Articles by 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

Split image of fries cooked in air fryer, front view of Ninja air fryer, and steak being cooked in air fryer with heat probe

The best air fryer 2025: quick and convenient fryers to feed a family

By Cat Ellis last updated 18 July 25

Updated Air fryers for quick meals in small spaces, tested by our team of experts in real-world conditions.

Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Homepod smart speakers

The best smart speaker 2025: for Google, Alexa and Siri

By Cat Ellis last updated 18 July 25

Updated Whatever smart home ecosystem you use, our experts have picked the best smart speaker for you.

Split image of three video doorbells mounted on walls

The best video doorbell 2025: security for your home, wherever you are

By Cat Ellis last updated 17 July 25

Updated We've spent months testing video doorbells from big and small brands to help you make the right choice.

Philips Hue light bulb on blue background with white text reading 'TechRadar price cut'

Philips Hue smart bulbs just got a massive 41% price cut at Amazon, smashing last week's Prime Day deals

By Cat Ellis published 17 July 25

Now's the time to extend your smart lighting setup.

portafilter full of coffee, espresso dispensing from espresso machine, and hand pulling espresso machine tamper

The best espresso machine 2025: home coffee makers tested by experts

By Cat Ellis last updated 14 July 25

Updated Expert-recommended espresso machines to give you a morning jump-start.

Philips Hue Smart Button, Tap Dial Switch, and Dimmer Switch

The best smart switch 2025: top buttons and dimmers for all your smart home devices

By Alistair Charlton, Cat Ellis last updated 14 July 25

Updated Our roundup of expert-tested smart switches to give you maximum control over your smart home tech.

De'Longhi espresso machine on red background with white text reading 'TechRadar big savings'

Missed Prime Day? Fear not, there's still $500 off this De'Longhi espresso machine and it's the best deal I've seen all year

By Cat Ellis published 14 July 25

A giant discount on a fully automatic coffee maker that beats Amazon's Prime Day offers.

Vacuum cleaner and coffee maker on green and purple gradient background

We test home appliances for a living – these are the only Prime Day deals worth your time today

By Cat Ellis last updated 9 July 25

The TechRadar Homes Team has hand-picked the best offers from this year's Prime Day sale, with big savings on appliances from Ninja, Dyson, Shark and more.

Coffee beans, latte macchiato, and caffe latte

I'm a certified barista, and these are the three bean-to-cup coffee makers I recommend for easy brewing

By Cat Ellis published 9 July 25

Fantastic beans and how to grind them

Breville coffee machine on blue background

I've tested 13 coffee machines in the last year, and these are my top Prime Day recommendations

By Cat Ellis published 8 July 25

I'm TechRadar's coffee expert, and these are the best offers available right now.

Philips Hue starter kit on blue and green background with white text reading 'TechRadar Prime Day Philips Hue Deals'

Philips Hue bulbs and starter kits crash to record-low prices for Amazon Prime Day

By Cat Ellis published 8 July 25

I've been covering Prime Day for years, and these are some of the best smart lighting deals I've ever seen.

Video doorbell and hand holding smartphone on gold background with white text reading 'TechRadar lowest price'

Our top-rated video doorbell just hit a record-low price in the early Prime Day sale – and it's not from Ring

By Cat Ellis published 7 July 25

The Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell has two cameras to capture people and packages, and all your footage is stored locally so there's no subscription.

Philips Hue Signe lamp and Festavia string lights on blue background with white text reading 'TechRadar don't miss'

Philips Hue Prime Day deals: 'beautiful' smart lights are going cheap, and these are the best offers

By Cat Ellis published 7 July 25

Thinking of getting your first Philips Hue lights, or planning to expand your setup? This is the perfect time

Coffee beans in hopper, latte with heart in gray ceramic cup, and espresso pouring into glass cup

I'm a trained barista, and these are the 3 best espresso machines I've tested so far this year

By Cat Ellis published 6 July 25

Whether you want a delicious shot of black espresso, or your order is so complex it makes grown baristas cry, I've got the machine for you.

A Nintendo Switch 2 next to hands holding the Sigma BF and a B&O Bluetooth speaker sitting on a table

The best tech of 2025 so far – the 17 finest gadgets we've tested this year

By Mark Wilson published 5 July 25

TechRadar has spent days testing products across phones, TVs, laptops, cameras, smartwatches and more in 2025. These are the best ones we've reviewed so far this year.

Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ coffee maker on gold background with white text reading 'TechRadar don't miss'

This limited-edition Nespresso machine is totally adorable, and it's received an epic price cut ahead of Amazon Prime Day

By Cat Ellis published 4 July 25

This super compact coffee maker has received a huge price cut, and it's available in a limited edition pistachio color.

Swann Buddy4K video doorbell on pink background with white text reading 'TechRadar price cut'

Forget Ring – our favorite AI-powered video doorbell is half price ahead of Prime Day, and it doesn't need a subscription

By Cat Ellis published 3 July 25

There's no need to pay to save your videos in the cloud when you can keep them on your own 128GB SD card, organized by subject.

Coffee being dispensed into a measuring cup, a glass cup of espresso, and coffee beans in a coffee machine's hopper

I've tested 13 coffee makers over the last year, and these are the top 3 to keep you caffeinated on a budget

By Cat Ellis published 3 July 25

You don't have to spend a fortune to get a great quality coffee maker, and these are my top recommendations.

This window-cleaning robot is a miracle-worker, and if it's on sale for Prime Day you should grab one ASAP

By Cat Ellis published 1 July 25

The Winbot W2 Pro Omni will make light work of even filthy windows, and with the right deal, it could be your smartest Prime Day purchase.

Pink smoothie in blender, pink smoothie in glass, and pink slushie in glass

Feeling the heat? These are the best 3 blenders for smoothies and slushies, recommended by a kitchen tech expert

By Cat Ellis last updated 1 July 25

Ice and frozen fruit are no match for these powerful personal blender, which will whip up refreshing drinks in moments.

Woman waking with Philips Hue smart lamp

‘What you can do now is quite amazing’: the company behind Philips Hue reveals how to get the most from your smart lights

By Cat Ellis published 29 June 25

Smart lighting isn't just about bulbs any more – and it can improve your life at home, indoors and out

Mint colored Ninja Crispi air fryer, candy pink Nespresso Vertuo Pop coffee maker, and butter yellow KitchenAid stand mixer

Candy-colored kitchen appliances are everywhere this summer, and these are 5 of the cutest

By Cat Ellis published 28 June 25

Give your space a sweet summer makeover in ice-cream shades.

The Ecovacs Winbot W2 Pro Omni got my filthy windows sparkling clean in minutes, and I can't quite believe it

By Cat Ellis published 28 June 25

It's not cheap, but this robot window cleaner really works, and it's incredibly simple to use.

A Tesla car, James Bonds and Samsung's foldable promo image

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Tesla finally launching robotaxis (kinda) to Samsung's foldables teaser

By Hamish Hector published 28 June 25

Here's the biggest tech news stories from Samsung, Amazon, Tesla, and more for June 28, 2025

Philips Hue Motion Sensor on wall, and detection alert in app

This tiny sensor will turn your Philips Hue lights into a home security system – and it's cheap too

By Cat Ellis published 27 June 25

Smart home week This affordable little device does double duty by controlling your smart lights hands-free and offering peace of mind while you're out.

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