When it comes to air fryers, Ninja's got a pretty firm hold on the market. Put it this way, when it comes to the best air fryers we've ever tested, Ninja holds two of the five spots. And the Ninja Crispi is one of those, offering a glass air fryer capable of 4-in-1 cooking.

But what if I told you there was an alternative that could take that 4-in-1 and combine it with an 8-in-1 multi-cooker in the same attractive glass design? Magnifique has stepped up to the plate.

The California cookware brand has established itself as a creator of non-toxic, coating-free, pure clay appliances. And with that ethos in mind, it's crafted the 12-in-1 Combo, an impressive Crispi dupe that calls itself: "The only glass air fryer + multi-cooker system." Oh, and it's currently on sale.

Why I can't wait to try it

I love my air fryer, but I also don't love that I have to switch appliances for certain meals. So, when I heard that Magnifique says, "No more swapping pots of appliances to put a crispy finish on the casserole," I was intrigued.

The Combo 12-in-1 may look like a Ninja Crispi and has the same name for its four air fryer modes, but the difference with Magnifique's offering is that it also comes with 8 multi-cooker modes in the same glass pot. Sure, it's a touch more expensive, but it also offers a lot more versatility.

With a 4.5 qt pot, it can hold approximately 18 cups at a time, meaning you can happily serve family and friends. And thanks to its pure glass and stainless steel build with zero coatings, making it 100% non-toxic, you don't have to worry about chemicals or scratching it up when using it and scrubbing it clean.

But I always like to consider countertop space when looking at appliances like these. So, the big question for me is: how does it size up next to the Ninja Crispi? Well, it's a close one.

The Magnifique Combo 12-in-1 with both units and glass pot comes in at around the same length and height as the Ninja Crispi, but it does measure up to 4 inches wider.

Of course, what really matters is how well it works, and I'll hold off on any judgment until we get our hands on one for a full review.

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja Crispi Pro review: A meal prep marvel
• Ninja just released an air fryer so portable you can take it to the office
• 7 dangerous mistakes to avoid when cooking in an air fryer

Have you ever capitalized on Black Friday deals to refresh your kitchen? While this helps with Christmas dinner preparations, Black Friday is unfortunately after Thanksgiving, leaving you unable to utilize your revamped kitchen for Turkey Day. But what if you could upgrade your kitchen appliances before Thanksgiving? With Samsung's early Black Friday deals — available now — you can. From smarter food storage to easier cooking and cleanup, these five Samsung appliances can help make life in the kitchen a little simpler, just in time for holiday hosting.

1. Bespoke AI 3-Door French Door Refrigerator With Zero Clearance Fit

$2,999 $2,299 (up to 23% off)

Every chef knows that a good meal starts with quality ingredients — and proper storage of those ingredients. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas, you’re going to need to keep a lot of different ingredients fresh. Samsung’s Bespoke AI Refrigerators can both store a large amount of ingredients and help you stay on top of keeping them fresh.

For larger turkeys, the USDA recommends five to six days of thawing in the refrigerator before Thanksgiving. And turkeys that need to be thawed for this long also require a lot of space. This is where the Bespoke AI 3-Door French Door Refrigerator with Zero Clearance Fit comes in handy. Featuring 24 cu. ft. of storage space, this refrigerator maximizes storage while minimizing the area taken up in the kitchen, so you don’t need to compromise on your turkey to make space in the kitchen. This is because of Zero Clearance Fit, which — combined with sleek counter-depth design — allows the doors to open without additional space along the sides.

Carafes make it much easier to refill glasses of water at the Thanksgiving table, and these can easily be filled up with the Water Dispenser. Additionally, select models include Sphere Ice™, which dispenses ice cubes that keep cocktails colder for longer. In addition to impressing your guests with the elevated experience of spherical ice, their beverages will be optimally chilled whether they are watching the big football game on TV before dinner or you’re all spending quality time together afterwards.

2. Bespoke AI 4-Door French Door Refrigerator With Beverage Center™

$3,399 $2,199 (up to 35% off)

Thanksgiving isn’t only about turkey — it’s also about side dishes and beverages. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and all the other holiday favorites contain a lot of ingredients that need to be stored in the refrigerator. It can be difficult to accommodate all these ingredients, but the Bespoke AI 4-Door French Door Refrigerator With Beverage Center™ makes it much easier. FlexZone™ Drawer brings flexibility to your storage needs, letting you adjust the amount of space available to you depending on the number of items you need to store. Plus, it has five different temperature settings, allowing you to chill your ingredients accordingly. Meanwhile, the Beverage Center™ keeps refreshing drinks within easy reach and out of sight for a cleaner interior look.

3. Bespoke Smart Slide-in Gas Range With Air Fry Max & Convection

$1,949 $1,299 (up to 33% off)

Whether it’s a holiday or a regular weekday, the right appliances elevate your meals. The Bespoke Smart Slide-in Gas Range With Air Fry Max & Convection cooks food up to 15% faster without preheating thanks to No Preheat Air Fry Max, and True Convection ensures faster, more even cooking on every rack. So if you want to make sure that Thanksgiving turkey is a nice, golden brown, take advantage of the added heating element and powerful fan that circulates consistently heated air.

4. Bespoke Over-the-Range Microwave With DualVent Technology

$749 $549 (up to 26% off)

While a microwave might not necessarily come in handy while preparing Thanksgiving dinner, it’s crucial for warming up Thanksgiving leftovers. The Bespoke Over-the-Range Microwave with DualVent Technology combines everyday convenience with DualVent Technology and a Power Front Vent to help remove smoke, steam, and cooking odors. It provides a more connected cooking experience as well, with Auto Connectivity allowing it to work with compatible Samsung ranges.

5. Bespoke AI Smart Dishwasher With 3rd Rack Washing System & AutoRelease™ Door

$1,399 $949 (up to 32% off)

Cleaning up after a meal is always a hassle. When that meal happens to be Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, the task can seem insurmountable. However, the Bespoke AI Smart Dishwasher with 3rd Rack Washing System makes that task more manageable by taking the guesswork out of cleanup with AI Wash and SmartDry with AutoRelease™ Door. It also has a 3rd Rack Washing System, a dedicated area for drinkware and cutlery that holds six 6-inch and six 4-inch cups, and includes dedicated wash jets with six spinning nozzles to ensure thorough cleaning of stubborn residue.

And don’t worry about any noise disrupting the time spent with your family after dinner, either, as Whisper Quiet 38 dBA operation makes the dishwasher barely noticeable.

Whether it’s to improve Thanksgiving, Christmas, or regular everyday cooking, Samsung’s early Black Friday deals put you in position to drastically improve your cooking experiences.

Learn more about Samsung’s early Black Friday deals here.

If I were buying my first espresso machine, I would probably get one with a built-in grinder. Actually, my first-ever home espresso machine — the De'Longhi La Specialista Opera — had a built-in grinder. I recommend that new home baristas think about a bean-to-cup for a few reasons: it's less kitchen clutter and less confusing for newbies.

I always recommend the Breville Barista Express — this bean-to-cup is one of our highest-rated all-in-one espresso machines thanks to its reliability, PID controller, powerful steam wand, and ease of use. It's definitely one of the best espresso machines on the market — even in 2026. Yes, this machine first released in 2011, which just goes to show how great it is.

Right now, the Barista Express is $499 at Amazon — the same price as Breville's Bambino Plus (with no grinder), so if you think about it, you're technically getting that grinder for free. Although you can get cheaper grinders and espresso machines, I would personally grab this bean-to-cup.

It's coffee math time!

Let's do some coffee math. I'm going to work out how mcuh it would cost me to buy an espresso machine and a separate grinder versus how much the Breville Barista Express costs. Spoiler alert: you can get a machine + separate grinder for less than $499.

As you can see, the cheapest grinder I'd recommend for espresso is the Casabrews Tornado. While I only gave this a 3-star rating in my review due to its somewhat inconsistent grind, my parents got this grinder and love it. I think if you're a more casual coffee drinker, this will be more than enough.

I also recommend the Breville Dose Control Pro, which has a lot of haters online, but it's a perfectly fine grinder for $149. It's more uniform than the Casabrews model and even has a light-up screen.

There's also the Baratza Encore ESP and Baratza Encore ESP Pro. Baratza is actually owned by Breville, and Breville uses these grinders in its espresso machines, so your Barista Express has a Baratza grinder built in. I'd recommend the ESP over the ESP Pro as the latter is a little too pricey for my liking.

Now, these examples are all the cheapest you can get. Unfortunately, decent espresso machines and coffee grinders don't really go below $150 each, so the cheapest you're looking at is $300.

If you're looking for an easy, one-way ticket to coffeeville, the Barista Express on sale is your best bet. I would be wary about buying it full price ($699), but right now, at just $499, it's a no-brainer.

I don't flat-out recommend buying an espresso machine with a built-in grinder if you want to "nerd out" over coffee. You might be better off with a standalone grinder in that case as you'll be able to customize the grind better. However, then you need more space for two products and more time to get used to two products.

Don't even get me started on four-figure automatic machines like the Philips 8000 Series — I'd skip them in a heartbeat.

Which kind of barista are you? Are you a coffee nerd, or do you want the easiest machine possible? If you're the latter, go for the Barista Express. If you're the former, check out the Breville Bambino Plus and one of the best coffee grinders.

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• I've reviewed the Dreame L50s Pro Ultra, and it's a good robot vacuum option if you have mostly hard floors — but not so much for carpets

I'm just going to rip off the Band-Aid: the xBloom Studio coffee machine is $599. Alright, now that's out in the open, let's get to the bottom of what the xBloom Studio actually is.

Although it looks like something you'd find in a minimalist NYC apartment (life goals), the xBloom Studio is a maximalist coffee machine. It's a pour-over, scale, and grinder in one. It's even app-compatible, so you can customize your drink down to the milliliter.

Like the Ratio Four ($279), it's an automated pour-over, but unlike the Ratio Four, it's got the aforementioned built-in grinder, built-in scale, and app control. Is that extra $329 worth it? That's the question we're trying to answer this week on The Coffee Lab. Is the xBloom Studio one of the best coffee makers, even at $599?

Multi-functional

The xBloom Studio is three products in one.

There's a grinder, a scale, and an automated pour-over. If you buy the Ratio Four, you would need to buy one of the best coffee scales and one of the best coffee grinders separately. These could easily set you back a grand — grinders are particularly pricey (especially my favorite grinder, the $1,500 Mazzer Philos).

However, you could also get a cheap setup; I always recommend the Wacaco Exagram Pro ($49) and the Timemore Chestnut C2S ($60) for seriously low budgets. With the Ratio Four ($279), this would cost $388. That's still $211 cheaper than the xBloom Studio, though it adds more clutter to your coffee space.

Would you pay the extra 200 bucks for an all-in-one? I'm not sure I would, but of course I can't tell you how to think.

Completely customizable

One of the best parts of the xBloom Studio is its customizability. You can make pour-over, xPod (like a fancy Keurig), or even a big batch of pour-over. And every step of those brewing processes is customizable — you can adjust temperature, volume, ratio, and grind speed.

This coffee maker is for serious coffee lovers. You can get incredibly granular, and the xBloom app (more on that later) can literally graph your flow rates. Yep, this isn't a machine for the everyday coffee drinker. I'd recommend this one only for self-professed nerds. While there's nothing wrong with this at all — different strokes for different folks — it's just worth noting if you're a total beginner. If you are a total beginner, I might suggest something like the pod coffee Lavazza Tabli, or if you want a pour-over, start cheap with the Chemex or Hario V60 — definitely the best pour-over coffee makers.

It's not just coffee, either — you can brew tea! Specialty tea is just as delicious as specialty coffee, and with adjustable temperature control, the xBloom can go as low as 100°F (perfect for some types of white tea, for example).

And an... app?

Yes, the xBloom Studio has an app. Because why wouldn't it? It's a new(ish) coffee gadget. Of course it has to have an app.

I'm so sick of apps in general. Why do I need a different app for my speaker, my soundbar, my air fryer, my coffee maker, my watch, my headphones, my earbuds, my alarm clock? Can't we just put a stop to this madness?

Jokes aside, I suppose the xBloom app has a few useful functions. You can customize the NFC card (pictured above) with your go-to recipe. You can also adjust brew volume, brew temperature, and flow rate on the app. You can also program the built-in scale and grinder and configure the pouring direction.

So, I suppose, in the grand scheme of companion apps, the xBloom one is pretty useful. I just wish we didn't need apps at all — I wish this were all built into the machine. I have companion app fatigue. What if I didn't have a smartphone? I'd miss out on 90% of xBloom's USPS.

Would you buy the xBloom Studio?

What do you think? Would you spend $600 on this coffee machine? Let's do a quick rundown of its features again.

• Automated pour over
• xPod compatibility
• Built-in grinder
• Built-in scale
• App customization
• NFC card

As I'm sure you're aware by now, the easiest way to describe the xBloom Studio is as a grinder version of the Ratio Four ($279). The Ratio Four is an automatic pour-over, so you get the delicate flavor of pour-over without the effort. The xBloom Studio makes the same type of coffee, but with a built-in grinder.

Would you pay $600 for an automated pour-over with a built-in grinder? Or do you think that's way too expensive?

As much as I like the appearance and ambition of the xBloom, it's way too expensive for me. There's a lot going for it, but it'll cost you. Let me know what you think in the comments, and check back next week for the next episode of The Coffee Lab.

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• Overwhelmed by coffee jargon? Here are the 5 key espresso terms you need to know
• I'm an ex-Starbucks barista — you can make the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home for a fraction of the cost
• I blind taste-tested a homemade PSL vs Starbucks PSL — and the winner didn't surprise me at all

I have yet to find a fully automatic espresso machine good enough to earn a permanent place in my kitchen. I’ve tested upwards of twenty now, and they all leave a little to be desired. But nothing’s been quite as disappointing as the Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series… let me explain.

The 8000 Series looks beautiful. It’s easily one of the prettiest superautomatic coffee machines I’ve ever tested. There’s a wood-veneer group head, a cup warmer, and two silver rails on top — just like a commercial espresso machine. My hopes were sky high.

However, I’m not convinced it’s one of the best espresso machines. It’s outrageously expensive in the U.S. ($2k!), makes mid-tasting coffee, and can only make one type of milk texture. I’ll go through all the information in this Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review.

Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review: Specs

Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review: Price & availability

The Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series is a high-end automatic espresso machine. It’ll set you back $1,999 at Amazon U.S. and £895 at Curry’s U.K.

This is a premium price for a premium machine. Similar options would be the KitchenAid KF8 ($1,999) and the De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic ($2,499).

If $2k is a little too much for you, don’t worry. De’Longhi also makes the $1,499 Rivelia, my favorite superautomatic coffee machine to date. For the money-savvy, there’s also the $795 Terra Kafe Demi, which can’t froth milk, and the Smeg BCC13, which is even cheaper at $749 but doesn’t have a full-color LED screen.

Philips also makes the $394 2200 Series. What’s actually different between the two? Honestly, not as much as you might think. The 2200 Series still has a built-in milk frother, unlike the $795 Terra Kafe Demi, and has a bright screen, unlike the $749 Smeg BCC13. Sure, the 2200 only makes “espresso”, “coffee”, and “hot water”, but that’s the foundation of any coffee drink. While the 8000 Series is much easier thanks to its one-touch recipes, I’m not sure this justifies a whole $1,600 extra. Personally, I would get the $394 2200 Series, or a standalone milk frother, like the $139 Subminimal Nanofoamer Pro Gen 2 for more finesse.

Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review: Design

Oh, the Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series is a sight to behold. It’s gorgeous. I’d go so far as to say it’s the most beautiful automatic coffee machine I’ve ever seen. Of course, it’s essentially a big plastic-and-metal box — it’s still an automatic coffee machine, after all — but there’s a sense of finesse missing from other machines (yes, even $2,000 ones).

There’s a cup warmer on top of the machine, complete with two stainless steel rails on either side, and a low-profile grinder. The grinder holds a whole 250g bag of beans at once, even though it’s only rated for 200g.

But my favorite part is the wood finish on the portafilter. Rather than plastic or metal — boring! — the 8000 Series has a gorgeous, glossy wood veneer, making the machine look more like an automatic version of the Lelit MaraX3 than something like the Casabrews Ultra Pro.

You might be sensing a theme here, but it only gets better. Even though the water tank looks pretty small, it’s actually 64 fluid ounces (just under 2 liters). And it’s a slide-out tank, so you don’t need counter space with overhead clearance, unlike the KitchenAid KF3 ($999).

At 15.3 x 9.9 17.8 inches, the 8000 isn’t the slimmest automatic coffee machine I’ve ever tested — that would go to the aforementioned KitchenAid KF3 — but it doesn’t look as bulky as its dimensions might suggest. I had this out in the office for a week (making around ten drinks a day) and it looked right at home.

If you value a good-looking automatic coffee machine, the 8000 is surely for you. I really have nothing bad to say about its appearance.

However, the 8000 Series has “app functionality”. Here’s a screenshot of said “app functionality”.

All you can really do is set user profiles and scroll through recipe ideas — most of which require extra ingredients, like custard or chocolate sauce. While I like that you can customize and save up to 8 drinks for each user profile, I do wish there was more purpose to the app. Sure, you can remote control brewing, but I wish there was something more. Or there’s not much point even having an app.

I also have a bone to pick with the language in said app. As you can see from the screenshots above, the app describes a latte as having “slightly light body, slightly bitter taste”. Coffee shouldn’t actually taste bitter. The central flavor note in a latte should not be bitterness. It should have a little bitterness to balance it out, but the prevailing taste should be fruitiness, chocolate, or nuttiness (depending on your beans). Maybe this is why the coffee tastes mediocre — because the machine is trying to make it bitter.

Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review: Espresso

The standout feature on the 8000 Series is its ease of use. One touch makes 40+ recipes. Some of the recipes I’d never heard of, like Melange and Galão. Of course, there are also a range of cold drinks, but these are extracted hot, so in theory you could pull a normal espresso and top it up with cold milk to achieve the same results.

Here’s a photo of a straightforward espresso.

As you can see, it has a nice layer of crema, but the shot itself is a little pale. This espresso tasted rich and smooth, but with a little too much bitterness at the back of the palate for my personal taste.

You can easily customize the espresso settings for every drink (and then save your customized drinks to profiles). You can adjust the strength from 1-7, temperature, and use ground coffee if you please.

The grinder is also manually adjustable, but the machine calibrated itself based on my beans. Pressing the bean button brings up a built-in AI, which asks questions about roast and species of bean. After I provided this information, it adjusted the grind size to suit.

I found most drinks were way too bitter by default. I like the taste of coffee — I drink straight espresso to taste-test every single coffee machine. However, the 8000 Series brought out an unpleasant bitter note in my usual Ethiopian, medium-roasted testing beans, so I had to increase milk volume for every drink recipe.

The oat flat white (pictured in the “Milk” section below) was almost black. This is incredibly weird. I would recommend adjusting the default recipe for each drink to ensure it’s not overly strong.

Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review: Milk

I appreciate the 8000 Series comes with both a hot and cold milk frother — more versatile than the De’Longhi Rivelia, which makes you spend extra for the cold milk system. However, you can’t customize the milk texture at all. You can adjust milk volume, but not texture. Iced latte, hot cappuccino, flat white, macchiato… all the same milk texture.

I’m sure the drinks are intended to be different milk textures, but they’re not. Everything is a little too aerated. There’s also no non-dairy/dairy milk setting, so oat milk is treated the same as cow milk, which is disappointing to see on such a pricey machine.

Here are three photos: one is an oat flat white, one is a cow milk latte, and one is an oat layered latte.

As you can see, the milk texture is relatively similar, and describable in one word: bubbly. For a $2,000 machine, it’s just not good enough. De’Longhi’s high-end milk systems allow for a three-prong customizer: you can choose low, medium, or high foam.

So, while I value the inclusion of a cold milk frother, the said milk frother isn’t as effective as De’Longhi’s “LatteCrema” systems.

Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review: Storage & maintenance

At 10 inches wide, 18 inches deep, and 15 inches tall, this is no small machine. However, it doesn’t require any overhead clearance thanks to the flush grinder hopper and side-accessible water tank, so you could theoretically get it even if your counters only have 16 inches of space.

The 8000 Series comes with a water filter, which I’d recommend installing regardless of water hardness. If you live in a particularly hard water area, you will need to descale more often than the machine recommends. Don’t worry if you don’t know your water hardness — the machine comes with a test strip.

Philips makes a descaler: $16 for two packs at Amazon. This should last you around six months depending on your water hardness.

Cleaning is also easy: the milk frothers and drip tray are dishwasher safe (but they take up a lot of space in said dishwasher), and the machine will alert you when you need to rinse internal brewing elements. Be warned that coffee grounds go moldy quickly, so empty this at least every day.

Finally, warranty. Philips offers a 2-year standard warranty, which is the same as KitchenAid, De’Longhi, Ninja, and Breville. I’d like to see coffee companies start to move towards a 5-year warranty, especially when these machines cost so much.

Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series review: Verdict

I really don’t think the Philips Café Aromis 8000 Series is worth $2,000. It tastes like coffee you can get on the $394 2200 Series. If you really, really want to spend two grand, I’d recommend the KitchenAid KF8 instead. If you want to save money but get an automatic machine, I’d go for the $1,400 De’Longhi Rivelia or $895 Smeg BCC13.

While the Café Aromis 8000 Series looks gorgeous and is incredibly easy to use, I cannot find anything to justify that price. Sure, it can make 40+ recipes, but are you really going to make a Melange or Galão on a fully automatic coffee machine? Not really. Just make it manually — it’ll taste better. As the machine can’t actually make different milk textures, it’s not a true Melange or Galão anyway.

I would personally skip this one. It’s much too expensive in the U.S. and doesn’t make nice-tasting coffee — but if you value appearance and ease of use over anything else, you might not be disappointed.

Pod espresso machines are often reviled by serious coffee snobs. Nespresso, Keurig, and everything in between — it’s just not “real coffee”. Their words, not mine. But the Lavazza Tablì is the closest to “real coffee” a pod machine has ever got.

I’ve not been this excited about a coffee machine in a while. The Tablì doesn’t use plastic-encased or aluminum-bound pods, but 100% coffee “Tabs”. It’s as pure as you can get. At first, I wondered if this was more a gimmick than an actual innovation, but after testing the Tablì for over a week (and using up all my Tabs), I have to say: the Lavazza Tablì is seriously special.

Is this enough to make the Lavazza Tablì one of the best espresso machines? Yes, without a doubt. I’m a tough crowd, but the Tablì has done the impossible: foolproof usability, affordability, and genuinely lip-smacking coffee. It’s a home run. Still not convinced? Find out the full story in this Lavazza Tablì review.

Lavazza Tablì review: Specs

Lavazza Tablì review: Price & availability

The Lavazza Tablì is available in a few different variants. The machine alone costs $129 from Amazon U.S. and £199 from John Lewis in the U.K, which is incredibly affordable (especially in the U.S., where list prices are typically higher than in Britain). When I saw the U.S. price, I actually gasped.

You can also buy the Tablì with a Lavazza milk frother (which is the version Lavazza sent me). This will set you back $199 from Amazon U.S. You can’t buy this bundle in the U.K., but the milk frother is an extra £79 from John Lewis, making it £278 overall. I’m unsure why it’s so much more expensive in the U.K., but it is what it is.

In the U.S., you can also get the full set: Tablì, milk frother, and 60 Tabs for $249 from Amazon U.S. A similar variant in the U.K. is: Tablì, milk frother, and 48 Tabs for £199 — but only directly from Lavazza.

I will do my very best to explain just how affordable this is. $129 for the Tablì is fantastic. I was honestly expecting $200-$250 when I unboxed it. Similar Nespresso machines would be the CitiZ or Pixie, $319 and $179, respectively. Add the Nespresso Aeroccino on top of that and you’re looking at an extra $100.

True, Nespresso Vertuo machines are cheaper: you’ve got the $129 Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ and the $229 Nespresso Vertuo Up. Still, the $100 price difference between the Tablì and Vertuo Up might not be enough to justify the latter’s ice mode if you’re on a tight budget.

Lavazza Tablì review: Design

The Lavazza Tablì is gorgeous. While it’s quite large — 15 inches deep and 13 inches tall — nothing about its design suggests “bulky”. This is a modern, stylish piece of tech that’ll elicit some interested questions from houseguests. I can’t count the times my colleagues directed “Oooh” or “Aaah” sounds towards it. Of all the coffee machines I’ve tested, this received the most interested comments — matched only by the beautiful Lelit MaraX3.

On the machine itself are four buttons: one for power, one for a double shot, one for a single shot, and one for a long shot.

Three lights on top of the machine correspond to the water tank, grounds drawer, and cleaning. These light up should you need to refill the tank, empty the drawer, or run a cleaning cycle.

There’s nothing confusing about the Tablì. It’s a straightforward, simple machine that doesn’t skimp on aesthetics or charisma.

The sole negative is the small space between the pouring spout and drip tray. You must use a shot glass or small mug as your receptacle; normal-sized mugs will not fit.

I’ll quickly mention the Tablì app. Yes, there’s an app. No, you don’t need to download it. I would recommend avoiding the app — not because it’s horrendous, but because it’s completely superfluous.

You can make espresso recipes, but because this is literally just a pod coffee machine, the only thing you can do is adjust temperature and volume. You can save said recipes, as you can see in my screenshots, and you can send these recipes to the machine. At first, I thought the app was glitchy, but it just takes a bit of experimenting to find out how to actually navigate it. Of course, you can buy Tabs in the app, which is probably the only genuinely useful feature.

I’d skip the app unless you’re a smart home fiend.

Lavazza Tablì review: Espresso

Now onto the good stuff: taste. As mentioned earlier, the Tablì is extremely easy to use. All you do is slide up the top, insert the Tab, and press the brew button. That’s it. The shots come out as two single shots or one double, which you can control by flipping up the pouring spout (single) or leaving it down (double).

At the time of writing, you can get five flavors of coffee: espresso intenso, qualita rossa, qualita oro, ristretto, and decaf. Of the bunch, my favorite was oro. I’d like to see Lavazza introduce some new flavors in time: ideally, some kind of juicy, fruity African bean. Those who’ve been here long enough know that I much prefer a lighter-roasted Ethiopian coffee to a dark-roasted Brazilian coffee. Obviously, this is just personal preference, and if you like those rich, full-bodied, chocolatey espressos, you’re the perfect candidate for Lavazza’s default beans anyway.

I do wonder if, assuming the Tablì (rightly) takes off, we’ll start seeing some third-party “Tabs”. Or if some coffee whiz will invent a way to make your own tabs. Or if Lavazza will introduce a Tab-making product itself, so you could theoretically grind your own beans, then compact them into a tab. However, that’s a lot of effort, and the Tablì isn’t really a lots-of-effort type of machine.

As for the coffee itself, well, it tastes so much better than any other pod machine I’ve tried. Although it’s definitely over-pressurized espresso — you can tell by how aerated and fluffy the crema is — it tastes wonderful. There’s zero bitterness whatsoever, and a well-rounded, strong coffee flavor.

I tested the Lavazza Tablì and the $1,999 Philips Cafe Aromis 8000 Series back to back, and which one tasted better? The Tablì, and boy, it wasn’t even close.

The prevailing issue holding the Tablì back — right now — is the lack of variety in the pods. Sorry, Tabs. Nespresso makes a huge variety of flavors, using every type of bean from around the world, and even has special Christmas, fall, and summer flavors. If you’re the kind of coffee drinker who jumps at the chance to try maple praline or pumpkin spice-flavored pods, then I might recommend sticking with Nespresso.

However, it’s still early days for the Tablì, and you never know what Lavazza might be cooking up behind the scenes.

Even though it doesn’t come by default, I’ll quickly discuss the milk frother. If you get the Tablì with the milk frother, you won’t be disappointed. Here’s a photo of the gorgeous milk texture.

As you can see, the bubbles are velvety and small, with no textural unevenness. While I can’t classify this as an explicit “Pro” — the Tablì doesn’t come with the milk frother — I would recommend grabbing the milk frother too if you like milk drinks. You don’t even have to use it with the Tablì; you could make hot chocolates or cold foam.

Lavazza Tablì review: Storage & maintenance

As I’ve mentioned, the Tablì isn’t exactly a compact machine. The Nespresso CitiZ is relatively smaller, at 11 x 12 inches compared to the Tablì’s 15 x 13. If you need a seriously small coffee maker, I might suggest the Nespresso instead.

However, the Tablì wins in every other contest. It’s prettier, tastes so much better, and is better for the environment. Nespresso pods can be recycled for free, which is better than Keurig charging $10 to recycle 96 pods (I still can’t believe that; it’s horrifying). However, manufacturing and recycling aluminum pods still generates waste and uses resources.

The Tablì’s Tabs are 100% coffee. No aluminum wrapping, no plastic casing. You can literally take the pucks out of the machine and throw them on the garden compost, or in your food waste. They’re just coffee. Of course, the Tabs come in a little cardboard box — that looks like a little chocolate box — but everything comes in a package. Whole coffee beans come in plastic bags.

Tabs cost around $1 a pop. This is par for the course with pod machines — Nespresso pods will set you back around $0.90 each, and Vertuo pods are around $1.40 (flavour dependent).

As the water tank is filled from above, you’ll need a decent amount of clearance space. However, like every other coffee machine I’ve ever reviewed, the grounds drawer is removed from the front.

Lavazza offers a 2-year warranty, which is the same as Nespresso, De’Longhi, Breville, and Ninja.

Lavazza Tablì review: Verdict

I’m sure you can tell from this review, but I adore the Lavazza Tablì. I’ve not been this excited by a coffee machine since I tested the Lelit MaraX3 earlier in the year. I’ve never been this excited by a pod machine.

And it’s just $129? How? How is this possible? $129 for a machine capable of producing this quality of espresso is unheard of. Sure, Nespresso Vertuo machines can be found for around $129, too, but none taste as good as the Tablì. Vertuo pods are extracted by centrifugal force, while Tablì uses traditional espresso pressure (espresso literally means pressure in Italian).

Want a pod machine that makes actually delicious espresso? The Lavazza Tablì is for you. I can’t wait to see how this innovation transforms the coffee machine world.

Controversial opinion incoming, but if you don't have an espresso machine, you can still make great-tasting coffee at home. Some coffee snobs will disagree, and that's fine, but this recipe isn't for them. This is for the I-love-coffee-but-I-can't-afford-a-machine crowd. I see you! I'm here for you!

I used to be a Starbucks barista, so the amount of PSLs I've made is off the charts. Although Starbucks keeps its PSL sauce recipe pretty secret, you can get copycat-ish syrups everywhere online, so you can easily make the fall favorite at home. To make it even more Starbucks-y, just add a touch of condensed milk to the pumpkin syrup. For this recipe, I used Monin Pumpkin Spice syrup ($10 on Amazon), but you can use any you like.

The Coffee Lab is all about making coffee fun and accessible, so let's demystify the ubiquitous fall drink! It's no-machine PSL time.

I'm not going to lie: this will not fool any PSL diehards. You can tell it's not Starbucks from just looking at it — Starbucks PSLs are bright orange. However, for a fraction of the cost, and without requiring you to fork out on an espresso machine, I'm extremely happy drinking my Pumpkin Spice Faux-tte all fall long.

More from Tom's Guide

• Overwhelmed by coffee jargon? Here are the 5 key espresso terms you need to know
• I'm an ex-Starbucks barista — you can make the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home for a fraction of the cost
• I blind taste-tested a homemade PSL vs Starbucks PSL — and the winner didn't surprise me at all

Welcome to deals season, my friends! Discounts have officially started trickling in ahead of Black Friday (November 27), and we've already spotted fantastic prices on coffee machines and accessories.

One of the big brands in this space, Breville, is slashing prices on its automatic and manual coffee machines, grinders and accessories throughout November and into December, so now's an excellent time to upgrade your coffee-making station.

The most enticing deal — and one that's caught my eye — is on the Breville Bambino Plus. Now down from AU$549 to AU$499, this compact espresso machine was awarded 4.5 stars in our review for being beginner-friendly and easy to master right out of the box. But what makes this deal even sweeter is that we here at Tom's Guide have an extra ace up our sleeve in the form of an exclusive coupon code.

By using our Breville 10% off voucher and entering your unique code at checkout, you'll knock an extra AU$49.90 off Breville's discounted price. This brings the total down to AU$449.10, or AU$99.90 off the Bambino Plus' initial RRP.

Don't wait too long to secure this Breville bargain, though, as this price disappears at midnight on December 6, 2026.

This machine is ideal for beginner baristas, as it lays out the espresso and milk groundwork. Sure, if you're an intermediate or experienced coffee connoisseur, you might find this espresso maker less precise and less concentrated than more premium or advanced machines. However, if you're just starting your coffee-brewing journey and you're not too worried about the artistry, this machine delivers delicious and fresh espresso every time.

It's worth noting that you'll need a dedicated grinder to go alongside the Bambino Plus, and Breville's Dose Control Pro is a fine companion. Now discounted to AU$179.10 with our exclusive code, the Dose Control Pro offers 60 precise grind settings for ultimate customisation and control over your espresso.

If you're looking for more early Black Friday Breville deals, I've curated some of my favourite offers in the list below. Do note that to score the deepest discounts outlined here, you'll need to use one of our unique 10% off Breville coupon codes at checkout.

• Breville the Dual Boiler: was AU$1,499, now AU$1,169.10 at Breville
• Breville the Dose Control Pro: was AU$269, now AU$179.10 at Breville
• Breville the Barista Express: was AU$719, now AU$539.10 at Breville
• Breville the Barista Express Impress: was AU$869, now AU$719.10 at Breville
• Breville the Oracle: was AU$2,499, now AU$1,979.10 at Breville
• Breville the Oracle Touch: was AU$3,499, now AU$2,249.10 at Breville

Earlier this week, I was doomscrolling on Reddit — as one does — when a post on r/espresso caught my eye. I'm often seen lurking on r/espressocirclejerk, but I don't need to frequent the source, r/espresso, for a few reasons. So if I do dip my toe into the main Subreddit, it must be for a special occasion.

And then I saw this post: "My controversial take is that some of you dont[sic] enjoy espresso, you just enjoy buying expensive equipment". Thank you, Reddit user mindlesspointer. Thank you.

I don't think this should be a controversial take. I think this is entirely the truth. Don't let the Internet tell you to spend thousands on gear to prove you like espresso. I'm an ex-professional barista — one independent specialty coffee shop and two chains — and now a professional coffee machine tester and director of The Coffee Lab, so I feel uniquely positioned to comment on this.

A $2,000+ espresso machine doesn't guarantee good coffee

The Reddit room was split. Half of the commenters agreed, while half disagreed. Some users defended their commitment to progression and the journey: "People like the feeling of progression in a hobby. Same way in a video game people like building out their character, finding fancier guns, etc.," wrote user Noah_Joseph.

Others pointed out that their "basic" espresso machines did the trick. PlsNoOlives (love that name, even though olives are one of my favorite foods) added: "The day I realized making a yummy latte for myself and a friend was my peak satisfaction and now I just want to pour a swan on top. I don't even dial in new beans anymore, I eyeball it. Breville Bambino Plus, we ride for life. (Please don't break.)".

As a fellow Breville Bambino Plus owner, I have to say this comment spoke to me. Not once have I felt the urge to upgrade from my Bambino Plus

And no, I'm not saying you can't spend an ungodly amount of money on gear. Do whatever you want — it's your money. Maybe I'm just bitter because I don't have enough money to buy anything over $500 (and even that's a Black Friday, saved-up-all-year purchase). Who knows!

But I know I'm in the majority here. Most people can't afford a Lelit Bianca ($2,999), Rocket Espresso R Nine One ($6,990), or La Marzocco Linea Mini($4,980). Would I buy one if I had the money? I don't know. Depends on how much money we're talking. Do I have $10k spare? Sure, I'd grab a cheeky Linea Mini and then go on a cruise.

However, that's not my reality, and I'm 99.9% sure it's not yours. Please, please listen when I say this: You can get excellent, barista-quality coffee at home for a fraction of the cost. My entire dream espresso setup is just $650 — Breville Bambino Plus, Comandante C40 MK4, and the Wacaco Exagram Pro scale.

And here's the proof

I've tested well over fifty coffee makers at this point. Some manuals, such as the AeroPress; some drip machines, such as the Moccamaster KBGV Select; some espresso machines, such as the Lelit MaraX3; some automated pour-overs, such as the Ratio Four. If it exists, I've got my caffeine-jittery mitts on it.

The flat white in this article's main image? Made it on the $349 Casabrews Marenza. I mean, I probably wouldn't recommend this machine for espresso enthusiasts for other reasons, but it's proof you don't need to spend $$$$($) on an espresso machine to get truly impressive results.

You know what the most important variable is? You. You are the barista. You are the Don of that kitchen. Show the espresso machine who's boss. You will get a perfect espresso. You will achieve flawless microfoam. Your latte art will be worthy of the Louvre. Let's manifest.

Let's do a little game. Take a look at these espresso shots. Can you guess which were made on a cheap machine and which came from a prosumer model?

The answers are thus: cheap, cheap, expensive, cheap, cheap, cheap, expensive, cheap (lever!), cheap, cheap.

I feel like that scene in The Simpsons Movie where the EPA guy is saying "tough, soft, tough, tough, tough, soft".

Anyway, back to coffee. Did you get them all right? Sure, I admit some look cheap, but some could go either way. Taste-wise, if you're using high-quality beans and a high-quality grinder (that does not need to be over $300), you can get $2,000+-beating espresso. Number 8 (and the espresso I'm holding in the main image) was made on the Flair 49 Pro — no electricity involved at all!

And I've got even more proof.

Blind taste tests on my side, too

This year, I've run two blind taste tests: one between the $299 Baratza Encore ESP Pro vs the $1,500 Mazzer Philos, and one between the $299 Breville Bambino vs the $1,999 Lelit MaraX3.

You know which product won? The cheaper one. Both times.

I've linked the articles so you can read them, but the TL;DR is this: I made two lattes with coffee ground on a cheap and expensive grinder and asked people to choose their favorite. Then, I made Americanos and flat whites made on a cheap and expensive espresso machine and asked people to choose their favorite. The cheap machines won both taste tests.

Naturally, this didn't take things like longevity, quality of materials, and machine appearance into account. This was purely taste-based.

Again, I'm not poo-pooing those who have money to spend on premium, prosumer gear. I'm saying that you don't need to spend thousands to prove you like espresso. Do not let people on the Internet trick you into thinking otherwise.

If you see someone with a $10,000+ setup and you're wondering if your espresso will always taste inferior because you can't afford the same gear, please stop wondering. They just have loads of money (or irresponsible spending habits). It doesn't automatically mean they care more about coffee as a hobby than you.

You are the most important variable. With practice, good beans, and passion, you can make prosumer-level coffee without spending a fortune.

Trust me. I've tested enough espresso machines, grinders, and beans to know. Fellow Tom's Guide readers are on your side — I asked my readers their favorite espresso machine, and the Bambino Plus won by a huge margin.

We've got this, fellow poor espresso enthusiast.

More from Tom's Guide

• Arabica vs robusta: Which is best? The great coffee debate you need to know about
• Sugar, creamer, and microplastics? The inside story on the plastic-free coffee revolution
• No plastic, just coffee — how Caraway's first-ever coffee maker breaks the mold

I’ve tested well over 50 coffee makers now, and I’m 99.9% sure the Keurig K-Mini Mate is the smallest of the (electrical) lot. It’s just 3.9 inches wide — I really don’t think you can get much smaller than that. For cozy kitchens, this is one of the best coffee makers, hands-down.

So while I wouldn’t recommend it for espresso fanatics or coffee nerds, there’s definitely an audience here. If you’re the kind of coffee drinker who’d rather press a button for hot bean juice in seconds, you might just be that audience. No, it’s not going to win any taste or design awards — but have you seen that price? Yes, $59. No, that’s not a typo. $59!

Might the Keurig K-Mini Mate be the perfect small coffee maker for you? I’ll go through everything in this Keurig K-Mini Mate review.

Keurig K-Mini Mate review: Specs

Keurig K-Mini Mate review: Price & availability

The Keurig K-Mini Mate is extremely affordable — just $59 from Amazon. Keurig also makes the K-Mini Mate in three trendy colors, pastel pink, terracotta, and sage green, but this’ll cost $89.

The black model is the cheapest coffee maker Keurig sells. There’s the $88 Keurig K-Express, $99 Keurig K-Compact, $119 Keurig K-Mini Plus, and $149 Keurig K-Slim. Obviously, none are quite so affordable as the K-Mini Mate.

Other pod machines are also much pricier. Nespresso’s cheapest machine is the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+, $129. However, as someone who’s used both Nespresso and Keurig machines, Nespresso tends to taste better due to the espresso-like pressure extraction.

With the Keurig K-Mini Mate, you get what you pay for. Don’t expect anything other than “fine” — because “fine” is precisely how I’d describe this machine.

Keurig K-Mini Mate review: Design

The Keurig K-Mini Mate is the perfect single-serve coffee maker for small spaces. I’m thinking studio apartments, college dorms, even on your office desk. It’s just 4 inches wide, 9 inches tall, and 9 inches deep. I’ve seriously never even seen a coffee maker smaller than this (other than a manual one, like the AeroPress Clear Color).

Even the Keurig K-Slim is 0.7 inches wider than the K-Mini Mate. (Not so slim, now, eh?) Again, if you need the smallest coffee maker on the market, I completely recommend the K-Mini Mate.

As you might expect from a 4-inch-wide coffee maker, the water reservoir is a pretty small 12 ounces. This is enough for one cup at a time, or two small 6-ounce cups. I actually preferred the flavor of 6-ounce brews over 12-ounce brews, so take from that what you will.

Looks-wise, I mean, it’s $59. It’s a plasticky-yet-somehow-still-sleek machine. It does the job it says on the tin: brews coffee quickly with zero headache. Of course, you could opt for the prettier color versions, but this will cost you an extra $30. I am kind of frothing at the mouth looking at the terracotta one, though. I would probably go for that model if I were buying this for myself (or for my child at college).

While the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ looks better, it’s also double the price. Obviously, I can’t tell you which machine will suit your needs, but if you have a little more money to spend and value aesthetics, I’d recommend looking into the Nespresso.

Keurig K-Mini Mate review: Performance

The K-Mini Mate is almost impossible to mess up. There’s one button. That’s it. All you need to do is put the K-Pod in the pod hole, press the single button, and put a cup under the spout. There’s no room for error here.

Here’s a photo of the K-Mini Mate during use. It takes two minutes to brew one cup, which is ready at drinking temperature. You don’t have to wait for it to cool. Also, you fill the water reservoir with however much you need. If you want a 12-ounce cup, you fill 12 ounces. Want a small or stronger cup? Just use less water.

As you can see, there’s really not much to it. One button, one spout, one mug for coffee in seconds. This is just as easy to use as any other Keurig and any Nespresso machine.

But how does it taste? Well, it’s $59. I wouldn’t recommend this for coffee snobs, but you get what you pay for here. I tested using Colombian and Italian roast pods. The Italian pods were richer and stronger, whereas the Colombian pods tasted a little more tea-like. In the office, three out of four people preferred the Italian pods.

Of course, not all pods taste the same. The beauty of Keurig machines is that you can get tons of different pods. You can get ten Starbucks pods for $9.99, which works out at $.99 per pod. You can also get 48 Keurig-branded donut shop pods for $25, $.53 per pod. Not to mention 96 McDonald’s-branded coffee pods for $45, $.47 per pod. So on and so forth — you get the picture. Keurig machines are versatile: you can adjust the flavor profile easily by buying different pods.

While both the pods I tried carried a vague plasticky taste, again, you get what you pay for here. You’re not going to find a pod machine this easy and this small for cheaper. The cheapest Nespresso is $129, and the next-cheapest Keurig is $88.

If you value ease of use over nuanced coffee flavors, the K-Mini Mate is for you. If not, I’d recommend getting something pricier like the Moccamaster Cup-One ($259), which makes single-serve drip coffee — and is accredited by the Specialty Coffee Association, meaning it brews to strict standards.

Keurig K-Mini Mate review: Storage & maintenance

As it’s less than four inches wide, storing the K-Mini Mate is as easy as making coffee on it. If you’ve got a palm-width of space in your kitchen, you’re good to go.

In terms of maintenance, the machine has a little “descale” light on the top. This will flash when the machine considers itself requiring a descale — between 3 and 6 months — but you’ll need to descale more often if you live in a hard water area. For context, I live in one of the hardest-water areas in the U.K., and I descale my Breville Bambino Plus once a month.

Keurig sells a 14-ounce bottle of descaling solution for $13.99. Durgol descaler, which Moccamaster recommends for its machines, is $13.95 for 8.2 ounces on Amazon, so the branded one is actually cheaper here.

Alright, now let’s address the elephant in the room: sustainability. How does one dispose of K-Pods without upsetting Mother Earth?

Keurig actually runs a pod recycling scheme. Obviously, you need to empty out the ground coffee and clean the pods first, but you can send the pods back to Keurig for recycling. This is great! Until you realize it’s $9.99 for a 96-pod bag. Yes, you need to pay for the privilege of recycling your pods.

This is outrageous. Keurig should not force recycling costs onto consumers — it should be absorbing these costs itself. People buy Keurig machines because they’re cheap, so why should these people also pay $10 to recycle their pods? This encourages plastic waste.

Nespresso’s pod recycling is completely free. You fill a prepaid bag with pods and send it back. That’s it. If you live in New York, you can even recycle the pods directly in your normal bin.

I was shocked when I saw that Keurig not only charges for recycling, but charges $10 per bag. Honestly? Because of this, I’d recommend Nespresso all the way. Within seven recycling bags, you’ve made your money back on the $129 Vertuo Up+.

However, Keurig also makes a reusable coffee filter ($14 at Amazon) you can refill with your preferred coffee, which is a much more environmentally friendly option.

Keurig K-Mini Mate review: How does it compare?

As the K-Mini Mate’s main competitors are other Keurig machines, let’s chat Keurigs. Which Keurig model is best for you?

The K-Mini Mate is the narrowest — it’s under 4 inches. The old K-Mini is just under 5 inches, so the Mate is considerably smaller. Every little helps! Next up is the K-Slim, which is 4.7 inches wide.

However, the K-Mini Mate is single-serve in every sense of the word. You’ll need to refill the water reservoir after every use, and it can only store one pod at once (the one you’re using). Unlike the Keurig K-Mini Plus, which has 9-pod storage in the machine itself, you’ll need to install and remove each pod.

If you’re looking for a Keurig with a bigger water tank (so you can make multiple drinks without needing to refill), you’d need to spend a little more on the bigger, pricier Keurig K-Supreme ($189).

Other Keurigs can make iced drinks (K-Brew+Chill, $199); some you can control the brewing temperature (K-Supreme Gen 2, $169); some dispense hot water for things like tea (Keurig K-Elite, $209). However, these are naturally much bigger (the Keurig K-Elite is 10 inches wide) and pricier.

Keurig K-Mini Mate review: Verdict

The Keurig K-Mini Mate is exactly what you’d expect from a $59 Keurig machine. It’s fine. No, it won’t impress serious coffee nerds, but that’s literally not the point. This is a machine for small apartments, college dorms, or offices.

If you’re low on space but want to make hot coffee easily every morning, I’d recommend the K-Mini Mate. For best-tasting brews, I’d also recommend grabbing the reusable K-Cup and filling it with your own coffee. This also means you don’t have to pay Keurig’s outrageous $10 pod recycling fee.

Small space, small budget? K-Mini Mate won’t let you down.

If you're new here, I'm an ex-Starbucks barista. I loved working at Starbucks — honestly, of my three barista jobs, it was my favorite. Maybe because I was a Supervisor, meaning I got to boss people around and no longer had to mop the floor at the end of the day, but it was still my favorite.

But despite not donning the famous green apron for five years now, Starbucks holiday drinks still have a special place in my heart. The moment Pumpkin Spice Lattes launch, I'm there, paying an eye-watering £5.70 ($7.52 at time of writing) for what is essentially hot milk, automatic machine espresso, and sugar.

So I thought to myself... why don't I make my own? For research? Can I, an ex-Starbucks barista, make a better PSL? Let's find out. If you want to replicate this, you'll need one of the best espresso machines — or even just instant espresso.

The PSL recipe

Now, I'm not going to pretend I know Starbucks' famous pumpkin sauce recipe. Even though there's no written recipe online, you can find a full list of ingredients on Starbucks' website. Theoretically, you could tinker with these ingredients and make a full-on copycat (The Coffee Lab, fall 2027; watch this space).

However, for your convenience, I bought pumpkin syrup from Amazon. This is the exact syrup I used.

For the rest of the beverage, I made a standard latte using my KitchenAid KF3, as it's the machine I'm testing right now. Then I added pumpkin syrup to taste—I started with two teaspoons, but you can add as much as you like. Starbucks adds whipped cream on top, but I skipped it because I don't like it.

So... can I tell a Starbucks PSL and a homemade PSL apart? Let's find out...

If you haven't seen the video embedded above, go watch it! Otherwise, there'll be some spoilers below.

The taste test

I identified the Starbucks PSL immediately.

I really, really wanted mine to be just as good, but it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't Starbucks.

My PSL was sweet, warming, and cozy. It tasted more of cinnamon than pumpkin, which is fine if that's your preference, but I personally love the earthy pumpkin flavor. The espresso flavor and milk textures were almost identical, though, so it's not all bad news! With a homemade Starbucks-dupe syrup, this could be genuinely comparable.

The Starbucks PSL honestly tastes like fall in a cup. The cinnamon and nutmeg flavors danced across my tongue, and the silky-smooth, condensed-milk-based sauce gave a luxurious mouthfeel. It was much richer. I couldn't drink a Venti, but that Tall was oh-so-satisfying.

However, the Starbucks PSL costs £5.70. (Mine actually cost me almost £15 ($19.78) because I ordered it on Uber Eats...) Obviously, the homemade latte initially cost much more than that — you've got to factor in the machine, after all — but every Starbucks drink adds up.

Which latte do you think looked better? Do you agree with my taste analysis? Have you got an even better syrup recommendation? Remember, I'm in the U.K., so I don't have access to some U.S.-only brands!

More from Tom's Guide

• Overwhelmed by coffee jargon? Here are the 5 key espresso terms you need to know
• I'm an ex-Starbucks barista — you can make the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home for a fraction of the cost
• People are mixing coffee with Diet Coke (yes, really) — I'm an ex-barista, and I tried the viral 'fridge cigarette'

Bored of modern espresso machines? Want to try your luck at wrangling something that wouldn’t look out of place in a period drama set in 1920s Italy or the most pretentious coffee shop in your city? I know I do. As soon as I saw the new Flair 49 Pro, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, though. Of course, it’s incredibly fun to use and relatively compact, making it a great choice for hands-on baristas with cosy kitchens. While it takes a decent amount of trial and error, this isn’t markedly unusual for a lever or enthusiast espresso maker. The main drawback is the price. As I’ll get into more, it’s a pretty hefty $349 — for a completely manual machine. No power, ergo: no self-heating, no milk steaming.

Is that a price you’d be willing to pay? Is the Flair 49 Pro one of the best espresso machines for enthusiasts? If you’re willing to part with well over $300 (and buy a milk steamer and gooseneck kettle separately…), definitely. To find out if it’s right for you, keep reading this Flair 49 Pro review.

Flair 49 Pro review: Specs

Flair 49 Pro review: Price & availability

The Flair 49 Pro is $349 from Amazon U.S. and £295 from Sigma Coffee in the U.K. Despite being a manual lever espresso machine, this is, unfortunately, par for the course. Flair also makes the $159 Flair Classic, which lacks the traditional group handle/portafilter and requires disassembly after every shot.

For those needing fresh espresso anywhere, the $169 Flair 2Go is a collapsible, portable lever machine with its own carry case. This model also comes with two screw-in portafilters rather than handled portafilters.

At the other end of the spectrum, there’s the $699 Flair 58 Plus 2, which heats the water and comes with a shot mirror. Because the Flair 49 Pro has no self-heating but doesn’t require disassembly, it’s obviously between the premium 58 Plus 2 and the entry-level Classic. Even so, the $349 price tag is weird — surely it should be a maximum of around $250. You still need to buy a kettle (ideally gooseneck) to use it properly, so I think Flair should reflect that in its pricing.

If you’d like a manual espresso machine by an alternate brand, check out the $699 9Barista Espresso Machine Mk. 2, which is more like a Moka pot-style stovetop espresso maker.

Flair 49 Pro review: Design

As it’s a manual lever machine, the Flair 49 Pro is super simple. It comes disassembled, but setup is straightforward. I screwed the lever attachment into the base and the pressure gauge into the valve housing, and I was good to go. The Flair 49 Pro replaces the now-discontinued Flair Pro 2 and Flair 3 Pro, neither of which I had the opportunity to test. Other users report the 49 Pro is much easier to use than the Pro 2 and 3 because it doesn’t require disassembly between shots. You can pull back-to-back espressos like a pump espresso machine.

Unlike a pump espresso machine, there’s zero plastic in the brew path. If you’re on the anti-plastic train (I am a recent convert), it’s worth checking out.

I’m a little displeased with the plastic drip tray. The rest of the machine is metal, so I’m not sure why Flair provided such a cheap-looking, flimsy plastic drip tray. Plastic is, of course, cheaper and lighter, but this isn’t a portable espresso machine. I’d like to see a matching black metal drip tray to help justify the $359 price tag, like the Flair 58 Plus 2. I suppose it’s better than the Flair 2Go, which doesn’t come with a drip tray at all.

Flair 49 Pro review: Espresso

Now, let’s get into the good stuff: performance. How does the espresso taste?

It’s utterly delicious.

Flair recommends you use 10-15g of coffee. I used 18g and no espresso came out, so I’d listen to Flair here. For the rest of my testing, I used exactly 15g. Flair also provides a pressurized portafilter if you buy pre-ground coffee, but it’s worth noting you won’t get anywhere near as much flavor with this basket.

This shot weighed 25.5g, which isn’t quite the optimal ratio of 1:2, but it was delicious. As you can see, the crema is velvety and thick, and the body is a deep brown. This shot tasted bright and fruity, with an almost peppery bitterness rounding it out, like a high-quality red wine.

I gave an espresso to my colleague Harry, who reported it was “extremely flavorful, like it extracted all of the flavor from the beans, providing a full-bodied, rich drinking experience”. My colleague Nikita said it was “smooth and full-bodied”, but a touch too bitter for her palate.

Now, onto my complaints. As a lever machine, it’s a given that the 49 Pro would require a decent amount of trial and error. This is a completely different style of espresso maker than most people are used to. Even so, I’m an ex-professional barista and Tom’s Guide’s resident coffee expert, and it took me about fifteen minutes to tease one drop of coffee out. Usually, I’m pulling shots within five minutes of unboxing a new machine.

Flair advertizes that the 49mm portafilter basket makes dialing in more forgiving, particularly at coarser grind sizes. Let me say, I did not experience any of this “forgiving”. As always, I used the best coffee grinder, the Mazzer Philos, to grind all my beans. I tested the 49 Pro on every grind size from 7 to 25: the optimal grind size was 19. Anything over or under — even by a couple of steps — resulted in a sour, watery brew pulled at well below 5 bars, or no brew at all.

I used half of a bag of coffee to find the ideal grind size, so I wouldn’t describe it as “forgiving” at all.

If you’re a coffee nerd, you probably wouldn’t balk at this anyway. However, it’s worth mentioning that any total newbies will need a decent amount of practice before offering beverages to friends and family.

Flair 49 Pro review: Storage & maintenance

Ideal for smaller kitchens, the Flair 49 Pro is just 7.5 inches wide, 11 inches tall, and 13 inches deep. Because it’s a metal stand rather than a bulky machine, it doesn’t look big in real life at all. I’d have no issues using this in my small apartment kitchen.

Cleaning is easy: I washed the drip tray by hand and poured boiling water through the empty water valve to clean before and after each use.

As with other Flair machines, the 49 Pro comes with a 3-year warranty as standard. 9Barista offers a 5-year warranty on its Mk.2 model, but only a 2-year warranty on the original. 3 years isn’t too bad, but because there’s no vibratory pump — the mechanism in electric espresso machines with a maximum life expectancy of around eight years — I’d hope the 49 Pro lasts longer than three years.

Flair 49 Pro review: Verdict

After testing the 49 Pro, I’m not sure why Flair made it so expensive. The only difference between the 49 Pro and the Classic is that the 49 Pro can make back-to-back shots. If you’re the only barista in your house, I’d recommend the Classic to save $190. If you want the best of the best, I’d invest in the powered $699 58 Plus 2.

As you can see, I’ve awarded the machine 4 stars because it’s nowhere near as finicky as the Classic, it’s fun, and most importantly, makes a delicious espresso. However, two things can be true at once: it’s a great product, yet overpriced. $349 for no shot mirror or self-heating water valve is a lot.

Nitpicking aside, though, the Flair 49 Pro is seriously fun. Naturally, it takes a few tries to get right, and this isn’t for casual coffee drinkers. I enjoyed fiddling with grind size and pressure level to get the best espresso — and when I got perfect espresso, I got perfect espresso. The taste is unique; brighter and more energetic than a pump espresso machine. While you’re getting less bang for your buck with the 49 Pro, it’s a must-try for serious coffee nerds.

Space-challenged-kitchen folk, rise up! The KitchenAid KF3 is just eight inches wide, making this one of the smallest superautomatic coffee machines I’ve ever seen, let alone reviewed. While it’s still a pretty massive eighteen inches deep and fourteen inches tall, if you want an automatic machine but you’ve only got an eight-inch gap, boy have I got the machine for you.

Yes, the KitchenAid KF3 is pretty slender for an automatic, but how does it actually taste? As you might be able to guess from the “Pros + Cons” above, that entirely depends on the drink you make. Latte macchiato and cappuccino? Weirdly bitter and acrid. Cafe latte? One of the yummiest drinks I’ve ever tasted from a superautomatic machine.

Is this enough to make the KitchenAid KF3 one of the best espresso machines? Well, you’ll have to keep reading to find out. I’ll go over everything in this KitchenAid KF3 review.

KitchenAid KF3 review: Specs

KitchenAid KF3 review: Price & availability

The KitchenAid KF3 is $999 from Amazon U.S. and £749 from Amazon U.K. While objectively a huge amount of money, for a superautomatic machine, this is pretty well-trodden ground. The KF3 is neither under- nor over-priced.

KitchenAid recently launched the KF2, KF3, and KF4 — $799, $999, and $1,299, respectively. Don’t think they stop here, though… KitchenAid’s helping you count all the way to KF8 ($1,999). I reviewed the KF8 a couple of years ago, and l was surprised by how much I loved it, but of course it comes with that premium price tag.

De’Longhi’s no stranger to superautomatic coffee machines, either. I’ve tested the De’Longhi Magnifica Duo ($799), Rivelia ($1,499), and PrimaDonna Aromatic ($2,499). See? The $999 KitchenAid KF3 doesn’t seem so expensive now, does it?

If you’re trying to save as much money as possible, I’d also recommend the Smeg BCC13 ($799) — I tested its predecessor and loved it.

KitchenAid KF3 review: Design

As with every other superautomatic espresso machine I’ve reviewed, the KF3 is, essentially, a big box. It’s nowhere near as bulky as the rest, though. At just under eight inches wide, it could fit in a relatively compact kitchen. However, at fourteen inches tall and almost nineteen inches deep, you’ll need enough clearance space under counters. The water tank is removed upwards, so bear that in mind, too.

In terms of aesthetics, I like the KF3 a lot. It’s not as eye-catching as the De’Longhi Rivelia or Smeg BCC13 — the prettiest superautomatic espresso machines, in my humble opinion — but it’s not as bulky as the PrimaDonna Aromatic.

The KF3 also has a lovely little screen, which is full-color and incredibly bright. It announces when you need to clean (more on that later) and lets you customize your drink. Of course, each drink has its own set recipe, but you can pretty much adapt this to your preferences. Want a weak cappuccino with 200ml milk? You got it. A 110ml latte with intense coffee flavor? You also got it.

Now onto the bad: unfortunately, the KF3 doesn’t come with a milk carafe. You need to buy the $1,299 for milk carafe privileges. Your plebeian $1K won’t do. This is outrageous and my biggest con with this machine. Sorry, $1,000 doesn’t get me a milk carafe — do you want me to shine your shoes and massage your feet, too, KitchenAid?

During my week-long testing period, I just poured milk into espresso machine milk jugs. You could also use a mug, or even the milk bottle if that suits. Come on, KitchenAid. People are spending a grand on this machine. Not providing a milk carafe is insulting at this point.

KitchenAid KF3 review: Espresso

As the KF3 is a superautomatic espresso machine, you can’t really customize the espresso. But that’s okay! That’s exactly what a superautomatic machine is supposed to do. Yes, you can customize it insofar as you can increase the intensity (using cute little bean graphics on the screen), volume, and flavor profile. You can also save these to user profiles.

Espresso on this machine was a little weak; less of the ideal opaque dark amber, more like a really strong black tea — but not bitter at all.

Honestly, it just tasted like every other superautomatic machine coffee. They all taste the same. Get a $700 or a $3,000 machine — it’ll make the same kind of espresso at the end of the day.

While the KF3 says it makes “iced coffee”, it does not. The iced coffee is just… hot coffee, over ice. Oh, and you have to put the ice in the glass — obviously. I wish coffee machines actually made iced coffee when they promise they make iced coffee.

I’ll give you a pro tip: don’t make the “cappuccino” or “latte macchiato” drinks on the KF3. Both are overly bitter and almost acrid. But the “cafe latte” recipe? Absolutely delicious. I even tried to increase the milk volume and decrease espresso intensity on the latte macchiato recipe, but it was still incredibly bitter. If you stick to the standard latte, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a mystery.

KitchenAid KF3 review: Milk

You already know how I feel about the lack of a milk carafe, so I won’t flog a dead horse, and we won’t mention it here. I’ll only talk about taste and texture here.

Despite no dedicated plant-based milk mode, I used oat and dairy milk, and the KF3 texturized both wonderfully. Although the pictures don’t make the coffee look as good as my latte art on a manual machine, this is one of the trade-offs with a superautomatic machine. These drinks are made to the “cafe latte” preset — as mentioned earlier, cappuccino and latte macchiato were nasty.

While the dairy texture was smoother and velvetier, the plant-based texture was still great. The foam was satisfying and dense without watering down the coffee flavor.

The milk pipe itself isn’t wide enough to froth inclusions like hot chocolate, matcha, or chai powder, so bear that in mind if you were hoping to use the machine for non-coffee drinks.

KitchenAid KF3 review: Storage & maintenance

As touched upon briefly, the KF3 is relatively slender for a superautomatic machine — just eight inches. Even so, it’s a whopping fourteen inches tall and eighteen inches deep, so you still need a decent amount of counter space. On top of that, the water tank is removable from above rather than the side, so you need even more clearance (unless you pour water into the tank, of course).

While the machine doesn’t have a milk carafe (...), it does have a milk pipe. This needs to be rinsed after every use — you can click “ignore” if you’re trying to make drinks in quick succession, but I wouldn’t recommend doing that often. You really want gross old milk trapped in a silicone pipe? I know I don’t.

It’s also worth noting that the KF3 uses an entire water tank (1.28L) for five milk drinks and five rinses, which is a lot. While every superautomatic machine I’ve tested is seemingly thirstier than an AI data center, so the KF3 isn’t an outlier here, it’s still a lot of water.

KitchenAid provides you with a water filter to prevent limescale buildup, but I’d still recommend descaling every time the machine alerts you. After using the initial provided pack, you can buy KitchenAid cleaning tablets for $29 from Amazon, but KitchenAid doesn’t sell a branded descaler. In this case, I’d recommend De’Longhi’s, $19 from Amazon, or Durgol, also $19 from Amazon.

Finally: warranty. KitchenAid offers a 2-year warranty as standard, an additional 3 years for the grinder parts, then a 10-year repairability and parts commitment, which is pretty nice. I’d like to see the standard warranty increase to 5 years, but this is better than De’Longhi and Ninja’s 2-year blanket warranty.

KitchenAid KF3 review: Verdict

I find it very hard to give a superautomatic coffee machine anything over a 3.5-star rating. There’s always one major thing wrong with it: no milk carafe (sigh), burnt or weak espresso flavor, too big, overpriced…

In the KF3’s case, the combination of the nonexistent milk carafe and the cappuccino and latte macchiato’s bitter coffee flavor held it back. The café latte tastes amazing, so this is extremely perplexing, but I suppose stranger things have happened.

In general, though, if you can overlook the absent carafe and you stick to the cafe latte recipe (or Americano), you won’t be disappointed. I enjoyed every single latte made by this machine, and so did everyone else in the Tom’s Guide offices. It won’t revolutionize your morning cup, but that’s okay.

As a lover of all things KitchenAid, I said yes in a matter of seconds when the brand invited me to preview its new 2026 Design Series Luminaire Artisan Plus Stand Mixer.

If you couldn't tell by the photo, the underrated kitchen appliance is stunning and belongs on my kitchen countertop. I was instantly mesmerised by the LED lights illuminating the hardened glass bowl as it spun away — yes, those lights are part of the appliance and not just a photography trick. But one thing that stopped me in my tracks from adding it to my cart was the AU$1,249 price tag.

Sure, KitchenAid stand mixers are expensive, and IMO as an amateur home baker, are worth the investment. It's no secret, however, that these machines rarely receive a considerable discount. Even when discounted, the machines can cost around AU$800 or more, which isn't the best deal on the coveted appliance.

That said, while my hopes of getting the Luminaire for less are slim (at least any time soon), there's another way to score savings on a new KitchenAid stand mixer. Right now, on Amazon, there's up to 46% off the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer KSM195 in a variety of colourways. The deepest discount is exclusive to the Empire Red and Almond Cream options.

If you've already nabbed a KitchenAid stand mixer and want to explore more of what the brand has to offer, I've compiled some of my top-rated products below. From the Cordless Go range, which is powered by an interchangeable battery, to hand mixers and more, there are plenty of great KitchenAid bargains available right now.

It’s in everything. It was in your baby bottles, the sneakers you took your first steps in, your elementary school lunchbox, the pens you chewed during high school exams. One study even reports there’s as much as 5g in our cerebral organs.

The average kitchen contains a lot more than 5g of the stuff. Take a look at your kitchen appliances: which are constructed entirely from plastic, and which are metal or glass? Refrigerators, air fryers, blenders, coffee machines — they’re all plastic.

Slowly but surely, though, the attitude towards plastics is changing. According to Google Trends, 2026 alone has seen a 5,000% increase in searches for “plastic-free coffee maker”. To put this into perspective, let’s compare: an increase of 5,000 is the size difference between a mouse (7cm long) and the Eiffel Tower (33,000cm tall).

So what’s causing this shift, and why? I spoke to Moccamaster, a leading coffee maker brand, and Beth Gardiner, author of Plastic Inc., to find out.

What is plastic?

Beth Gardiner describes plastic as an “incredibly complicated petrochemical, meaning it's a chemical that comes from petroleum products.”

“The raw ingredients of plastic are basically derivatives and byproducts of oil and gas. We use the word plastic as a singular, but there are many different kinds of plastics.”

“What you end up with is a petrochemical.”

Essentially, plastic is fossil fuels that have been heated, pressurized, had molecules reconfigured via a series of highly complex chemical processes, and been added to.

Despite this, plastic isn’t inherently evil. In some cases, it’s the only plausible material — single-use medical equipment, for example.

What’s a microplastic?

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic. Anything from 5mm to 1 nanometer counts as microplastic. Most microplastics are invisible to the naked eye — 1 nanometer is 10 million times smaller than a centimeter (25.4 million times smaller than an inch).

Contrary to popular belief, microplastics can shed from any type of plastic. Even proudly BPA-free or PFAS-free plastics can degrade, eventually becoming microscopic microplastics. And when you introduce hot water or heating elements into the equation? BPA-free, virgin plastics might not leach carcinogenic compounds into the water, but they will degrade over time.

While researching for this article, I discovered my trusty tea bags leach billions of nanoplastics and microplastics, according to a 2019 study at McGill University. Honestly, I’m still reeling. How many microplastics are floating around inside me thanks to my English Breakfast tea addiction?

I’ll have my coffee with creamer, sugar, and… plastic?

How many cups of coffee have you consumed today? Four? Five? Do you know how many microplastics were in each one? No, of course not. But that doesn't mean plastic coffee makers are inherently wrong.

Take Moccamaster, for example. If Moccamaster were to make a glass brewer, I’m guessing shipping costs from production in the Netherlands would be astronomical. Plastic is light, durable, and cheap. Glass is heavy, delicate, and expensive. Would the average person be able to afford it?

Even so, other brands are offering low-plastic machines. Simply Good Coffee, Aarke, and Ratio are brands already whetting the appetite of the anti-plastic brigade, and I don’t blame them.

As evidenced, the general hunger for “plastic-free coffee maker” is experiencing the highest spike.

Even though consumers seemingly want plastic-free products, the onus shouldn’t be on consumers to reduce plastic usage. We’re not asking for plastic in all our appliances — we’re served it. “Plastic is being pushed into markets,” says Beth Gardiner, author of Plastic Inc. “If you go to the supermarket to buy some bananas, they're wrapped in a plastic bag, and you buy them.

Economically speaking, you did not demand a plastic bag. Your economic demand was for bananas.”

Of course, consumers can find completely plastic-free bananas, but this produce is often double, triple, or quadruple the price and much less convenient.

“The reason why plastic is in such wide use, particularly in terms of packaging and cheap products, like toys and appliances, is that it is super, super cheap.”

Moccamaster isn’t shying away from using plastic, though. Will Etherington, Director of Sales at Moccamaster, says that the “plastic components in the coffee and water-brew path comply with European food-contact requirements, including EU Regulation 10/2011.”

This means that all the virgin plastics used in Moccamaster’s line — including my favorite drip brewer, the KBGV Select — are “evaluated for chemical and material migration under repeated boiling-water-use conditions, using standardized tests designed to represent, and, where applicable, exceed, the time and temperature encountered during daily brewing."

So what are we supposed to do?

Unfortunately, as consumers, there’s very little we can do. If we want a coffee maker, we go and buy one. More often than not, we’re restricted by how much we can spend on said coffee maker.

“Moccamaster does not introduce products simply to follow trends,” says Will Etherington. This comes in light of the huge uptick in plastic-free brewers released recently — the aforementioned Ratio Four (Series 2, 2025), Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer (2026), and the low-plastic Aarke Coffee Maker (released in 2024). However, none of these brewers are accredited by the SCA, while the Moccamaster is.

“The current narrative can sometimes suggest that any product containing plastic is inherently harmful, unsafe, or poorly made, but that is simply not the case," says Etherington.

"What matters is how the material is selected, where it is used, whether it complies with applicable food-safety standards, and how it contributes to the product’s performance, durability, and longevity.”

Gardiner corroborates this, stating that the fundamental problem is disposability. “Disposability in the broad sense, not just throwaway cups and packages, but also the sort of approach to consumerism where goods are so short-lived and so incredibly abundant.”

“If you're substituting wooden forks instead of plastic forks, pretty quickly you're chopping down forests to make more wooden forks.”

“Why not use a metal fork and wash it and use it a thousand times?”

Simply put, why not buy something once and use it over and over?

I believe that plastic coffee machines aren’t any worse than all the plastic most of us ingest every day. Take Moccamaster, for example: The plastic brew basket is replaceable. On top of that, the Moccamaster is produced in the EU, which has extremely tight health regulations.

My takeaway

First things first, I’m going to look into my teabags. That statistic has made me feel nauseous. Am I inviting billions of microplastics into my precious body just by drinking tea?

I’ve already replaced most of my food storage boxes with glass. I bought a 10-pack of glass containers in July and now shudder whenever I remember my old predilection for heating soup in plastic bowls.

The bottom line is this: to be as safe as possible, you should buy plastic-free products, especially if those products involve heating. However, plastic isn’t inherently evil. It’s how it’s used and maintained.

I put petrol-derived Aquaphor on my lips every single day. There’s no such thing as a plastic-free world anymore. At this point, everything we do is merely harm reduction. And investing in a well-made, durable product is the best thing you can do for yourself. Whether that’s the lifetime-repair-warranty Moccamaster or the plastic-free Ratio Four is up to you.

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I don’t think much about my microwave. I mainly use it to defrost bread, soften butter and heat up hot drinks that have gone cold. But since I’ve been testing Ninja’s Crispi Microwave, which combines reheating with air fry technology, I’ve changed my mind.

All I need to do is convince my husband it’s worth the real estate on my kitchen countertop, and the $449 price tag.

I’m currently testing Ninja’s first-ever microwave with an air frying function, and I’m impressed so far. The No. 1 selling point is the FusionCrisp feature. It lets you heat food in microwave mode, then switch to air fry so your meal doesn't turn out soggy.

You’ll have to wait a little longer for my full review, where I’ll get hands-on with cooking a whole chicken and other dishes. But for now, here are my first impressions of Ninja’s Crispi Microwave.

Make some room...

My current microwave sits quite innocently on my countertop and measures 17 (W) x 12.5 (D) x 10 (H). However, the Ninja is over three inches wider, five inches deeper and four inches taller. You can’t help but notice it.

If you lack countertop space in your kitchen, I recommend checking your measurements before investing. You also need to think about clearance space. SharkNinja recommends six inches on the sides and 12 inches on the top.

The appliance I’m testing is currently sitting below a wall cabinet, with only five inches of clearance. I think I can get away with it, since I'm not using the appliance long-term, but do make sure you've got enough surrounding space for safe operation.

The controls look complicated, but they're not

At first, I was a bit concerned that the appliance seemed complicated to use. You can choose FusionCrisp — a combo of microwaving and air frying — or use the microwave and air fryer separately.

You’ll need to sit down for a few minutes with the instructions, or watch the setup guide that you can find by scanning the QR code on the appliance.

It walks you through reheating pizza, cooking baked potatoes and using the controls.

After using the appliance just once, I felt confident and have only referred to the Quick Start Guide to check timings. That can be an issue when using FusionCrisp. Unless I followed a recipe, I wasn’t sure how long to microwave and then air-fry the food. I expect this will get easier with time.

Cooking a fruit crumble using FusionCrisp

For me, the main attraction of Ninja’s Crispi Microwave is the FusionCrisp function. It lets you heat food in microwave mode, then switch to air fry to get a crisp texture.

The appliance comes with a fairly comprehensive Quick Start Guide, including recipes. I was instantly drawn to the classic apple berry crumble recipe — one of my favorite cozy-season puddings.

I used the recipe in the guide, swapped the apples and berries for plums, and made my first crumble in the appliance.

Using the glass basket

You need to use the accompanying glass basket with the FusionCrisp function, and place it on either the bottom or top shelf of the appliance. If you’re cooking something of height, such as a whole chicken, place the basket in the base, but since my crumble had a low profile, it was fine to put it on the top shelf.

I did find that the glass basket was really heavy; you’ll need two hands to hold it. What’s more, it’s also substantial. If you’re using it to make a recipe for one or two, you’ll end up with a huge portion. My family is still eating its way through the crumble!

And there lies another problem. If you’ve got leftovers and don’t want to transfer them out of the glass basket (some meals are messy), you’ll need a spare if you want to cook again before you finish everything.

It ditches the turntable

You’ll notice when you look inside the appliance that it ditches the turntable. This gives you even more space for cooking. Ninja claims it offers 40% more space than a standard microwave, and that it will fit an 8lb chicken. That’s ½ lb larger than the maximum size chicken that you can fit in the Ninja Crispi Pro air fryer, with a 6-quart container.

I already regularly cook whole chicken in my Corsori TurboBlaze air fryer, and will try it out in the Ninja Crispi Microwave over the coming days.

It can microwave and air fry too

Besides using the FusionCrisp function, don’t forget this appliance still offers a separate microwave and air fry function.

I tested it out by using the microwave to heat chicken soup. It has a handy preset function that ran for 2 ⅕ minutes. The soup came out piping hot, and I didn’t even pause and stir it halfway through.

I then used the air fry function to make a grilled cheese sandwich. I placed the crisper plate in the glass dish and positioned it on the top shelf. To save guessing the time and temperature I had a look online, before choosing the Max Crisp setting, at 240°C for 8 minutes. I paused the appliance and turned the sandwich over halfway through.

I was pretty pleased with the result, well my son was, and the bread was crispy, and the cheese was beautifully melted.

I’ve since played around with more grilled cheese toasties and have used the Air Grill Air Fryer setting, which needed a little less time.

My verdict so far

I’m enjoying using the Ninja Crispi Microwave and discovering what it can do. I’m still not sure whether it’s worth ditching your current microwave and air fryer for one appliance, so I’d love to know your thoughts if you’ve already made the investment (you can leave your comments below).

It is a large appliance, so if you are looking to save space, don’t underestimate the real estate it will take up.

For now, I'm going to get back to testing, and hopefully convince my family that it's one to keep.

Discover what I really think of the Ninja Crispi Microwave in my full review.

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As I head into the holiday season, I’ll be hosting, cooking and needing everything to be as fast and as easy as possible. I want — nay, need — the Ninja CrushBOSS by my side. It’s the best blender I’ve ever used, and you’ll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands.

I’m impressed by the level of control you get with this blender, which has become my go-to for everything from meal prep to daily breakfast smoothies. It has exceptional blending performance that takes on the toughest ingredients. It’s very stable when blending at full speed, has a large capacity and is easy to clean.

What more do you want? You can find out more by reading my full Ninja CrushBOSS review.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Specs

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Price & availability

The Ninja CrushBOSS is available to purchase from Amazon U.S. for $169 and from Amazon U.K. for £154. The blender comes in a variety of colors, including Midnight Blue & Gunmetal, Onyx, Emerald Green & Champagne, Stone & Gold, Mocha & Gold.

You can also buy the blender as part of a three-in-one bundle with a tumbler and food processor, as well as the large pitcher. This version of the blender will cost you $279 from Amazon U.S. and £239 from Amazon U.K. The additional blend cups are a good option for anyone who will be dealing with small quantities or using the blender for meal prep.

The Ninja Detect Power Pro is also around the same price at $179 and is incredibly powerful too. This blender comes with smaller blend cups and has similar controls, with a dial at the front and the same preset modes, but the CrushBOSS is just a little more powerful and costs less. Why would you spend more?

I recently tested the Nutribullet Power Core, which is priced at $99, and for $70 more, I can’t believe the step up in performance you can get with the CrushBOSS. If you can’t tell, I’m in awe of this blender.

For something with more control, such as the 10 variable speeds that come with the CrushBOSS, I would usually recommend something like the Vitamix Ascent X2. However, that will cost you $549, and you can’t justify paying that when the CrushBOSS is ripping through ice and creating the smoothest hummus I’ve ever seen with complete ease.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Design

The Ninja CrushBOSS looks futuristic, but so are its capabilities. The blender is pretty tall, measuring 17.87 x 10.16 x 8.98 inches. I found it easy to move around since it only weighs four and a half pounds. The blade in the pitcher is tall, kind of like a tree with six blades.

The pitcher has handy measurements on the side so you can see how much liquid you’re adding to your smoothies and mixtures. The lid has a release button, and a handle pops up, making it easy to remove. The corner of the lid also lifts up to reveal a pour spout.

The motor base has suction cups on the bottom to keep the machine glued to the countertop, and trust me, this thing is not moving an inch. I even struggled to remove it when I was done, but that’s much better than having a blender that jumps around on your countertop.

Controls

The controls of the Ninja CrushBOSS are very easy to get to grips with. The blender has two small buttons for power and pulse at the top of the motor base and a large dial with an LED screen, which you twist to select the mode you want from the smart menu.

You can select prepIQ, which has presets for all sorts of meal prep, including mince, small chop and large chop. I liked having these settings because they gave me a lot of control, and more than I’d get from the pulse button. Smooth Sense uses smart sensing to determine how long the pitcher's contents need to be blended to become smooth, which I found most useful for frozen ingredients. You can also choose from 10 variable speeds if you want to be in control of the blending.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Blending performance

To test out the blending performance of the Ninja CrushBOSS, I carried out my usual blender tests of smoothies, sorbet and hummus. This time I also added a quick chop side salad to test out the preset modes.

I was blown away by the blender. It’s so fast, and those blades are so sharp I’m convinced it could obliterate anything you throw at it. It made light work of completely frozen fruit and more tricky ingredients such as dates.

Smoothie

Firstly, I made a batch of tropical smoothie which consisted of frozen mango, peaches, pineapple and passionfruit, and I added two bananas and four dates with a splash of oat milk. I used the Smooth Sense setting, and this only took 90 seconds to fully blend and displayed a handy countdown on the screen.

As you can imagine, it tasted amazing, but I’m worried about how it felt. All of the fruit was completely broken down. Not a seed or pip in sight, and the dates were blended so small that they could easily move through a straw. It’s difficult to blend dates because of their sticky texture that gets stuck in the blades, but that wasn’t an issue for the CrushBOSS.

Sorbet

Next, I made sorbet using the Smooth Sense setting to see how well the blender copes with completely frozen ingredients and no liquid. It absolutely obliterated the mango. It was very impressive, and I’ve never seen a blender work so quickly before.

Even though I knew it wouldn’t hurt me since the lid was off, after what it did to the frozen mango, I was wary each time I reached my hand into the blender. In under two minutes, I had a smooth sorbet with no lumps or clumps.

Chop salad

To test out the chopping presets, I made a quick chopped salad to go on the side of meals. This included cucumber, red onion and tomato. I used the Small Chop setting, and the blender made light work of the ingredients.

It took less than 10 seconds to blend. It was pulsing, and in just 1, 2, 3, it was all done. An incredibly fast meal prep that I’ve been able to use to top my meals and add to wraps with minimal cleanup.

Hummus

Finally, I made a quick hummus. This included two tins of chickpeas, olive oil, paprika, salt and pepper. I decided to use the Custom Speed settings here, as making hummus requires more control, and went with speed 4.

This is the smoothest hummus I have ever made. I’m talking grocery-store-smooth. It was seriously impressive to watch, and since the blades climb the pitcher, no chickpeas were missed.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Storage & maintenance

I found the Ninja CrushBOSS surprisingly easy to clean despite its large size. Everything except for the motor base is top rack dishwasher safe. This means that once you're done, you can throw it in the dishwasher and forget about it, making the cleanup process feel non-existent.

I opted to clean the pitcher by hand since it’s so big, and this was very easy to do. My only advice is that if you decide to clean the blades by hand too, you should be careful with your hands, as the blades are very, very sharp.

Ninja CrushBOSS review: Verdict

After some thorough testing and serious thinking, I don’t have a bad word to say about the Ninja CrushBOSS. In fact, I can’t think of anything negative about it at all.

It has an exceptional blending performance, making light work of tough ingredients like sticky dates and frozen fruit. The controls are also versatile, with variable speeds that give you the final say over your blends and presets that make prepping for cooking faster than ever. The suction on the bottom of the motor base makes it incredibly stable while blending, and the cleanup process is easy. It also helps to have a large 72-ounce capacity so I can make large quantities, but performance isn’t hindered even if you make small batches.

The CrushBOSS does everything a blender should do, does it exceptionally well, and won’t break the bank.

When it comes to toasters, I firmly believe in the old adage of ‘buy cheap, buy twice’, except for me it’s been a case of ‘buy cheap, buy six times’. I’ve had my fair share of cheap toasters, and they’ve mostly been utter crap. So I was pretty excited when KitchenAid offered me its Pro Line (or Artisan, here in the U.K.) toaster.

The KitchenAid Pro Line offers some impressive features to back up its enormous price tag. It boasts a premium design, promises even toasting, and packs a range of features like hands-free lowering/rising and an automatic keep warm mode.

Alas, it isn’t perfect. While it’s a good toaster, I wouldn’t say it toasts bread any better than a toaster half the price. And the included toasted sandwich cage kinda sucks.

Still, if you value ease of use and have some cash to spare, this has to be one of the best toasters out there.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Price & availability

There’s no getting around it, the KitchenAid Pro Line is extremely pricey, at $299 for the two-slot toaster — the only model available in the States. Here in the U.K., the Pro Line is called the Artisan, with the two-slot model costing £269 and a four-slot model (unavailable in the U.S.), costing £399.

While pricey, the Pro Line is more or less on par with other premium toasters, namely the Dualit two-slice Classic, which costs $299. The KitchenAid Pro Line offers way more features than the Dualit Classic, so is the better option if you want reheating, auto up/down, and a bagel mode. In my experience, though, the Dualit Classic tends to toast more evenly, and unlike KitchenAid, Dualit offers the four-slice model Stateside — if those are priorities, it’s Dualit all the way.

The Pro Line is available in various colors: white, black, red and silver (which is essentially gray). In the U.K., the Artisan is available in a whopping 10 colors, including a rather fetching pistachio green. There’s also an “empire” red, ‘cos y’know… we are the British after all. Somewhat tone deaf naming there, KitchenAid.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Design

The Pro Line is, in my opinion, absolutely beautiful, sporting a timeless art-deco design. It’s simultaneously stately yet understated, adding a touch of class to your counter but never drawing too much attention. Every time I notice it, I think “huh, now that is a pretty toaster.”

Size wise, the Pro Line is an absolute unit. The four-slice measures 12 x 13 x 9 inches and weighs 18.7lbs — it’s definitely one to be avoided if you’re short on space. The two-slice measures a slightly more manageable 7x 13 x 9 x inches and 12lbs, but it’s still large for a two-slice toaster. As you can see, neither is a featherweight either, and I genuinely had difficulty getting both out of their styrofoam packaging.

The upside to all this is that the Pro Line is built like a tank. There’s barely a hint of plastic in sight. Everything is essentially either enamel-clad steel or shiny chrome. I’m not sure I could break it even if I wanted to. This is a toaster to pass down to your grandkids.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Performance

My favorite thing about the Pro Line is its array of automatic features and useful cooking modes. It has an automatic up/down mechanism that senses when food is in a slot and lowers/raises it accordingly, with a satisfying ping to let you know your toast has begun and ended. There’s not much use to this, although it’s a very smooth, steady mechanism, so avoids the classic ‘toast popping out and landing on the floor’ scenario.

Much more useful is the ‘keep warm’ setting. If the sensor detects that toast hasn’t been removed after cooking, the Pro Line will automatically lower it back down on a gentle heat to keep it warm. So no more spreading butter over cold toast if you happen to be busy or away from the toaster when it pops up. This will cook the toast ever so slightly, but I haven’t yet had burnt toast from a previously unburnt piece on account of keeping warm.

There’s a bagel mode, which is handy, only toasting one side of each bagel half, while only warming the top. You need to ensure you’ve got your bagel the correct way round, though, lest you cook the top and just warm the bread side. Thankfully there's a diagram on top of the toaster showing you which way to insert the bagel.

Naturally, there’s a defrost mode for heating frozen bread. And there’s a fourth mode which, confusingly, KitchenAid’s marketing images don’t show. On the promo shots, the toaster has a mode called “A little longer” to toast for a short time. On my two- and four-slice units, however, there’s a toasted sandwich setting instead. I guess the model online is an older version.

Anyway, the toasted sandwich setting is sucks, even using the sandwich cage — in all my tests, it simply burnt the outside of the bread while leaving innards cold and cheese unmelted.

I really like that the Pro Line’s slots are deliberately capacious, though, allowing you to toast lots of different bread styles and thicknesses. Often I struggle getting extra thick slices of bread into my parents’ Dualit Classic, but with the Pro Line I had no issues with super thick granary bread. I still had to cut flatter, longer sourdough slices in half, but that’s to be expected.

Finally, I love the toast setting slider. It's smooth, with no hard stops on each setting, so you can dial in your exact cooking time. And it features LED cooking lights, which count down to zero so you can see how long is left before your toast pops up — handy for time management when doing other stuff in the kitchen.

Toasting tests

Alas, the Pro Line’s core toasting performance was a little disappointing. Not awful, but for this much money, I want perfectly cooked toast. I ran my tests on the four-slice unit, at the middle setting of '4'.

With thinner slices of bread, the Pro Line cooked pretty evenly on both sides, with each slice of bread in each slot looking similarly toasted. As you can see, though, the toaster left the upper half and top corners less cooked. I'd expect to see less cooking at the top, as it's cooler near the opening. But there's quite a big discrepancy here with the upper section being undercooked cor my liking. These weren't tall slices of bread, either — the crusts were well and truly submerged into the toaster.

To see if this was just an issue with the elements not having time to heat up properly, solvable by longer cooks, I left two slices in the toaster until they burned — as a sort of stress test. As you can see below, the top elements will start to cook the upper areas of bread, but a corner still gets left undercooked in comparison.

With thicker slices of bread, I found the Pro Line always heated the sides unevenly, resulting in toast being perfect on one side and either under- of overcooked on the other, depending on the slots used. Slots 1-2 tended to undercook a side while slots 3-4 tended to burn a side. As you can see below, there was always a discrepancy between sides. Now, you want this for a bagel, but for normal toasted bread I wish the Pro Line cooked more evenly. The Dualit Classic is much better in this regard.

Time-wise, the Pro Line takes just over 2 mins to cook at the middle setting of 4. At the lowest setting of 1, it took just under 30 seconds and at the highest of 7 it took just under 2-minutes 45 seconds.

I wouldn’t say this is particularly quick, but it isn’t slow like those awful conveyor belt toasters you find at European hotels. The combined cooking and buttering time was about right for brewing and steeping a cup of tea to wash down my toast.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Storage & maintenance

The Pro Line is very easy to keep clean externally. The sturdy, premium design and enamel finish don’t hold onto fingerprints and grime, and are easy to wipe down. I have the toaster positioned next to my stovetop, meaning it’s constantly getting sprayed with food and oil. My old toaster held onto this and its body needed degreasing regularly. The Pro Line’s enamel looks as good as new with a quick wipe.

Unfortunately, the crumb tray is a little laughable. It’s tiny and super shallow, meaning it gets full up very quickly and can be fiddly to remove if there are big crumbs in it. It’s also easy to spill crumbs when moving the tray from toaster to food waste.

KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster review: Verdict

The KitchenAid Pro Line (or Artisan in the U.K.) is a decent enough toaster. It’s styled and built beautifully, easy to clean and packs tons of useful features — the keep warm setting is a total gamechanger for those who perennially forget about their toast.

Holding the Pro Line back from our top scores are some major annoyances, though. It’s pricey, and for this money I’d expect evenly cooked toast on both sides. The crumb tray is also inexplicably small for a toaster this bulky. But if you value convenience and features over pure toasting performance, the Pro Line is still definitely one to shortlist.

There are more than 120 species of coffee plant, but only two dominate the market: arabica and robusta. Spend a few minutes perusing the coffee aisle in your local store, however, and you’ll observe that only one is worn as a badge of pride.

Many brands proudly proclaim their 100% arabica origin. By contrast, robusta is conspicuous by its absence; a term relegated to shadowy small print, if at all.

Let's dive into the differences and explain a little bit about this ongoing debate across the coffee community.

Is arabica inherently better than robusta?

Traditionally, the two were deemed to be yin and yang. Arabica became shorthand for fancy coffee. Robusta for the cheap stuff. Historically, that stuck — of the two species, arabica has always been considered to be the more refined option of the two.

But as the two names became a differentiator of quality, a vicious circle emerged: producers simply put less effort into the cultivation of robusta and so its tastier talents were never truly appreciated. It was mass-produced, quality control was low and the end product was relegated to jars of instant coffee — or blended with arabica beans to cut costs.

And it does taste different: whereas arabica can produce a wide spectrum of wonderfully sweet, floral and complex fruit flavours, robusta tends towards more intense flavours. Think huge, thick, smoky, dark chocolate nuttiness. But with the right soil, careful farming and judicious roasting, be in no doubt: it can be every bit as satisfying as a top-class arabica.

The reality is that growing great quality coffee takes time, care and effort – skimp on any of these factors, and any species of coffee will fail to reach its potential. And both species can taste terrible: work your way through that supermarket shelf and you’ll find bags of both arabica and robusta beans which, if the tasting notes were honest, would feature descriptors such as “bottom of the ashtray” or “soggy bonfire”.

Why is robusta becoming popular again?

Its name provides a clue. Discovered in the 1800s, it earned its name because of its resilience to both climate and pests. It’s a plant that also thrives at lower altitudes; a complete contrast to the mountain-loving arabica varieties. In today’s shifting climate, that explains why producers in some parts of the world are beginning to shift their crops to hardier robusta plants. They can grow in lower altitude fields that are easier to access, and the crops are less liable to fail when the weather goes bad — or when pests and fungus attack.

Naturally, the bulk of that crop still goes towards mass-produced blends and instant coffee. However, the steady increase in production means that an increasing number of artisanal coffee roasters are beginning to rehabilitate its reputation by producing coffees from the increased supply of high-quality robusta beans. You can identify these by looking for the terms Fine Robusta or Super Fine Robusta. These are the beans that have been selected for professional grading by the producers.

The process is rigorous. A certified grader from the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) inspects the green, unroasted beans for defects such as mould, stones or sour fruit — if it passes that stage, the beans are lightly roasted, brewed and taste-tested to a specific range of scored criteria. Depending on the final tally, the highest scoring beans will be designated as "Fine Robusta" — and the exceptional as "Super Fine Robusta". In short, if you see those terms on a bag, or featured in a roaster’s marketing spiel, you know you’re looking at the good stuff.

How do I find the best quality robusta coffee?

Ultimately, the key to buying good coffee is far less about species and much more about where you buy your coffee. In the main, that means abandoning your chain stores entirely. Seek out your local coffee roasters, or take your search online, and find the roasteries that take time and care to select great quality beans and roast them to perfection.

There’s a simple test: if a bag of coffee is inscribed with a roasting date, then it’s probably good coffee — and it means that the roaster cares enough about coffee to tell you exactly how fresh it is. If a packet has nothing more than a best before, then you best beware — as it means the producer doesn’t want to admit how stale it is. In all likelihood, it could be months old and well past its prime.

So don’t make that mistake: start every cup with coffee that’s been grown, graded and roasted with care, and you’re already on the path to a better-tasting cup. And if you like the idea of a big, creamy, chocolatey espresso-style kick, then add a good-quality robusta in your next order — you might be pleasantly surprised.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 coffee makers worth swiping up before October Prime Day: up to 28% off my top picks
• Best coffee maker 2026: we tested over 90 machines, and these are the top 7
• What's the difference between drip and espresso? Ask Tom's Guide's coffee expert in live Q&A

There are certainly worse ways to test new bakeware than standing in a kitchen next to Nancy Silverton making her “life-changing” peanut butter cookies.

Yet that’s exactly how I got my first look at HexClad’s new Hybrid Bakeware collection. The $399 6-piece set, available as of October 1, is the brand’s first attempt at transferring the same stainless steel-meets-nonstick technology from its very recognizable frying pans to the oven.

The new 6-piece Hybrid Bakeware Set includes a 10 x 15-inch medium baking sheet, a 9 x 13-inch rectangular pan, an 8 x 8-inch square pan, two 9-inch round cake pans and a stainless steel cooling rack.

Look, this is not casual bakeware. And I am, at best, a casual baker. So I wanted to know whether HexClad’s hybrid construction actually makes a noticeable difference in the oven — and, more importantly, whether it feels worth the premium.

What makes HexClad bakeware different?

HexClad Bakeware uses the same general hybrid concept popularized by the brand’s high-heat pans, featuring stainless steel peaks sitting above nonstick valleys. (Although the bakeware has a medium-gray finish rather than the distinct darker surface used on HexClad’s cookware.)

As with the cookware, you can use metal baking tools directly on the surface without worrying about scratching the pan, but HexClad says they also lift food ever so slightly off the surface. The idea is that this creates a tiny amount of airflow underneath whatever you’re baking, helping heat circulate more evenly and reducing the chance of scorched bottoms.

The tri-ply construction also gives the pans a nice heft, while the curved handles are designed to be gripped more comfortably while wearing oven mitts. In other words, these do not feel like the flimsy sheet pans you accidentally bend and warp while pulling them out of a jam-packed kitchen cabinet.

And these pans can take some heat. They’re oven-safe up to 900°F, which is obviously far beyond anything you’d need for cookies, but does make them useful for everything from cakes to high-heat roasting and focaccia.

Putting HexClad Bakeware to the test with Nancy Silverton

A lot of the use-case suggestions came from Nancy Silverton during our demo session. The chef, baker, restaurateur and frequent Top Chef guest judge (which I only mention as it is my all-time favorite reality TV show) released her cookbook The Cookie That Changed My Life in 2023 inspired by the very peanut butter cookie we baked on HexClad's sheet pan.

The cookies came out evenly golden across the batch, including on the bottoms, with nicely baked edges and soft centers.

Although the taste is, quite arguably, life-changing, what impressed me even more was how easily they came off the pan. Cleanup was equally painless.

HexClad specifically said not to use PAM or other aerosol cooking sprays on its bakeware. Those sprays can build up a residue and compromise the nonstick performance. If you do need to grease the pan, HexClad said to use a stick with butter or a neutral oil instead.

Is HexClad bakeware worth $399?

There's no doubt that this is expensive bakeware. So if you bake twice a year and your current sheet pan is doing just fine, I don’t think you suddenly upgrade your gear.

But I can see the appeal for someone who bakes or entertains often and is tired of buying pans that warp, scratch or lose their nonstick coating with regular use. Furthermore, if I were making any kind of gift registry, I'd add this immediately.

The whole collection feels substantial and extremely well made, and the combination of easy release, metal-utensil compatibility and HexClad’s lifetime warranty gives it a much stronger longevity argument than your average nonstick baking set. After actually baking with it, I understand the appeal more than I expected to.

HexClad says it plans to expand the collection, too. There’s no Bundt pan on the roadmap right now, but personally, I think that needs to change.

More from Tom's Guide

• I cooked every meal over an open fire for 2 days with Hexclad pans
• My honest verdict on HexClad pans after 3 years of use
• Cast iron versus carbon steel cookware: Everything you need to know

When will the obsession with hot bean juice end? Well, I hope it doesn't end. There's little I love more than making coffee — my years as a professional barista can attest to that. If there were an extra day in the week, I would, without a doubt, want to spend it behind the bar in an independent cafe.

But now I'm Tom's Guide's in-house coffee expert, meaning I've tested over 50 coffee makers, tried all the weird "hacks", and consumed enough cups of coffee to give even an elephant the caffeine shakes. Of course, I'm going to share all that knowledge with you, our readers and members, on International Coffee Day.

Ever wondered if the famed Moccamaster is worth the investment? What the difference between a light roast and a dark roast bean really is? If the best coffee grinder truly is the most important part of your coffee setup? How to get delicious, thick crema like all those TikToks? I'll answer all of that — and anything and everything else you might want to know — right here, right now.

I'll be here today (Oct 1) answering questions live until 12 pm ET, and I'll be back tomorrow (Oct 2) to answer everything else. You can submit questions any time until midnight on Oct 1 (ET).

You can ask anything you want: which espresso machines are actually worth it, the best camping coffee setup, what coffee jargon actually means, or even how to choose the right beans!

As a reminder, please keep all questions appropriate and on-topic. We want this to be a space where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of whether you're a coffee expert or a total beginner.

If you've never commented on Tom's Guide before, then you may need to sign up to ask questions. Signing up is free and will unlock a multitude of Tom's Club member benefits, like rewards and savings, the ability to earn badges and enter giveaways, participate in popular conversations and all Live Q&As, and reveal hints for our quizzes and puzzles.

I can't wait to hear your questions.

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I love coffee. Whether it's hot or cold (or iced), as long as it's sweet, there isn't a cup of joe I don't enjoy. Something I like even more than coffee, though? Saving my spare change by making it at home with one of the best coffee machines.

De'Longhi is a brand synonymous with great automatic and manual coffee makers, and this particular Prime Big Deal Days discount on its stunning La Specialista Arte has me reaching for my wallet. Not only is it an impressive 41% off, but it also comes in a vibrant yellow colourway that will be the centrepiece of any kitchen it lives in.

• Shop Amazon's Prime Day sale here

If you're keen on nabbing a new coffee machine, this De'Longhi deal is hard to beat. Better yet, it's International Coffee Day, so now's the perfect time to invest in a new caffeine crafter.

Do note, though, that this De'Longhi discount won't last long, and it will only stick around while stocks last or until Prime Day comes to a close next Monday, October 5.

Now, I know yellow isn't everyone's favourite colour — it comes in Black Metal and White too — but this sunshine-inspired option is the only one that scores the full discount.

That said, if a fully automatic machine is more your speed, or you want to browse more of De'Longhi's range, I've selected six of the best Prime Day deals below.

When we put the Copper Charlie induction stove to the test earlier this year, we were impressed by its innovative battery-powered tech that could represent the future of home appliances.

But, it turns out there's always room for improvement as the 'Classic Charlie' has a newer sibling that's just been released, simply called the 'New Charlie'.

There's some hefty upgrades to talk about, building on what Copper has already carved out in this futuristic cookery space. The most notable new feature is its ability to plug it into both 120-volt and 240-volt outlets, giving homeowners more flexibility; the Classic Charlie only works with 120-volt outlets.

And while that's certainly one of the best upgrades of the New Charlie, it's also not the only way its bringing the heat to kitchens. Here's what else you can expect from the New Charlie.

More heat, less waiting

The New Charlie's induction coils have also received an upgrade to 3000 Watts, up from 2800 Watts on the original stove. The broiler, too, is also more powerful: it's now 3000 Watts, up from 2700 Watts in the Classic Charlie.

As a result, the company says that the time to preheat to 350°F has been reduced from 4 minutes 30 seconds down to just 3 minutes 50 seconds.

Though the new model ships with the 120-volt plug, it can be replaced with a 240 VAC field-wireable attachment plug, if desired.

Like the Classic Charlie, the New Charlie still has the built-in battery, meaning it'll cook for you even if you're in a blackout.

Availability

While all of these new upgrades are impressive, it's worth bearing in mind the price. The Classic Charlie already came with an expensive price tag of $5,999 for the Inkwell Black Polymer design. And you'll see this bump up to $6,399 for the Black Walnut detailing.

For the New Charlie then, you're looking at a base rate of $6,799 at copperhome.com, jumping to $7,199 for the Black Walnut. That's $800 more for these powerful improvements.

It's a hard sell at this price, even with all its seriously impressive features, but if you're making the investment, Copper is bringing the heat.

More from Tom's Guide

• I've always been tempted by induction cooktops, but I'd never buy one for my small kitchen — here's why
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As a home appliance reviewer, there's one brand I tend to recommend to my friends and family for great-value, long-lasting kitchen devices — and that's Ninja.

I know I'm not the only Ninja fan out there — we've reviewed plenty of its great appliances here at Tom's Guide — but sometimes, seeing the brand's price tags makes me want to close my eyes. Because I know deep down that no matter the cost, I'm probably going to love my next Ninja appliance, despite my wallet's protests.

• Shop Amazon's full Prime Day sale

Thankfully for my credit card, Ninja's great kitchen appliances have gotten their prices slashed at Amazon during the retailer's massive Prime Big Deal Day sale. From now until Monday, October 5, there are plenty of discounts on Ninja's Amazon storefront.

From summer essentials like the Slushi, Creami and BlendBoss tumbler to kitchen staples like the Crispi air fryer and the Ninja Luxe Cafe coffee machine, there's up to 66% off.

I've gathered my top-recommended deals from Ninja for your perusal below. You'll need to act fast to nab these deals, though, as they will finish up on Monday, October 5.

Best Ninja Prime Day deals

Caraway is well-known for its iconic non-toxic cookware, bakeware, utensils and even trash cans. But, what it's not so well-known for is its coffee makers. Why? Well, because it's never made one before. Until now.

And while that's big news in itself, what's really special about Caraway's first-ever entry into a busy coffee maker world is that it's taking its non-toxic ethos and planting it firmly into the brewing process.

In fact, the Caraway 10-Cup Coffee Maker has eliminated plastic from the brew path altogether.

Using a 'first-of-its-kind Clean Brew System', this coffee maker uses stainless steel and glass, meaning your coffee is brewed entirely plastic-free.

For a drip coffee maker, that's a pretty big deal, unless you're planning to brew it all manually (which I'm certainly not).

Why I'll be picking one up

It's hard to ask for a coffee maker that's entirely plastic-free when the market is saturated with options that use plastics for internal components.

But everything in Caraway's coffee maker is focused on eliminating their use.

From the water path, shower head, brew basket, and even the reusable coffee filter, each part of the brewing process is made from stainless steel – and it all leads to a durable glass carafe for a cleaner-tasting cup all the way from brew to pour.

It's clear Caraway has really focused in on this plastic-free innovation (and I heard it has spent 5 years doing just that), but plenty of thought has also gone into its design.

I'm a huge fan of the clean lines and minimalist, yet stylish design of Caraway's cookware. Seeing this translated into a coffee maker is a dreamy countertop addition.

Plus, it's available in four colors; Cream, Midnight, Stone, and Clay, which all integrate nicely with the rest of Caraway's range, in keeping with its iconic muted palette.

And, there are plenty more features to enjoy with the 10-Cup Coffee Maker, including precise temperature control, the ability to brew 2-10 cups, a keep-warm function for up to 90 minutes, and a lovely compact and quiet footprint.

It also includes a built-in cleaning and descaling cycle, plus dishwasher-safe removable components. Coffee lovers may be intrigued by the one-dial control, too, that switches between brewing and cleaning.

If you're looking for a more detailed and in-depth coffee brewing system, there's no big screen with options here. But for me, that's not a deal-breaker.

Availability

Caraway's 10-Cup Coffee Maker is now available to buy exclusively for $495 at CarawayHome.com and Crate & Barrel stores and online. Caraway states that shipping commences 10/30, though "quantities are limited".

Whether it makes its way into our best coffee makers, we'll have to wait until we get our hands on one for a full review.

More from Tom's Guide

• 7 ways to create a barista-style coffee bar in your kitchen
• Coffee doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby — here’s my 5 favorite cheap accessories
• How to make coffee without a coffee maker — 5 easy techniques

The new De’Longhi Magnifica Duo goes where only a few automatic coffee machines have gone before: below $1,000. Yes, this superautomatic machine with hot and cold milk carafes is less than a grand. By 5 cents, sure, but still under a grand.

Even though $999.95 is still an objectively large amount of money, especially in 2026, it’s actually pretty affordable for an automatic coffee machine. Other De’Longhi models go for up to $2,500 (coughElettaExplorecough) with, honestly, not that much difference in performance.

So, is the Magnifica Duo one of the best espresso machines in 2026? It depends on what you’re after. Want something that can make you a fresh, hot (or cold) beverage in seconds without you lifting a finger? Then it’s definitely a contender. To find out more, keep reading this De’Longhi Magnifica Duo review.

De'Longhi Magnifica Duo review: Specs

De'Longhi Magnifica Duo review: Price & availability

The De’Longhi Magnifica Duo is $999 from Amazon U.S. and £699 from Amazon U.K. While this is a lot to swallow, most other automatic espresso machines will set you back almost double that. For example, the De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic, the KitchenAid KF8, or the De’Longhi Eletta Explore, which are $2,500, $2,000, and $2,000, respectively.

If you want to save as much money as possible but still want an automatic machine, the Magnifica Duo would be your best bet. The De’Longhi Magnifica Evo is $100 cheaper, but it can’t make iced drinks. I’ve also tested the De’Longhi Rivelia, which is still my favorite automatic espresso machine, but it’s a little pricier at $1,499.

For an automatic espresso machine capable of brewing hot and cold drinks, the Magnifica Duo is actually reasonably priced. I hate writing that about a machine three times the price of my first car, but it is what it is.

De'Longhi Magnifica Duo review: Design

Just like other De’Longhi automatic espresso machines, the Magnifica Duo is effectively a huge metal/plastic box. This one is particularly massive, too. It’s almost 18 inches deep and 14 inches tall, so ensure you have enough space in your kitchen before purchasing. I test a lot of espresso machines, and my first thought upon unboxing was, “Wow. That’s huge.”

In terms of looks, it’s also average. The brushed silver exterior is a pretty nice touch, and there’s a well-lit LED screen on the top. I do wish the machine was either less plasticky or smaller, though. As it’s so large, your eye is automatically drawn to it. Then all you can do is notice the plastic embellishments.

If you value looks over cost-effectiveness, I’d recommend checking out the aforementioned De’Longhi Rivelia, which comes in an array of pretty colors and is a touch smaller. It’s around six inches shallower than the Magnifica Duo, but the same height and width. Even so, every little helps, and in the grand scheme of things, the Rivelia is still smaller.

Now, the LED screen. Like the De’Longhi Rivelia and the De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic, the Magnifica Duo has a nice little LED screen for selecting drinks, maintenance, and everything in between. While it’s smaller and a little less detailed than the PrimaDonna Aromatic’s, you are saving $1,500, so I really can’t complain. The Magnifica Duo’s screen still manages everything you’d want it to: 20-drink selection, customization, and even walks you through tutorials if necessary.

De'Longhi Magnifica Duo review: Espresso

As mentioned earlier, the De’Longhi Magnifica Duo makes a whopping twenty drinks. This includes hot and cold beverages: you can make a flat white or iced cappuccino in one click. Just like other De’Longhi automatics, the Magnifica Duo is incredibly easy to use. You only need to press one button for a super speedy drink.

However, it’s not all perfect. Like other De’Longhi automatic machines, there’s no low water warning. This means the machine will sputter out halfway through making a coffee, leaving you with a half-full mug or simply abandoning the espresso extraction altogether. Yes, this wastes beans.

What I’d like to see is for the machine to warn you before making a beverage. If this machine knows its water is below the minimum amount, why does it let you proceed with making a coffee?

Alright, now let’s get into the most important thing: taste. How does the De’Longhi Magnifica Duo actually taste?

Well, like every other automatic machine. Unfortunately, there’s really no distinction between this machine, the Rivelia, the PrimaDonna Aromatic (the list goes on). Some people will love the taste-versus-ease tradeoff; some would rather have more power over their final brew.

As an automatic machine, the Magnifica Duo uses relatively high pump pressure (15 bar) and dual-walled (pressurized) portafilters, so you’re not going to get as much nuance or complexity as you would with a manual machine. This isn’t a Magnifica Duo issue, but an inherent flaw with this kind of coffee machine. Is it for you? I can’t tell you. It’s not really for me, but I have a Breville Bambino Plus and a hand grinder, the Comandante C40 MK4.

Here’s a shot of espresso brewed on the Magnifica Duo.

As you can see, it’s a little pale, and the crema is relatively aerated. Again, this won’t impress coffee nerds, but it’s decent for how little effort it required. This shot tasted quite acidic, but not bitter at all. As stated earlier, automatic machines naturally remove most nuanced and delicate flavors due to the pressurized extraction process, so this shot didn’t taste as it would on, say, a De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro.

My colleague Harry said the coffee tasted a little weak, but it wasn’t bitter or unpleasant. However, my colleague Nikita couldn’t taste the coffee at all. I thought my oat flat white was acceptable, with a delicate coffee flavor and good milk texture, but it didn’t do the $50 coffee beans any favors.

The Magnifica Duo can also make iced drinks, so of course I made a cold brew. Here’s a photo of said cold brew.

This cold brew was… interesting. In a bad way. It tasted overly acidic and weak simultaneously. I wouldn’t recommend using the cold brew setting at all. The rest of the cold drinks from this machine are decent, though.

De'Longhi Magnifica Duo review: Milk

One of the best things about the De’Longhi Magnifica Duo is milk texture. The machine comes with both hot and cold milk carafes: De’Longhi’s LatteCrema and LatteCrema Cool. Both milk systems create gorgeous milk texture, with delicate bubbles or smooth micro(ish)foam. Sure, this doesn’t replicate a skilled barista, but that’s not the point of this machine.

Here’s a close-up of a flat white made on the Magnifica Duo.

As you can see, the bubbles are controlled and smooth. My colleague Harry said the dairy texture was “nice and creamy”. I thought the plant-based milk was also great; soft yet dense, like perfectly whipped egg whites (gross image, but you get the gist).

The LatteCrema Cool also makes a gorgeous milk texture. Here’s a photo of a cold brew latte.

As you can see, the texture strikes the balance between cold foam and plain milk really well. The drink is layered beautifully without an overwhelming amount of froth.

De'Longhi Magnifica Duo review: Storage & maintenance

As mentioned above, the Magnifica Duo is large. Please make sure there’s enough space in your kitchen before buying; it’s one of the deepest machines I’ve ever tested.

Thankfully, both milk carafes are dishwasher-safe and force-purge after every use. This is great for easy, mindless cleaning. The machine also comes with a water filter and cleaning tablets — replacements are $20 from De’Longhi and $15 from De’Longhi, respectively — and walks you through cleaning cycles when required.

De’Longhi offers a two-year warranty as standard, which is the same as Ninja and Breville and better than Casabrews’s measly one-year. Even so, none of these brands can match SimplyGoodCoffee or Moccamaster — both give you a five-year warranty by default.

De'Longhi Magnifica Duo review: Verdict

The De’Longhi Magnifica Duo is a decent automatic coffee machine. Is it revolutionary? No. Does it make award-winning coffee? No. Is it supremely easy to use? Yes. Does it make coffee in seconds, with zero input from you? Also, yes.

At $999, this is on the cheaper end of automatic coffee machines (yeouch), so I’d recommend it over the De’Longhi Eletta Explore or De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic. If you can part with a little extra, though, I’d go for the De’Longhi Rivelia as it looks prettier, takes up less space (and can also make cold drinks with an extra $129 purchase).

As far as automatic coffee machines go, the Magnifica Duo is relatively affordable. It’s not life-changing, but if you want a decent amount of bang for a (somewhat) lower amount of buck, I’d go for it.

When Ooni announced the new Halo Core spiral mixer, one thought immediately crossed my mind: KitchenAid is in for some serious competition.

Available for $599 at Amazon, it hits the exact price as the iconic KitchenAid Artisan Plus, but offers a more compact and home-kitchen-friendly footprint than the high-end Ooni Halo Pro spiral mixer — currently our top pick for bread making in our best standing mixer buying guide.

While $599 is still a real investment, the Halo Core feels far more accessible than the Ooni Halo Pro, which is $799 at Amazon, plus it won't take up as much countertop space in your kitchen.

I’ve been putting the Halo Core through its paces, and there’s a lot to like. I’ll follow up with a full review in a couple of weeks, but for now, here are three things I loved and one thing you should know.

Ooni Halo Core spiral mixer: What I like

1. Perfect dough

The Halo Core spiral mixer, like its older sibling, is designed specifically for bread making. Instead of the planetary stand mixers home bakers are used to, Ooni’s design brings professional-grade spiral mixing into our kitchens.

How does it work? The dough hook and bowl rotate around a breaker bar — a stationary vertical metal rod that sits in the mixing bowl. Although watching the rotating bowl is fun to watch, it’s not a gimmick.

The breaker bar removes dough from the hook as it spins during mixing, preventing it from climbing up the dough hook and stopping you from pausing the mix to remove the dough. It also stretches the dough for a stronger gluten structure.

I’ve been experimenting with making bread and pizza dough, and although the pizza dough is currently proving in my kitchen, the bread tasted exceptional. In fact, my husband didn’t realize it was homemade.

I also found that the kneading process was smooth. The usual mixers I test move around my countertop when the dough hook is in action, and it almost seems like too much for the appliance’s motor. There was a clear difference when using the Ooni Halo Core. The mixer stayed steady, and there was no hint of any electric smell or the motor burning out.

2. Pause and go again

The controls of the Halo Core work differently from any stand mixer I’ve previously tested, but in a good way. The control knob is positioned on top of the appliance, so it’s easy to access whether you’re right- or left-handed. What’s more, it works in percentages, with 20 speeds. Turn it clockwise once for 5% at 60 rpm, and turn it up to 100% for 300 rpm.

The control lights up in sections, so you can clearly see which speed setting you're on. This is quite clever in itself, but what impressed me more was that you can simply press the knob and the appliance will pause. Press it again, and it will start from where it left off. It may seem like a small thing, but I found it took away the hassle of turning down the speed when you want to pause the mix.

3. Double whisk

I’ve never made butter before, but since my colleague made butter with the Halo Pro, I followed suit. I started by attaching the dual-geared whisk attachment — it even has a built-in gearbox for rapid whipping!

The whisk really came into its own, whipping the heavy cream into what looked like scrambled eggs until the fat and buttermilk separated. Apart from the speed, it’s fascinating to watch, and if you’ve never made butter before, I recommend giving it a go.

The whisk attachment proved that the Halo Core isn’t just good at making dough; it has a firm place in the kitchen for other baking tasks.

Ooni Halo Core spiral mixer: What I don't like

It wasn't great at mixing cake batter

After the whisk's success, I was excited to try the angled silicone-edge beater to make an all-in-one cake batter. I love the silicone beater I’ve used with the KitchenAid Artisan Plus, as it swipes around the edge of the bowl, incorporating the whole mixture — so you don’t need to stop midway through to scrape the ingredients off the side.

The Halo Core did the same, but it seemed to struggle to incorporate the butter into the mixture, even though it was soft when I added it to the bowl. Then, when I raised the mixer’s head, I noticed a large clump of butter was still attached to the beater.

I’m going to keep testing its cake-making ability, since other reviews have given it more positive results. So keep an eye out for my full Ooni Halo Core review.

Over to you

Are you thinking about buying an Ooni mixer, or have you already invested in one? I’d love to read your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• KitchenAid vs Cuisinart: Which stand mixer is best?
• Smeg’s newest retro stand mixer gives KitchenAid a run for its money — here’s why it won me over
• I tested Ooni's new Rotating Stone — and it's your ticket to perfect pizza at home

Summer brings backyard barbecues, farmers market hauls and refrigerators packed with everything from fresh produce to leftover cookout essentials. But while most people know milk belongs in the fridge and ice cream belongs in the freezer, many seasonal foods fall into a gray area.

Should tomatoes be refrigerated? Does bread stay fresher in the fridge or freezer? And how long can leftover hot dogs really last?

We all know that proper food storage can help ingredients stay fresh longer, reduce waste, and make meal planning easier. Yet crowded refrigerators, forgotten leftovers and misplaced ingredients remain a common challenge, especially at the hottest time of the year.

Here's a practical guide to where some of summer's most popular foods should actually be stored — and how Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub’s smart technology can help keep track of what you have before they are forgotten.¹

Foods that belong in the refrigerator

When temperatures climb, the refrigerator becomes the most important food storage zone in the kitchen. While some items are obvious candidates, others may surprise you.

Cut watermelon

An uncut watermelon can stay at room temperature, but once sliced, it should be refrigerated immediately. Leaving cut watermelon out for extended periods can encourage bacterial growth and affect both texture and flavor.

Store slices in a sealed container or tightly wrapped on a shelf rather than in the refrigerator door, where the contents are exposed to outside temperature more frequently.

Fresh corn on the cob

One of summer's most popular vegetables is often stored incorrectly. Fresh corn starts losing sweetness shortly after harvest, and refrigeration helps slow that process.

For its flavor, keep corn in the refrigerator’s Crisper+ Drawer and cook it within a few days of purchase. And don’t forget, it should only be husked just before cooking, so it should go into the fridge in its natural case. Storing it at room temperature may cause sugars to convert to starch more quickly, and husking it before storage will lead to that same conversion of sugars to starch, as well as rapid moisture loss and oxidation.

Barbecue ribs and cooked leftovers

Whether it's burgers, grilled chicken or ribs, cooked foods should be refrigerated within two hours of serving — and even sooner during extreme heat.

Leftovers often get pushed to the back of crowded shelves and forgotten. That's where organization becomes important. With Samsung Family Hub’s latest update, AI Vision² technology can identify and track many packaged foods and labeled containers placed inside compatible refrigerators, helping households see what's available and reducing the chances of leftovers being overlooked until it's too late.

Open condiments and sauces

Barbecue sauce, mayonnaise-based dressings and many opened condiment containers belong in the refrigerator after opening. During cookout season, these items are often moved in and out of coolers and outdoor tables, making proper storage even more important.

For households juggling tens of bottles and jars, the updated AI Food Manager’s food list can be a game changer, since it helps prevent duplicate purchases and unnecessary waste.

Berries

Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries should be refrigerated soon after purchase. Summer berries are particularly delicate and can spoil quickly on the countertop.

To extend freshness, wait to wash berries until you're ready to eat them. Excess moisture can accelerate spoilage.

Eggs

Although eggs are displayed unrefrigerated in some countries, they should remain refrigerated in the United States. Consistent cold temperatures help maintain freshness, so, contrary to popular belief, they should be stored on a shelf inside the refrigerator, not in the door.

Foods that belong in the freezer

The freezer can do more than store ice cream and frozen vegetables. It can also help extend the life of foods that might otherwise go unused.

Bread

Many people automatically refrigerate bread, but that can actually make it stale faster.

If you plan to eat a loaf within a few days, keep it at room temperature. If not, freeze it. Bread freezes well and can be thawed slice by slice as needed.

Avocados

If you've ever watched an avocado go from perfectly ripe to overripe in what feels like a day, the freezer can help. Ripe avocados freeze surprisingly well and can be stored as halves, slices or mashed.

While they won't keep the same texture for salads or toast after thawing, they're ideal for smoothies, guacamole and baking.

Excess herbs

Fresh herbs such as basil, parsley and cilantro can spoil quickly. Freezing chopped herbs in ice cube trays with a small amount of water or olive oil creates ready-to-use portions for future meals.

Foods that should stay at room temperature

Not everything benefits from refrigeration. In fact, some foods lose flavor or texture when stored too cold.

Tomatoes

This is one of the most common storage mistakes.

Refrigeration can make tomatoes mealy and dull their flavor. Whole tomatoes are generally best kept on the countertop and away from direct sunlight until ripe and ready to eat.

Once cut, however, they should be refrigerated.

Peaches, nectarines and plums

Stone fruits continue ripening after purchase. Refrigerating them too early can slow that process and affect texture.

Leave them on the counter until ripe, then move them to the refrigerator if you need a few extra days before eating them.

Onions

Whole onions prefer a cool, dry and well-ventilated location rather than the refrigerator. Moisture can encourage spoilage and soften texture.

Just don't store them directly next to potatoes, which can shorten their shelf life.

A smarter way to manage summer food storage

Knowing where foods belong is the first step toward keeping them fresher longer. The second is staying aware of what you already have.

As refrigerators fill up with produce, leftovers and barbecue essentials throughout the summer, it's easy for items to get lost or forgotten. As shown in the clips above, Samsung's upgraded AI Vision technology helps simplify food management by broadening its spectrum of recognized items – like your favorite breakfast jam and labeled food container with your leftovers – making it easier to keep track of ingredients and reduce unnecessary waste.

Learn more about Samsung’s Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub here.

¹ Features and availability may vary by model and market.² A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. If a food item is not recognizable, it may be listed as an unknown item. AI Vision cannot identify or list any food items in the freezer. Recognition uses AI models that may be updated periodically to help improve performance. The user may need to manually check and adjust the list to ensure its accuracy.

Le Creuset is an iconic kitchen brand. Star Trek is an iconic franchise. And what happens when you take two icons, put them in a bowl and mix them together? Well, a 12-piece kitchenware collection that'll turn your kitchen into a culinary command center.

To celebrate 60 years of "Star Trek", the cookware brand has lovingly crafted a limited-edition collection for fans of the franchise. Or, maybe you're just a fan of Spock (don't worry, there's a mug for that).

Christopher Scinto, Chief Marketing Officer at Le Creuset says: "With the Le Creuset x Star Trek Collection, we set out to commemorate some of the franchise's most beloved symbols with our signature craftsmanship and iconic colors and designs."

While there's 12 pieces in the collection that you can check out for a limited time only at Le Creuset stores, LeCreuset.com, and Williams-Sonoma.com, I've highlighted my five top picks below.

What's in my basket

The full Le Creuset x "Star Trek" collection ranges from $35 to $500, but with 12 items there's hopefully something for every price range. Before we jump into my basket, I want to give a special mention to the Mini Cocottes for Balok, Gorn and Talosian. While they're not in my basket right now, they're certainly worth checking out if you're a fan.

• 'Revolutionary for homemade bread': Why I can't wait to try Le Creuset's new oval bread oven
• Cast iron skillet vs Dutch oven — which is better?
• What is a Dutch oven — everything you need to know about this kitchen essential

As a self-confessed coffee snob and director of Tom's Guide's The Coffee Lab, I'm always testing out new espresso products. At IFA 2026, I tried nunc., an AI-assisted espresso machine. Yes, an AI espresso machine.

So what does the AI in nunc. actually do? Instead of having to manually dial in your beans, nunc. uses an NFC code to analyze pre-packaged, nunc.-branded beans (you can also use your own beans). Then, the machine analyzes humidity, heat, bean size, and basically every other variable to grind to the perfect particle size. As someone who loves espresso but hates dialing in (why does it take so long sometimes?), I was excited to try this out. But as someone skeptical of AI at best, I had my reservations.

I didn't want nunc. to take away the art of making coffee. That's so human and personalized that it's impossible for AI to copy. Luckily, though, nunc. proved me wrong. Here's what happened when I tried it.

How does nunc. work?

As I mentioned above, every nunc.-branded bean hopper has an NFC code, exactly like a Nespresso Vertuo pod. The machine reads this NFC code to analyze the roast date, roast type, bean type, and processing type, and work out precisely how to grind those specific beans. Then, it analyzes the environment — heat, humidity — to finalize the optimal grind.

This means the grind size will change from morning to evening, or even hour to hour. If you have an espresso at 6 a.m., when the air in your house is dewy and humid, the grind size will be different from your 1 p.m. espresso, sun shining overhead, A/C running.

Of course, if you have the companion app, you can input information about any beans.

How is nunc. different from a normal espresso machine?

In terms of functionality, nunc. works just like any other espresso machine. Think about it like this: it's almost like a superautomatic — Jura, De'Longhi Rivelia — but a totally manual machine. All it does for you is choose the ideal grind size. Honestly, dialling in beans is the worst part of espresso making for me, so I'm completely on board.

You tamp, insert the portafilter into the grouphead, and can pre-infuse the beans yourself. You can either steam the milk automatically (like the Breville Bambino Plus), or do it manually (any other manual espresso machine).

You dispose of the spent grounds yourself; you empty the drip tray yourself. The only part that is "AI" is the grinder.

How does nunc.'s "AI" coffee taste?

nunc. doesn't make "different" coffee. You won't have one sip and go, "Woah, I can totally taste the AI, dude!" It honestly tastes like a human barista was there every step of the way... because there was. You make the coffee.

Here's a shot of my oat flat white.

It looks like a normal coffee. The taste was clean, polished, with a soft, dark-chocolate-like bitterness rounding it out. I wanted a little more fruit, acid, and funk — I like a funky coffee — but this was likely because I didn't choose my beans.

The milk texture was a little too bubbly for me; I like mine more velvety. Like any other espresso machine, though, you can adjust milk texture easily. Just don't aerate it as much.

I expected to dislike it because I'm extremely particular about my coffee, but this went down a treat.

Where can I get nunc.?

So, now's the time for the bad news. As I'm writing this, nunc. is only available in Germany. If you happen to be in Germany, nunc. costs €2,699. For an extra €149, you get a grinder, the machine, a spring-loaded tamper, a milk jug, a brush, and a tamping mat.

That price equates to around $3,135, which makes this one of the most expensive home espresso machines I've ever seen. There's the $3,000 Breville Dual Boiler, but the nunc. out-prices many of the prosumer models like the Lelit Bianca ($2,999) and Fellow Espresso Series 1 ($1,499).

nunc.'s representative informed me there is no release date for the U.S., U.K., E.U., Canada, Australia — basically any non-German markets. Hopefully, it won't be five years before we're seeing nunc. in our kitchens. I would love to play around with this machine myself.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been testing the Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer — it somehow makes juicing complicated
• I just watched a robot vacuum actually climb stairs — it took 3 minutes but those steps were sparkling after
• iRobot's new flagship Roomba creates an airtight seal with your carpet — the competition should be worried

The Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer promises a convenient way to make juice, nut milk and sorbet. But if anything, it proved to me once and for all that if you want a smooth-sailing juicing experience, you need to spend a little more money.

The machine is very quiet when operating and has a large hopper, meaning you can load up your ingredients in bulk. It’s also very simple to use with just one switch to control everything. However, I’m not sure any of that makes it worth the hassle.

It regularly overheats, is incredibly difficult to clean, and clogs frequently. To find out more about my experience with the machine, you can keep reading this full Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review.

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Specs

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Price & availability

The Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer is available to purchase in the U.S. for $299 directly from the Canoly online store, but it’s often on sale for as low as $199. In the U.K., you can pick it up for £93 from Amazon.

This is very cheap for a cold press juicer, especially a 3-in-1 machine, as you need a lot of power to make nut milk. For example, the Nama C2 Cold Press Juicer and Blender can make nut milk with ease, but it retails for $800 — ouch!

Primarily, the Canoly is a juicer and sits in the market alongside the AMZCHEF Cold Press Juicer, which is priced at $199. This juicer is the same size as the Canoly but is far more controlled and user-friendly whilst remaining a budget option.

If you’re short on space, you could pick up the Ninja NeverClog Cold Press Juicer for $149, but it’s not the strongest and the process is very fiddly, so I would recommend a model with a hopper, but not the Canoly. Instead, the AMZCHEF would be the best option.

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Design

The Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer looks like any other juicer with a hopper. It’s striking and catches your attention immediately because of its size and almost futuristic design — the handle’s shape is almost spaceship-like — although it doesn’t have a flurry of touchscreen buttons like the Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer ($599).

The machine measures 17.3 x 9.7 x 6.7 inches, so it’s very tall. It didn’t fit under my kitchen cabinets, so storing it on the countertop wasn't an option. However, it’s easy to dismantle so it can be stored away in the cupboard. The Canoly C16 weighs 13.2 pounds, and I was able to carry it around easily while setting it up.

Inside the hopper, there’s a pre-cutting blade, and this made light work of tough ingredients, so I didn’t have to spend time chopping before adding them to the hopper. That said, the small feed chute on top measures six inches in diameter, so if you want to continuously feed ingredients, you’ll need to spend time chopping. I’d recommend simply lifting the lid and adding ingredients that way.

There are two different filters with the machine, so you can make milk, sorbet or juice, meaning you're not limited in what you can do. There are two spouts on either side of the machine. On the left is the pulp and on the right is the juice. You can open and close these as needed. I didn’t experience any drips or spills, so I was happy with these.

The juicer comes with two containers, one for collecting pulp and one for collecting juice. The juice container has a small lip to reduce spills and measurements denoted on the side. My only issue is that the measurements are very faint, and I found myself searching around the container for them. I found it easier to use my own measuring jug to see exactly how much liquid I was getting.

Controls

The Canoly C16 couldn’t be easier to use because it has one switch. Flip it one way for juice and the other for reverse. Annoyingly, this button is placed at the back of the juicer, so it’s a bit out of the way when you’re using it. When the hopper is open, the juicer stops for safety, like any other juicer.

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Performance

The Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer can do a lot. It’s a 3-in-1 machine, so it can make juice, nut milk, and sorbet. It sounds good on the packaging, but using it let me down. During operation, the machine was continuously overheating, despite the Canoly website stating it can handle 30 minutes of continuous operation. It also smells like burnt plastic after about 10 minutes of use.

The machine clogs often, so I had to reverse the juicing a couple of times, and it is extremely hard to clean as the pulp gets stuck throughout the machine rather than being pushed out. That said, it’s very quiet, operating at around 40 decibels thanks to the brushless motor.

To get an idea of what the C16 is capable of, I carried out my usual juicing tests and made nut milk and sorbet.

Apple juice:

Firstly, I juiced four apples, which gave me 700ml of juice. I cut the apples in half and put them straight into the hopper, which could fit two and a half apples at a time.

I was surprised by how long the apples took to juice. It looked as though they were being mulched in the hopper by the chopping blade. After all of the juice was extracted, there was still a lot of the apple stuck to the side walls of the hopper.

The fiber took a long time to come out, but it was mostly dry, indicating that most of the moisture had been extracted from the fruit. There was foam on the top of the apple juice but not much, meaning there wasn’t much air in the machine. This meant the juice had a sweeter taste, which is what you want. The juice was a little bitty, but felt mostly smooth in my mouth while drinking.

Orange juice:

Next up, I made a batch of orange juice using four oranges, which gave me a yield of 400ml. Before putting them in the hopper, they were peeled to avoid the bitter taste of the pith making its way into the final product.

This was a lot faster than the apple, but the pulp that came out of the machine was very moist, so it didn’t do a great job of getting all the juice out. The juice itself was thick in texture but not exactly bitty.

After juicing the four oranges without the peel, the juicer overheated. I left it for around half an hour and it came back to life, but four oranges should be a very easy ask.

Carrot and Celery juice:

I then made carrot and celery juice. I juiced 2.2 pounds of carrots and a whole bunch of celery, which gave me 500ml of juice. The chopping blade in the hopper was able to easily break down the carrot into manageable pieces for the auger, which was impressive to watch, but it was so strong that some small pieces of carrots came flying out at me through the six-inch feed chute.

The ingredients moved through the hopper quickly, but the celery stalks became very tangled, and there was a lot of carrot pulp remaining throughout the machine. A lot of the pulp made it into the juice too, unfortunately resulting in a very thick texture.

Cashew milk:

Moving on from classic juices, I made some nut milk. I opted for cashews and soaked two cups in water overnight in the refrigerator. After rinsing the nuts the next day, I slowly fed them into the juicer with filtered water.

As the milk was coming out of the juicer, I used the included sieve over the cup to catch any rogue lumps… and there were a lot. That said, the milk tasted good. I would just recommend using a cheesecloth to strain the milk after juicing to ensure there are no lumps.

The pulp was effectively pushed out of the machine, although there wasn’t much of it. But when I cleaned the juicer, all of the pulp was stuck in the hollow auger. This was annoying to clean out.

Sorbet:

Finally, I made sorbet using the included sorbet strainer. I added a mixture of frozen berries and cherries to the machine and simply pressed the on button.

The machine stopped a few times and had to be reversed. This isn’t something I’ve had to deal with when using any other juicer, but it just meant I had to be on hand to hit the reverse button when needed.

It quickly made spirals of sorbet, giving me a sweet treat that was ready in minutes. This clean-up was also a lot more straightforward than the juices with their messy pulp.

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Cleaning

The Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer is a nightmare to maintain. Juicers are notoriously difficult to keep clean because all of the small pieces of fruit and vegetables are being pushed through small gaps to get the most liquid possible. So everything gets trapped. But the Canoly is especially bad.

All of the parts are dishwasher safe apart from the motor base. Before I loaded it into the dishwasher, I rinsed off as much pulp as possible, but there was still some residue after the wash cycle. I went in with the provided cleaning brush to get the final bits out, but it took me about half an hour of scrubbing to be happy with the cleanliness of the machine. Tiny bits of pulp get stuck in the smallest crevices you’ve ever seen — nightmare.

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Verdict

The Canoly C16 Cold Press is a 3-in-1 machine, so I was able to make milk, sorbet and juice. It’s very useful that all of the necessary attachments are included when you purchase the juicer. It’s very quiet when operating too, so it doesn’t cause too much of a commotion in the home.

The large hopper makes it easy to juice in batches if you need to, and it couldn’t be easier to use, with just one switch that controls everything.

However, this juice wastes a lot of your time through cleaning and waiting for it to stop overheating. Cleaning is incredibly difficult, with pulp getting caught up in every crevice you can think of, the machine frequently clogs, meaning you have to be on hand to hit the reverse switch. And it overheats when juicing fruits that should be easy, like oranges.

If you seriously want to get into juicing, I would recommend spending more money on a Nama juicer like the Nama J3.

In the coffee sphere, a select few brands are so well-respected that they elicit a revered gasp when mentioned. Moccamaster is one, as is Lelit, Acaia, and La Marzocco. Of course, this isn't an exhaustive list, and you've also got the universally adored Mazzer and Comandante, which make the best coffee grinders.

Comandante is what I'm going to discuss today. You may have heard of the Comandante C40 MK4, the Comandante C60 Baracuda, or the Comandante X25 Trailmaster. The C60 Baracuda is the priciest option, at around $500-$650 depending on finish, and the X25 Trailmaster is the closest Comandante gets to "budget" — $250. But let's focus on the midrange option, the C40 MK4.

I've owned this coffee grinder for about 18 months now, and I'm seriously obsessed. I use it every day, multiple times a day, and it's simply perfection. While pricey, ranging from $289-$325 at Amazon, I'd seriously pay it for this performance.

What actually is the Comandante C40 MK4?

The Comandante C40 MK4 is a handheld coffee grinder. This means you have to turn the burrs yourself. The hand crank is easy to grip and it comes with a rubber band you can put around the canister to secure your hold. The rubber band is "supposed" to be a wristband but I use it for holding the grinder steady (I'm weak).

So while other coffee grinders are powered by an electric motor, like the Baratza Encore ESP or the Mazzer Philos, the Comandante C40 MK4 is all you, baby.

Hand grinders are generally cheaper than electric grinders. I've tested some as cheap as $60 —like the Timemore Chestnut C2s — but the Comandante is by far the priciest (and best). Naturally, electric grinders can set you back much, much more than the C40 MK4. The Eureka Mignon Specialita is $699, and the Mazzer Philos is $1,500.

As a hand grinder, its maximum capacity is around 50g, but I would only recommend grinding enough for one or two espressos (so 36g) at once. When the bottom canister gets full, you can't grind any more.

Why is a hand grinder worth $300?

The Comandante C40 MK4 is worth $300 because of one reason: materials. The grinder uses Martensitic steel burrs, which is the same material used in sharp surgical instruments. Oh, and the burrs also come with a lifetime warranty. No biggie.

Naturally, this quality material results in excellent uniformity, minimal retention, and low static. These are the three touchstones of a great grinder. You want all your coffee grounds to be the same size, you want the grinder to retain as little coffee as possible, and you don't want your worktop to be covered in sticky coffee granules post-grind.

Thankfully, the grinder excels in all three. Here's a little insight into the grinder's uniformity. Here, I'm checking if all the coffee grounds are the same size. You want big jumps: 0% 300um to 100% 500um, for example.

As you can see, the consistency is excellent. Most granules are the same size, which will result in a better-tasting coffee. If you've got some grains at >300um, but some at 1400um>, this means the coffee will be half over- and half under-extracted. Ergo, no thank you, I'll just drink my water.

Should I spend $300 on a coffee grinder?

If you have $300 to spare and you're into coffee, yes, you should buy this grinder. All that being said, though, if you don't have $300 lying around, then please don't buy an objectively expensive piece of coffee tech. You can still get a good coffee with a cheaper grinder, like the aforementioned Timemore Chestnut C2s.

I love my Comandante C40 MK4, but it's not for everyone. In this economy, I think there are more important things to invest in. Save your dollars for a rainy day!

But if you've got loads of cash spare, then of course you won't be disappointed by this incredible coffee grinder. It's my favorite grinder of all time... I just wish the military branding wasn't so cringe.

More from Tom's Guide

• Overwhelmed by coffee jargon? Here are the 5 key espresso terms you need to know
• I'm an ex-Starbucks barista — you can make the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home for a fraction of the cost
• People are mixing coffee with Diet Coke (yes, really) — I'm an ex-barista, and I tried the viral 'fridge cigarette'

Subminimal is one of the most “Oooh! Aaah!”-inducing names in the coffee world, and the new Subminimal Nanofoamer Go is no different. Ever looked at a milk frother and thought, “Damn, I wish that came with a carry case?” Well, your calls have been answered — the Nanofoamer Go comes with three impellers, ten color options, and, yes, a carry case.

If you’re the kind of coffee drinker who takes your whole setup to a campsite, Airbnb, or simply to the office, this will be ideal for you. While I struggled to achieve the same velvety microfoam I can make on the Subminimal Nanofoamer Pro, the Go can also whisk cream and eggs, so I guess it wins there.

So, is this the handheld milk frother for you? If you value affordability, fancy colors, and portability, I’m leaning towards yes. Are you a coffee snob? Hm… you might want to splurge on the $159 Nanofoamer Pro instead. To find out the full story, keep reading this Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review.

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Specs

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Price & availability

The Subminimal Nanofoamer Go is considerably cheaper than the brand’s other milk frothers — just $37 from Subminimal U.S. and £34 from Subminimal U.K. On Amazon, it's $34.

Subminimal’s Nanofoamer Lithium is $57, while the Subminimal Nanofoamer Pro (my personal milk frother) is $159. While both of these models are better at making straight-up cold foam and microfoam, if you prioritize budget and portability over pure functionality, you’d likely be better off with the Nanofoamer Go. Personally, I prefer the Nanofoamer Pro — it’s much better at making honest-to-God microfoam than the Go, as I’ll get into later.

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Design

As with everything else made by Subminimal, the Nanofoamer Go looks and feels awesome. Alright, the body is quite plasticky, but I don’t mind because it means it’s relatively lightweight and affordable.

But the best part? The colors. While the Subminimal Nanofoamer Lithium and Pro are both available solely in minimalist black, the Go comes in a huge ten colors. And every single one of them looks gorgeous. As you can see from the images in this review, I tested the sky blue version. Had I chosen the color for myself, I would have picked the terracotta or sage shades. Both are pretty enough to win a beauty pageant.

You also get a carry case! The clue’s in the name, but the Nanofoamer Go is intended to be portable. You’re supposed to take it on trips with you. AeroPress with foamed milk at the campsite? Yes, please. As expected, the carry case is the same lovely blue shade, and all the attachments click nicely into place. It’s satisfying to hold and use. I have nothing bad to say about the design here.

Of course, you get three impeller attachments. One is a whisk for thicker ingredients like cream and eggs. One is for mix-ins, like hot chocolate powder, matcha, so on and so forth, and the third is Subminimal’s patent-pending nanofoam mesh. Now, this is supposed to be the “secret” to barista-quality microfoam… but more on that later.

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Performance

I’m just going to rip the Band-Aid off: I didn’t get microfoam with the Nanofoamer Go at all. I tried with dairy and non-dairy milk, heated to varying temperatures, frothed in various ways. I tried on full power, low power; I tried for ten seconds, thirty seconds, two minutes, five minutes, one minute, everything. Did I achieve microfoam? No. No, I did not. Here’s a photo of the closest I got.

As you can see, there are some relatively large bubbles. This is after banging and swirling the milk as you’re supposed to. I was quite disappointed by this. As mentioned earlier, my Subminimal Nanofoamer Pro can make microfoam, so I expected the same of the Go.

I also struggled to achieve velvety cold foam. I frothed this milk for over two minutes and this is the thickest it got. Of course, I was using the microfoam attachment.

However, I was able to get delicious, perfect sweet cream cold foam in just forty seconds.

As you can see, the texture is thick, fluffy, and creamy. This is perfect, Starbucks-approved sweet cream cold foam. My colleagues and I literally ate this with a spoon.

According to Subminimal’s website, you can actually whisk eggs with the Nanofoamer Go… so of course I had to try it out. For science.

Yes, that’s an egg whisked by a milk frother. I don’t eat eggs, so this is a little gross to me, but great if you’re a regular egg whipper.

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Storage & maintenance

As it’s a tiny milk frother — 1 inch by 8 inches — you’ll have no trouble fitting it in your cutlery drawer. This model comes with a handy carry case, which measures 2.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches, perfect for throwing in a camping backpack or keeping in a cupboard. If you’re short on space, I’d go for this model over the Nanofoamer Pro, which is shaped like a jug.

The Go is not dishwasher safe, and you obviously shouldn’t get the body wet. I cleaned it by simply rinsing it under warm water.

Of course, should your cleaning be sub-minimal (see what I did there? No?), you can buy replacement impellers directly from Subminimal for $6.

In terms of longevity, Subminimal offers a standard warranty of one year, which is a little shorter than I’d like. However, this is pretty standard with other $10-$20 milk frothers on Amazon.

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Verdict

The Nanofoamer Go is more than just a milk frother — it can be a pretty little kitchen assistant, too. While this makes it more versatile than the Subminimal Nanofoamer Pro, it’s also not as coffee-snob-friendly. Even though it uses the same micro-mesh as other Nanofoamer products, it doesn’t seem to be able to achieve the same barista-smooth microfoam.

For $37, this is a neat little frother. I’d recommend it for casual coffee drinkers rather than those practising for the World Barista Championships. I would personally save up for the Subminimal Nanofoamer Pro or Lithium over the Go, but that’s because I take my cold foam seriously — and the Pro is much better at making it.

For generic froth, though, the Nanofoamer Go is great. Obviously, you have to heat your milk separately — microwave, stovetop — but if you want a one-stop for whisking eggs, cream cold foam, and milk, I’d go for the Go.