Cat Ellis

Cat Ellis

Homes Editor

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

Articles by: Cat Ellis

Split image of Ring door sensor, glass break sensor, and smart light switch

Your Ring doorbell and cameras are getting a huge upgrade with AI-powered warnings when something looks unusual

By Cat Ellis published

CES 2026 Ring launches new AI alerts, plus a collection of sensors to detect break-ins, floods, carbon monoxide, and much more.

Philips Hue lighting scene with and without Hue SpatialAware

The Philips Hue app can now customize lighting scenes so they suit the layout of your rooms

By Cat Ellis published

Hue SpatialAware is a new augmented reality feature that considers the location of your bulbs and lamps when applying a scene.

Split image of three smart locks

Wireless charging, super-fast unlocking, and built-in solar panels – the next generation of smart locks from CES 2026

By Cat Ellis published

CES 2026 Home security is a hot topic at CES, with locks that are smarter, more secure, and simpler to use than ever.

A hand holding a Garmin watch next to the CES logo and a Switchbot robot vacuum

CES 2025 live: all the latest news from the world's biggest tech show

By Mark Wilson last updated

CES 2025 is now well underway and we're live at the show – here's all of the latest tech news.

Woman opening air fryer drawer

How to give your air fryer a deep clean, and keep it looking – and cooking – like new

By Cat Ellis published

Air fryers don't use much oil, but they still get greasy. Thankfully, getting them clean again is a piece of cake.

Woman wiping coffee maker drip tray with cloth

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

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

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Jura J10 machine dispensing cold extracted espresso

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

By Cat Ellis published

Three outstanding options to help you through the daily grind

Split image of three home security cameras

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

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

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

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

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Ring Video Doorbell Pro

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Split image of three coffee makers

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

IMOU home security camera

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly coffee maker with caffe latte

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Split image of three drip coffee makers on kitchen counter

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Split image of three video doorbells mounted on walls

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

By Cat Ellis published

Affordable video doorbells with no subscription fees

Coffee maker dispensing steamed milk into glass cup

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Split image of three video doorbells mounted on walls

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Lavazza Assoluta coffee machine with drink and two bags of coffee

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

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

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Nespresso Festive Collection Sweet Almond and Hibiscus capsules

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Nesprsso Festive Collection Double Espresso capsules

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

Russell Hobbs Calm Kettle boiling water

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

By Cat Ellis published

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

The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

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

By Roland Moore-Colyer published

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

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