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.

It seems bizarre to get excited about a vacuum cleaner, but when you find one that makes the job of keeping your home tidy so much easier and effortless, the impact it has is hard to overstate. I had that experience when I purchased my first Shark vacuum, so when one of the manufacturer's latest and best vacuum cleaners gets a huge £200 price cut, I have to shout about it.

That's why I'm here to call out the Shark PowerDetect Speed on Amazon for £319.99 (was £519.99). This is the record-low price for two specific colourways of the vacuum, and only a little shy of the previous biggest discount we've seen on this model during Prime Day.

The Shark PowerDetect Speed is a top-tier option, too, as it's a new and upgraded version of the vacuum that sits atop our buying guide in this category. It also received an impressive 4.5 stars in our review for its exceptional cleaning power, convenient auto-empty function, and useful dirt detection features.

As far as investments in a vacuum go, it's obviously a big one to make, but as someone who bought a Shark vacuum five years ago, which is still going strong, it could be a worthy buy to help keep your home clean with far less hassle.

Save £200 on the Shark PowerDetect Speed

If I were looking to upgrade from the older Shark Stratos model I'm currently using, this would easily be my top pick. That's mainly for the convenience of the auto-empty dock, which helps keep dust and debris trapped instead of potentially flying everywhere when it's tipped into the bin.

On top of that, the PowerDetect Speed keeps all of the fantastic features that make other Shark vacuums so good at cleaning around the home. Namely, it's the anti-hair wrap tech that saves me time unclogging the brush roll every so often, the strong suction power that works across multiple surfaces, and useful extras like lights to show up dust and a flexible wand to get into hard-to-reach places.

Cheaper models that drop some of the nicer-to-have extras, like the auto-empty dock, are also on sale right now. For example, I'd also recommend the Shark PowerPro Pet Cordless on Amazon for £199 (was £299.99), as an alternative if you have a smaller budget.

Smeg has launched a new three-in-one countertop electric grill with interchangeable plates for different cooking styles — all in a smart, 1950s-inspired package.

The new Smeg MultiGrill has two heating plates and can be used open or closed depending on the dish you're preparing. In Contact mode, the MultiGrill cooks quickly and evenly, with heat from both sides, for foods like burgers, sandwiches, and grilled meats. Oven mode gives you four adjustable height settings, so you can cook more delicate dishes like fish without the upper plate making direct contact. Finally, BBQ mode lets you open the grill completely flat for double the cooking space, with heat only from below.

It also has three preset modes — Panini, Waffle, and Burger — with customizable times and temperatures, and comes with four plates (one smooth, one grill, and two waffle plates), plus a measuring cup for pouring waffle batter.

All plates are made of aluminum with a non-stick ceramic coating, making them dishwasher-safe, and the grill has a removable fat-collecting drawer for easier cleanup after cooking.

Simple searing

Each plate can be adjusted to between 60C and 230C, with a dedicated Sear mode to give an intense burst of heat (above 250C for 30 seconds) for rapidly browning and caramelizing the outside of meat while keeping the inside tender.

The temperature and cooking mode are displayed on an LCD display, and all functions are controlled using a pair of simple dials.

It's available for £299.95 direct from Smeg., in either black or cream. I'll be testing the Smeg MultiGrill soon and will be interested to see how it performs compared to other multi-function countertop cookers — as well as Ninja's new Belgian waffle maker.

• Octopus Energy has revealed the Cosy cooler add-on
• It's a unit that works with the Cosy heat pump to transform your central heating system into air conditioning
• A unit cools one room and costs £500, with multiple units needing a higher-tier Cosy heat pump — trials are underway now

Update, October 15: Octopus told us that its press release inaccurately stated that the Cosy system will chill water and pump it through your home's central heating pipes. Instead, the system draws in warm air from the room, removing the heat with a heat exchanger, and blows the cooler air back into the space.

The heat it removes is then transferred through your heating pipework to the outdoor Cosy Heat Pump, which releases it outside. Octopus says this means the system can actively cool a room without needing an exhaust duct — and also that the water in the pipes stays at a temperature that won't cause condensation or dripping radiators. We've also added a "preliminary product rendering" to the story below.

Original story follows...

Octopus Energy has developed an add-on for its heat pumps which means that central heating can be transformed into an air-con system for the increasingly hot British summers.

The invention is called the Cosy cooler — following the same branding as the Cosy heat pump — and it's just been launched, with trials having begun in UK homes (and offices), and more testers being sought via Octopus' official form.

The Cosy cooler is the size of a "tall kitchen bin" at 72cm tall, with a width of 43cm, and depth of 35cm. It simply connects to the existing central heating radiator pipework (and heat pump), taking about three hours to fit (with no "major" building work needed, Octopus assures us).

The system chills the water going through the radiators, and it also takes in warm air from indoors, cooling it using a heat exchanger, then circulating that chilled air back out into the room. So there's a double whammy of cooling here, and one unit can cool a single room, or you can run two to three units in different rooms (although you'll need a higher-tier Cosy heat pump to run multiple Cosy coolers).

Okay, so what's the damage for staying cool next summer? Octopus expects to sell these cooling units for £500 to £600, which is a lot less than a full air-con system, of course (which run from £2,000 upwards, as the energy provider notes).

Greg Jackson, who is CEO and founder of Octopus, commented: "Sadly, British homes need to be ready for freezing winters and increasingly hot summers." He added that: "The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has helped give the industry the confidence to invest, innovate and drive costs down — and Cosy cooler is the latest result of Octopus ingenuity."

Octopus recently launched plug-in solar kits, too, and they've sold out twice now, but more kits are on the way, we're told. That's another piece of the puzzle that could help keep your heating (or cooling) costs down.

Cosily chilled

This is a clever idea and one that will doubtless grab the attention of anyone who suffered in the heat of the past summer in the UK (and that's a lot of people, no doubt).

The climate in this country seems to be shifting radically, and the heat of the last summer led to portable air-con units and fans selling out in many cases, with prices of the devices which were left in stock spiraling rapidly upwards.

There's probably going to be a lot of interest in these Cosy cooler units, seeing as they provide what sounds like a much more comprehensive cooling system than what you'll get for £500 or so in the way of a portable air-con device.

Octopus is aiming to sell these Cosy coolers to customers next summer, but for now, as mentioned, what's happening is that you can apply for a trial. If you want to do that, head to the official page here, but obviously bear in mind that you need to be running the Cosy heat pump. This isn't a standalone product, rather it works off the existing heat pump (and note that it's a prototype currently).

If you want more than one cooling unit — so you want to cover perhaps your bedroom as well as your living room — then it sounds like you'll need one of the beefier Cosy heat pumps, too (they come in three flavors: Cosy 6, 9 and 12).

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

• Aldi is launching three new home heating appliances on October 18
• The highlight is a £50 Dyson fan heater dupe
• Aldi is also launching a compact dehumidifier and ceramic tower heater

The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting much colder, which can only mean one thing — Aldi is replenishing its Specialbuys middle aisle with three new budget-friendly devices in its Home Heating Essentials range, arriving in stores October 18.

The first, and arguably the stand-out, product is the new Dyson-like bladeless fan heater. At just £49.99, it makes a solid affordable alternative, saving you the best part of £300 compared to if you opted for a premium option like the Dyson Hot+Cool HF1 for example.

I say this every time there’s another major device restock, but Aldi’s own devices aren’t exact replicas, and there’s a reason why they’re affordable. They’re not as well-built or feature-packed as devices from premium brands, but they do come with handy features that cover the basics, which is why we can’t help but love them.

As far as its new Ambiano bladeless fan heater goes, it’s designed for both heating and cooling, though I imagine the former would be mostly used as we settle deeper into the winter months. Available in black or white, the fan offers three heat settings and eight fan speeds with a 9-hour timer, so it’s totally customizable to suit your needs.

It becomes increasingly difficult to effectively dry clothes inddors in colder conditions, which can also lead to condensation and mould growth — and Alid’s new £44.99 Ambiano dehumidifier could save the day. Compact in size allowing for easy movement between rooms, the 2.2 litre dehumidifier has a 24-hour timer function, overheat protection, and a 10-colour night light.

Not only does ambient air drying take longer during the colder months, but this can lead to condensation and mould growth in your home, which can affect air quality. While models from reputable brands such as Maeco can be bigger in size and therefore extract more moisture, they’re not the friendliest of appliances price-wise. Though Aldi’s version is on the compact side, it’s still a sub-£50 device that could really help reduce those heating bills.

Lastly, Aldi’s standalone Ambiano ceramic tower heater is the cheapest of the new devices at £19.99. If you’re looking for another way to cut down this winter’s heating bills, it could be a good alternative to a dehumidifier or fan heater.

Aldi’s product listing says this appliance has the capacity to quickly warm a space, with an oscillating function to boost heat circulation and on-appliance adjustable settings for added customization. The main difference compared to a standard fan heater are the ceramic plates — their electrical resistance changes with temperature, giving these heaters self-regulating properties can make them the safer option. You can read more about the differences between fan and ceramic heaters in our explainer.

As mentioned, Aldi’s new Home Heating Essentials range is coming to stores on October 18. The retailer also states that prices online may vary from those in-store; and, as with every Specialbuys launch, each device is subject to availability.

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.

Ninja Crispi Microwave: 30-second review

The Ninja Crispi Microwave combines the power of an air fryer with the speed of a microwave. It sounds like an almost impossible feat, yet Ninja has seemingly done the impossible with one of the most versatile kitchen appliances around.

Things get off to a good start out of the box. One of the common frustrations with microwaves are their controls, and how it feels like you need an engineering degree to understand how it all works. Not with the Crispi Microwave. A brief flick through the instructions, and you’ll be off, with easy to use buttons and modes to help you cook the food you want.

The included glassware dish with removable crisper tray, and the rails its slides onto in the microwave, are great additions for air frying and FusionCrisp cooking. And when microwaving you don’t need to worry about any rotating turnable. You get the whole surface of the microwave cavity to place your food, allowing you to cook more at once.

Then there’s the actual cooking. Whether I was air frying, grilling or baking, or using one of the many microwave presets, the Crispi Microwave delivered great food every time. And to really unlock the power of this appliance, FusionCrisp uses the best of both cooking technologies, for wonderful moist in the middle, crispy on the outside cooks.

If you’ve got the space on your counter, and are looking to consolidate the number of appliances in your kitchen, the Ninja Crispi Microwave is an excellent all-rounder.

Ninja Crispi Microwave: price and availability

• Ninja Crispi Microwave price: $449.99 / £359.99 (about AU$650)
• Available in the US and UK, in multiple colors

The Ninja Crispi Microwave price is $449.99 / £359.99, which compared to a traditional countertop microwave is exceedingly expensive. However, this isn’t just a microwave. It also has a built-in air fryer, and with Ninja’s FusionCrisp Technology you can cook food with both systems in the same process.

There are a few other air fryer microwaves on the market, and comparing the costs here sees the Ninja competitively priced against its competition. The Samsung Combi Smart Microwave is a touch cheaper, Smeg’s is considerably more, while IKEA offers a budget-friendly option.

You can buy the Ninja Crispi Microwave directly from Ninja, and via third party retailers in the US and UK. It’s not available in Australia.

I’ve seen the Crispi Microwave discounted in the US by around $50, but at time of writing I’m yet to see any discounts in the UK. It’s always worth shopping around though.

Interestingly, in the US you get the choice of four colors; black, silver, Cyperspace (blue) and Stone Gold. In the UK, Stone Gold isn’t available, leaving you with three options.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Ninja Crispi Microwave: specifications

Ninja Crispi Microwave: design

• Premium, modern design, with cookbook in the box
• Slightly bigger than a standard microwave, but needs more clearance
• Internal light is dim, front is a dust and fingerprint magnet

The Ninja Crispi Microwave is a smart looking appliance, with a modern aesthetic, clean lines, and chunky dials and buttons.

Considering the additional air fryer tech squeezed inside the Ninja Crispi Microwave, it’s not hugely oversized. At 44.6 (D) x 51.6 (W) x 35.8cm (H) it’s bigger than my current unit, but it’s not aggressively massive.

While that’ll be good news for those hoping it will fit where their current microwave resides, you need to take airflow into consideration. As this product also has an air fryer built into it, you need to allow for a minimum of 12 inches (30.5 cm) of clearance above the unit for adequate airflow and safe operation.

That meant I couldn’t place the Crispi where my current microwave was, as the wall mounted cupboard above it didn’t allow for enough space for air to flow safely. I’m fortunate to have open countertop space in my kitchen, allowing me to place the Crispi - but if you have a smaller kitchen, or limited countertop space this is something you need to consider before purchasing.

If you do have a suitable space for the Crispi to reside, you’ll find it comes with various warnings when you open the packaging and look through the paperwork.

One of the main warnings is to not operate it when empty, as this can apparently damage the unit.

Unlike a traditional microwave, there’s no rotating platform inside. Instead there’s a glass service that you place dishes on, and you need to be careful when cooking is finished as this surface can be very hot.

What that does mean is you get a bigger cooking surface area compared to a turntable (up to 20% more, according to Ninja), with the ability to place dishes across the entire base of the microwave.

The quick start guide and recipe book included in the box will get you up and running quickly though, and these offers are better than some manufacturers - I’m looking at you, Philips.

The smart, modern design looks good on the counter top, but the glossy door and instrument panel are an absolute dust and fingerprint magnet. You’ll need to keep a microfibre cloth handy if you want to maintain a clean look.

Press the large door release button, and it swings open nice and wide, going beyond 90 degrees to give you plenty of space to move things in and out. It’s especially welcome when sliding the hot glassware tray out.

That glass tray is included in the box (along with a removable, metal crisper tray), and at a capacity of 5.5 quarts / 5.2 liters Ninja says it can hold an 8lb chicken, or four slices of pizza

And the runners that hold the glassware near the top of the cavity when in air fry or FusionCrisp mode have a nice party trick. Slide the glassware most of the way out, and it’ll drop into a small groove on the runners.

This angles the tray slightly towards you, allowing you to mix, stir or turn your food without the glassware sliding all over the place or needing to remove it completely. Your oven racks might well have a similar feature, and I was pleased to see the inclusion here.

Plus, Ninja has included a childlock feature on the door release button, preventing curious little hands from reaching up and simply popping the door open when cooking. To enable child lock, grab a Philips-head screwdriver and turn the switch on the side of the door release button. You will then have to press this side switch and the main door release together to open.

Another thing I like are the buttons, which have great tactility and feel premium under finger. They’re clearly labelled and are relatively intuitive - though you will need to refer to the manual initially while the process of getting the right settings becomes engrained.

As an example of how good the controls are, I was able to change the clock time on the microwave with ease, something that can’t be said for many microwaves I’ve used in the past.

Something that hasn't shone so bright is the light inside the microwave. It’s a little dim, even when you have the door open. When it’s closed, it’s not easy to see your food due to the heavy tint on the door as well as the under powered light.

The Ninja Crispi Microwave offers an array of cooking modes. There’s the traditional microwave option, allowing you to quickly reheat food, cook microwave meals, and pop some popcorn. Press the microwave button, set the time and hit go.

But there’s more here than first meets the eye. Hit the microwave button twice and you’ll get an illuminated selection of additional sub modes; defrost, beverage, popcorn, potato, soup, soften butter, frozen vegetable, and porridge. This makes for quicker and easier cooking for some of the core things you use a microwave for.

Then there’s the air fryer mode, which itself also has a few sub-options to choose from. If you’re familiar with Ninja’s air fryers these will be familiar; air fry, max crisp, air roast, air bake, air grill.

Then there’s a third mode, FusionCrisp. Ninja claims FusionCrisp takes the best part of microwaving and air frying, and combines them, giving you food that retains moisture, cooks quickly, but doesn’t go soggy.

• Design score: 4/5

Ninja Crispi Microwave: performance

• Brilliantly versatile as an air fryer and a microwave
• FusionCrisp mode combines the best of both
• Good enough to replace multiple appliances in your kitchen

The performance of the Ninja Crispi Microwave is impressive. Whether you’re air frying, microwaving, reheating, baking, grilling or softening butter (yes, it really has its own dedicated setting), this appliance delivers.

I used a combination of FusionCrisp and Air Fry to make a family-sized portion of mac and cheese. I added macaroni, water, milk and oil to the glassware and cooked it on the FusionCrisp mode for 25 minutes. I then added cheese and finished it with eight minutes in air fry mode for a lovely golden top.

The pasta was cooked well to an al dente bite, while the cheese oozed throughout the dish and provided some exceptional cheese pull highlights.

I dipped into the supplied cook book again when it came to sorting out a sweet treat, and I baked a moist, spongy chocolate cake using the FusionCrisp feature. I mixed the batter and poured it into the glassware, selected FusionCrisp for 15 minutes, then air fry for five minutes, and hit start.

The Crispi Microwave then got to baking, doing the quarter of an hour FusionCrisp cook first and then seamlessly switching to air fry for five minutes to finish the cake off. And thanks to the size of the glassware, the cake was large enough to last us a whole week.

And for a quick lunch fix I utilized the FusionCrisp mode once again to cook myself a baked potato. 14 minutes microwave, followed by a 10 minute air fry and I had a soft fluffy centered potato with a crispy skin in under half an hour. For those of you who enjoy an extra crispy skin on your potato, I'd recommend air frying for an additional 10 minutes.

I always enjoy air fryer chicken wings, and the Ninja Crispi Microwave didn’t disappoint. Lightly tossed in oil, salt and pepper, my wings cooked for 35 minutes at 200C on the air fryer mode. The result? Wonderfully crispy skin and succulent meat. It was so good, I immediately cooked a second batch.

Another air fryer classic is homemade fries, which I cooked at 200C for 20 minutes. Although the power of the Ninja Crispi Microwave meant I stopped after 16 minutes as outside was looking well cooked.

It turned out they needed a couple more minutes to make them extra crispy, and they were well cooked and nice and fluffy on the side. Depending on how thick you cut your fries, you’ll want to keep an eye on how they’re cooking before the time is up.

Digging into the freezer I wanted to see if the Crispi Microwave could deliver when it comes to frozen fries, and I selected the Max Crisp setting on the Air Fryer mode. The recipe book that comes with the unit has numerous tables with settings and cook time for lots of different foods, and it suggested I cooked the frozen fries for 15 minutes.

However, I found they needed an additional five minutes to get to a good level of crisp. Once done though, I was treated to crunchy fries with fluffy centers — just bear in mind you might need to cook them for longer.

As a big pizza fan, I love using an air fryer to reheat leftover slices, and the Ninja Crispi Microwave is a great option. Unlike a traditional microwave where your reheated slice is left limp, Ninja suggests heating the slices as you would in a traditional microwave first, then switching to air fry mode for five minutes to finish them off.

I dutifully followed these instructions, laying the slices on the crisper tray in the glassware, and sliding it into its elevated position. The results were slices which looked, felt and tasted almost as good as they did when they arrived fresh in the box the night before.

You’ll be pleased to learn that despite not having a rotating platform, the microwave mode functions exactly how you’d expect. Reheating left over mac and cheese and warming up pasta sauce worked well.

The soup sub-mode allowed me to select the quantity of soup I was heating (in liters) and the Crispi Microwave adjusted the cook time to suit.

I melted butter using the soften butter sub-mode with no burning, while the popcorn sub-mode did a good job of popping the kernels in my sweet and salty bag in the two minute duration it set itself to.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Ninja Crispi Microwave?

Buy it if

Don’t buy it if

Ninja Crispi Microwave: also consider

How I tested the Ninja Crispi Microwave

• I used the Ninja Crispi Microwave for several weeks
• I cooked a variety of food, including fries, cake, popcorn, chicken and potatoes
• I tested the various cooking modes, and the cleaning process

I used the Ninja Crispi Microwave for a number of weeks at home during my review testing period, cooking a wide variety of food and testing out the various functions and modes that this appliance offers.

I baked a cake, air fried fries and chicken wings, reheated pizza and pasta, popped popcorn, warmed up soup, baked crispy potatoes, and even tested the “soften butter” setting.

I hand-washed the glassware and crisper tray, and put them through a dishwasher, while running a damp cloth around the interior of the microwave to ensure cleaning and maintenance was easy.

First reviewed September/October 2026

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

Are you feeling inspired by The Great British Bake Off this weekend — or The Great British Baking Show as it's known in the US? Want to try cooking up something new? Me too, so I was delighted to find a fun new collection of pretty pastel bakeware at IKEA this week. There's everything from measuring jugs to bundt tins, all in lovely shades of candy pink and cream.

Below you'll find all the best items in the new Baktider range, along with a few extra goodies in co-ordinating colors to finish the look in your kitchen. Prices start at just $2.99 / £2 for a sweet pink side plate, and most pieces are under $10 / £10, so it won't cost much to give your baking space a complete overhaul.

For more options, take a look at IKEA's whole selection of bakeware, or just peruse the Baktider collection in more detail. And if you need to catch up with the latest events in the tent, here's how to watch season 17. On your marks, get set… bake!

The sweetest bakeware

It had been a while since Dyson had genuinely surprised us with a product launch, but then the brand unveiled its first toothbrush. Dyson is already a familiar name in personal care, thanks to its now well established hair-styling gadgets, so a move into oral care wasn't entirely left-field. Still, when the CameraJet made its debut, it was still quite the swerve – taking Dyson from the dressing table to the bathroom sink.

When I caught up with Jake Dyson — son of founder, James, and Dyson's chief engineer — at the brand's Unveiled event, I wanted to know what prompted such a move. And, more broadly, how a brand might end up with such a twisty, turny product roadmap.

(For clarity, throughout this article I'll be using "Dyson" to mean the brand, and "Jake" to mean the person.)

So, if a toothbrush can become a Dyson gadget, is there anything that couldn't be? "No, it doesn't," Jake declares. "It has to be radically different."

He expands: "The first product has to be radically different, and have performance claims, and a difference against a competitor by a magnitude; otherwise, we wouldn't consider it."

In short, the brand isn't interested in having a go at anything; it wants to make a splash in markets that have grown stagnant. The launch of the first Dyson Supersonic hair dryer in 2016 is a great example — it blew new life into a market that had barely seen change in decades.

And the CameraJet is far from your average toothbrush. It's kitted out with a camera that will stream a live view of the inside of your mouth back to you, and is trained to recognize gaps in your teeth and shoot water/mouthwash at them, to take care of flossing. Whether or not it enjoys the success of the Supersonic remains to be seen, but it certainly checks that "radically different" box.

Striving for perfection

The potential to shake things up is essential, but before a new-category product is launched, other criteria must be met. "It's got to work properly," asserts Jake. "I mean, we probably could have launched [the CameraJet] two years ago, but it wouldn't have hit every gap perfectly, and that's not acceptable."

It's unfortunate then that shortly after our conversation, reports of CameraJet faults began rolling in from early adopters. Dyson has blamed this on an isolated production issue that's now under control, so I'll give the company the benefit of the doubt in this instance.

Barring any further hiccups, you should expect more unusual oral care products to also be hitting the market before too long; Jake's third golden rule is that you never launch with just one product. "If we're going to go into a new area, then we'll do that knowing we've got more products behind it," he tells me.

When pushed if he means further iterations, he clarifies the brand aims for "expansion in that category, quite quickly", and confirms it will start with a roadmap of multiple products.

Doubling up

Breaking new markets is an expensive business, but Jake is savvy about not wasting effort. "I think you try not to do things twice that take an awful long time and a lot of investment," he says. "You try to use it again in another product."

He talks about innovations that the brand wants to "platform". A great example is the shrunk-down mechanics and battery system that Dyson developed for its Airwrap, and which also appears in its Supersonic r hair dryer. A version of it is used in the brand's new hot brush, and it also features in the PencilVac and now the PencilMop.

As for exactly how the innovations make their way across team lines, it isn't a defined process. "It happens naturally. You cross-pollinate, you join the dots. 'If we put that with that, we could do this.'," says Jake. "And as a company, we're getting much better at predicting that before we do it."

He explains that this cross-pollination will also sometimes highlight the gaps that Dyson needs to fill. "It makes us realize there are other technologies we need to develop ourselves — which we are, behind the scenes — to enable us to go into those new areas and do something better than anyone else."

What "radically different" products might be on the horizon at Dyson? I'll be watching with interest.

Dyson product tour

Here's a quick rundown of some of Dyson's newest releases — hit the View Details button to read more about each one.

• 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

Spooky season has arrived, and Le Creuset is treating us to a full range of themed cookware. Officially, it's the Harvest Collection in the US, and the Autumn Collection in the UK, and it offers pumpkins in every configuration you could imagine — plus some you'd never have thought of. For instance, I didn't think you could turn a gravy boat or a butter dish into a pumpkin, but both are present and correct here. There are also plenty of bats sprinkled in, for good measure.

Le Creuset is known as a top-quality brand, and that's reflected here — this cookware is predominantly cast iron and stoneware, so it's built to last. The colorways are classy, too; the brand's signature volcanic orange is a perfect fit, and moody greens, mustard yellow and inky black help round out a sophisticated autumnal color palette. And there are thoughtful touches throughout, like the twisty, metal stem/handle on the large cast-iron dishes.

Of course, the price points are fairly lofty. But there are a handful of more budget-friendly options in the mix that'll let you get the look without breaking the bank — I'll be working towards a mini cocotte in every color. Scroll down to check out the full range in both the US and the UK.

US: Spook-tastic cookware

Hop down to the UK range

UK: Spook-tastic cookware

• Dyson Total Restore is a door-to-door cleaning and restoration service
• It's available for Dyson's cordless and wet floor cleaners
• It costs £99.99 and is now available in mainland Britain

If your vacuum cleaner or floor cleaner needs some love, Dyson has just launched a new refresh and restoration service that will get it working like new (or as close as possible). Dyson Total Restore, now available in the mainland Britain, is a door-to-door service that aims to improve your cleaner's performance and extend its lifespan

For £99.99 (plus the cost of any repairs not covered by your warranty), the cleaner will be collected from your home and delivered to Dyson's service and repair centre in Chippenham, where engineers will carry out an engineering assessment, which covers areas such as airflow, battery health, and motor performance.

Engineers will then complete an industrial-standard deep clean to improve the performance of your machine, fix repairable faults, and replace damaged or worn components with genuine Dyson parts..

Once the service is finished, your floor cleaner will be returned along with a label showing the last service date, and any replacement filters or wet rollers required. You will also received digital photos, a digital health check report, and a digital certificate of service.

"It's offering to consumers a better service and allowing our machines to be looked after and giving them a second wind," Dyson's Chief Engineer, Jake Dyson, told my colleague Ruth Hamilton in a recent interview. "So, if they come in for a spa day, they go back in the same condition they were when they were new. So, you always start again on the reliability curve and the abuse curve."

Is your cleaner supported?

Dyson Total Restore is available for cordless vacuums (from the Dyson V7 through to the V16 Piston Animal), as well as wet cleaners like the Dyson WashG1 and PencilWash. To find out whether your cleaner is supported, log in to your account on Dyson's website and select the ‘My Products’ page. Eligible machines will be clearly labelled.

If yours isn't included, or you're thinking of buying your first Dyson cleaner, take a look at our complete list of the best Dyson vacuums.

Dyson Total Restore is currently only available in Great Britain, but is expected to roll out internationally in the future.

I’ve recently moved into a brand new home, and the tiny kitchen I had to make do with in my old apartment has over doubled in size — and this Prime Day I’m looking for a brand new suite of kitchen gadgets, and general cookware to fill it with.

Top of my list is an airfryer — specifically the Ninja Air Fryer DoubleStack XL which is currently $40-off (now $209.95 at Amazon, and you can save £60 on it at Amazon UK) thanks to its efficient size and cooking prowess — but I’m hoping to indulging myself with a new coffee maker, or perhaps the Ninja Creami I’ve heard so much about (it’s $169.99 at Amazon US, saving you 23%-off, and £153.89 at Amazon UK, a 38% discount).

I’ve already grabbed a few non-techy essentials to fill out my kitchen, and I’ll highlight them below too with reasons you should consider them.

Today's best Ninja deals

The Ninja Double Stack stands as the best airfryer in the world based on our tests thanks to its generous capacity for its small footprint and its “top-tier” cooking performance. Normally it is a bit pricey, but whenever it goes on sale (like right now) it’s one I have my eye on because it represents such an amazing deal.

The Creami is a few years older at this point, but it is still a capable ice cream maker — and I expect it’ll be vital next Summer if the UK faces another record-breaking heatwave which is why I’m considering grabbing it while I can for a discount.

Lastly, the only item I have on this list is the Ninja Kettle (it’s on sale in the UK, in the US I’ve picked a snazzy but simple coffee maker). I love coffee, matcha, chai, and fruit teas, while my wife likes classic black tea, and all need different temperatures for the best results — this kettle lets me easily heat water to the perfect temp for each in no time, and it’s easily my most used (and probably most loved) appliance.

My other favorite Prime Day deals for my kitchen

I’ve tried a few different non-stick pans over the years, but fears over forever chemicals and frustration at safer coatings that never seem to last have brought me back to the ol’ reliable steel pan — and from my experience GreenPan’s are excellent.

I’ve been giving pieces from its 5-ply Premiere collection a whirl in my new flat — which combine steel and aluminum sheets to maximize heat efficiency and resilience while keeping them a less weighty — but as they aren’t on sale right now I’m highlighting this collection of 11 pots and pans, which for only $119.99 are a steal (especially as you get lids with everything too).

The thing to remember is unlike typical non-stick, steel pans will need a bit more oil, and plenty of time to get up to temperature before you add anything (around two to three minutes), but the upshot is they’re dishwasher and oven safe to high temperatures, and can survive metal tools — which for me is precisely what I need.

In the UK GreenPan’s options aren’t discounted at the time of writing, but the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic set should fill a similar role.

The Tormek T-1 isn’t on sale and it is a little pricey, but I’m highlighting it for any home chefs who have just bought new knives, or who are considering upgrading their old dull ones this Prime Day.

I’ve tried cheap and ‘easy’ knife sharpeners but they’re generally ineffective and can create an uneven edge. Meanwhile, sharpening stones are pretty intimidating.

The Tormek T1 works a treat. It’s super simple to use thanks to the instructions and helped transform all my knives into elite kitchen tools again — including some close to a decade-old blades I was close to throwing out given how useless they had become after years of abuse.

If you cook plenty and have some knives you want to look after, but not a lot of time to sharpen them regularly a more old-fashioned way this piece of kit is something to consider — though if you’re on a budget you may want to wait and see if a Black Friday sale can make it cheaper.

Finally as an avid baker I've picked out some essential baking gear I use (or is very similar to the kit I have at home). My favorites of the bunch are the Brod & Taylor Bread Steel and Sourdough Home.

The steel is perfect for crusting the bottom of your loaves, but also works well with pizza and other doughs (I think most ovens should have one), while the Sourdough Home is more of a luxury — but one I adore nonetheless.

I keep my sourdough tucked away inside it at a constant cool 5-degrees celsius, and can easily make the home warmer (usually 24-degrees) when I’m getting my starter ready to be baked with. The Home makes managing your starter all-year-round much less of a chore, though it isn’t something I’d recommend for beginners — just because you don’t want to splash out on gear and only bake a few loaves.

But if you’ve fallen in love with sourdough baking and want to treat yourself (or the baker in your life) this deal is perfect.

The Dyson Airwrap has gained somewhat iconic status, but it's not the only great hair tool this brand makes. In fact, I've tested most of Dyson's haircare range, and for me, the Supersonic Nural hair dryer is the unsung hero of the lineup.

Both are discounted in the current Prime Day sales: the Airwrap i.d. is down to $499.99 (was $709.99) and the Supersonic Nural is down to $349.99 (was $449.99). You need to be a Prime subscriber to access both deals, but you can use the free trial.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Before you scramble to purchase an Airwrap, it's worth considering if a Supersonic Nural might actually be a better fit for your styling needs — not least because with these deals, it's $150 cheaper. Scroll down for my take on who should buy an Airwrap, and who'd be better off with a Supersonic Nural...

Buy the Dyson Supersonic Nural if...

✅ You want healthier hair drying: In Scalp Protect mode, this dryer will raise or lower its temperature to maintain what feels like a constant heat on your head. That means you can get right up close to your scalp, for precision styling, without frying your head or your roots. The Airwrap does not have this feature. In general, if hair drying is your priority, the Supersonic Nural is more comfortable and efficient than the Airwrap-plus-dryer attachment.

✅ You have naturally curly hair: The Supersonic Nural is arguably a better choice for those with natural curls — amongst the plethora of attachments you'll find a two-part diffuser (one section for drying another for defining), a wide-tooth comb (ideal for coily hair) and a 'soft air' attachment.

✅ You're a big attachment-swapper: The attachments here are magnetic, and swapping them over is much less fiddly than the clip-in, clip out process required on the Airwrap. More impressive though, is the fact the dryer has attachment recognition, so it knows what's snapped on and will remember your preferred settings.

Buy the Dyson Airwrap i.d. if...

✅ You have straight hair and want curls: There are no curling tools on the Supersonic Nural, so if you're creating curls you need the Airwrap. The i.d. feature makes this process dead easy — you flip a switch on the Airwrap handle and it'll launch into a wrap > curl > cool shot sequence, personalized for your hair type, for perfect results with minimal effort required from you.

✅ You want bouncy blowouts: The Airwrap i.d. comes with a round brush attachment, which I use regularly for creating volume and loose curls. There isn't an equivalent on the Supersonic Nural.

More Prime Day deals US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

Not content with taking over the worlds of air fryers, blenders, and coffee machines, Ninja has launched a new waffle maker, with five crispiness settings so you can achieve exactly the right level of browning.

Unlike a conventional waffle iron, which requires you to carefully pour batter onto a horizontal plate, the Ninja Belgian Waffle Maker stands upright. You pour your mix in easily, from the top, and the batter is evenly distributed inside for perfectly-shaped results. The upright orientation also means Ninja's waffle maker has a much smaller footprint than a standard waffle iron. You even get a specially designed pouring cup to keep mess to a minimum.

Your waffles will be cooked evenly from both sides so there's no need to flip them, the generous space inside means they will always turn out thick and even, and its nano-ceramic non-stick coating means you won't have to spend ages at the sink scrubbing at cooked-on waffle mix.

You can even pick your preferred finish, whether you like your waffle soft and pillowy, or golden and crispy (I certainly lean on the latter side). When it's done, a green light and a beep will let you know it's time to release your waffle and tuck in — no need for guesswork.

It's not the first vertical waffle maker I've seen (German company Caso Design launched its WaffleUp in 2023, for example), but the new Ninja appliance is the first that makes square Belgian waffles with deep pockets to hold plenty of toppings.

The Ninja Belgian Waffle Maker is on sale now for £99.99 direct from SharkNinja.

Ninja Prime Day deals

Amazon has knocked hundreds of pounds off Ninja kitchen appliances in its Prime Day sale, and I've rounded up a selection of my favorite offers below. You'll need to move quickly though, because these offers will end at midnight tonight (October 7).

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