Articles by 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

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

By Cat Ellis Published 18 December 25

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

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

By Cat Ellis Published 16 December 25

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.

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 15 December 25

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 13 December 25

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 9 December 25

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 7 December 25

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 3 December 25

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

2 Comments

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 16 November 25

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 3 November 25

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 2 November 25

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 1 November 25

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

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 1 November 25

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 1 November 25

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.

Nespresso machine dispensing coffee, latte made using Nespresso machine, and Nespresso capsules

The 3 best Nespresso machines for delicious coffee in an instant, recommended by a trained barista

By Cat Ellis Published 29 October 25

If you want your coffee as quickly as possible, a Nespresso machine could be exactly what you need, and these are three of the best.

Coffee grounds in brew basket, cup of drip coffee, and settings on drip coffee machine

The 3 best drip coffee machines for your kitchen, recommended by a qualified barista

By Cat Ellis Published 27 October 25

The best batch brewers for preparing delicious drip coffee and keeping it hot and tasty for hours.

3 Comments

The Lavazza Assoluta adjusts its own brew settings to suit your beans, but does it make a good espresso?

By Cat Ellis Published 26 October 25

An espresso machine that aims to take the trial-and-error out of espresso.

The chic Smeg ECF03 looks like it came straight out of the 1950s, and brews consistently great hot and cold espresso

By Cat Ellis Published 24 October 25

The new ECF03 is the most stylish way to prepare your morning pick-me-up.

The Jura J10 is the next best thing to having a barista in your kitchen, and it's our Home Device of the Year 2025

By Cat Ellis Published 21 October 25

If your regular coffee order needs a TL;DR, this is the machine for you.

Ninja Crispi Pro air fryer containing roast chicken beside a dish of bread rolls on a kitchen counter

Ninja's glass air fryer now comes in an XL size and four pretty colors – which one will you choose?

By Cat Ellis Published 16 October 25

According to Ninja, the new Crispi Max can cook dinner for up to 10 people.

Google Nest Learning Thermostat with seasonal poppy face

These pretty new Nest Learning Thermostat faces will turn your temperature controller into a work of art

By Cat Ellis Published 14 October 25

The new Farsight faces will be displayed when you're within about 20 feet of the thermostat.

6 Comments

Since the Ninja Prestige DualBrew coffee maker came into my life, I'm finally becoming a morning person

By Cat Ellis Published 12 October 25

The quickest and easiest way to get caffeine into your groggy system.

Split image of espresso in cup, person using espresso machine, and ground espresso beans in portafilter

I test coffee makers for a living, and these are the 3 best espresso machines I've used this year

By Cat Ellis Published 5 October 25

Whatever your budget and level of experience, I have the perfect espresso machine for your kitchen.

The new Google Home Speaker comes in some fun color options in the US, but elsewhere it's gray all the way

By Cat Ellis Published 2 October 25

Not in North America? You're missing out on funky colored speaker and cameras, as well as the new Nest Doorbell.

Nest isn’t dead – Google takes on Ring with new AI-powered video doorbell and security cameras

By Cat Ellis Published 1 October 25

Google's new doorbell and cameras boast 2K resolution and Gemini-powered smarts, but is that enough to keep pace with Ring?

Amazon’s big hardware event as it happened – four new Echo devices, Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, Alexa+, new Ring doorbells and more

By Cat Ellis Last updated 30 September 25

Amazon's 2025 hardware event is happening today, and we're bringing you all the announcements as soon as they happen.

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