather than standing out

By Cat Ellis published

The new Luxe Collection gives one of Shark's best robot vacuums a new look, with subtle colors and coordinating metallic accents you won't want to hide.

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Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan and Shark ChillPill fans on marble-effect table with accessories

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool vs Shark ChillPill: in the battle of the portable fans, there's a clear winner

By Cat Ellis published

When it comes to price, accessories, and sheer power, there's a clear winner in the battle of the portable fans.

Montage of three Amazon Echo speakers

The best Alexa speakers 2026: top smart speakers to control your home

By Cat Ellis last updated

Updated From Amazon to Sonos, these are the best smart speakers to bring the AI-powered Alexa into your smart home.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro and Ninja Luxe Cafe coffee maker on kitchen counter with varios coffee drinks and loose coffee beans

Ninja just launched an automatic espresso machine, but should you choose the new AutoBarista Pro or go for the cheaper Ninja Luxe Café? I'm here to help

By Cat Ellis published

Pick the right Ninja for for your kitchen

Ninja AutoBarista Pro coffee maker on kitchen counter, with person's hand pouring milk out of pitcher

Ninja has solved the biggest, most disgusting problem with home coffee makers, and as a barista, I can't believe nobody thought of it earlier

By Cat Ellis published

Automatic espresso machines can easily become a breeding ground for mold, but the new Ninja AutoBarista Pro has a case fan to stop that from happening.

A collection of smart home devices on a dark blue background with light rays and starbusts, and a badge in the top right corner reading 'The Little Life'

Smart home tech for renters — from locks to lighting, 9 great upgrades that will improve your life without annoying your landlord

By Cat Ellis published

The Little Life Enjoy the convenience of smart home technology and still get your deposit back with these DIY-free smart devices.

Philips Cafe Aromis Series 8000 coffee maker on kitchen counter with coffee and house plant

I spent two weeks with the gorgeous Philips Café Aromis espresso machine, and creating delicious custom coffees has never been so much fun

By Cat Ellis published

Editor's Choice

Even if you have no barista experience, Aromis has a chatbot-style assistant that will help you tweak the brew settings until your coffee tastes perfect.

Split image of three capsule coffee makers

Want great coffee, fast? I'm a trained barista, and these are my top 4 capsule coffee makers from Nespresso, Keurig, and more

By Cat Ellis published

Capsule coffee makers get a bad rap, but if you choose the right one, you can enjoy great-tasting drinks at home in two minutes flat.

The Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp shines a multicoloured aurora effect onto a slanted ceiling.

The best smart lights in 2026: light up your life with smart bulbs and lamps

By Cat Ellis last updated

Updated We've tested the best smart light bulbs and light panels from all the big brands including Philips Hue and Nanoleaf.

Ducati Barista M3 1926 Limited Edition Carbon Fiber coffee maker

Ducati is celebrating its 100th anniversary by launching a $2,000 Nespresso machine — and it's even stranger than it sounds

By Cat Ellis published

The more I learn about the Ducati Barista M3 1926 Limited Edition Carbon Fiber, the stranger this luxury coffee maker sounds.

Woman holding red Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan

Dyson's new HushJet Mini Cool personal fan is finally back in stock, so grab yours now and enjoy instant relief on hot, sticky days

By Cat Ellis published

Dyson's powerful personal fan sold out almost immediately after its launch last month, and it's likely to fly off the shelves again during the current heatwave.

Split image of the Dyson Pencilwash being used to clean a hard floor

Dyson's cheapest floor cleaner just got a $100 price cut — and it'll keep your hard floors looking spotless

By Cat Ellis published

The Dyson Pencilwash is a super lightweight cordless cleaner for hard floors, and it's spectacular value in the Memorial Day sale.

Man struggling in hot weather, holding a desktop electric fan close to himself

You're using your fan all wrong — these 3 top tips will help you cool down your home properly and stay comfortable in a heatwave

By Cat Ellis published

Even a cheap electric fan can make a real difference to the temperature in your home — but only if you use it the right way.

Split image of coffee beans in hopper of Philips Baristina coffee maker, and the coffee maker dispensing a shot of espresso into a glass measuring cup

Still using coffee capsules? You're not alone, but brewing with fresh beans can be just as easy — here's how

By Cat Ellis published

Coffee capsules are OK in a pinch, but preparing espresso can be just as quick and easy if you have the right machine.

Three De'Longhi coffee makers on multi-colored kitchen counter with various coffee drinks

Looking for a cheap De'Longhi coffee maker? I'm a trained barista, and these are the 3 best deals I recommend right now

By Cat Ellis published

Amazon has slashed the price of De'Longhi espresso machines for Memorial Day, and these three are my top picks.

Philips Café Aromis coffee maker on kitchen counter with bottle of oat milk

The Philips Café Aromis makes the best oat milk latte I've ever had from a home coffee maker — and it looks great as well

By Cat Ellis published

This 'conversational' coffee maker talks you through choosing the right settings, and transforms even plant-based milks into thick, creamy foam in seconds.

The Android robot next to an iPhone and Insta360 GO 3S Retro

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Android 17's showcase to Claude cracking a $400,000 crypto wallet

By Hamish Hector published

The week's 7 biggest tech stories from Android, Apple, Insta360 and more.

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