Lavazza MilkEasy Plus review

As my millennial colleagues often say: "you don’t wanna see me before my morning coffee". And there's truth to that: having a cappuccino on first waking has become something of a ritual for me; it's more effective than an alarm clock for getting me up and doing anything useful, at least. And since getting my hands on the Lavazza MilkEasy Plus, making a quick drink every day has never been so easy.

As the name suggests, the Lavazza MilkEasy Plus is an incredibly simple to use, and it’s ideal for anyone who wants to whip up a cold or hot caffeinated beverage at home. It comes with four settings: hot milk, foamed milk, hot cappuccino, and cold cappuccino. I’ve tried all of these out over a month-long period of testing, using both dairy and plant-based milks. Should you get one for yourself? Here’s my verdict.

Straight off the bat, something I love about the MilkEasy Plus are its controls. A single backlit button enables you to cycle through the four different modes. Just select your preferred option, wait a few seconds, and the frothing will begin. This makes it an accessible option for anyone — no matter their level of technical or coffee know-how.

Elsewhere, the included instructions are clear and concise, and after an initial clean cycle, all you have to do is plug the machine’s dock into a power outlet, place the MilkEasy Plus on top, and you’re good to go.

This model comes with a magnetic whisk that easily slots inside the MilkEasy Plus — no awkward installation required. The fact that it's magnetic means that it’s also easy to remove and clean. I was able to scrub the entire device in mere seconds, and while some pesky milk residue can stick to the sides of the MilkEasy Plus, it’s really easy to get off. The whisk and lid are also dishwasher-safe, although the main chamber needs to be hand-washed.

So yes, the MilkEasy Plus is a joy to use, but how does it perform? Well, I was really happy with the results every single time. With dairy milk in cappuccino mode, it whisked up a delightfully thick, creamy foam, which delivered a rich, satisfying flavor.

With foamed milk, I was impressed once more, both with dairy and plant-based milks. All those plant-based baristas will be pleased to learn that this this model is "approved by Alpro", and when using oat milk, this machine really shines. The smooth, velvety texture of the foamed milk was impressive given the modest price of this model, although it did take a good three minutes to prepare.

This wasn’t a big issue for me, as I set the foaming cycle in motion before drawing an espresso shot from my Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg machine, meaning I wasn’t left waiting. But if you want the speediest performance possible, this might not be the best option for you.

Not surprisingly, the hot milk and cold cappuccino modes produced similarly effective results with dairy and plant-based milk. And I was struck by how quiet the MilkEasy Plus is in use — you won't have to worry about disturbing any friends or family members if you’re making a late-night decaf coffee.

While I had an overwhelmingly positive experience with the MilkEasy Plus, I do have a couple of minor quibbles that are worth a mention.

Like a lot of rivals, the markings for quantity on the inside of the cup are a little difficult to read, and I found myself having to angle the machine to see the maximum fill line when adding milk. My other critique is that the MilkEasy Plus doesn't have a handle, so it can be slightly awkward to handle while pouring. This isn’t a major problem, and it’s still easy enough to grip, but a handle would have taken things up a notch.

Still, this model's build quality is impressive, especially given its relatively low £79 / AU$119 (about $100) list price. The quality of the MilkEasy Plus’ results, its user-friendly controls, and easy cleaning all combine to make it a top-tier option. And while a steam wand will always be superior for latte art, this model is tough to beat for casual coffee drinkers like me.

Lavazza MilkEasy Plus review: price & release date

• Priced at £79 / AU$119 (about $100)
• Released in July 2026

The Lavazza MilkEasy Plus was released in July 2026, and is available in the UK, a number of European markets, and Australia. It isn't available directly in the US, but could conceivably be imported.

This is a relatively budget-friendly model, coming in at £79 / AU$119 (about $100), making it cheaper than some of our favorite picks such as the Smeg Mini Milk Frother (£99.95, about $140 / AU$210) and the Dreo Baristamaker ($99 / £119.99, about AU$150).

Lavazza MilkEasy Plus review: specs

Should I buy the Lavazza MilkEasy Plus?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Lavazza MilkEasy Plus review: also consider

How I tested the Lavazza MilkEasy Plus

I spent one month testing the Lavazza MilkEasy Plus, using it as a key part of my coffee-making setup almost every day. I tried all four of the frothing modes, and made sure to use whole and semi-skimmed milk, as well as oat milk to assess consistency across different types. I used the Lavazza MilkEasy Plus alongside my Lavazza A Modo Mio Smeg capsule coffee machine for this review.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing gadgets here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve tested everything from home products such as the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S to Dolby Atmos soundbars, like the Marshall Heston 120.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

For caffeine addicts, a dedicated coffee machine is a worthy investment. But that's very much an at-home setup — what about when you're out and about? Sometimes, a great local coffee shop will satisfy your cravings, but that's no given. If you're serious about your caffeine hit, best to arm yourself with a sturdy, portable coffee maker that leaves nothing to chance.

There are a handful of brands that dominate in this market. One is AeroPress, which shot to popularity with its innovative design that aims to combine the best bits of French press, pour-over, and espresso brewing. The original model's compact, plastic build makes it pretty travel-friendly, but now there's also a smaller 'Go' version with an integrated travel cup and filter-paper holder.

Wacaco makes a range of sturdy, hand-powered brewers that deliver an espresso with a rich crema. You release a front button and then press it in to extract the coffee — your squeezes turn into 18 bars (261 PSI) of stable pressure inside the capsule. Don't have the means to boil water up separately? The OutIn does the heating part for you. It's USB-C rechargeable and works with capsules or ground coffee. This one's also great if the manual part poses a problem for you: it starts brewing at the press of a button, with no pushing or squeezing required. (Dreame has a similar self-heating portable machine on the way, but it's not on sale yet.)

One final system it's worth drawing attention to is the Rok Presso. This looks a little bit like a two-armed corkscrew, although it's rather bigger in real life. You add ground coffee, press down on the arms, and rather than pulling up a cork, the mechanism below produces a shot of espresso. It's not the most portable option here, but as a power-free, streamlined alternative to a traditional machine it's intriguing.

Scroll down for a closer look at all of these, plus more options for on-the-go coffee that won't disappoint.

Compact coffee kits

It’s been a busy month for coffee machine maestro, Breville. Not only did it celebrate International Coffee Day at the start of the month, but this October is also the company’s birthday month. And to mark the occasion, you can save up to AU$550 on a range of top-performing espresso machines.

And that’s not all, as you can save a further 10% on discounted models with our exclusive Breville coupon code. Alternatively, you can use our exclusive promo code sitewide on the complete range of Breville appliances.

You’ll need to hurry though, as the Breville Birthday Sale comes to a close at 11:30pm AEDT 21 October.

Breville is, of course, responsible for some of the best coffee machines in Australia, and as a result, it can make choosing the ideal model for your household a little bit trickier. To help guide you to cafe-quality coffee at home, I’ve picked out some of my favourite models below. All of them have received an initial discount, and I’ve listed the final price after our 10% discount code has been applied.

Lavazza Tabli: 30-second review

Coffee pods are out, and tablets are in. Recently, Keurig announced that it was killing off the K-Cup in favor of compressed coffee tablets, but it wasn't the first to the punch. Italian coffee company Lavazza had debuted its own coffee tablets and brewer — the Tabli system — months before, and it's excellent.

The main appeal of Tabli's compressed coffee pucks (called tabs) is their minimal packaging — there's no metal or plastic pod that needs to be recycled after each brew or worse, end up in landfill. Using ground coffee or whole beans is a much less wasteful way to prepare an espresso, but it takes longer, and while it's a fun hobby for some of us, not everyone is interested in getting into the technicalities of brewing a balanced shot.

Each of Lavazza's tabs provides exactly the right amount of coffee for a single serving, so there's no weighing required, and no loose grounds to make a mess of your counter. The whole process is just as clean and simple as using coffee capsules, but without the empty capsules to dispose of at the end. It seems like such a simple idea that it's surprising it hasn't hit the mainstream before — and the results are very impressive.

I've become quite picky during my years reviewing coffee machines, and the Tabli system produces a better-tasting brew than any coffee capsule I've tried. Its app compatibility is a nice touch too, but the ease of use and flavor are what really count — and they're both truly impressive.

Lavazza Tabli: price and availability

• List price $129 / £199 for the machine alone
• Available as a bundle that includes a milk frother and coffee tabs
• Tabs are competitively priced and cheaper than Nespresso

The Tabli coffee machine has a list price of $129 / £199. That's between AU$190 and AU$380, though the Tabli system isn't available in Australia yet. There are also bundles available that include the Lavazza MilkEasy frother and several boxes of Tabs for much less than all the components would cost separately.

Although it's not the cheapest single-serve coffee maker around, bear in mind that unlike some of its rivals, the Tabli system won't sting you with the price of coffee in the longer term. Bosch Tassimo machines, for example, are very cheap, but the pods are some of the priciest around.

A box of 12 Tabs costs £5.89 in the UK, which is about 49p per drink. You can also pick up a multipack of eight boxes for £40, which brings the cost per drink down to 42p.

Things are slightly more expensive in the US, where you can buy a four-pack of boxes for $48, meaning each drink costs $1. That's still very reasonable, though. For comparison, Nespresso Vertuo capsules cost between $1.40 and $1.60 each.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Lavazza Tabli: specifications

Lavazza Tabli: design

• Sleek, modern aesthetic
• Minimalist controls
• Available in three colors

The Lavazza Tabli is a sleek-looking single-serve coffee maker that comes in three colors: graphite black (shown here), sand white, and walnut brown. The top panel has four buttons — power, single shot, double shot, and lungo — and slides back with a smooth motion to reveal the small chamber resembling the bottom of a manual espresso machine’s filter basket, where you’ll place the compressed coffee pod.

There are also warning lights that will alert you if the used tab collection bin has been removed or needs emptying, if the water tank needs filling or hasn’t been properly inserted, and if the machine needs descaling.

At the very back of the top panel, you’ll notice a flashing blue light, which indicates that the Tabli machine is ready to connect to your phone via Bluetooth. Once it’s connected, the blue light will remain steady — but more on that later.

Unlike some other Lavazza coffee machines, such as the Assoluta, the Tabli doesn’t have its own milk frothing system. However, if you’re a fan of lattes and cappuccinos, the Tabli is available bundled with a standalone frother that works extremely well. My colleague Josh Russell has just finished testing it and will be publishing his review very soon.

The Tabli has a small drip tray that’s just the right height for an espresso cup. If you want to brew into a larger cup or mug, just slide the tray out to make room. Behind the tray, you’ll find the bin into which the Tabli machine drops used coffee tabs. The tabs don’t break apart, keeping mess to a minimum, and are caught in a basket so they’re not left sitting in water.

Unlike most other coffee makers I’ve tested, the Tabli dispenses dirty water into this bin after rinsing itself rather than expelling it into the drip tray — a tidier solution that keeps the front of the machine clean.

The Tabli’s removable components aren’t dishwasher-safe, but they’re easy to hand-wash, and since this machine doesn’t have an integrated milk frother, there’s minimal maintenance necessary. Just keep the bin and drip tray clean, and follow the descaling instructions periodically.

• Design score: 5/5

Lavazza Tabli: performance

• Very simple to use
• Much better coffee than most single-serve machines
• App works well, but Google Home connectivity does not

Using the Tabli is just as simple as any ordinary capsule coffee maker: place your chosen tab in the recess under the lid, slide it closed, and pick the type of drink you want. A minute later, your drink will be ready to enjoy.

Coffee tabs are given a strength score on a scale of 1-13, and although there are currently only six types available, if the system proves successful, I'm hopeful Lavazza will increase its range.

There aren't any of the elaborate flavors you get with Nespresso or Tassimo pods; all Tabli tabs are made using nothing but compressed coffee, with no additives, and in my opinion that's no bad thing.

I've tried three Tabli varieties during testing. Qualità Rossa and Qualità Oro both produced a smooth-tasting, easy-drinking espresso, while the Espresso Ristretto was a little punchier — but not at all bitter.

None of them had the astringent taste I associate with most coffee capsules, and their taste is much more like a drink made with freshly ground coffee beans. The espresso also has a good layer of crema that beats what I've come to expect from single-serve machines.

The Lavazza Tabli has a smartphone app, which you can use to operate the machine remotely and create custom drinks. After installing the Tabli app, you’ll be prompted to create an account and then connect your coffee maker. This was quick and easy; the app will request permission to search for nearby devices, then locate the Tabli machine without the need to scan any QR codes. The first time I connected to the machine, I was prompted to grant access to my calling history and contacts, but it seems this was a temporary bug. Following an app update, I disconnected from the Tabli machine, then restarted the process, and the prompt did not appear.

The app is nicely designed, and the brewing options are presented front and center. You can choose from the machine's three brewing options or create your own, give it a name, and save it for quick access in the future. You can adjust the volume and temperature of the drink, which is particularly useful if you enjoy an Americano in the morning. Because the machine uses prepared coffee tablets rather than ground beans, if you want to change the taste any more, you’ll need to pick a different type of coffee tab,

Naturally, the app allows you to order more tabs (as well as other Lavazza products), but you have to scroll down to find the store — it’s not thrust in your face, which is refreshing.

The only issue I encountered involved the coffee maker’s smart home connectivity. The Tabli’s box advertises compatibility with Google Home and Alexa, but during my tests it sadly didn’t work. I was able to connect the Tabli machine to Google Home easily enough, but although Gemini could turn it on, it couldn’t start brewing. Nor could I use voice commands to choose different drinks, as described in the Tabli’s manual.

However, I’m not certain whether this is an issue with the Tabli or with Google Home and Gemini, which aren’t known for their flawless reliability. The Tabli app works exactly as intended, but don't count on being able to brew drinks using voice commands through a smart speaker.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Lavazza Tabli?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

How I tested the Lavazza Tabli

I tested the Lavazza Tabli for three weeks, using it instead of my usual manual espresso machine. I used filtered water in its tank and used three different Tabli tab varieties. I experimented with brewing coffee remotely and creating custom drinks using the apps. I connected the coffee maker to Google Home and attempted to operate it using typed and spoken commands. I cleaned the coffee maker at the end of each day following Lavazza's instructions.

First reviewed October 2026

Dreame is well known for making some of the best robot vacuums and hair stylers around, but it also has a sideline in coffee machines — and they're every bit as good as the rest of its appliances. This week I'm testing its new portable espresso machine, the Dreame Ecceluxe Go, and I think this pint-sized brewer is going to be my new favorite travelling companion.

Of course, there's no shortage of travel-friendly coffee makers available, from the classic AeroPress to the hand-pumped Wacaco Nanopresso. The problem is, they all need to have hot water on hand, which isn't always feasible. Who wants to set up a camping stove and kettle for one drink — and who has the patience?

The Ecceluxe Go eliminates that problem by heating the water itself. It's a smart idea: a single shot of espresso only needs a tiny amount of water, so a portable Li-ion battery and compact heating elements are sufficient to bring it to temperature.

The device comes in a classy carry case that holds the machine itself (about the size of a small thermos) and a collection of adapters for brewing three different types of coffee pods or grounds. Whether you prefer Nespresso Classic, Dolce Gusto, ESE (Easy Serve Espresso), or freshly ground beans, the Ecceluxe Go has you covered.

Each adapter twists onto the bottom of the brewer, and a flexible cap lifts off the top to reveal a small water reservoir with fill lines to help you add the correct amount. All done? Open the little legs on the bottom of the adapter, place the whole assembly on top of the clear coffee cup supplied in the box, and you're ready to begin.

The only control on the Ecceluxe Go is a small touch-sensitive LED display. Hold your finger against this for three seconds to power it on, then select one of its two programs. P1 is for brewing with cold or ambient-temperature water, and P2 is for brewing with water that has already been heated. Once you've made your selection, wait three seconds and coffee-making will commence.

The brewer's miniature water tank contains a temperature sensor, and as it heats, you'll see the temperature displayed on its little screen (in centigrade) start to climb. This will take a couple of minutes (it's using a very small heating element), but once the water's good and hot, it will be forced through your coffee preparation of choice, and you'll have a delicious shot of espresso to enjoy, wherever your adventures have taken you.

I'm testing the Ecceluxe Go with all four coffee types for my full review, which will be published in a couple of weeks, and so far I'm impressed. The flavor is milder than usual, but still tasty and well-suited to drinking as a plain shot.

Dreame doesn't currently have a release schedule for the Ecceluxe Go in the UK, but it's scheduled to arrive in the US, Portugal, and Spain by the end of the year.

I love a good coffee machine, and appreciate the benefits of fully automatic and manual styles. I use the former type at home myself since it makes the morning orders for my partner and me as easy as possible. If I really had my way though, I’d choose manual, as it opens the door to a lot more experimentation, and the KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine would be right at the top of my wishlist.

If you’re considering a manual espresso machine for your home (especially now that some cafés and coffee shops are charging more to reconcile the loss of card surcharges), I think it should be top of your wishlist too. The good news is that it’s now received a 43% discount on Amazon, which beats its October Prime Day price. The only slight caveat is that this huge discount only applies to the black model.

It’s a great-looking machine, don’t get me wrong, it just might understandably be a little tricker to match with kitchen decor compared to the porcelain white model, for example.

I gave this espresso machine five stars in my KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine review. One of the standout features for me is its flat-bottom portafilter, which makes tamping the ground coffee beans an absolute breeze. The portafilters that come supplied with most other machines feature a couple of spouts, so you need to rest them on the edge of your counter, which can be cumbersome and messy.

Not so here. You can place the whole portafilter down on a flat surface, allowing you to apply a good amount of pressure to tamp the coffee down.

Another benefit is its ability to quickly heat up, so you could be drinking your coffee in a matter of minutes, while smart dosage control ensures the same amount of coffee is delivered each time — you will just likely need to experiment for a bit with your beans. There’s a line in the portafilter basket to indicate the ideal level once the coffee is tamped, giving you some assistance if you’re new to the whole process.

And if you take milk with your coffee or you want to try your hand at some latte art, the steam wand works wonders. Plus, it has the inherent ability to play nicely with dairy and non-dairy milks, as you can shut it off whenever you want.

This is a fantastic price for a fantastic machine, and given I can’t guarantee how long it will last, I encourage you to consider it if your home is crying out for a top-performing model.

• The new Jura C9 can brew coffee at 60C so it's ready to drink immediately
• It has a menu of 17 drinks, which are customizable via the screen or app
• It's on sale for £895 direct from Jura and third-party stores

Jura has just launched a new compact bean-to-cup espresso machine that brews coffee at the ideal drinking temperature, so they're ready to enjoy straight away.

The Jura C9 is a follow-up to the C8 and has an expanded menu of 17 different drinks, plus a new milder style of coffee brewed and served at around 60C, which is widely regarded as ideal for coffee-drinking. This brew style also uses a smaller dose of grounds for a smoother, lighter taste.

If you want to go beyond the standard menu, the C9 offers seven grind sizes, three brewing strength options, and three brewing temperatures. You can create your own custom coffees using the C9's 2.8-inch colour display, or through Jura's JOE app, which also lets you brew drinks remotely.

Compact size, full flavour

Although the C9 is one of Jura's smallest coffee makers, measuring 10.2 x 12.8 x 17.2 inches / 26 x 32.5 x 43.7 cm (W x H x D), it has a full-size brewing unit, and uses Jura's Pulse Extraction Process (PEP), which aims to optimise the time the coffee grounds remain in contact with the water.

Visually, the C9 is very similar to that of the C8, with a glossy black finish and wave-patterned water tank and cup grille. Its front panel is curved like those of the company's flagship models — including the Jura J10 I tested last year, and the Jura E10 I will be reviewing in the coming weeks.

The C9 is available to buy now direct from Jura and from third-party stores for £895.

Braun OptiBrew Pro: two-minute review

The Braun OptiBrew Pro does even more than you might expect from a drip coffee maker. It makes five different coffee styles: Regular, Bold, Over Ice, Cold Brew, and Coffee Shot. There are seven different brew sizes: 8 ounces, 10 ounces, 12 ounces, 16 ounces, 20 ounces, a six-cup half-carafe, and a 12-cup full carafe. The Coffee Shot setting is not technically espresso but has a similar strength. This setting yields about three ounces of highly concentrated brew, perfect for making lattes and cappuccinos. A built-in milk frother tucks away when not in use.

The machine comes with a reusable filter, though you can use a cone-shaped #4 paper filter if you prefer. It also comes with a double-sided coffee scoop, so you can measure out the precise amount of coffee you need for each brew size and style.

The large, easy-to-read touch screen lets you set up your brew. You can adjust for high altitude and/or hard water if needed. Set up auto-brew for a specific time and you'll have freshly brewed coffee waiting for you when you wake up in the morning. The keep warm feature can keep your coffee warm for up to four hours at the temperature of your choice. You can also reheat cold coffee that way.

Cleanup is easy, and most of the parts are dishwasher-safe. The Braun OptiBrew Pro is easy to use, and it produces excellent coffee in a variety of styles.

Braun OptiBrew Pro: price and availability

• Available for purchase on Braun's website, Target, and Williams-Sonoma
• Retails for $199.95 (roughly £151.10 GBP, $287 AUD)
• Only one colorway: black and silver

The Braun OptiBrew Pro is available on Braun's website as well as other retailers such as Target and Williams-Sonoma. It comes in just the one colorway which is black with silver accents. The retail price is $199.95 (roughly £151.10 GBP, $287 AUD).

Braun OptiBrew Pro: specs

Braun OptiBrew Pro: design

• Many features in compact machine
• Comes with everything you need
• Easy to use and clean

The Braun OptiBrew Pro is well-designed and has a lot of features for a compact drip brewer. The large and easy-to-read touch screen lets you set up whatever sort of brew you'd like. It comes with a reusable filter, but you can also use a #4 paper cone filter if you prefer.

The Braun OptiBrew Pro has a large capacity water tank on the back, which you can remove for easier filling if you like. The tank is marked with brew sizes so you can always be sure you have enough water in the tank for the size coffee you're making.

The milk frother tucks neatly away on the left side; simply swing it out to use it. Pressing the top of it turns it on, let go to turn it off. Twist it to the unlock symbol to remove the frother for cleaning. It's the only part that's not dishwasher-safe, but it's easy enough to wash up in the sink.

When you're making a single serving of coffee rather than a carafe, you can pull out a built-in platform that puts your mug close to the filter. This helps avoid any splattering and minimizes your coffee's contact with air. It's just the right height for a regular-to-large mug or a small-to-medium travel mug.

The included coffee scoop is two-sided, with one side being larger than the other. The user guide has a chart that tells you how many larger or small scoops to use for each brew style. This chart is a good guideline to start with, of course you can use more or less coffee to your personal tastes. The handle of the coffee scoop can be used as a coffee bag clip.

Other features include a keep-warm plate, which you can set for up to four hours, that you can also use to rewarm cold coffee. The OptiBrew has an auto-on feature so you can set up your coffee the night before.

If you wish to pause the brewing mid-carafe to grab a cup, you can easily do that by switching the lever in front from "coffee" to "stop."

Additionally, you can adjust for high altitude and water hardness if you need to. You can even adjust the beep tone if you like.

• Design score: 5/5

Braun OptiBrew Pro: performance

• Straightforward and simple to use
• Feature-rich
• Makes delicious coffee

I tested out lots of different brew styles, all of which made some delicious coffee. There's something on the menu for everyone.

Regular coffee

I started by making a half carafe of just regular drip coffee. I made it "bold" style, which is how I like it. I also used the maximum amount of recommended coffee, which was four big scoops. This came out great, nice and strong. Some carafes spill as they pour, but this one is well-designed and doesn't do that. I tested the brew pause feature by switching the lever from "coffee" to "stop" during brewing, poured myself a cup, and then switched the lever back to "coffee." Very little coffee dripped out while I was pouring a cup (maybe a drop or two) and when I switched the lever back, brewing continued as expected.

Regular coffee: single serving

I tried out some different single sizes of regular coffee, using the coffee dosage chart in the user guide. Each time I chose the maximum coffee dosage and selected the "bold" setting. I made a 12oz mug and a 16oz travel mug using the built-in platform. Both came out great.

Regular coffee: auto-on and keep-warm

If you want to have your coffee hot and ready for you when you wake up in the morning, use the auto-on feature. I tested this out and it worked perfectly. You can set the keep-warm feature to your desired time, up to four hours, so it will still be warm when you go for a second or third cup later. All of this worked exactly as expected. You can even set how warm you want your coffee to stay. I used the medium setting and found the coffee to be plenty hot even hours later. Hot enough that I had to blow on it before drinking. The red indicator light under the warming plate lets you know it's hot.

Cold brew

The Cold Brew setting takes a bit longer and brews the coffee at a lower temperature. It took about 12 minutes to brew 8oz of coffee. I found the brew to be quite smooth and tasty. I tasted it before adding ice and noticed that it was definitely lukewarm rather than hot. This minimizes ice melt. This feature was a real highlight for me, and rather unexpected for a drip coffee maker.

Brew Over Ice

If you don't have the time to wait for Cold Brew, the Brew Over Ice setting gets you to iced coffee in about 1/3 the time. It took about four minutes to brew an 8oz cup. However, I found it a little bitter, so for me the extra time for the Cold Brew setting is worthwhile.

Coffee shot and milk frother

To make a true espresso, you need an espresso machine, which uses pressure. This is a drip machine, so you can't make a real espresso. However, the Braun OptiBrew Pro does make an ultra-concentrated brew they call a Coffee Shot.

Frankly, I found it too strong to drink on its own, but it makes a great base for latte or cappuccino-style beverage. I used the milk frother and made myself a sort of cappuccino. Now, the frother only froths, it doesn't heat the milk, so the user guide suggests microwaving your milk first if you want hot foam. I did that and it worked out fine. I used 2% dairy milk and the foam was copious and quite sturdy. It even stood up to vigorous stirring. My drink was delicious! And the frother was easy to detach and wash afterwards.

• Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Braun OptiBrew Pro?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Braun OptiBrew Pro: also consider

How I tested the Braun OptiBrew Pro

I made and drank lots of coffee! I brewed a half carafe and a full carafe. I made single serve brews, both the 12oz and 16oz sizes. I made iced coffee two different ways: Cold Brew and Brew Over Ice. I made a Coffee Shot and added it to 2% milk that I had microwaved and then frothed with the built-in milk frother. I made both regular coffee and decaf. I utilized the auto on, keep warm, and pause during brewing functions. I cleaned the filter, filter holder, and milk frother after every use.

First reviewed October 2026

As an experienced deals hunter, I was fully under the impression that, following the recent Amazon Prime Big Deal Days event, we wouldn’t be seeing any particularly noteworthy discounts on coffee machines until Black Friday.

Having recently checked Amazon’s listing, however, it seems I’m very much in the wrong. I like to think that doesn’t happen often, of course, and on this occasion I’m more than happy to be told otherwise.

Yes, I’ve found some superb discounts on some of my favourite espresso machines that either match their Prime Day price, or actually beat it. The Nespresso Vertuo Creatista at AU$697 is a couple of dollars cheaper, while the Sunbeam Origins Sense at AU$475.15 is over AU$80 less than what I saw during Amazon’s recent sale.

There are a few other coffee machines with big discounts right now, which you can view below. And as ever, make sure to view the full selection on Amazon for something that might be more to your liking. And while I’m on the subject of coffee machines, I have to remind you that Breville currently has a birthday sale live on its website, and TechRadar readers can save an extra 10% on already discounted models thanks to an exclusive coupon code.

Our coffee machine testers have been well and truly spoiled this year. We've reviewed 11 different models so far, and there hasn't been a dud among them. Below, I've rounded up all the coffee makers we've put through their paces, and if you hit the View Details button, you can see a summary of exactly what we thought of each one, plus a link to read the full, in-depth review. If you're thinking of investing in a new machine (perhaps in the upcoming Black Friday sales?) this would be a great place to start your research.

There were three standouts, all scoring a perfect five stars. There's a KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine that combines serious brewing skills with a stunning design (let's not pretend that looks aren't important here). For those hunting for their first bean-to-cup machine, the Philips Baristina is well worth a look — our resident coffee queen Cat Ellis insists it "makes brewing with whole beans as simple as using coffee pods".

If your taste levels exceed your coffee-making know-how, the Philips Café Aromis espresso machine could be your new best friend: it has a chatbot-style assistant that listens to your exact preferences (however finicky) and adjusts the necessary settings to deliver the perfect brew for you.

Scroll down for a full roundup of the coffee machines we've tested so far in 2026 — plus exactly what we thought of them. Note: you'll only be able to see product cards for the coffee machines available in your region.

Caffeine kings

• Do you know what data your smart devices can access?
• All kinds of devices now expect to be allowed online
• Think before you buy: does this need to be smart?

Your smart TV might not be the only smart device that's leaking your data: your coffee machine might be doing it too. A US man has gone viral after spotting his parents' Keurig coffee machine transmitting a terabyte of data in just 10 days, and here at TechRadar we've just had a Lavazza coffee machine ask for access to our contacts and call logs.

What's going on? Should I be worried about my dishwasher's Wi-Fi too?

In the case of the Keurig, the massive data transfer appears to have been because of a bug. Posting on X, IT expert Nomad said he disconnected the device because "It’s not worth keeping an IOT [Internet of Things] device connected that has the capability of bugging out and causing saturation like this did."

As for our Lavazza, we've asked the company its app wants those specific permissions — and why its smart features don't seem to work even after it's connected. Starting a brew using the machine's own app proved impossible, and when we asked it to brew us an espresso via Google Home as instructed in the manual, we were informed that the coffee maker "doesn't support selecting specific drink types like espresso through smart home commands".

As the song goes, we ain't seen nothing yet. With ChatGPT, Gemini and other AI rolling out across all kinds of tech, there's potential for real privacy problems. We have contacted both companies for comment and will keep you updated when we have more details.

When smart devices are too smart

In the US, Consumer Reports has been cautioning users about smart appliances for some time. Earlier this year it warned: "Increasingly, home appliances that rely on mobile apps for key functions and that collect data on you — whether you like it or not — are becoming the standard. That means that when you buy a new product, in whatever category you choose, internet features and companion apps needed to operate them are much harder to avoid."

I've experienced this myself: my home heating boiler has an app, as does my dishwasher. Both were awfully keen to gather data that had nothing to do with heating my home or washing my pots and pans. And that's just the data the apps were openly asking about. Consumer Reports' Steve Blair said he found a dryer that was sending the equivalent of 135,000 text messages per week to its manufacturer. "What does a dryer have to say at that volume?" he asked.

There are benefits to connected devices, of course. I like my smart home stuff. I had an Instant Pot whose app could download slow cooking instructions for specific dishes, and I like being able to remotely pre-heat my hybrid car when it's cold outside.

But there are downsides too, and I think the biggest one isn't sinister surveillance: it's accidentally opening doors for bad actors. As a rule, appliance firms aren't famed for their software expertise or website security and that means there's a risk of data ending up where it shouldn't, or of exploits that can target your device or other devices on your network. That means the less access a device has, the better.

I'm in agreement with Consumer Reports here: it recommends thinking about data security before purchasing any connected product. "Does your fridge need to be connected to Wi-Fi? Ask those questions." It recommends setting up a separate network on your router purely for smart devices; that way, if they are compromised, the attackers aren't on the same network as your laptop or your phone.

As for Nomad, he's regretting going public about his parents' chaotic Keurig. "I always dreamed that I would be remembered for the weird printers I designed and the cool stuff I've worked on at Prusa," he says. "I wanted a legacy of creativity and chaos. I am now most known for a rogue coffee machine. I don't even like coffee 🫠"

The October Amazon Prime Day sale is officially over, but some of the best deals are still running — including big savings on coffee makers from Ninja, De'Longhi, and Breville. After browsing today's deals, I discovered that most of the best Prime Day offers are still running — and now they're available to everyone, not just Prime subscribers.

• Browse all of today's deals at Amazon

To save you time and effort, I've put together a complete list of all the best big-brand coffee maker deals for you below. There's no telling exactly how long these deals will last. though — Amazon has marked them as 'limited time', and will almost certainly be planning to raise prices again before Black Friday so it can drop them back down again.

Lots of other retailers have decided to keep their sales events running too, so I've also provided a list of quick links below that will take you straight to the relevant pages.

Coffee deal quick links

• Amazon: up to $300 off big coffee brands
• Best Buy: $200 off coffee makers for Techtober
• Breville: big savings on the Barista series
• De'Longhi: save on automatic espresso machines
• Ninja: deals on two-in-one coffee makers
• Walmart: tech sale running until October 11

De'Longhi coffee maker deals

Breville coffee maker deals

Ninja coffee maker deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.36
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $28
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $89
• Smartwatches: up to 36% off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $49

Ninja doesn't just produce coffee makers — its multi-function brewers can prepare drip coffee, espresso, and even cold brew, all in one. As TechRadar's resident coffee expert, I'm consistently impressed by their all-round performance, so I was delighted to see that so many of them have received big price cuts for Amazon Prime Day.

• Browse the full US Amazon Prime Day sale
• Check out the full Prime Day sale in the UK

Here I've put together a list of my three favorite Ninja brewers, plus links to all of today's best prices in both the US and the UK. If you can't see the Ninja coffee machine you're after, I've also provided links below that will take you directly to the appropriate deals pages at all the major retailers.

Ninja deal quick links

US links

• Amazon: limited time Prime Day deals
• Best Buy: up to $100 off Ninja coffee makers
• Kohl's: offers on hot and cold Ninja brewers
• Ninja: save on espresso and drip machines
• Target: Ninja Luxe Café deals on now

UK links

• Amazon: Prime Day deals end tonight
• Argos: save 20% with the code RED20
• Currys: up to £70 off Ninja appliances
• John Lewis: Ninja deal prices matched
• Ninja: big savings on espresso machines

Best all-round

Ninja Luxe Café Premier

This Ninja coffee maker (originally called the Luxe Café) is a makes espresso, filter coffee, and cold brew all in one, and is excellent for beginners. When preparing an espresso, for example, the machine does the hard work of dialing in the grinder for you, suggesting an appropriate grind size and then funneling the prepared coffee neatly into the filter basket.

A calibrated tamper helps you create a perfectly even bed of coffee, and once the handle is inserted under the brewing group, the Luxe Café Premier will time your shot to make sure it's not extracting too fast or slow.

You can push the steam wand down into your milk jug to use the automatic frothing system, or lift it a few degrees to use it manually, depending on how confident you feel. We found that the auto system worked equally well with dairy milk and plant-based substitutes like oat and almond.

The Luxe Café Premier takes the trial and error out of making coffee, handling the trickiest barista tasks for you and helping even first-time users produce a consistently well-extracted brew with a fully rounded flavor, and comes highly recommended.

Read our full Ninja Luxe Café Premier review

Best automatic

Ninja AutoBarista Pro

The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is another multi-function coffee maker, but unlike the Luxe Café, this is a fully automatic machine that handles the entire brewing process for you. Just pick your preferred drink from the full color touchscreen, then sit back while the Pro does the work.

This is an upgraded version of the original AutoBarista, with the added benefit of swappable bean carafes so you can choose between two different coffees on the fly (perfect if, like me, you prefer to switch to decaf in the afternoon), plus an expanded menu. The 'Grind IQ' feature automatically dials in the ideal grind size for your chosen beans, and you can choose to brew hot or cold, with the latter producing a mellow, smooth-tasting drink that's ideal for summer days.

The automatic milk frother is a real highlight as well. During our tests it worked equally well with dairy and plant-based milk, and can produce different textures depending on the drink you've selected, with just the right proportions of steamed milk and foam.

Read our full Ninja Autobarista Pro review

Best for drip coffee

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

This two-in one coffee maker, also known as the Ninja Espresso and Coffee Barista System in the US, is part drip coffee maker, part Nespresso machine — and it's ideal for mornings when you're feeling groggy and want to enjoy a fresh brew as quickly as possible.

The drip coffee maker on the left-hand side offers a choice of brew sizes, three profiles (normal, rich, and over ice), and a timer so you can prepare everything last thing at night. When you wake, the double-walled carafe will be full of fresh coffee, kept at the ideal temperature by a smart hot plate designed to avoid overheating your drink and spoiling its flavor — and it works.

The Nespresso machine on the right-hand side uses Nespresso Original pods (the ones shaped like a little top hat) and again offers a choice of three brew sizes. Once it's reached temperature (both parts of the Barista System use the same water tank), it can brew a very nicely balanced espresso in about a minute.

Read our full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System review

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.36
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $28
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $89
• Smartwatches: up to 36% off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $49

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: up to 67% off Fire, Ring & Blink
• Amazon Haul: extra 15% off for Prime members
• Appliances: up to 40% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: cleaning & groceries from £2
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: record-low Nintendo Switch 2
• Headphones: up to 50% off Anker & Sony
• Laptops: up to £800 off Microsoft & Asus
• Tablets: up to 50% off Fire tablets
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 50% off Shark & Dyson
• Wearables: Samsung & Oura from £31

Breville is one of the biggest names in home coffee makers, and as TechRadar's resident coffee expert, it's one of the brands I recommend straight away if someone is looking for a beginner-friendly espresso machine that's well-built, easy to use, and reliable. There are so many models to choose from, though — many of which have similar names — so I've put together this shortlist of my three top models for every budget.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

And the good news it that all of these coffee makers are currently on special offer in the Amazon Prime Day sale, with up to $300 off. These offers won't last long though, because the sales event ends at midnight tonight (7 October).

Amazon isn't the only retailer cutting prices on Breville coffee makers though, so I've also included a list of quick links to all the other stores cutting prices too.

Breville deal quick links

• Amazon: over $200 off selected coffee makers
• Best Buy: Breville discounts in the Techtober sale
• Breville: big savings and free coffee beans
• Target: deals on all Breville espresso machines
• Williams-Sonoma: Breville deals and free shipping

Best budget Breville

Breville Bambino Plus

The Breville Bambino is often recommended as a great option if you're looking for your first espresso machine, or considering making the switch from coffee pods to real beans. It's compact and won't dominate your kitchen counter, and is easy for beginners to master. It's always affordably priced too — and even more so this Amazon Prime Day — but performs as well as any other Breville machine, maintaining the consistent heat and pressure necessary to produce great espresso time after time.

The classic Breville Bambino is the most budget-friendly option, but my personal favorite is the Bambino Plus, which also has a hands-free AutoMilq system to create perfectly textured milk foam for lattes and cappuccinos.

The Bambino Plus is also available bundled with a high-quality Breville coffee grinder to complete your setup, with clearly marked settings to optimize the grind for different brewing methods, helping take the guesswork out of dialing in the correct size,

Read our full Breville Bambino Plus review

Best mid-range Breville

Breville Barista Express Impress

The Barista Impress Express is another excellent espresso machine, and a solid choice if you're starting to get more serious about your coffee and want to begin mastering essential barista skills. Its physical controls are satisfyingly tactical, but it still guides you through the process of making the perfect espresso, providing feedback on dosing and tamping via a small LCD display.

I like the inclusion of a central pressure gauge too, which shows clearly whether the machine has achieved the correct pressure while pulling your shot, so you can see whether it's likely to be under- or over-extracted straight away.

The Barista Impress Express has a very good manual steam wand, but doesn't have an automatic milk-frothing option (though if you're building your barista sills you may prefer to do things the old-fashioned way anyway).

Cold extraction only became a common feature in home espresso machines in the last 12 months, so it's no surprise that it's not offered with this slightly older model, but if you don't mind that, this is an excellent mid-range option.

Read our full Breville Barista Express Impress review

Best premium Breville

Breville Barista Touch Impress

If you like the look of the Breville Barista Express Impress, but are a little intimidated by all the buttons and dials, the Barista Touch Impress is the espresso machine for you. It swaps the physical controls for a bright touchscreen, which makes it easy to take your pick from an extensive menu of different beverages, then walks you through the process of preparing them from bean to cup.

The integrated grinder and tamping mechanism gives you feedback on how much coffee is going into your basket, and the touchscreen provides prompts on exactly what settings you need to change to make it perfect next time. When this info is combined with advice on what to do if the shot takes too long or finishes early, you get a coffee-grinding system that makes selecting the ideal grind size easy for anyone.

The Barista Touch Impress also has an automatic milk-frothing system, if you're not comfortable with the idea of holding a pitcher under a jet of high-pressure steam (though you can use it manually too, if you prefer).

Read our full Breville Barista Touch Impress review

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.36
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $28
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $89
• Smartwatches: up to 36% off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $49

Last week I got my hands on the Lavazza Tabli — a single-serve coffee maker that gives you the convenience of coffee pods with none of the waste. It's one of the best coffee makers I've tested this year, and right now you can grab it for just $89 at Amazon (was $129.99) in the Amazon Prime Day sale.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

The Tabli uses tablets made from 100% compressed, ground coffee rather than metal or plastic capsules, which means they are entirely compostable when you've finished each brew.

Better yet, they taste great — as a trained barista and a self-confessed coffee snob, I was extremely impressed. In fact, halfway through writing this post, I got up and made myself a quick americano using it. It's a world away from artificial-tasting Nespresso capsules, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Today's best Lavazza Tabli deals

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.36
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $28
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $89
• Smartwatches: up to 36% off Garmin & Apple
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $49

Amazon Prime Day is the perfect time to pick up a new coffee maker, and as TechRadar's resident coffee expert, I was delighted to see that there are huge discounts on AeroPress coffee makers in every single color right now.

An AeroPress is one of the quickest and easiest ways to prepare coffee, and you can tweak the brewing method to achieve different results — whether you want something easy-drinking like your favorite drip coffee, or an intense espresso-style shot. And whatever your brewing preferences, there's an AeroPress to match your kitchen, too. Personally I have the clear blue version, but every single shade is on offer, so the choice is yours.

You'll need to be an Amazon Prime member to get these deals, but you can sign up for a one-month free trial that will see you through the whole sale period.

Colorful coffee deals

Ninja is best known for its air fryers and smoothie machines, but it also produces some excellent coffee makers, including the Ninja Luxe DualBrew System, which is now just £169.99 (was £249.99) at Amazon. This all-in-one coffee station makes both drip coffee and espresso, and remains one of my all-time favorites one year after its release thanks to its sheer versatility.

My favorite part of the DualBrew System is the drip coffee maker, which sits on the left-hand side of the unit. It has two filter baskets so you can choose your brew size, plus a timer, and a smart hotplate that keeps your drink hot without stewing it. It works much better than the insulated carafes of some premium coffee makers (Fellow Aiden, I'm looking at you).

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

The espresso part of the Ninja DualBrew System uses coffee pods, which I don't usually care for, but it uses Nespresso Original-style capsules rather than Nespresso Vertuo, which means you're not tied to Nespresso's own roasts and blends. Nestlé no longer owns the patent to the Original pods, so even tiny producers can package their coffee in them. I bought some pods from a local roaster near me, and the coffee tasted almost as good as if I'd brewed it the old-fashioned way.

Today's best Ninja Prestige DualBrew System deals

Ninja's designers added several nice little features that I really came to appreciate while testing the DualBrew System. For example, if you don't want to prepare a whole carafe full of coffee, take the jug away and you'll find a fold-down drip tray where you can place a regular or travel mug instead. It also has a drip-stop valve to prevent coffee from splashing onto the hotplate, which is a welcome addition.

You can also adjust the drip tray height, so you can use anything from a tiny espresso cup to a huge mug without worrying about splashes.

The only part of the DualBrew System I didn't love was the fold-out milk frother, which is just a rotating electric whisk. It doesn't heat your milk like a steam wand, so you need to follow the 'recipe' guide stuck to the side of the machine, which explains how long to microwave and whisk your milk to get the right consistency for different drinks.

Not sure whether the DualBrew System is right for you? Take a look at my full review for more details. I've also rounded up my top three De'Longhi coffee makers today, along with the best Prime Day deals on each one.

I test a lot of coffee makers here at TechRadar, and De'Longhi machines consistently come out on top when it comes to performance. There's something for every budget too, whether you're looking for an entry-level espresso machine or a fully automatic model that will handle the whole brewing process at the tap of a screen.

• Browse the full US Amazon Prime Day sale
• Check out the full UK Amazon Prime Day sale

With so many De'Longhi coffee makers out there, though, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. That's why I've put together this shortlist of the three best models I've tested, whatever your budget.

This is a particularly good time to pick up a new coffee maker too. With Amazon's Big Deal Days event due to start on October 6, lots of early offers already available, and other big stores are jumping on the bandwagon with their own sales events. To save you time, I've tracked down the biggest savings on each of my recommended coffee machines — or, if they aren't on sale, a similar model that will serve you just as well.

Quick links to deals

US De'Longhi deals

• Amazon: limited-time De'Longhi deals
• Walmart: over $400 off selected coffee makers
• Best Buy: up to $300 off espresso machines
• De'Longhi: 23% off with official Fall Promo

UK De'Longhi deals

• Amazon: early Prime Day offers on coffee makers
• Currys: up to £180 off De'Longhi appliances
• John Lewis: De'Longhi deals price-matched
• Argos: savings on coffee makers and kettles

Best budget coffee maker

De'Longhi Dedica Duo

The Dedica Duo is one of the most affordable coffee makers I've ever tested, but it still has the build quality and performance you'd expect from De'Longhi. Most budget-friendly espresso machines I've tested offer poor quality, and are unable to maintain the constant temperature and pressure necessary to make reliably good espresso, but not this one.

It's a truly excellent little espresso machine, and you can trust it to deliver delicious results time after time. Its steam wand is particularly good, and despite the Duo's small boiler, it sustains plenty of pressure for you to create perfect microfoam for cappuccinos and lattes.

There's even a cold-extraction mode for those occasions when you're craving an iced coffee and don't want to wait 24 hours for it to infuse in the fridge. The Duo uses cold water direct from the tank, pulsing it slowly through your ground coffee over the course of two minutes for an authentic-tasting, mellow brew.

Read my full De'Longhi Dedica Duo review

Best coffee maker for lattes

De'Longhi La Specialista Touch

The De'Longhi La Specialista Touch is a superb semi-automatic espresso machine that doesn't just make delicious coffee with perfectly foamed milk — it also teaches you how to do it yourself, and helps you understand the effects of making even small changes to the flavor of your finished drinks, which earned it a full five stars in my review.

It starts by introducing the importance of grind size. Enter the type of coffee bean you're using (arabica or robusta, and the darkness of the roast) and it will estimate an appropriate grind size for you, dispense the ground coffee into the portafilter handle, and save the settings for next time.

You'll then tamp the coffee using the spring-loaded tamper, insert the handle into the machine (you'll be guided through every step) and tap a button to begin pulling your shot. The machine will time how long this takes, and recommend adjusting the grind size if it's too fast or slow. You're also encouraged to taste the espresso to see what you think.

Finally, you can either foam the milk yourself (the machine comes with an excellent steam wand), or use the automatic steaming system and let the La Specialista Touch do the work. It's very clever, and a great introduction to barista skills.

Read our full De'Longhi La Specialista Touch review

Best automatic coffee maker

De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic

If you're looking for a fully automatic espresso machine — one that will do all the work for you and prepare perfect drinks at the tap of a button — may I recommend the De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic. It's easily one of the best automatic coffee makers I've tested this year, and a lot of fun to use too.

It produces consistently well-extracted espresso and creamy milk foam (either hot or cold), as you'd expect for a machine in this price bracket. However, what impressed me most about the Primadonna Aromatic was its ability to 'learn' what you like to drink at what time of day, and push those options to the top of its extensive drinks menu, so you don't have to flick through to find your favorites.

It's definitely a big machine (there wasn't much clearance to open the bean hopper when it was underneath my kitchen cabinets), but it looks stylish, and its five-inch touchscreen is bright and easy to navigate.

Like all the De'Longhi coffee makers in this roundup, the Primadonna Aromatic can brew hot and cold espresso — but, unlike the others, it can also produce chilled milk foam using a dedicated carafe with a special nozzle. It worked brilliantly in my tests, and you can store the carafe in the fridge between uses.

Read my full De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic review

The Lavazza Tabli is an excellent compact espresso machine that uses tabs made from 100% compressed coffee rather than plastic and metal pods — and right now it's just £133 at John Lewis (was £199.99). That's a very impressive price cut, especially considering this innovative coffee maker only launched in the UK a few weeks ago.

I got my hands on the Tabli earlier this week, and so far I'm very impressed. The coffee tabs are mess-free, holding together without crumbling, and are just as simple to use as Nespresso capsules. Just place your tab inside, close the lid, select a drink size (single, double, or lungo) and the machine will do the rest.

Today's best Lavazza Tabli deal

The result? Smooth-tasting espresso that's far better than I've had from any coffee pod, and which works perfectly on its own, or as the base for a longer drink. The spent coffee pod drops down into a bin inside the machine (still in one piece) ready to be tipped into your household food waste or compost heap.

Lavazza isn't the only coffee brand experimenting with low-waste coffee tablets either. Yesterday, Keurig (one of the world's biggest names in single-serve coffee) announced that it would be phasing out its enormously popular K-Cups in favor of pressed tablets called AltaRounds.

I'm testing the Lavazza Tabli system for a little longer before writing my full review, but from my first impressions, it seems like this new tablet format beats plastic and foil capsules in every way. It makes much less waste, it tastes better, and it's cheaper too. Lavazza's Tabli coffee tabs cost around 50p each, whereas Nespresso Vertuo pods are closer to £1.

Tabli coffee tablets currently come in six varieties, but considering how much interest there's been since the system's launch, I'm expecting the options to expand rapidly. Compressed coffee is the future, and at this price, you can start enjoying it right now.

Fall has arrived, and it's International Coffee Day today, which makes it the perfect occasion for a roundup of Pumpkin Spice coffee. Before you bankrupt yourself indulging your Pumpkin Spice habit at Starbucks, it's worth checking to see if you could take care of it in the comfort of your own home.

From Nespresso pods to K-Cups to ground coffee, there are pumpkin spiced options for every at-home coffee station setup. If you're looking for an authentic Starbucks flavor, you can actually purchase the brand's own Pumpkin Spice blend in K-Cup, Nespresso Vertuo pod, and ground coffee form. It's one of three special-edition flavors, and I've also included the other two (Smoked Butterscotch and Fall Blend) below, mainly because they both sounded delicious. They're there in case you fancy mixing things up.

Ground coffee is perfect if you use a French press, AeroPress or filter coffee machine. As for the pods, these vary by machine so be sure to double-check what you're buying is compatible with your setup, to avoid disappointment. Scroll down for a selection of spiced goodness...

US pumpkin picks

Hop down to the UK section instead

Coffee machine capsules

Ground coffee

UK pumpkin picks

I test over a dozen coffee makers every year here at TechRadar, and the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is one of the best I've ever used for making deliciously creamy lattes and cappuccinos — so I was delighted to see that it's received a huge 25% price cut for International Coffee Day. Right now, you can pick up the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series at for just £499.99 at Amazon (was £669.99).

This fully automatic coffee maker is perfectly designed for smaller households, and keeps milk, beans, and water fresh for better-tasting coffee. In fact, I called it "the perfect espresso machine for one or two people" in my full review.

This is an early Prime Big Deal Days offer, so you'll need to be an Amazon Prime member to grab it, but new and returning subscribers can get a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial that will cover the whole sale.

Today's best Philips LatteGo 5500 Series deal

All Philips espresso machines I've tested brew excellent espresso, but the standout feature here is the clever milk system, which creates silky foam with exactly the right texture, and dispenses it through a carafe that breaks down into three dishwasher-safe parts. Milk never enters the coffee maker, and there are no awkward pipes or tubes, so everything stays fresh and hygienic.

As you can see from the photo below, the results are exceptional, and unlike some other automatic coffee machines I've tested., the LatteGo 5500 Series handles dairy and plant-based milks equally well.

The ceramic grinder is another standout feature, offering some super-fine grind settings to help you get the best flavour from your beans. The 5500 Series is also surprisingly quiet, making only a hum when grinding coffee and pumping water.

If you're on the lookout for a great coffee maker in time for Christmas, this is an excellent choice — and with such a huge price cut, it's even easier to recommend.

• The Loewe aura.matic is a new minimalist luxury espresso machine
• It has twin bean hoppers and grinders, and offers 18 customizable drinks
• It will go on sale later this year for £5,000 (about $6,630 / AU$9,540)

German company Loewe doesn't just make premium TVs and luxury speakers; it also has a line of high-end coffee makers, and its latest release — the Loewe aura. maticmatic — looks like nothing I've ever seen before.

The aura.matic has a black glass door that you can close when it's not in use, leaving the front completely plain. With its wooden frame and black aluminum case, it looks more like a piece of the company's audio equipment than a kitchen appliance. Open it up, though, and you'll find a seven-inch color display, a drip tray with a cup-detection sensor, and an illuminated dispenser.

The aura.matic is also equipped with twin bean hoppers, which let you switch between two different coffees on the fly. It's a feature I seldom see in home coffee makers (the Siemens EQ900 Plus is a rare example), but it's one that makes a lot of sense. I prefer to switch to decaf in the afternoon — as TechRadar's Homes Editor I drink so much coffee, I'd likely never sleep otherwise — but doing so would usually involve using up all the beans currently in the hopper then dialing in the grinder again. It's usually just not practical.

The aura.matic doesn't just have two bean containers — it also has two grinders that can be dialed in separately. If you're feeling creative, you can even create your own blend by mixing the two coffees together.

The water tank is tucked out of sight to the side of the dispenser, while the milk system uses a carafe hidden behind a door on the side to keep the look as minimalist as possible. There's a menu of 18 customizable drinks to choose from, with six user profiles so you can save your personalized recipes.

The aura.matic has a list price of £5,000 (about $6,630 / AU$9,540) and will be available direct from Loewe later this year.

• Keurig Alta is a single-brew system that uses tablets of compressed coffee
• AltaRounds are compostable, and are brewed in the Keurig Alta machine
• The Alta machine is also fully backward-compatible with K-Cups

Keurig is famous for its K-Cup coffee pods, but it's breaking away from the traditional capsule format with a single-serve system called Alta that uses tablets of compressed coffee with no individual packaging. According to a press release, "Keurig Alta represents the future of single-serve — and the future of Keurig," though you don't need to worry about your favorite coffee pods disappearing any time soon.

The new coffee tablets, called AltaRounds, have a recipe code printed on the surface, and are brewed using a new Alta coffee maker that uses the code to determine the right brew style, pressure, and temperature for your drink.

The concept is very similar to the pressed coffee tablets used by the Lavazza Tabli system I tested this week, but there are a few key differences. For example, Keurig's AltaRounds have a thin plant-based coating to keep the coffee fresh, prevent breakage during transit, and help generate the pressure for brewing. Lavazza's coffee tabs are uncoated, and don't have a code to provide brewing instructions.

Keurig's first Alta coffee maker is quite different to Lavazza's Tabli machine as well. The Tabli only prepares espresso, whereas the Keurig Alta also has an integrated milk frother for more complex drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. A color screen on the Alta machine walks you through a range of coffee and espresso beverages, and the system is backwards-compatible with K-Cups in case one of your favorite drinks isn't available in Alta format yet.

The switch to AltaRounds will be gradual, and K-Cups aren't vanishing overnight. Keurig Alta Coffee & Espresso is the first brand of AltaRounds, and six varieties will be rolling out after the machine's launch:

• Single Shot: medium roast single espresso
• Double Shot: dark roast double espresso
• Bold Ambition: dark roast coffee
• The House: medium roast coffee
• Fresh Take: light roast coffee
• Sweet Spot: caramel flavored coffee

Peet's Coffee AltaRounds are coming soon as well, with more brands to follow.

AltaRounds are packaged in an SFI-certified paperboard carton, and their coating is made from an NSF-certified plant-based material that includes alginate from seaweed harvested off the coast of France.. The whole AltaRound, including coffee and coating, is certified for home and commercial composting, so you can dispose of them just like ordinary coffee grounds.

A limited early access bundle is available direct from Keurig until October 15, while supplies last. Pre-orders will ship October 21. The bundle is priced at $499.99, and includes a Keurig Alta brewer, four boxes of AltaRounds pressed coffee, and glassware made by Ethan Rode of FLUR.

The price works out at approximately £380 / AU$720, but the bundle is only available in the US.

October 1 is International Coffee Day, and if you've been thinking of upgrading your coffee maker, it's the perfect opportunity. As TechRadar's resident coffee expert, I've put together a list of my three favorite bean-to-cup espresso machines that make preparing perfectly extracted espresso a breeze, even if you've never used fresh coffee before.

There's something for everyone here. If you're on a tight budget, or are making the leap from coffee capsules to whole beans, the compact and affordable Philips Baristina is the perfect choice for you. Interested in tinkering with brew options and understanding how different factors affect the taste of your drink? Take a look at the Sage Barista Impress With Cold Extraction. Want a fully automated machine that produces even complicated drinks with the tap of a button? The Philips Café Aromis is the coffee maker of your dreams.

Many retailers are offering special discounts for International Coffee Day too, and you'll find the best deals on each coffee machine below as well.

Philips Baristina

The Philips Baristina is the most affordable bean-to-cup coffee maker I've ever tested, and easily one of the best. In fact, I recommend it so frequently, my colleagues are probably quite tired of hearing about it. It makes brewing espresso with fresh coffee beans just as simple as using Nespresso capsules or K-Cups, and opens up a whole world of speciality coffee without requiring any specialist skills.

Load your coffee beans into the top of the Baristina, fill the water tank, and you're ready to get started. Push the filter handle into the machine, hit the start button, and it will automatically grind just the right amount of coffee, tamp it down, and then slide the handle underneath the brewing group, which will extract your shot using the ideal water temperature and pressure. When it's finished, just tap out the used coffee grounds, wipe out the filter, and you're ready to go again.

Unlike most bean-to-cup coffee machines, the Baristina doesn't have a case that covers everything up, which helps keep everything clean and hygienic. There's no enclosed space for stray coffee grounds and moisture to build up, so maintenance is a breeze.

The biggest downside of the original Baristina is the lack of a steam wand, which means there's no way to prepare lattes and cappuccinos. However, the machine is available bundled with a good quality standalone milk frother for a small additional cost, and earlier this year Philips launched the Baristina Latte, which has an integrated steam wand.

Read our full Philips Baristina review

Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series

At the other end of the scale, we have the Philips Café Aromis — the company's flagship bean-to-cup coffee machine with a huge array of hot and cold drinks options, excellent milk frothing, and app compatibility that makes customizing your brews a breeze. It's gorgeous as well, with its sleek silver chassis, crisp touchscreen, and a natural wood cap on top of the dispenser to complete the look.

Drinks are almost infinitely customizable, and the cold menu is a particular highlight. Unlike some bean-to-cup coffee makers I've tested, which just dump a shot of hot espresso over ice, the Aromis can extract coffee using water straight from its tank for a mellow flavor akin to traditionally made cold-brew. It also has separate milk carafes for frothing hot and cold milk, and each one can be disassembled into three dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning. So, there's no need for scrubbing milk residue from pipes and hoses.

It's not the only bean-to-cup coffee machine with its own app, but it's the only one I've used where the app offers something useful apart from a quick-start guide and warranty details. The Philips HomeID app makes it easy to create personalized user profiles, and even had a clever chatbot-style feature that asks you questions about your flavor preferences and then tweaks the coffee maker's settings accordingly.

The Aromis is definitely one of the more expensive espresso machines I've reviewed this year, but its price tag isn't excessive considering just how much you're getting, and you could easily pay half as much again for an alternative from a different brand.

Read our full Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review

Sage Barista Touch Impress With Cold Extraction

This bean-to-cup machine (which is sold under the brand name Sage in the UK, and Breville elsewhere for complicated reasons) is an upgraded version of the original Barista Touch Impress, and like the Philips Café Aromis, it offers genuine cold extraction for smooth-tasting iced coffees (as well as delicious hot-brewed espresso).

Unlike the other two bean-to-cup machines in this list, this one is semi-automatic, which means that although you don't have to get your hands dirty, it gives you some control over the coffee-making process if you want, introducing you to barista skills in a friendly, easy-to-follow way. You'll discover the effect of each variable on your finished drink (including dosage, grind size, tamp pressure, and brewing temperature), and the machine will offer feedback and suggestions if it doesn't taste quite right.

The Puck Impress System, which tamps your freshly ground coffee with a pull of a handle, is particularly satisfying and greatly reduces mess compared to tamping by hand. Unlike the Breville Oracle Jet below, I didn't have any issues with static electricity making coffee cling to the grinder.

The Barista Touch Impress offers both manual and automatic milk steaming options too, so you can have your foam dispensed into your finished drink, or prepare it yourself and have fun practicing your latte art.

Read our full Sage Barista Touch Impress With Cold Extraction review

Coffee capsules are incredibly quick and convenient, but they have one big drawback: the used pods left over at the end.

Some capsules are relatively easy to recycle — Nespresso pods, for example, are made entirely from aluminum, and Nestlé has well-established recycling program to handle them, but other brands use capsules made from a combination of metal and plastic, which is much more difficult to process. Whatever the material, though, there is still a considerable amount of waste, which takes resources to recycle, and some of which will inevitably end up in landfill.

Using ground coffee or whole beans is a much less wasteful way to prepare an espresso, but it also takes longer, and although it's a fun hobby for some of us, not everyone is interested in getting into the technicalities of brewing a balanced shot.

That's where the Lavazza Tabli system comes in, using tablets made entirely of freshly ground coffee. Each one gives you exactly the right amount of coffee for a single serving, so there's no weighing required, and there are no loose grounds to make a mess of your counter. The whole process is just as clean and simple as using coffee pods, but without the empty capsules to worry about at the end. It seems like such a simple idea, it seems surprising it's not hit the mainstream before — but how does it compare with other brewing methods?

The Tabli coffee maker launched in the US in July, and is now available in the UK as well. It's one of the most affordable coffee makers I've tested this year, with a list price of $139.99 in the US and £199 in the UK (though it's currently discounted to £133 at John Lewis.

It's an unusual-looking machine, as you can see in the photo above, and relatively large for a single-serve espresso machine. It measures 12.9 x 6.5 x 15.4 inches / 327 x 165 x 390mm (H x W x D) with a 1.3 quart / 1.2 liter water tank on the back, and comes in a choice of three colors: black, white, and walnut brown.

The interface is as simple as that of any capsule coffee maker. There are three soft-touch buttons on top for selecting your drink size (single, double, or lungo) and the upper section slides open smoothly to reveal the brewing basket for inserting your coffee tablet.

The Tabli machine has a removeable drip tray, so you can use it with espresso cups, or larger mugs if you'd prefer to use your freshly brewed shot as the foundation for a longer drink like a cappuccino. However, if that's how you like your coffee, you should be aware that the Tabli doesn't include a steam wand, so you'll need to purchase a standalone milk frother like the Smeg Mini Milk Frother or Dreo BaristaMaker.

Used coffee tabs drop into a container behind the drip tray, just like used grounds would in a conventional bean-to-cup coffee maker. The grounds are dry to the touch, and are suspended in a basket so you can easily tip them into a food waste caddy, then pour away any water left behind after the Tabli rinses itself (there's no need to perform a rinse cycle yourself)

Tabli coffee tabs come in card boxes, and are held in molded paper trays, much like egg cartons. There is a thin plastic film over the top of the tray, but it's the bare minimum necessary to keep out moisture. Everything else is easily recyclable in regular household waste.

Some capsule coffee makers are cheap to buy, but end up proving surprisingly expensive in the long run due to the price of the pods. Bosch Tassimo machines, for example, are very affordable, but the pods are some of the priciest around.

Thankfully that's not the case with the Tabli system. A box of 12 tabs costs £5.89 in the UK, which is about 49p per drink, and very reasonable. You can also pick up a multipack of eight boxes for £40, which brings the cost per drink down to 42p.

Tabs are given a strength score on a scale of 1-13, and although there are currently only six types available, if the system proves successful I'm hopeful that Lavazza will increase its range.

There aren't any of the elaborate flavors you get with Nespresso or Tassimo pods; all Tabli tabs are made using nothing but compressed coffee, with no additives, and in my opinion that's no bad thing.

I've tried two Tabli varieties so far (Qualità Rossa and Qualità Oro), and both produced a smooth-tasting, easy-drinking espresso without the astringent taste I associate with most coffee tabs. I'll be interested to see how they compare to the Espresso Ristretto, which has a higher intensity score of 12/13 and should have a punchier flavor.

This isn't Lavazza's first experiment with shaking up home coffee-making. Last year the company released the Lavazza Assoluta — a good-looking espresso machine that lets you experiment with different beans without getting into the tricky business of optimizing grind size and temperature. Install Lavazza's mobile app on your phone, scan the barcode on your bag of coffee, and the Assoluta will adjust its own brew settings accordingly.

It was an interesting idea, but so far the Tabli strikes me as a better concept, and one that doesn't require any extra work on the user's part. I'll continue to put the machine through its paces over the coming weeks, and will bring you a full review very soon.

Today, October 1, is International Coffee Day, arguably the most important day of the year for many of us. And while that may just mean you have a little extra pep in your step as you head to your local cafe, if you do have a takeaway-coffee habit, we think it can also serve as a healthy reminder that adding a quality coffee machine to your kitchen doesn't need to be expensive – and even can save you money in the long run.

If you're looking for a new espresso machine, De’Longhi is a brand that should be on your list. It lives and breathes coffee via an extensive range of fully automatic and manual espresso machines — and better yet, right now TechRadar readers can save 15% on the purchase of any machine with our exclusive De’Longhi coupon code.

Just head to our dedicated De'Longhi coupon code page, click on the very first green 'Get Code' button and copy the resulting code to your clipboard. Then, head to the De'Longhi website, shop for what you'd like, and paste the code into the field at checkout.

Now, we have one quick word of advice before you pull the trigger on your purchase: De’Longhi also has a specific code of its own — SPRING20 — which can be used to save 20% on three specific machines that are exclusive to its online store: the Eletta Explore (ECAM450.65.S), Magnifica Start (ECAM22061W) and Magnifica Evo (ECAM29083TB).

Also note that right now, every De'Longhi coffee machine purchase comes with a free essentials pack valued up to AU$140, depending on which specific the machine you buy.

With such a huge range of bean-to-cup coffee machines available to shop, you'd be forgiven if you didn't know where to start. As the resident coffee expert for TechRadar Australia, I’ve picked out a selection of my favourites that have my stamp of approval.

Fully automatic coffee machines

Manual coffee machines

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: two-minute review

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro is a great idea. People like their coffee brewed in different ways, and it's easy to end up with two or even three coffee machines on the counter to accommodate households with multiple coffee drinkers. For example, my husband usually drinks drip coffee, but occasionally likes an espresso. I rotate between drip, espresso, and iced coffee, depending on my mood and the weather. I also like my Nespresso machine, since the capsules are available in some interesting flavors I occasionally enjoy. I also drink a lot of tea, so an instant hot feature is welcome. We don't often drink lattes or cappuccinos, but when our kids or guest come to visit, they often do. We could easily end up with three different coffee machines (plus a frother and a tea kettle) in our coffee nook, but the Chefman Coffee Station Pro can do all that and more.

Sounds like a dream, but unfortunately it doesn't do everything well, or even acceptably. For example, it doesn't brew Nespresso capsules fully or correctly, resulting in a weak and tiny brew. If you don't need every single feature, this machine might be a perfect fit for you because it does a lot of things well. I tested everything and found that it did some things far better than others.

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: price and availability

• Available on Chefman's website and other retailers
• Retails for $399.99 (about £300 / AU$570)
• Just one colorway, black and silver

You can buy the Chefman Coffee Station Pro on Chefman's website as well as brick-and-mortar and online retailers like Best Buy and Target. The retail price is $399.99, which is about £300 / AU$570, though it's not currently sold in the US and Australia.

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: specs

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: design

• Smaller than you might expect
• Has storage for accessories
• Ten in one machine

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro is designed efficiently so it has a lot of features in its reasonably-sized footprint. The machine provides ten different brewing methods: espresso (with grounds or Nespresso capsules), cold press espresso, latte, cappuccino, milk frother, K-cup pods, carafe of drip coffee, drip over ice, cold brew, and instant hot water. You control everything with a touch-screen interface.

It comes with everything you need to make all of the beverages listed above. The big 100-ounce water tank fits onto the back of the machine. On the coffee side, you get a coffee filter holder and a reusable coffee filter basket. If you prefer, you can use paper filters instead. There is also a K-Cup adapter for brewing K-Cups. The glass carafe holds anywhere from four to twelve cups of coffee and it rests on a warming plate (which has a "hot" indicator light.) When you're brewing a single serve K-Cup rather than using the carafe, there is a fold-down cup platform with a removable rubber trivet for resting a mug.

On the espresso side, you get a portafilter with three different filters you can put inside. There's small filter for brewing single espresso, a larger one for double espresso, and an adapter for Nespresso capsules. You get a two-sided espresso tool, one side is a measuring scoop and the other side is a tamper. The included 16-ounce milk reservoir can be removed when not in use.

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro stores its own accessories cleverly. It has a hook on the side to store the portafilter and a compartment on top to store other accessories.

When you first set up the Chefman Coffee Station Pro, you'll want to set the clock for the correct time. There is a Delay Brew feature so you can set the machine up when you go to bed and you'll have a hot carafe of drip coffee waiting for you in the morning. The Keep Warm feature will keep your carafe hot for up to two hours.

There is a hot water spout, which runs separately from the coffee so you don't have to worry about stale coffee taste mixing with your hot water. This is perfect for making hot chocolate, tea, and other hot beverages with ease. I suppose you could even use for making instant ramen or really anything you might need hot water for. It's worth noting that it's hot but not boiling.

As with any coffee machine, it does need to be cleaned regularly. Since this one has so many features, there's more cleaning that needs to be done. Every time you use it, you'll want to wash any accessories you use, run a clean cycle on the milk frother wand, and wipe down the exterior as needed. Of course you'll want to remove the milk reservoir and refrigerate any unused milk right after use.

On a weekly basis, empty and wash out the water tank, empty and wash the milk reservoir, run a clean cycle on the espresso side, and flush the frother system if you're using it daily. Every month or two, you'll want to do a deep clean of the frother's internal parts.

Roughly every 100 cycles (or 50 for hot water), you'll need to descale the coffee, espresso, and hot water systems. The owner's manual included detailed instruction on how to do all of that, plus you can find videos on Chefman's YouTube channel for guided instruction.

• Design score: 4/5

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: performance

• Fairly easy to use
• Most of the features work well
• Some features don't result in good coffee

In my testing, most of the drinks I made came out really well. Some came out ok, and some came out actually undrinkable.

Espresso

The espresso came out fine and it had a nice crema. It was pretty easy to do, just measure your grounds with the provided scoop, pour your grounds in the portafilter with the appropriate filter inside. Use one scoop in the smaller filter for a single espresso or two scoops in the larger filter for a double espresso. Tamp them down firmly with the included tamper, and then twist the portafilter into place. Select your drink from the touch-screen menu and you'll have espresso in just a minute or so. I used a carefully measured flat scoop, and found the espresso to be rather weak, but your tastes may vary.

Espresso with Nespresso capsule

Using the Nespresso capsule basket in the portafilter, you can brew any Nespresso or Nespresso-compatible capsule. Note that this is only for the small original line capsules, not the larger Vertuo line capsules.

This was a big fail, in my opinion. The capsule was only pierced partway, there was water left in the portafilter, and the resulting brew was sour and weak and had very little crema. It was not worth drinking.

In the photo gallery below, I compare the results of brewing the same kind of Nespresso capsule in both the Chefman Coffee Station Pro and my actual Nespresso machine. In both machines, I brewed it as a small or single espresso. The Nespresso machine results are on the left and the Chefman on the right in both photos.

Latte and cappuccino

Technically, a latte and a cappuccino are pretty different. Though they are both espresso drinks with frothed milk added, the proportions are different. A cappuccino is one third espresso, one third steamed milk, and one third milk foam.

A latte is one-third espresso and two thirds steamed milk with a light layer of milk foam on top.

You can probably tell from my photos above, they don't look all that different. They didn't taste all that different, either, though they were both delicious.

I also tried just frothing some milk and then brewing an espresso separately and putting them together. Again, it just made a lovely foamy milky beverage.

Cold-pressed espresso

This was just a fail, in my opinion. It was so weak that I couldn't even drink it. Again, that's just my taste, yours may be different.

Note that pretty much every time you do a cold-pressed espresso brew, the machine will prompt you to run a cooling cycle on the carafe side first in order to prime the machine for cold press. It's not a big deal, but you'll have to factor in the extra time and place a container under it to catch the flushed water.

K-Cup

Using the included K-Cup adapater on the carafe side of the machine, you can make any K-Cup you like. I actually thought the Chefman Coffee Station Pro did a great job with this one. I'm not generally a fan of K-Cups but this machine brewed it as well as any Keurig machine I've tried. Note that unlike a Keurig machine, you are using a separate adapter part that you'll probably want to wash each time you use it before putting it away. So it is an extra step.

There is also an option to brew the K-Cup pod as cold brew. But I can't recommend it, unless you like a super weak iced coffee. I used the same kind of pod, but look at the difference.

Drip coffee in carafe

The drip coffee came out great. It was easy to do, just like any traditional drip coffee machine. I used the metal and plastic reusable filter, but you could use a paper filter if you prefer. You have the option to set up a delayed brew, so you can get everything ready the night before and have a hot, fresh carafe of coffee when you wake up. The metal plate under the carafe can be set to keep your carafe warm for up to two hours, and an indicator light will let you know that it's hot.

Cold Brew

The Cold Brew feature brews your coffee slower, cooler, and with less water in order to extract the most flavor and give you less ice melt. This came out very well. It does take longer to brew, and it does usually require running a cool cycle first, but the results are tasty.

Over Ice (in carafe)

The Over Ice funtion is a little different from the Cold Brew. It's brewed into the carafe just like regular hot coffee but a bit stronger to compensate for ice melt. This worked fine, and it wasn't watered down too much. However, it was less smooth than the Cold Brew method and more bitter to my taste.

Hot Water

Hot water comes from a separate spout, not through the coffee system. It works fine and just tastes like pure water with no hint of coffee taste.

I selected maximum temperature setting, but water measured just 163°F/73°C. So, it's certainly hot enough to make hot cocoa, certain delicate teas, and perhaps your instant ramen. But it's not that all that close to boiling water, which would be 212°F/100°C.

• Performance score: 3/5

Should you buy the Chefman Coffee Station Pro?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: also consider

How I tested the Chefman Coffee Station Pro

I brewed and drank every kind of coffee beverage the Chefman Coffee Station Pro makes. I brewed a Nespresso capsule and a K-cup. I brewed espresso from grounds, both hot and cold-pressed. I frothed milk (barista-style pistachio milk) and added a shot of espresso. I made latte and cappuccino. I brewed a carafe of drip coffee. I made cold brew and coffee over ice. I used the hot water feature, tasted it, and measured the temperature.

First reviewed September 2026

While we may have said goodbye to International Coffee Day (which landed on October 1), Breville is still offering a number of tantalising discounts on top-performing coffee machines to celebrate its birthday. It's not often the one celebrating that gives out gifts, but we're not complaining.

That's right, Breville — the brand responsible for many of the best coffee machines in Australia — has discounted a number of its top-performing models and TechRadar readers can save an extra 10% on already discounted machines with our exclusive promo code.

In fact, our exclusive coupon code can be used with any Breville appliance, not just espresso machines either — it will work site wide!

To help you on your way, I’ve picked out a few of my favourite Breville espresso machines that get the TechRadar seal of approval.

I told myself in the days leading up to Prime Big Deal Days in Australia that I probably wouldn’t see any rock-bottom prices on some of my favourite products, including coffee machines.

Well, Amazon has me rethinking everything with a, quite frankly, huge price drop on the stellar Philips Baristina — now just AU$359.

I only wrote about the oh-so cute coffee machine earlier this month, when it was AU$444. Shortly after that it dropped to AU$419. Both excellent prices. Now Amazon has dropped the price further, it simply has to be the espresso machine deal of the year in my book.

• Follow our dedicated live coverage of the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026 sale for more deals and discounts

I’ve made no secret of my love for the Baristina, and if only my partner didn’t drink such huge mugs of coffee, I would have one perched on my kitchen countertop. It’s my pick for the best budget coffee machine in Australia — even at full price — thanks to its ease of use, made possible by its rather genius ability to move the portafilter from one side of the unit to the other.

In short, it combines the best of bean-to-cup machines with the convenience of capsule models, as it handles all aspects of the coffee-making process while putting on a show.

Once you’ve inserted the portafilter into its first position, the Baristina will grind the correct dosage of beans before automatically moving it across to the brewing position. It’s quite remarkable and entirely unique.

As its price would suggest, there are a couple of compromises you need to make. Firstly, it can only brew a 40ml espresso or a 110ml lungo — there’s no extensive menu of drink options to choose from here — and you can’t adjust the grind size, which could potentially introduce a bit of an obstacle.

By this, I mean that you’ll likely need to conduct some trial and error with coffee bean varieties if you find your espresso tastes over- or under-extracted.

And for all the milk-based coffee drinkers out there, you need to know that there’s no way to steam milk. However, a colour-matching Philips Baristina milk frother is available separately.

In my mind, these are minor niggles that are either non-issues or can be easily resolved. The combination of good looks, intuitive features and consistently well-extracted espresso more than makes up for them. If your kitchen is crying out for an affordable coffee machine, the Philips Baristina is ideal.

Want more suggestions?

If you’re in the market for a coffee machine, but the Philips Baristina doesn’t seem like the model for you, you’re in luck, as there are multiple coffee machine deals in the Prime Big Deal Days sale. If it’s some quick recommendations you’re after, look no further.

If you didn't know, Tuesday, September 29, is National Coffee Day, which means you can get rare discounts on coffee makers, including my life-changing espresso maker: the Breville Barista Touch.

• Shop more daily deals at Amazon

Amazon has the five-star-rated Breville Barista Touch on sale for $799.99 (originally $999.99) thanks to a $200 discount. That's the lowest price we've seen in months and only $50 more than the record-low we saw in June.

I decided to splurge on the Breville Barista Touch because it was ranked as our best espresso maker, and I wanted to invest in a machine that was easy to use and made delicious coffee. I now wake up every day and can't wait to make my morning cup — a frothy latte, Americano, cappuccino, anything I want! My only regret? I didn't wait for it to go on sale and purchased it at full price.

Save $200 on the Breville Barista Touch

As the name suggests, the Breville Barista Touch features a touchscreen display that lets you make your coffee in three easy steps: grind, brew, and milk. You can adjust the coffee strength, milk texture, and temperature, and save up to 8 personalized coffees. The Barista Touch also includes a compact integrated grinder and a manual steam wand to deliver barista-quality microfoam and create latte art.