I enjoy cooking — but not every single night. That's why Sunday meal prep has become a must for setting myself up for the week ahead. I'm not always this organized, but when I am, it makes busy weekdays so much easier (and a lot more enjoyable). And of course, I couldn't do it without a few of my favorite kitchen tools.

From the best food storage containers and my favorite Cuisinart knives to functional vegetable dicers and the Ninja Flip air fryer that I love, I've rounded up my favorite kitchen tools and appliances that make Sunday meal prep a total breeze. Keep scrolling to check them out.

The Gozney Arc XL is all the pizza oven most people will ever need. As you might’ve guessed from the name, it’s the larger variant of the Gozney Arc, which we’ve also reviewed and loved.

The Arc XL sits below Gozney’s Dome / Dome XL (Gen 2), which are enormous and can fit multiple pizzas on their dual stones. The Arc XL is intended for those without the enormous amounts of space and cash it takes to get to a Dome. Nevertheless, the Arc XL should be plenty for most home pizzaioli, and even small-time commercial ventures.

Running on gas, it offers high heat and stable temperatures, plus it’s easy to use thanks to the digital display and simple controls. It’s beautifully styled and made, and will be a complement to any patio or pizza shelter.

It isn’t perfect. The elephant in the room is the Arc XL’s high price. Gozney also makes its stones quite tricky to remove versus Ooni, which is a problem if you get the front of the stone (which doesn’t get very hot) messy.

But could this be the best outdoor pizza oven for you? Probably! Read my full Gozney Arc XL review to find out more.

Gozney Arc XL review: Specs

Gozney Arc XL review: Price & availability

The Gozney Arc XL isn’t cheap, costing $999 / £799, which is a sizable $300 / £200 more than the 14-inch standard Arc. Other than the extra 2-inch capacity, the ovens are pretty much the same, so it’ll just depend on how much larger pizzas mean to you.

Personally, I love cooking larger pies. It’s trickier, so more of a challenge, but when you get it right you can feed more people easily, so the XL will be better if you plan on cooking for multiple guests regularly.

The Arc XL’s main rival is the Ooni Koda 16, which cooks 16-inch pizzas, runs on gas and undercuts the Gozney by a healthy margin, costing $599 / £499. The Koda is lighter, uses Ooni’s folding leg system for easier storage, and features an L-shaped burner for wider flame dispersion and less rotating required during cooking. We awarded the Koda 16 our full five stars, and you can probably now see why — for the money, it’s difficult to beat.

Gozney Arc XL review: Design

The Gozney Arc XL looks beautiful, employing Gozney’s typically slick, neo-retro aesthetic. It looks straight out of a trendy London pizzeria, which is the point. It’s beautifully made and finished, with a high level of attention to detail, and feels built to last.

I wouldn’t say it’s any better or worse than an Ooni in this respect, so which manufacturer you pick will depend on whether you want the more luxurious styling of Gozney, or the more futuristic look of Ooni. That is unless you’re a commercial user — if you’ve got a pizza van or small kitchen to kit out, I think the round shape and flat base of the Gozney is more versatile than the Ooni Karu 16, with its oblong shape and tall legs.

The Arc XL is a behemoth, though, measuring 20.9 x 24.8 x 13.5 inches and weighing nearly 60 pounds, so you’ll want a second person on hand to help you set up. My wife was on vacation so I had no choice but to set the Arc XL up on my own, and very nearly put my back out getting it unboxed and onto the stand.

Colossal weight aside, setting the Arc XL up is very easy — you just remove the packaging and padding; pull the stone forward a fraction of an inch; put the metal flame guard in place; and put batteries (supplied) in the thermometer and digital dial. There’s a helpful quick start guide included to cover all this.

I was ready for the burn-in after about 10 minutes — burning in is something you must do with most pizza ovens before you can make pizza — although it actually took me around 5 days because I couldn't find any fuel in my area (it was peak summer).

Fuel

The Arc XL runs on propane gas. You can theoretically use butane, too, although Gozney doesn’t recommend it, and butane is less likely to work in colder temperatures. My Arc XL was supplied with a clip-on regulator for the patio gas canisters we get here in the U.K.

Something I love about multi-fuel ovens is that, if you’re out of gas, you can simply use wood or charcoal. It’s worth considering a multi-fuel oven like the Gozney Dome or Ooni Karu 2 Pro if you’d rather have that extra flexibility.

The Arc XL is fairly fuel-efficient and Gozney says a 28lb / 13kg canister should last around 30 hours. You’ll need as much efficiency as you can get, as the only way to easily clean the Arc XL is by burning it for three hours, which sucks, as I’ll touch on later.

Gozney Arc XL review: Accessories

Something many don’t understand before they buy their first pizza oven is that you need accessories. You can’t make a pizza without at least a launching peel and a turning peel. I tested Gozney’s 16-inch Pro Placement peel ($109) and Balance Turning peel ($89) and would highly recommend them both. Although, if you’re just starting out or are on a tight budget, you can find cheaper alternatives at Amazon, which will work just fine.

I would also recommend you buy an infrared thermometer for measuring stone temperature (the temperature on the Arc XL only measures ambient temperature, which won’t tell you precisely when the stone is ready for cooking). The Gozney infrared thermometer gun costs $49, which is similar to Ooni’s pricing.

Gozney also sells a variety of other accessories that I found exceptionally useful. Firstly, there’s the $49 dough tray, which I absolutely love. This tray features a thermometer to show you which type of proof (cold, warm, etc) your ambient conditions will result in, allowing you to tailor proof times. It also shows you when conditions are too warm, and features a bulk fermenting tray and a silicone insert for six dough balls (for up to 14-inch pizzas).

I’m also a huge fan of the Arc XL mantel ($119), which gives you a couple of inches of surface outside the oven mouth — enough space to safely turn food or leave your pizza to rest for a moment without burning while you find a board for it. And Gozney's $39 heat resistant gloves, which can stand up to 950F / 500C heat.

I also tested the Gozney Pizza Cutter ($44). My wife hated pizza cutters and always refused to use our other ones (choosing a knife or scissors instead). The Gozney cutter has converted her — thanks to its weight and sharp blade, it's much more stable and effective than cheaper cutters.

Gozney Arc XL review: Performance

The Gozney Arc XL performs like a professional pizza oven. The stone heats up to 750F / 400C in around 15-20 minutes, which is hot enough for Neapolitan-style pizza. Alternatively, you can cook other styles of pizza before then — low’n’slow pizzas like NY-style.

The thermometer gauge on the front of the oven is very useful to give you an idea of ambient temperatures, which dictate how quickly the upper sections of your pizza will cook (although the cooking of your toppings will also be affected by the size and intensity of the gas flame).

Annoyingly, the temperature gauge turns itself off after a while — on a few occasions I turned back to the gauge while cooking to check temperatures, only to find it switched off. I get that this is to save battery, but it’s really annoying.

The Arc XL is very predictable thanks to running on gas, and you have a high level of control over the flame size by twisting the control knob on the front.

You’ll need to cook a few pizzas and get used to the temperature of the oven, and to get a feel for how to adjust your flame while cooking. Once you’ve got it down, though, you can cook a Neapolitan pizza in just a minute or two.

I cooked a variety of pizzas, from 12-inch through to 16-inch bases, in Neapolitan and NY styles. On several occasions, I cooked for groups of six. The Arc XL handled it all beautifully. Thanks to the large 16-inch stone, you can cook bigger pizzas to feed multiple people, so you don’t need to spend the entirety of a pizza party churning out 12-inch pies for each person.

It’s very easy to burn larger 16-inch pies, as they sit so close to the flame. This means that you’ll want to turn them early, which can cause rips in the dough and an awful mess. This happened on a few occasions for me — to avoid this, ensure the stone is at least 750F / 400C before launching, so pizza bases cook very quickly.

I also cooked large garlic flatbreads, as well as sides like charred broccoli spears and caramelized roasted carrots. The stone also gets hot enough to sear steaks and meat, so it’s a highly versatile oven.

Gozney Arc XL review: Storage & maintenance

My one major gripe with the Arc XL is how difficult the stone is to remove. Without buying a removal kit, you’ll need to tip the oven on its side and support the stone out — a two-person job, which also involves removing the oven from any stand or base you have it fastened to.

This is infuriating if you make a mess. Gonzey’s advice is to burn the oven for 3 hours to clean it (wasting gas), which works, but only on the middle and rear of the stone. The front never gets hot enough to self-clean, so if you make a mess there when launching or removing a failed launch, you can’t clean it properly without a lot of hassle. You can scrape most mess off when cool, but not everything. And besides, food still gets stuck between the stone and the oven lip.

I love that Ooni’s stones are much easier to remove, so you can take them out and properly clean them up. As I mentioned before, this also means you don’t need to waste hours of gas just to clean. Gozney should include a stone removal kit with every oven.

Gozney also recommends burning the oven for several hours to clean soot from the roof, which is just ridiculously wasteful. I just waited for it to cool and cleaned with a dry cloth. Maintenance is otherwise very simple — just wipe down the exterior parts when cool.

Storage is as you’d expect for such a huge cooker: you’ll need a fair bit of space. I’d recommend Gozney’s Arc + Arc XL stand ($299), which features fold-away ledges, storage hooks, and wheels to move the oven to and from position. It’s also important to cover the oven and keep it safe from the elements — Gozney sells covers for this (including a cover that goes over the whole stand).

Gozney Arc XL review: Verdict

The Gozney Arc XL is a fantastic pizza oven. With its large 16-inch stone, you can cook big pizzas for multiple people and simplify your pizza parties. It’s easy to use, beautiful to behold and built to last. And most importantly, it makes fantastic pizza.

There are a couple of things to consider. First, it’s pricey — you can get the rival Ooni Karu 16 for much less money, which is better than the Arc XL in almost every way. Secondly, the stone is tricky to remove, which makes the Arc XL trickier to clean than Ooni ovens.

If you’re willing to overlook those flaws, though, as I have, then I’ve no hesitation in recommending the Arc XL to small commercial and home pizzaioli.

Very little comes close to the satisfaction I feel when I take my first sip of an expensive flat white from an equally expensive independent cafe. I love everything about frequenting coffeehouses: the adventure of actually going outside, deciding which of the plentiful bean varietals I fancy, then scrutinizing — ahem, watching — the barista as they make my oat milk flat white.

But patronizing cafes is costly, and I know I'm not the only one to say I don't have the money for it. But even if you want to make cafe-quality coffee at home, there's a catch. Many home espresso machines carry a staggering initial cost. Even the best-value stalwarts, like the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo ($699) and my personal machine, the Breville Bambino Plus ($499), are objectively expensive. And don't even get me started on grinders.

But could you get away with a cheaper espresso machine, and instead invest in a grinder and high-quality beans? To find out, I pitted two of my favorite espresso machines against one another in a blind taste test: the gorgeous prosumer Lelit Mara X3 ($1,999) and the cheap Breville Bambino ($299).

So which machine won — and which machine should you buy?

The competitors

The control

I used the same beans — Carter Coffee's Two Trees Geisha, £21 ($28) for 200g. With tasting notes of passion fruit, white peach, and an aromatic finish, I knew my espresso testers were in for a treat. When I first opened the bag, it made my brain light up like I was seeing my long-lost dog for the first time in thirty years.

I ground the beans using my Mazzer Philos ($1,500), the best grinder in the world. I'll acknowledge that this grinder is blindingly expensive, and not reasonable for most people at all. You do not need to buy this grinder to achieve similar results. I would recommend the Baratza Encore ESP ($199) or Comandante C40 MK4 (usually around $300) for most people.

A brief disclaimer: I use the Mazzer Philos in all my espresso experiments, so if any issues arise, I know it wasn't the grinder.

Admittedly, I ground the beans to slightly different sizes: click 22 for the Lelit, and click 25 for the Breville. This is because anything under click 25 resulted in an overextracted shot on the Breville, and anything over click 22 resulted in an underextracted shot on the Lelit. I dialed in my beans for each machine before commencing.

The test

I ran three blind taste tests: Black Americano, oat milk flat white, and pure espresso.

Black Americano

I made the black Americanos identically: 18g of coffee for 36g out between 25-28 seconds. Topped up with 8 ounces of thirty-seconds-off-the-boil water.

For now, we'll call them Coffee A and Coffee B.

My colleague Pete said Coffee A tasted "sour and bitter with less nuance, but still delicious." Lucy said A didn't have "much flavor," which was supported by James and Caspar, who said A tasted "a little thin" and "quite watery," respectively.

Josh was the only tester to prefer Coffee A: he reported it had a "richer aftertaste" and "more flavor in the afternotes" than Coffee B.

Lucy said Coffee B had a "more nuanced flavor than A," which was supported by James: "tastes a lot fuller and stronger," and Caspar, who enjoyed B's smoothness. Pete noticed the crema was thicker on Coffee B, which he thought meant it had a higher-quality group head. He preferred B overall due to the balanced bitter, caramel, and sour notes.

Josh was the only person to criticize B: he said it tasted "slightly more muted" and chose Coffee A as his favorite.

Can you guess which was which?

Oat milk flat white

The second test: oat milk flat white. I had a few fewer testers due to other responsibilities for this one.

Again, I made the coffees identically: 18g of coffee for 36g out within 25-28 seconds. I steamed milk using my usual barista-taught method (I am an ex-barista, after all).

Let's give them their names: Coffee A and Coffee B.

Pete preferred Coffee A, saying, "Milk is better textured on A. It's less aerated; smoother and silkier." He also preferred the coffee flavor on A. "Slight bit more flavor poking through. But very difficult to tell."

James said Coffee A was "really nice," but he liked the "darker, more intense flavor" on Coffee B more, so that was his favorite. Josh agreed with James, choosing Coffee B due to its "smoother" and "more coffee-like" flavor.

Espresso

Now for the most important test: straight espresso. There's nowhere to hide here.

I actually made a single espresso for this one, using 12g of coffee for 24g of espresso out. I don't have two espresso glasses, so apologies for the unconventional container in the photographs above.

Again, I'll introduce the players: Coffee A and Coffee B.

Pete said Coffee A had a better crema and smelled "more potently of chocolate." When he took a sip, he said, "Oh, that's good." Not really much else for me to say, is there? Overall, he said Coffee A had "a lot of body and a bit of acidity." Spoiler alert, but after drinking Coffee B, he said Coffee A was, and I quote, "So much nicer."

James and Caspar also preferred Coffee A; James said it had "a lot more going on, with more levels to the coffee flavor."

Josh mostly agreed — he said Coffee A had more fruit notes with a richer mouthfeel. I'll note here that Josh had the most sips out of anyone and mulled on his decision for much longer than anyone else, so his decision was almost too close to call.

Lucy was the only outlier, saying Coffee A had a "nice" espresso taste but not as rich as Coffee B, which had a more diverse flavor, with more dynamism in the sip. Interestingly, I also agreed — is this female vs male taste buds in action? (I'm joking — obviously there's no difference in female vs male taste buds).

What do you think? Ready for the results?

The results

And now I get to crown the $299 machine the winner! I didn't expect the Bambino to win — and neither did any of my testers. They were all shocked when I told them.

Of course, I tried all the drinks before I offered them to my taste-testers... and I preferred the Lelit Mara X3 every time. But is that because I knew it was the more expensive one, therefore I assumed it should have been tastier? Or because I personally prefer an acidic coffee, so this appealed to my unique taste buds?

I suppose I'll never know.

But taste isn't the only thing you should consider

Although I love the Breville Bambino — it's my favorite budget espresso machine, and there's literally zero competition — winning the taste test doesn't mean it's the best espresso machine in every situation.

The Mara X3 and Bambino are (mostly) intended for a different audience. You're not just paying $2,000 for coffee. You're paying $2,000 for a dual boiler, meaning you can steam milk and pull shots at the same time. You're paying $2,000 for the all-metal (+wood) construction, which might last longer than the Bambino's plastic. You're paying $2,000 for the steam, milk, and pressure configuration tools.

We're all thinking it, so I might as well say it: You're paying $2,000 for the Lelit branding and the Lelit design.

The Mara X3 is a work of art, and you should treat it like one.

If I had $2k, I know which machine I'd choose. The Lelit would already be in my kitchen.

Despite all of this, though, Lelit and Breville are part of the same company. Lelit is literally Breville's prosumer brand. The Baratza Encore ESP grinder I mentioned earlier? Also owned by Breville.

So, at the end of the day, your money's going to the same pocket.

If you want more coffee content, don't fret. I've got bucketloads (cuploads?). Every week, I release new episodes of The Coffee Lab, my series dedicated to forgetting coffee snobbery and figuring out what actually matters in your daily brew.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried the new Nespresso summer flavors — here's my favorite
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

At the start of the year, I upgraded our household blender from a regular non-brand contraption we picked up at the local Aldi to a Nutribullet Ultra 1200. The benefits were that it was easier to clean, looked a lot nicer, and blends your ingredients straight into the shaker you can drink from.

Over six months later, I decided to return to the pair of them (we haven't got rid of the old one; it's good to have a spare) to put a little bit more testing on the table.

Part of this, I admit, is due to selfishly wanting to mix up my smoothie game. I'm guilty of going back to the same old recipe time and time again and, with summer here, I'm feeling the need for a change.

Secondly, although I swapped to the Nutribullet without a second thought — was I giving my old blender its due? What if I fed both machines the exact same ingredients and measured them directly in a head-to-head? Which would really come out on top?

There are a ton of things the Nutribullet does better: it's objectively smaller, lighter, simpler to use and comes with a better warranty. But I was surprised at a couple of outcomes from this experiment if I'm being totally honest. I'll spoil the big one for you now: I couldn't tell the difference when it came to tasting the final product.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Read on to discover just what I found out from my budget vs. premium experiment.

The recipe

The wonderful thing about smoothies is they're uncomplicated. Pick stuff you like, throw it inside one of the best blenders, and chances are it'll come out alright. But this test had to be scientific, so here are the exact ingredients I used with both machines:

100g strawberries (~1 cup, yields a thick texture and rich color)

50g ripe banana (~1/2 medium banana, sliced)

100g strawberry flavored Greek yogurt (~½ cup)

180ml milk (~¾ cup)

1 tbsp of honey

Note that both of these machines are blenders and not bespoke juicers. Here's a complete rundown of the differences, but in a nutshell, juicers squeeze and extract the juice from fruits and vegetables. A juicer breaks down the fruit by separating the pulp, peel/skin, and seeds from the fruit, as the juice flows out through a sieve.

Blenders, on the other hand, pulverize all of the ingredients together. Think of them as a sledgehammer rather than a scalpel.

The blend

Forget just throwing the above ingredients into the pot without a care. This is the process I followed with both blenders — just to make sure I did what I could to make the experiment fair.

• Add liquids and soft ingredients first: Pour in the milk and spoon in the Greek yogurt. Placing liquid at the bottom helps the blender blades turn smoothly without getting stuck on the fruit.
• Layer in solids and the fruit: Next in went the banana slices, chopped strawberries, and finally I added the honey.
• Blend on high power for 30 seconds (I used my trusty Casio stopwatch to make sure they each got the same time)
• Pour out and enjoy

The result

I appreciate you can't taste the results of my experiment through the screen, but as I said at the outset. I didn't notice any difference in taste in the final product. If pressed, I would say the $129 result was a fractionally smoother than the cheaper alternative. Maybe my smoothie chops aren't what they used to be, but my takeaway is that if all you're interested in is the consistency and the taste of the final result, the cheap option will do you proud.

Also despite costing more and supposedly being quieter (Nutribullet says 87dB), the more expensive blender was louder than the budget one. It's more powerful 1,200W vs 600W and that showed when the noise level just crested 100dB for the Nutribullet compared to 99dB for the Blaupunkt. I know this is nitpicking, but I still wanted to mention it.

The Nutribullet uses a 6-point titanium-coated extractor blade rather than a 4-point one in the $30 Blaupunkt. But it's also got a lower capacity (32oz vs 52oz), so if you're mixing smoothies for a family or to batch, that may play a factor. Those two elements come in clutch because there were definitely some lumps left in the bottom of the jug on the cheaper blender when I poured out the drink.

Whereas I put the contents into a glass for the sake of this article, normally I would just cap off the Nutribullet shaker and be on my way. Similarly, I cranked the Blaupunkt all the way to five on its antiquated knob rather than the simple on/off capacitive touch of the Nutribullet.

And, last but by no means least, cleaning the Nutribullet was a simpler, quicker affair than my old budget blender.

So, both got the job done — one just did it with a little more style than the other.

Final thoughts

This little experiment has reinforced what I felt about leveling up blenders back at the start of the year. When it comes to the nuts and bolts of the taste of the final product, there's no difference — at least for someone with my unrefined palate.

Moreover, I can put up with a bit of noise for 30 seconds, so the fact my Nutribullet was louder than advertised is also something I can overlook.

But, all the other aspects of using a blender were far superior with the more expensive model. I like that: a) it takes up less countertop space, b) it doesn't take as long to clean, c) it comes with a dedicated shaker for less fuss c) it genuinely just looks cooler and d) if it breaks, I can claim on the warranty for longer.

Are those advantages worth $100 more? For my current lifestyle: yes. If you'd have asked me years ago when I was a student watching every dime I spent, then probably no.

The lesson I learned here was that despite our constant fixation on the end result, there's more to choosing a product than what it delivers. Less destination, more journey.

Of course, what works for me might not work for you. I happen to value how easy and quick the Nutribullet is to use so that makes the extra $100 worth it. Do you agree or not? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Masticating vs centrifugal juicer: Which is best?
• This is the best blender in the world, and two trusty, cheaper alternatives
• Juicer vs Blender: What's the difference?

During this scorching heat, what’s a home baker to do? Having the oven switched on to satisfy a craving for sponge cake will have your air conditioning on overdrive, or your fan blowing around powdered sugar. But I won’t let the high temperatures stop me from baking, so I put aside my reservations and tried to make some cupcakes in an air fryer.

Could this countertop appliance that I rely on for crisping fries and grilling burgers bake a decent cake? The answer is a resounding yes, but you will have to make some changes.

Here’s exactly what happened when I baked a batch of lemon cupcakes in my air fryer, along with expert advice on mastering the countertop bake.

How I made lemon cupcakes in an air fryer

Lemon cupcakes are the ultimate refreshing summer treat and happen to be one of my family’s favorite go-to sweet treats.

I often search online for recipes, and I found an Easy lemon muffin recipe at BBC Good Food. What’s brilliant about this particular recipe is that all of the batter ingredients can be tipped into a single bowl and mixed in one go. You can do this by hand or with one of the best stand mixers; either way, as long as your butter is soft, you won’t break a sweat.

The recipe calls for a muffin tray, which is a non-starter for my compact Cuisinart Clearview Air Fryer. To improvise, I doubled up my paper cupcake liners for extra stability. Luckily, they held up well when I spooned in the batter.

After preheating the air fryer to 200°C (390°F) for four minutes, I then carefully placed the cupcake cases into the glass basket, but I could only bake five at a time.

Knowing that air fryers run hotter and faster than conventional ovens, I selected ‘Bake’ mode, at 160°C (320°F) for 15 minutes — 20°C lower and 15 minutes shorter than the original bake time.

I had a massive advantage during this bake thanks to my air fryer’s design. Because of its glass viewing window, I had a full view of the action. Unlike standard air fryer models, I didn’t have to pull the basket to see how the bake was progressing.

At the 11-minute mark, I noticed the tops had started to brown. By 15 minutes, I was satisfied they were perfectly cooked.

What I noticed when cooking cupcakes in an air fryer

Although you can cook cupcakes in an air fryer, I did notice a few differences between this method and using a traditional oven.

1. You have to reduce the cooking time and temperature.
2. Forget about making a big cake.
3. The final shape is a little different and may need disguising with icing.
4. The bake was just as moist.

I’d be happy to continue baking in an air fryer, although I won’t be taking on any elaborate challenges. But be warned, even though they didn’t look as appetizing as when baked in a traditional oven, they still tasted delicious.

What do the professionals think about air fryer baking?

I was able to prove that you can bake a cake in an air fryer, though many factors differ from using an oven. To help you navigate them and ensure a perfect bake every time, I reached out to some baking pros for their insider advice.

Can baking a cake in an air fryer deliver the same results as an oven?

You can definitely bake a cake in an air fryer, but experts say it’s not a straight swap.

“The result is not that air fryers bake worse; it is that they bake differently,” explains Andreas Hansen, founder at Fritaire. “Dense, moist batters like brownies, banana bread, pound cake, and lava cakes perform genuinely well. Tall, delicate sponges that depend on a slow, even rise are where a conventional oven still wins.”

Isaac Bernal Carbajo, executive chef, explains, “The moving air shoves loose batter around before it can set, which is why delicate sponges and anything chiffon-adjacent are a bad bet. What you do get is speed, no long preheat, and a lovely crust on sturdier bakes.”

Minoo Mahdavian, founder at MinooMakesStuff, says, “Many people treat an air fryer like a multipurpose ‘little oven’, when it’s actually closer to a wind tunnel with a heating element parked right above your cake.”

How an air fryer actually works

It helps to know how an air fryer works to understand why it produces different results from a conventional oven. Hansen explains the three main differences.

Proximity to heat: “The heating element sits much closer to the food, which is why tops brown fast.”

Aggressive airflow: “The fan moves air more aggressively in a smaller chamber, which can pull moisture from the batter surface before the crumb sets.”

Rapid heat recovery: “The small cavity means temperature recovers very quickly when you open it, which is actually an advantage: you lose less heat checking on a cake than you would in a full-size oven.”

Are there any differences that would make the bake better or worse?

Because air fryers work differently from conventional ovens, if you follow the same baking temperatures for standard recipes, you won’t necessarily get the same result.

“The fan sets and browns the top long before the middle catches up, so you pull out something that looks gorgeous, cracks hard down the center, and is still gummy in the bottom third,” says Mahdavian.

Carbajo suggests making a few changes: “I usually lower the temperature slightly compared to the oven recipe, about 15 - 20°F. Start checking on the cake a few minutes early. Every air fryer behaves a little differently, so I suggest practicing once or twice to get the feel of it."

Apart from size, are there any other limitations?

As soon as you start baking in an air fryer, you’ll realize that your conventional baking tins won’t fit. When I made the lemon cupcakes in my air fryer, I had to swap from my habit of making a larger loaf cake and opt for individual paper cases instead.

Apart from downsizing your bakeware, what else do you consider?

Pan clearance and airflow
“The cake pan needs space around it for air to circulate,” says Hansen. “A pan that fits snugly will bake unevenly because you have effectively blocked the convection that the appliance depends on.”

Carbajo adds, “Even if a pan technically fits, if it’s crowding the walls or sitting too close to the element, it won’t bake evenly. I use a 6-inch round, anything wider and I’m just making a burnt frisbee.”

No bottom heat (in most models)
The lack of heat at the bottom of the air fryer can also cause issues with some bakes. Hansen says, “Cakes that need a strong base set, like some cheesecakes and fruit-heavy batters, can end up with soft bottoms.”

Batter height
If you’re hoping to bake a nice tall fruit cake or deep sponge cake, think again. “Anything that rises tall gets close to the top element and browns or burns before the center cooks,” says Hansen, “Low, wide bakes beat tall, narrow ones in an air fryer every time.”

When using an air fryer makes sense
Baking in an air fryer undoubtedly limits the scope of what you can make. However, on hot summer days, when you don’t fancy turning your kitchen into a sauna, an air fryer makes a good swap.

It’s also an ideal solution if you’re only baking for one or two people and won’t eat your way through a whole cake.

Air frying baking tips

To successfully transition from oven baking to air fryer baking, the experts recommend these five key adjustments.

1. Lower the temperature
Drop the temperature about 35°F (20°C) below the conventional oven recipe. “The compact chamber and close element run effectively hotter,” says Hansen.

2. Tent with foil
As air fryers can dry out a cake, Carbajo suggests covering the top with foil once it starts to brown to prevent moisture from escaping.

3. Go low and wide
Hansen says to go low and wide, and adds, “Two shallow layers bake far better than one tall cake, and you can stack them afterward.”

4. Don’t overfill
Air fryer bakes need more headroom than oven bakes, for this reason Hansen recommends to fill pans halfway to two-thirds, and no more.

5. Let it rest
“Let the cake sit in the residual warmth for a few minutes after the cycle ends,” says Hansen. “The small chamber holds gentle heat that finishes the center without further browning.”

6. Experiment
Be prepared to experiment and find out what works with your air fryer. Mantiri says, “Just like how ovens can behave differently depending on the brand, how old it is, or even the altitude you’re at, a similar thing goes for air fryers.”

More from Tom's Guide

• I discovered how to make homemade bread in my air fryer — here's how
• I’ve never given a product a 5-star rating — here’s why KitchenAid’s new stand mixer won me over
• Watch out KitchenAid! Ooni’s launching its second stand mixer, and at $599 its price matches the Artisan Pro

I love my Moccamaster. It's one of the best coffee makers in the world, by a mile. It brews consistently delicious coffee with zero bitterness, minimal silt, and looks darn cool while doing it.

However, not everyone gets on with Moccamaster as well as I do — and that's the nature of life. Some issues are integral, which means those people would likely be better off with an alternative. But some are super easy fixes — and two of these three issues are incredibly easy fixes.

Last week, I troubleshot three other Moccamaster problems: "too much plastic," "horrible water distribution," and the "hot plate burning the coffee." This week, I'm teaching you how to prevent the Moccamaster from "scaling easily," dealing with the Moccamaster's "high price," and my favorite question of all: Does the Moccamaster come in a single-serve model?

You said the Moccamaster "scales easily"

I loved receiving this question — because it's so easily fixed! The Moccamaster will scale up. Everything that touches water will scale up. Pretty much all water contains minerals, which create limescale.

However, this is super easy to deal with.

And there you have it! Super easy. Didn't I tell you?

You said the Moccamaster is "too expensive"

I wasn't surprised when I received this question. The Moccamaster is expensive. Personally, I think the Moccamaster is the perfect example of "buy it nice or buy it twice". I would rather spend $370 on the Moccamaster than buy a $100 coffee maker three times — but I know that's not realistic for some people.

Moccamaster also offers a 5-year warranty and lifetime repairs, which no other coffee machine brand has matched yet. Again, personally, I would invest in the Moccamaster due to this after-purchase benefit — but I know that's not realistic for some people.

Here are some coffee makers with a lower initial cost.

But Moccamaster also make a cheaper alternative...

You said the Moccamaster should make a "single-pot version"

This was my favorite question to receive because I have a definitive answer for this: Moccamaster makes the Cup-One, too! I reviewed the Cup-One last year and loved it. It's exactly the same as the standard Moccamaster KGBV Select — but smaller.

I recommend the Cup-One to anyone who wants the consistent, stress-free performance of the Moccamaster without being obligated to brew an entire carafe.

So that brings us to the end! I've answered all the questions you asked me. Any more? Leave them in the comments and I'll get back to you shortly.

Stay tuned for the next episode of The Coffee Lab. I release a video every Friday on our Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried the new Nespresso summer flavors — here's my favorite
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus does the one thing I know most new home baristas struggle with: dialing in. Ever wondered why nothing is coming out of your espresso machine, or it’s coming out like water from a newly unblocked pipe? It’s because you haven’t dialed your coffee in yet.

But Ninja said ‘No more!’ No longer do you have to waste precious coffee on figuring out optimal grind size’ The Luxe Cafe Mini Plus has auto-grind-size calibration that tells you the precise “click” you should grind your beans at. This is genuinely so helpful for newbies.

So, is this enough to make the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus one of the best espresso machines? For beginners, totally. Say goodbye to coffee-related headaches (unless you’re slamming double espresso after double espresso, but that’s a completely different type of headache). Want to find out more? Why wouldn’t you? Keep reading this Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Specs

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Price & availability

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus is $499 from SharkNinja U.S. and £499 from Amazon U.K.. Although this looks like an objectively large amount of money, I can assure you this is actually reasonable for an espresso machine with a built-in grinder.

Ninja also makes the Luxe Cafe Mini ($459). The Mini doesn’t have automatic milk frothing. On the Luxe Cafe lineup is the Luxe Cafe Pro ($749), Luxe Cafe Premier ($599), and then you’ve got the eye-watering AutoBarista Pro ($949).

The cheapest setup I’d recommend is the Casabrews 3700 Essential ($129) and the Timemore C2s Chestnut ($60), which works out to $189. However, this is a hand grinder, so it might not be best for those who have no desire to spend ten minutes turning a crank (me included — I make my boyfriend grind my beans).

When you get into bean-to-cups, the price increases dramatically. You’ve got the Casabrews Marenza ($349), the cheapest bean-to-cup I’ve ever reviewed, but there’s a catch — the grinder hopper smashed after the second use, so I wouldn’t recommend it for longevity.

You’ve also got the Breville Barista Express ($699), one of the most iconic bean-to-cups ever made, and the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo ($699), the best-value bean-to-cup I’ve reviewed. The Luxe Cafe Mini Plus undercuts both by some margin.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Design

Just like the Ninja AutoBarista Pro I reviewed last month, the Luxe Cafe Mini is effectively a big plastic square. The machine gets the job done, but I don’t think it’s as pretty as the Breville Barista Express, De’Longhi Arte Evo, Lelit Mara X3, or the Fellow Espresso Series 1.

Of course, though, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you may totally disagree. That’s fine! Ninja knows what works, obviously; it wouldn’t keep releasing espresso machines with the same functional aesthetic otherwise. It must work.

What separates the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus from the Luxe Cafe Pro or AutoBarista Pro is pretty obvious — its size. The Luxe Cafe Mini is 3 inches narrower, half an inch slimmer, and 1 inch lower than the Luxe Cafe Pro. I’d recommend it for small spaces any day.

There’s an LCD screen on the front of the machine: you can see your grind size and coffee settings here. It’s easy to change said settings: just twist the knob and press the buttons. They’re all labeled, and it’s practically impossible to go wrong here.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Espresso

As this is a bean-to-cup, I’ll discuss grinder and espresso here. I’ll go through milk performance later. The grinder operates at 71 dB, which is around the same volume as a running shower or a flushing toilet. As it only grinds for a few seconds, I’d say this is pretty quiet, all things considered.

Grinder

Unfortunately, you can’t set the grinder to whatever step you please. As the machine recommends you a grind setting, you can’t just go rogue and do what you want. As a result, I was only able to do a portion of my “normal” grinder testing. Obviously, if you’re making “drip”, the machine will suggest a much coarser grind size.

You get a dosing collar that slots into the grinder mechanism to prevent mess, too.

Normally, I would go through every fineness: Turkish all the way to cold brew. Here, though, I was only able to test the espresso-fine 12-step.

Here’s my standard uniformity testing. I’m looking for big jumps here: I want 0% to 90%. This proves the grinder is uniform, as all the grounds are the same size.

I would have liked to do more testing — but as I said, the machine only lets you grind on its recommended size!

As you can see, the grinder isn’t overly uniform. However, dialing in is super easy, as the machine does everything for you. No weighing or dosing or adjusting the grind. The machine takes care of all that headache.

Espresso

The Ninja’s espresso tastes fine. It’s not delicious, but it’s not disgusting, either. If you’re the kind of person who puts syrups or flavoring in your coffee, you probably won’t notice the taste flavor at all — but isn’t that kind of the point? The espresso tastes like coffee. Not massively nuanced or bright coffee, but coffee. It tastes like Starbucks.

As you can see, the shot is a nice caramel color with a layer of crema. The crema isn’t as creamy as I’d like, but it still tasted good. There was no nuance or complexity to the shot: it tasted like chain coffee. However, this is still good enough for most people — and without the dialing-in headache. It brewed 34g of coffee in 26 seconds.

I will note that the portafilter is tiny — just 53 mm. This means you likely won’t be able to get much aftermarket stuff in terms of accessories, but, again, I’m not sure that’s who this machine is aimed at. You do, however, get a dosing collar and a spring-loaded tamper as standard.

As I mentioned earlier, while the grinder isn’t “technically” perfect in the same way you’d expect from a standalone grinder, it’s fine for casual coffee drinkers who prioritize ease of use over coffee snobbery.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Milk

The Luxe Cafe Mini has two milk steaming modes: automatic and manual. You can choose from three levels of foam: low, medium, and high. Weirdly, the “medium” foam level is more like a cappuccino. It took 1 minute 49 seconds to heat a jug of milk to drinking temperature, which is longer than the Breville Bambino Plus’s auto milk frothing time.

Manual milk steaming works the same as any other espresso machine. I was surprised to see the Luxe Cafe Mini Plus has a super strong steam wand — much stronger than Casabrews alternatives I’ve tested. It’s around the same strength as a De’Longhi Arte Evo.

Here’s a photo of automatically frothed milk.

As you can see, the texture is okay. It’s not perfect, but it’s soft enough to achieve some latte art. There was a disconnect between the milk and froth, which resulted in a dodgy pour. I’d recommend serious home baristas foam their own milk, but newbies might find this super helpful.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Storage & maintenance

As the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus is, well, mini, it’s a better option for smaller spaces. Although it’s not as small as a standalone espresso machine, it’s smaller than alternative bean-to-cups. Let’s get our comparison caps on! N.B.: the last model, Breville Bambino, is a standalone espresso machine. This is just for a baseline comparison as the Bambino is the small machine of choice for many. I’m aware they serve slightly different audiences.

As you can see, the Luxe Cafe Mini is considerably lighter than the other bean-to-cups. It’s also shorter and slimmer than all the others, but the De’Longhi Arte Evo is narrower.

I have no qualms about recommending the Luxe Cafe Mini to those who need a smaller espresso machine but don’t want to sacrifice a built-in grinder.

In terms of longevity, Ninja offers a 2-year warranty, which is the same as Breville and De’Longhi, so pretty standard. As the machine doesn’t come with cleaning products, you’d need to get backflush tablets and descaler yourself. These are $34 for a 4-month supply directly from Ninja. It does come with a water filter, though, which is nice!

Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus review: Verdict

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus is a fantastic first espresso machine. I won’t impress coffee snobs, but it will hit the spot if you value ease of use, simplicity, and consistency. The automatic dial-in process is perhaps the best thing for newbies. No stressing over why no coffee came out or why your coffee tastes like sour bean water. You do get a decent shot of espresso every time.

No, there’s no nuance of complexity in the shot. I use the same beans for all my testing, and they tasted like Starbucks rather than the snobby shop down the road. But is that a bad thing? Starbucks is popular for a reason. People love coffee that tastes like coffee. I personally wouldn’t get this machine, but I’m a coffee snob. Take what I say with a pinch of salt.

If you’re reading this and nodding along, you’re definitely the target audience for the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus. It helps you make consistent espresso and milk. Coffee lovers looking for a one-ticket route to consistently great coffee? Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus.

The Moccamaster is one of my favorite coffee makers. No, I'd actually say it's my favorite. It has everything I like: a cool vibe, easy functionality, and consistent taste. Oh, and the best part? The lifetime repairs and 5-year standard warranty. Honestly, there's nothing I don't like about the Moccamaster.

But I know some of you have questions about the Moccamaster, and I'm here to answer them! I got tons of comments on TikTok, so I'm answering the three most-commonly asked questions.

So, if you want to know how I'd fix the Moccamaster having "too much plastic," the Moccamaster's "horrible water distribution," or the Moccamaster "hot plate burning the coffee," buckle in.

1. You said the Moccamaster has "too much plastic"

I both agree and disagree! Yes, it has a lot of plastic, but due to E.U. regulations, the Moccamaster only uses virgin, BPA-free, phthalate-free plastic, so none of this plastic will leach into your coffee. You also need to remember that Technivorm makes the Moccamaster in the Netherlands, and shipping a completely glass/metal coffee maker across the Atlantic would cost a pretty penny... and the Moccamaster already costs a pretty penny.

However, if you want as little plastic in your kitchen as possible — I don't blame you — then you might be a little more interested in the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer. I reviewed this coffee maker a month or so ago and I loved it. As it has a bloom feature, it makes a juicier, fruitier coffee, more attuned to what I'd describe as "coffee-snob coffee".

Although the SGC Brewer still has silicone and plastic on the exterior to prevent burns, it's much less plastic than the Moccamaster.

2. You said the Moccamaster has "horrible water distribution"

I also agree and disagree with this one. The Moccamaster does tend to "funnel" — where the water goes down the center of the filter basket and the coffee grounds climb up the side, resulting in overextracted and underextracted flavors.

However, this is less a Moccamaster issue and more a drip coffee maker issue. If you want drip, it's an occupational hazard. I've yet to use a drip coffee maker with zero funnelling. Even the "coffee-snob-approved" SGC Plastic-Free Brewer doesn't manage to distribute the water as evenly as a well-poured pour-over.

You can easily mitigate this, though. You need to grind all your coffee evenly using a good grinder. I'd recommend something like the Baratza Encore ESP if you can afford $199 or the Timemore Chestnut C2s if you don't mind hand grinding and you only want to spend $60.

Next: make sure your grind isn't too fine or too coarse. A coarser grind may be more inclined to funnel as there's more surface area for the water to burrow under. Too fine will create blockages.

Finally, this is what I would do after exhausting all other options. When you brew, don't put on the filter basket lid. Manually "bloom" the grounds. This means add a little bit of water, then stir, ensuring the water has saturated the grounds. Then, let the machine drip as normal. See the difference?

You said the Moccamaster hot plate "burns the coffee"

And I agree with you! The hot plate does burn the coffee. I never use the hot plate feature on mine. I always make a half batch if I'm brewing just for me, or make sure everyone gets a cup while it's fresh.

If you want to keep your coffee hot without burning, I'd recommend checking out Technivorm's thermal carafe, which is $84 from Amazon.

So, that's everything you asked me this week! Next week, I'll be answering more questions about the Moccamaster.

I release new episodes of The Coffee Lab every Friday on our TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and also here on Tom's Guide.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried the new Nespresso summer flavors — here's my favorite
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

Having covered the Cuisinart’s Clearview air fryer when it was first released in May, I was keen to get my hands on the new release to see whether it’s as smart as it looks. With a clear bowl and open viewing window at the top, it’s no surprise how the company came up with the name.

However, my first thought wasn’t how well it would cook, but how dirty the clear bowl would get with regular use. If the appliance is kept on your countertop, which is bound to be the most common scenario if you use an air fryer regularly, would it start to look grimy after a few uses?

So far, it hasn’t been a concern, and I’ve really valued having a clear view of what’s going on inside the bowl without needing to pause to check.

Here I delve deeper into the Clearview’s performance and give you my verdict on how it stacks up.

Cuisinart Clearview review: Price and availability

I tested the Cuisinart Clearview 4-quart air fryer, which costs $139 at Amazon. You can also pick it up for $139 direct from Cuisinart. Cuisinart also produces a 9-quart version, but it has a slightly different design, and the cooking drawer only has a clear front. However, despite its larger capacity, it is a mere $20 extra, selling for $159 at Amazon.

How does the price compare with the Ninja Crispi? Although the MSRP is $179, you can currently pick up the Cyberspace Gray and Sage colorway versions of the Ninja Crispi for $159 at Amazon. That’s a pretty good deal, since you also get an extra 6-quart bowl included in the box.

The Clearview is still more expensive than the Cosori 9-in-1 Turboblaze Air Fryer, which is currently discounted to $89 at Amazon and features a 6-quart bowl and plenty more functionality.

Cuisinart Clearview review: Design

Although I have previously compared Cuisinart’s Clearview with the Ninja Crispi, they're not exact duplicates. Apart from the sloping front on the top, the Clearview takes on a similar form to most air fryers — you slide the basket inside. By comparison, the Crispi's heating pod is placed on top of the cooking bowl.

Glass basket
The air fryer comes with a square glass bowl with two handles on either side. I found having two side handles, rather than one central handle (like most air fryers), made it easier to manage when sliding and removing it from the base unit.

A PFAS-free ceramic nonstick crisper plate sits neatly at the bottom of the bowl, but it can be removed if you’re heating something like a pasta bake or using it to store leftovers.

Of course, if you use your air fryer every day and also tend to store leftovers, you might need to invest in another glass bowl. Although spare bowls aren’t available right now, Cuisinart has told me you'll be able to pick one up in August.

Controls and functionality

Controls and functionality
The digital control panel is pretty intuitive to use and easy to access. It doesn’t have as much functionality as other air fryers, but offers air fry, roast, grill, bake, recrisp and keep warm, which is enough for most standard needs.

However, I did miss the preheating and proofing functions I enjoyed using with the Cosori TurboBlaze air fryer. Although it lets you set two favorites, the temperature doesn’t go below 212º F (100°C), which is too high to proof dough.

Noise
For each cooking mode, I selected the highest temperature setting and monitored the noise output. The top temperature for air fry, roast, grill, and bake was 400ºF (200°C), and 300ºF (150°C) for keep warm.

The average noise level for air fry and roast was 67 dB (72 dB max), reducing to 64 dB for recrisp, and 56 dB for grill and bake. Keep warm measured an average of 41 dB.

I don’t think the Cuisinart Clearview air fryer is particularly noisy, and it sits in a similar range to the Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1, which takes the top spot in our buying guide.

Let there be light
There is one standout element about this air fryer that really captured my interest and got my husband talking. Having a clear view of what’s cooking cancels out my grumble about the lack of settings. There’s no need to keep pulling out a basket to check how your food is cooking and wasting heat since you can instantly see the progress.

What’s more, apart from the almost panoramic view of the bowl, you can also view through the top window and illuminate everything. Press the 'light bulb' button, and the internal light will stay on for 45 seconds, unless you remove the basket.

Apart from the standard food selections I cooked in this air fryer, I also baked cupcakes (I’ll be reporting on this soon), and it was here that the viewing window and clear basket really made a difference.

Cuisinart Clearview review: Performance

Meatballs

Meatballs are a regular on my family’s meal plan and are easy to cook in an air fryer. I placed 17 meatballs into the glass basket and selected ‘Air Fry’ mode on the control panel. On my U.K. model, it automatically sets to 180°C (350ºF) and 12 mins, but you can adjust the temperature and time by pressing the buttons on the left and right. The temperature can be altered in 5°C increments, and the time by one-minute increments.

You’ll also notice that the ‘Shake Reminder’ lights up and beeps when the cook is halfway through; if you’d prefer not to use it, just press the button to turn it off.

I adjusted the time to 10 mins, but kept the temperature at 180°C. I gave the meatballs a shake at five minutes, and they looked quite cooked, so I put them back in and adjusted the time to three minutes. I then checked their internal temperature with my Thermoworks meat thermometer to ensure they were cooked through, and then changed the setting to ‘Keep Warm’ until my pasta and sauce were ready.

Croissants

There’s nothing worse than a soft croissant, so I placed three decent-sized croissants in the basket and selected ‘Recrisp’. The automatic setting is 10 minutes at 180°C, but I reset it to three minutes to avoid a charred mess.

When the three minutes were up, I noticed slight charring on the tops of the croissants, but they were perfectly crispy and even more delicious when I added a generous helping of butter!

Crispy potatoes and fries

Potatoes are one of the regular carbs that I cook in an air fryer. With my first batch, I cut the potatoes into small chunks, leaving the skin intact, then lightly coated them with sunflower oil. I then placed them in the basket and selected ‘Air Fry’, leaving them to cook at the automatic setting — 180°C (350ºF) for 12 minutes.

At halftime, I gave them a shake and noticed that they still had some time to go; it was only at nine minutes that I saw that they’d started to crisp. After 12 minutes had passed, they were still uncooked, so I increased the temperature to 200°C (400ºF) and cooked them for a further six minutes. At this point, they still lacked the extra crispiness that I prefer, but they were cooked inside.

It’s a case of adjusting the setting to suit your preferences. I do also think that preheating the air fryer would help to speed up the cooking.

I also cooked some frozen fries, straight from the freezer. For these, I followed the cooking results on the food packet and set the air fryer to 200°C for 15 minutes, giving them a shake midway through. The fries came out hot and perfectly crispy.

Having become more accustomed to how the air fryer works, I decided to preheat it to 200°C before cooking some chicken pieces coated in breadcrumbs. And this was exactly what the cooking instructions suggested. I then set the air fryer to ‘Air Fry’ at 180°C for 12 minutes. There was no need to increase the timing, and I could see the benefit of preheating

Roasted vegetables

Just in case you’re worried about my diet and think I only eat carbs and protein, I chopped up some zucchini and peppers. I then gave them a light coating with oil and placed them in the air fryer on ‘Roast’ for 10 minutes at 200°C — the standard setting is at 180°C for 25 minutes.

I gave them a shake at 5 minutes and, at the 10-minute mark, added an extra two minutes of cook time. They came out slightly charred and soft without being overcooked.

Cuisinart Clearview review: Verdict

Having eyes on what you’re cooking is the standout feature of this air fryer, and it’s not just a gimmick. It really helps you check on the progress of what you’re cooking without constantly removing the bowl, releasing heat and interrupting whatever else you’re doing in the kitchen. I also loved the light that illuminates your food, and while it’s not intentional, it added a bit of fun to using the air fryer.

If you have a family, you may find the bowl too small for your needs. If so, you can size up to Cuisinart’s 9-quart ClearView, but the sightline isn’t quite the same. However, overall, it’s a good little air fryer. And despite my early reservations about keeping the bowl clean, it’s been easier to keep spotless than my standard air fryer basket. It may not be as cute as the Ninja Crispi, but it gets the job done.

Sometimes the best things in life are the simplest. Black coffee. A good cast iron. A classic kettle BBQ — maybe, say, the Weber Master-Touch. Do you need any more?

Where I live, in the U.K., with our tiny gardens, small houses and very reserved cuts of meat (the spirit of rationing lives on), at least compared to the States, the classic kettle is the default grill. Obviously, in the land of eagles, pick-up trucks and Traegers, everything is a little larger: bigger gardens, houses and, of course, grills. On the ‘freedom’ scale, the Weber Master-Touch might look like a “my first BBQ”.

But what if you only have a small amount of space and need a compact BBQ? Could Weber’s latest kettle, with its reasonable price and fairly small cooking surface, still be the best grill for you? I think so. Keep reading my full Weber Master-Touch review to find out more.

Weber Master-Touch review: Specs

Weber Master-Touch review: Price & availability

The Weber Master-Touch is a fairly affordable grill, starting at $289 / £289 for the base 22-inch (57cm) model. The larger 26-inch (67cm) model, meanwhile, starts at $499 / £475. So, if you can’t afford to splurge $2,000 on our favorite charcoal grill, the Kamado Joe kettle, the Master Touch will still give you the bare essentials at a fraction of the cost.

You do literally get the “bare essentials” though. There’s no app, no electricity, no automated temperature control, no temperature food probes included. It’s simple and honest, and I find that kinda fun. I actually prefer using the Master-Touch to my tricked-out Weber Searwood XL 600 ($1,199) precisely because I have to do everything myself — plan heat zones, keep tabs on temperature, and carefully manage grill space. It feels like actual cooking, not just waiting for something to do the cooking for you. Still, if you do want more features, the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 is only a dollar more expensive than the 26-inch Master-Touch, at $500.

Customization

A neat feature of the Master-Touch is the ability to customize it at checkout. You can choose from a range of different colors, including slate blue (which I chose) and a gorgeous burnt orange, among others.

You can then customize the color of the ash tray (or “One-Touch” cleaning system, to give its glorified name), which is a waste of money if you ask me; add premium stainless steel grates with a 5-year warranty (I tested these); and bolt on some accessories like a low-n-slow kit, accessory hangers, chimney starters, and more. I like that you can make the Master-Touch your own, especially as Weber kettles are so common where I live. It’s not something we see from other brands, like Kamado Joe or Traeger (although, in fairness, those grills come loaded with everything in the first place).

Weber Master-Touch review: Fuel

The Master-Touch is a charcoal grill, so fueling is pretty simple. Load up some briquettes or lumpwood charcoal according to your desired heat zones, fire up, and 20-minutes-or-so later you’re cookin’. I’ve also been adding small wood logs for extra smokiness.

While it lacks the immediacy of gas/electric or the fancy-pants-ness of pellets, charcoal is much cheaper than both. But it has one other key advantage, especially here in the U.K. — it’s incredibly easy to source. If you run out of fancier fuels, it can be tough to get more at short notice. I’ve run out of pellets mid-cook before on long smokes, leading to a nervous wait for an Amazon next-day delivery. And, recently, I had to do a frantic dash around several local gas stations to get propane for an upcoming pizza oven review (there are often summertime propane shortages where I live).

Charcoal, meanwhile, can be bought from every gas station, large grocery store or garden center here in Britain. That means, if the sun comes out suddenly and you find yourself without fuel, you can quickly grab some from down the street for an impromptu BBQ.

Weber Master-Touch review: Design & features

The Weber Master-Touch uses the classic round kettle design. I tested the 22-inch / 57cm barbecue, which is fairly compact versus larger, rectangular grills and smokers. This means it’ll fit on a moderately-sized balcony or in a small yard. I was able to position the Master-Touch in a small space between my lawn and shed, where it fit perfectly and didn’t overload our already tech-filled patio. 22 inches gives you easily enough space for at least a family of four, although I’d buy the larger 26-inch model if you’re planning on bigger cooks.

The main kettle lid features a slide-back rail, allowing you to flip the lid 90 degrees while cooking, to turn food or let off some heat if things are too hot. In the lid is an old-school analog thermometer giving you ambient temperature readings, although for more accurate measurements (especially when smoking or grilling large cuts of meat) you’ll want to invest in food probes. The upper handle features a heat shield, which is a nice safety feature, while the front handle has inlaid notches for hanging accessories — very useful.

Under the main kettle sits an ashtray, which employs a sliding vent system. This is called a “One-Touch” cleaning system, although it’s far from single-touch. The vent has two benefits: it’s part of the ventilation system for controlling your heat and flames, but also helps sweep fallen ash into the tray below. Under that is a storage shelf that doubles as a brace for the legs and wheels — I put my weatherproof Weber storage box under there, where I keep my probes, cooking utensils and heatproof gloves.

Build quality is mostly pretty good. The kettle itself, handles and trim, grates, and ashtray all use premium metal and black plastics, which feels high-quality and sturdy. The legs are made from lightweight aluminum, but they don’t feel weak at all.

The only things letting the Master-Touch down are the wheels. They’re super light and cheap-feeling, and don’t attach as securely to the legs as I’d like. They shake and bend a lot when wheeling the grill, meaning the Master-Touch is actually quite difficult to move over anything but perfectly smooth terrain. I get this grill is in Weber’s budget range, but the wheels still feel way too cheap for me — like something from a crappy $30 grocery store grill.

Assembly

You’ll need to assemble your Weber Master-Touch once it arrives. Mine arrived well packaged — the grill was free of marks or damage even though the box had been dented and squashed by the courier.

The assembly took me around 45 minutes, although I was going slowly as I was constructing outside during a heatwave here in the U.K., in 102°F / 38°C. Everything was clearly labelled and the instructions were very easy to follow. There’s a plastic hex key included, which will essentially cover your whole build. It’s a bit slow, so I got out my motorcycle tool kit and used a ratchet. Weber advises against using power tools, as these make it very easy to overtighten and ruin nuts/bolts.

Weber Master-Touch review: Controls

The Master-Touch is a basic BBQ with equally basic controls, so it’ll suit newcomers to grilling. You’ve got a vent on top and a vent at the base, which you use to control airflow and heat. It’ll take a bit of trial and error to figure out how to use these for consistent heat, and a lot of that will be down to fueling, but that’s all part of the fun. As I mentioned above, there’s an ambient temperature gauge on top which is extremely useful for regulating heat. The temperature dial is very responsive too, and moves quickly as the internal heat changes.

Unlike other Weber grills, like my Searwood XL 600, the Master-Touch has no electrical components and therefore no wireless connectivity and heat control. This is the one thing I really missed. I love controlling my Searwood from inside the house or, yes, the pub, using Weber’s fantastic companion app. But the Master-Touch simply isn’t that kind of grill.

Weber Master-Touch review: Performance

The Master-Touch is a kettle grill, and it performs like, well, pretty much every other kettle grill. It’ll happily get up to 750F/400C or higher if you fuel it accordingly, making it a monster for those quick, powerful sears.

If you’re just cooking on high heat, it’s a very straightforward and competent grill. The 22-inch cooking surface was enough space for me to simultaneously cook around 2lbs of chicken wings, several slices of pork belly, two burgers, two veggie skewers and two corns. Admittedly, space was a little tight — I had 4.5lbs of chicken in total, which had to be done in two batches — but I managed.

I arranged the fuel half-and-half for direct/indirect heat underneath the cooking grill. I had direct heat on one half at around 480-525F / 250-275C, with a lower indirect heat on the other half to slowly cook through the riskier meats. The fuel grate is positioned at the ideal level below the main grate — you only need a single layer of charcoal to get to 480F / 250C and higher under the cooking grate, enough for strong sears.

22 inches is (just) enough cooking space to let you get creative with your charcoal layout and create different heating zones. This is especially important for smoking, where you can use various layouts (like the charcoal snake method) to channel the fuel burn along a route, creating lower heat and smoke for longer. If you’re going to be smoking more, the 26-inch model will give you more space for your layouts, and is what I’d recommend.

The ambient temperature dial on the top of the kettle is also a great help for smoking, letting you keep an eye on temperature, although again, you’ll want meat probes to smoke accurately.

For any serious smoking, though, I would advise investing in a dedicated smoker like the Searwood XL 600, Kamado Joe, or Traegar Woodridge Pro ($999). Although pricey, these have features to make smoking much more accurate and consistent, while giving more control over taste — I’m talking real-time handling of fuel burn, smoke levels and temperature, etc. They also have apps, so you can control everything from afar. However, if, like me, you only smoke food occasionally, but mostly use a grill for searing, the Master-Touch is more than adequate.

Weber Master-Touch review: Storage & maintenance

As I mentioned earlier, as far as grills go, the Master-Touch is fairly compact, making it easy to stash away in a neat spot on your patio, or under cover in your shed or garage. Weber gear is designed to withstand being kept outdoors, and indeed my Searwood has lived outside, uncovered for around a year, with only a modicum of rust showing up. Ideally, though, you’d want to store the Master-Touch (or any grill) under a cover to shield it from the elements.

The Master-Touch benefits from Weber’s generous warranty: 10 years on the bowl and lid; 5 years on the ash tray system and plastic components; and 2 years on everything else. Opt for the upgraded stainless grates, though, and those come with a 5-year warranty.

Maintenance is easy — another benefit of small grills. Clear the fuel out, dump the ash using the “One-Touch” system (which you’ll need to slide back and forth… around 10-15 times), then remove and clean the grills with BBQ cleaner, before repeating on the kettle and lid. I use Weber’s wire brush to remove large debris from the grill, then give it a good spray and wipe. For tougher-to-shift muck, I’ve put the grills in my dishwasher, which they can stand up to due to being stainless, but will discolor them over time (I don’t care, though, as they get blackened during cooking anyway). It took me around 10-15 minutes for a quick clean when I knew I was cooking again the next day, and around 30 minutes for a deeper clean.

Listen, I’m not moaning, because this was an easy grill to clean. But as you can see, to call it “One-Touch” is incredibly ambitious, to say the least.

Weber Master-Touch review: Verdict

Like I said earlier, there’s value in simplicity. The Weber Master-Touch is a simple kettle grill with a few quality-of-life features. That means it’s not going to wow you with modern features, but it also makes it difficult to go wrong.

The Master-Touch cooks great, is customizable, and easy to both store and maintain. It gives you just enough space to get creative with fueling, allowing different temperature zones and smoking. And it gets super hot to put beautiful sears on food. Sure, the wheels feel a little flimsy, but the rest of the grill is built extremely well, and besides, the Master-Touch is an affordable grill.

I've been using the Master-Touch all summer here in the U.K., where we've had a heatwave (reaching up to 102F). Cooking inside in such conditions is awful (we don't have AC in our homes here), and I've really appreciate having the Master-Touch — its small size, quick heat up and ease-of-cleaning has let me cook al-fresco quickly and easily.

If it’s a compact, affordable but quality grilling solution you’re after for this summer, the Weber Master-Touch comes highly recommended by me.

Is there anything better than that first morning cup of coffee? A great cup of joe will wake you up and get you ready for the day ahead, all while tasting delicious. But if you're a serious fan then you'll know how borderline impossible it is to get a decent cup from shop-bought instant coffee.

That's where investing in a coffee machine comes in. A good espresso machine or drip coffee machine is an instant upgrade. They're also a great way to save money that you'd otherwise spend at your local coffee shop.

If you're looking to add one to your kitchen, then now is a great time to buy. De'Longhi is one of the best brands on the market and loads of its machines are on sale right now at Amazon. Check out the nine picks below, from good value budget offerings all the way up to feature-packed high-end models.

I have a strong feeling that how we use microwaves is about to change forever — and when I mention the name Ninja, you probably won’t be surprised.

The brand, known for dominating our countertops with some of the best air fryers, blenders and coffee machines, has never entered the microwave market, that is, until now.

Today, Ninja is once again shaking up modern cooking with the U.S. launch of the Ninja Crispi Microwave and Air Fryer, available for $449 at SharkNinja. It’s the anchor product behind the brand’s new summer product lineup, which also introduces the Ninja Crispi DualZone and Ninja Multipot.

Putting an end to "soggy" microwave meals

It’s a significant leap for Ninja and one that I’ll be closely watching to see how it impacts the microwave market, including whether other kitchen appliance brands follow suit.

To put my interest into context, I’m a child of the ‘70s. I vividly remember my family’s awe when we got our first microwave. While my mom tried to cook everything in this ‘miracle’ oven, including roast chicken and meringue. I can clearly recall the artificial browning she used to color the pale chicken and the black carbon bottoms of her failed meringues.

Unsurprisingly, I’m far more conservative with my microwave adventures, and like most of us, I use it for simple tasks, such as defrosting, softening butter and warming up food.

But according to Ninja, those days are over, and the “soggy microwave problem we’ve accepted for years has officially been solved,” without sacrificing speed or texture.

The tech behind the appliance

The secret behind Ninja’s appliance is FusionCrisp Technology — combining microwave speed with superheated, cyclonic air at temperatures up to 450°F.

So how exactly does this work? The Ninji Crispi Microwave and Air Fryer starts by microwaving the food from the inside, then switches to air frying to produce a crisp texture, resulting in a cooking time 50% faster than a conventional oven.

Apart from giving crisp results, it offers 14-in-1 functionality. The 8 microwave presets include popcorn, potato, defrost, beverage, soup, frozen dinner, frozen vegetable, and soften butter. There are a further 5 air fry presets, including max crisp, crisp, air roast, air bake and air broil, each with FusionCrisp Technology.

Ninja ditches the traditional turntable

Instead of the traditional rotating turntable, Ninja opted for a flatbed design, which it claims offers 40% more space than a standard turntable microwave. That’s plenty of capacity to hold the 5.5-quart glass basket that comes with the appliances, which is capable of holding an 8lb chicken, four pizza slices or a 9 x 11-inch casserole dish, feeding up to 8-10 people.

Although the Ninja Crispi Microwave and Air Fryer is now available in the U.S., U.K. readers will have to wait until mid-August for it to land.

I’m looking forward to testing and reviewing the Ninja Crispi Microwave and Air Fryer and will report back as soon as I get my hands on it.

In the meantime, I’ll have to rely on those of you in the U.S. to see how this exciting new product performs and whether you think it will shake up the microwave market. If you've tried one, leave a comment below with your thoughts.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the Ninja Crispi for a week and it made me rethink everything I knew about air fryers
• The Ninja Creami makes it so easy to make ice cream, it’s dangerous
• Best microwaves in 2026

Air fryers are an increasingly essential addition to any kitchen. Compact and versatile, these miniature convection ovens are ideal for everything from roasting vegetables to cooking fries, and reheating food. And because they need less oil than conventional fryers they can be a – slightly – healthier option too.

If you've been planning to buy one then we have some good news for you: there are loads on sale at Amazon right now. For this article I've concentrated on bigger brands. Most of these air fryers are from Ninja, Instant Pot, and Chefman. These are top-rated products that you can rely on – and they've all got great savings attached to them, with reductions of up to 39% off.

Ooni is strengthening its position in the stand mixer market with the imminent launch of its second mixer — the Halo Core. Look out, KitchenAid, you’ve got some serious competition!

The brand behind some of the best pizza ovens is once again treating pizza lovers to an all-round experience by developing technology to make the perfect dough.

Having just launched the debut Halo Pro in April 2025, I can only imagine the engineers at Ooni were back on the case as soon as the brand’s first stand mixer left the factory.

Perfecting dough for home bakers

So, what’s so special about Ooni’s stand mixer offer, and how does the Halo Core differ from the first rendition?

Rather than the stand mixers we’ve become accustomed to, which use a planetary mixing design, Ooni has developed a spiral mixing technique traditionally reserved for professional kitchens and artisan bakeries. But what does this really mean?

Rather than the bowl staying put and the attachments spinning, Ooni’s bowl rotates.

Ooni claims the engineering “delivers exceptional gluten development and dough quality, helping bridge the gap between everyday baking and bakery-quality results.”

And Ooni adds: “Home bakers have blamed themselves for dense loaves and failed rises. The real culprit is the mixer. Planetary stand mixers, largely unchanged since their invention, were never built for dough. They stall, overheat, and can’t develop the gluten structures that separate a good bake from a great one. Ooni Halo Core changes that.”

KitchenAid has some tough competition

When you see the stand mixer for yourself, you’ll instantly notice its professional look and heft! Although it’s not the size of a mixer you’d find in a professional kitchen, despite its pro appeal, it’s surprisingly compact. When I placed it next to the KitchenAid Artisan Pro, there was little difference in size; in fact, the KitchenAid is taller.

And that’s where the Halo Core differs from its older sibling, the Halo Pro: It’s 20% smaller and 30% lighter. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s easy to maneuver; it’s still 23.2 lbs.

What’s more, where the Halo Pros aimed at serious bakers and semi-professionals, the new Halo Core is targeted at home bakers.

Breadmaking and more besides

The price is still on the high end, at $599 (£499), hitting the exact spot where the KitchenAid Artisan Pro sits in the market, but you are getting an exceptional machine — which I’ll be reviewing over the coming weeks.

But what exactly does the Halo Core offer? You get a 4.7-quart stainless steel bowl with a silicone lid and pouring shield, 20 speed levels with up to 300 rpm and 1,000 rpm when using the geared whisk, an LED speed indicator and LED bowl lights.

And with all of that comes a spiral dough hook and removable breaker bar to create a dual-kneading action that stretches and develops dough for a strong gluten structure.

But even though the Halo Core is designed to mix over 6lbs of dough, enough for 10 12-inch pizzas or three large sourdough loaves, it's not only designed by bread makers. It also comes with whipping and beating attachments.

But before you get too excited and race out to buy the Ooni Halo Core, it won’t be dropping in stores until 4 August, although you can join the waitlist to ensure you don't miss out.

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

It's been several years since I lived in a dorm — but if I were shopping for back to school season today, I'd be super excited about the latest appliances from Ninja and Shark. From portable smoothie makers and misting fans to cordless vacuums and multifunctional hair tools, these space-saving essentials make dorm life simpler.

If you're gearing up for the new semester, I recommend grabbing some Shark and Ninja appliances — especially right now since Amazon is knocking up to 40% off select models. For instance, the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo is currently over $50 off and is perfect for keep you cool while hanging out, studying or sleeping in the dorm.

There's plenty more convenient devices for back to school season below — and they start at just $79. Keep scrolling to check out all my favorite Shark and Ninja appliance deals on Amazon.

Quick Links

• shop all SharkNinja deals
• shop all SharkNinja deals at Amazon
• Shark Steam Pocket Mop: was $99 now $79
• Ninja Blast Max: was $99 now $79
• Ninja Iced Coffee Maker: was $129 now $99
• Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo: was $149 now $99
• Ninja Mega Kitchen System: was $219 now $149
• Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer: was $179 now $159
• Shark FlexStyle: was $349 now $259

Ninja/Shark Deals

Cleaning my oven is one of those jobs I always put off. It just seem so laborious that I end up delaying cleaning it at all, which only makes it so much worse. I've found myself staring at oven cleaning products, unsure which one to choose and worrying about how toxic they are or how much elbow grease I'll need to put in to actually achieve results I'm pleased with. Unsurprisingly with all this overthinking, I end up giving up before I've even started.

But, then I saw a TikTok hack that suggested I would only need to use two items which I already happen to own (and it's likely you do too). With just a bottle of Cif and some cling wrap to hand, it seemed like a very affordable way to get my oven clean and the video I saw also made it look so simple. But... is it really that easy? Here's what happened when I tried it.

How does it work?

TikTok page, @cleanipedia_uk, posts expert cleaning hacks and tips by Unilever to its almost 70k followerss. But, it's this specific oven cleaning hack (featured above) that really caught my eye.

Using just Cif and some cling wrap, both of which are budget-friendly, it demonstrates that your oven can go from caked in built-up grease to completely clean (apparently). And all it takes is just five simple steps.

To follow this hack, you can:

• Apply Cif Cream to your oven door
• Cover with cling wrap and spread the cream underneath
• Wait for around an hour
• Remove the cling wrap and scrub with a non-abrasive sponge
• Wipe away everything with a damp microfibre cloth

While users in the comments were worried that the Cif would leave a smell, Cleanipedia replied: "Just make sure you wipe and rinse properly!" And some users suggested you should just be cleaning your oven whenever you use it.

For me, as much as I want to be a person that remembers to clean their oven every time it gets used, I'll never remember to go back after it's cooled down. Inevitably, my oven just keeps getting dirtier. So, a hack like this seems like a good alternative.

Here's what happened when I tried it

Armed with my bottle of Cif, some cling wrap and a dream, I thought I'd give it a go. Now, I'm aware that my oven is a bit of a mess, hence needing a TikTok hack like this to hopefully save me. And following five steps seemed simple enough – and it was.

I applied my Cif Cream and covered it in cling wrap, which took about 1 minutes (2 when wrestling with the cling wrap tube) and I decided to leave it for an hour, as recommended.

After an hour, I went back to my oven and I was a little concerned that it didn't look like the Cif was infiltrating the grease the way the video had shown. As Cleanipedia suggests though, the longer you leave it the better, so I left it for another hour before returning to give it a scrub.

I'll start by saying I was surprised about how much elbow grease was still needed to clean off the grease, but I was ultimately still impressed that it took away a lot of the grease from the main part of the door.

As you can see from the picture above though, it didn't tackle the caked-on grease nearly as well as I'd hoped. But, I'm not done trying this method. I'll leave it on for much longer next time and I'll make sure my sponge is a little more ready to scour.

It's definitely something I'll be trying again and I loved how easy it was. I also felt more comfortable leaving the Cif on the oven door for a length of time when I knew it was covered up. It was easy to forget about and if I'd forgotten about it for longer, maybe I would've gotten better results.

More from Tom's Guide

• Skip the baking soda and vinegar — I used this non-toxic substance to clean through my oven's grime, and I'm speechless
• This vinegar steam trick will rid your oven of grease and grime — here's how to do it
• How to remove oven glass stains without leaving a single scratch using this one natural solution

The Nespresso Vertuo Up is the newest Nespresso machine as of July 2026. It brings back the iconic Nespresso plug-and-play brew style with an added “Over Ice” mode and app functionality. Yes, this coffee machine connects to my phone, and I’m actually not mad about it.

But is this enough to make it one of the best Nespresso machines you can get? Heck, yeah! I loved testing this machine. It’s as easy as pie — or, as easy as Nespresso — and doesn’t look particularly hideous while doing it. Of course, it’s not as premium as the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista, but it’s also $400 cheaper.

I had a great time testing this machine, and so did my colleagues. One of my colleagues drank four cups of coffee in one day during my testing period — that’s how good it is. Want to find out more about the new Nespresso machine? Why wouldn’t you? Keep reading this Nespresso Vertuo Up review.

Nespresso Vertuo Up review: Specs

Nespresso Vertuo Up review: Price & availability

The Nespresso Vertuo Up is $229 from Amazon U.S. and £179 from Amazon U.K.. Nespresso makes two lines of machines: original and Vertuo. Of the Vertuo collection, the Up is the most premium. If you want similar performance for less, you’d be looking at the $189 Vertuo Next or the $129 Vertuo Pop+.

Vertuo machines are generally cheaper than original Nespresso machines. This is because Vertuo pods are patented, whereas original Nespresso pods are not. Ergo, Nespresso charges less for the initial machine, but more for the pods… so you might end up paying more over time.

The Nespresso CitiZ ($265) is my favorite original Nespresso machine, but you can still get the three-year-old Nespresso Pixie ($229). Of course, neither of these machines have app connectivity, so you can’t adjust the heat or size of your drinks.

Nespresso Vertuo Up review: Design

The Nespresso Vertuo Up, like other Nespresso machines, is compact and ideal for small spaces. As it’s just 4.7 inches wide, I was able to fit it in my kitchen with zero stress.

However, it’s worth noting that it needs a decent amount of overhead clearance — the pod release comes up 5 inches, giving it an overall height of 15.9 inches. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend putting it under low-lying cabinets.

One of my favorite design features is the rotating water tank. Unlike other Nespresso machines (CitiZ), the water tank can fit on the back or on either side, so you can adapt the machine to fit your space rather than the other way around.

Of course, the Vertuo Up is relatively plasticky. It is a Nespresso machine, after all. If you want a more premium aesthetic, I’d recommend checking out the eye-wateringly expensive Vertuo Creatista ($699).

Another “it is a Nespresso machine, after all” design feature is the minimal on-machine controls. Instead of levers, buttons, and dials you might find on espresso machines like the De’Longhi Stilosa ($149) or Breville Bambino ($299), the Vertuo Up has just two buttons: “Ice” and “Go”. Those aren’t the official names, of course, but they explain what I mean well enough.

If you’re using “Over Ice” pods (like I was), you’ll need to press the “Ice” button before “Go”. Otherwise, you’ll get a hot drink. Obviously, this is great if you want to stick it to the man and brew a hot coffee using “Over Ice” pods, but, as I experienced, pods designed for iced drinks don’t taste great hot.

Unlike Nespresso original machines, you can’t choose between an espresso or lungo shot. Each Vertuo pod has a specific dosage volume: for example, the Coconut & Vanilla is a 230ml “mug”, whereas the Yuzu & Vanilla is an 80ml “double shot”. You can kind of adjust volumes with the NespressoSmart app (more on that later), but you can’t do it on the machine itself. This is a little frustrating, and I’d like to see Nespresso utilize on-machine buttons to correct this in the future, as not everyone wants or needs the Nespresso app on their phone.

Nespresso Vertuo Up review: Performance

The Nespresso Vertuo Up is supremely easy to use. I’ll say it for the third time: it is a Nespresso machine, after all. These things are revered for their ease of use and simplicity.

All you have to do is insert the pod of your choice and press “Go”. That’s it. The pod starts spinning like an errant hair caught in a plughole, and thirty seconds later, you’ve got a fresh coffee.

I will say that the Vertuo Up is incredibly loud: it peaked at 70.9dB. It was so loud, in fact, I had colleagues come up to me and say things like, “Oh, that’s a bit of a screamer, isn’t it?” Yes. Yes it is.

Even so, this isn’t a dealbreaker for me. I’m using the machine for, what, a minute? I can put up with 71dB for a minute in exchange for fresh coffee.

Taste is tricky to evaluate because different pods taste different, and different people have different palates. I tested the Vertuo Up with the Yuzu & Vanilla, Coconut & Vanilla, and Oatly Barista Edition Over Ice pods. They all tasted great, with zero burned or bitter notes (except once).

Let me elaborate. I’ll preface this by saying this is purely user error. This is simply advice to you — not an issue with the Vertuo Up at all. I mistakenly brewed the Yuzu & Vanilla pod hot rather than “Over Ice”; it tasted super bitter, with a really frothy crema. It was, put simply, not good. So learn from my mistakes and follow the instructions on the pod packaging!

The only real con I have with the Nespresso Vertuo Up is its tendency to leak before extraction. After inserting a pod and pressing “Go”, the machine leaks around half a teaspoon of coffee into the cup, presumably leftover coffee stuck in the dispensing nozzle from the previous brew. Kinda gross. Although I’m sure this didn’t majorly impact the flavor of my subsequent coffee, it’s worth noting. I’d like to see Nespresso rectify this for the next model, whenever that may be. There’s no “clean” option between drinks.

Nespresso Vertuo Up review: App

I’m usually an app hater, but I really like the NespressoSmart app. It actually benefits the user experience.

As you can see, the app is clean, easy to use, and user-friendly. I can see even the most technophobic person on the planet being able to make the most of this app. You can change the volume of your pods, change water temperature, run cleaning cycles, run water emptying cycles, and look up instruction manuals.

Of course, I would like to see some on-machine controls for these settings as not everyone wants or needs to download an app to use a coffee machine, but as far as apps go, this is a decent one.

The only downside is that the app asks you for full contact information while signing up. You have to put in your full name, email, full address, and phone number. Why? Why does the app need this info for me to customize my espresso? I just wrote “No” in all the address boxes, put a random zip code, and a fake number and it let me make the account, but this is still annoying.

Nespresso Vertuo Up review: Storage & maintenance

As this is a Vertuo machine, replacement pods are only available from Nespresso’s official Amazon store and Nespresso direct. This is disappointing. I wanted to buy some extra pods and visited my local grocery store (a large store with tons of products, including Nespresso pods), but it only stocked original pods. After a quick Google, I discovered that I could only buy these specific pods online.

Therefore, you’ll need some pre-planning to ensure you don’t run out of pods. The price of pods is also quite different from original Nespresso pods. A 30-pack of OG Nespresso pods retails for $27, working out to $0.90 per pod. Vertuo pods are $40.50 for the same sized pack, $1.35 per pod. The pods I personally tested with were around $1.25-$1.55 per pod.

So while the Vertuo machines are cheaper from the off, you might actually spend more money over time. Let’s quickly do some coffee math. Say you’re spending $13 extra a month (if you drink one a day). There’s a $36 price difference between the Vertuo Up and the Citiz. After 3 months, you’ll have spent that extra $36 on Nespresso’s patented Vertuo pods.

Personally, I would always buy an original Nespresso machine for this reason, but of course, the decision is up to you.

Cleaning the machine is straightforward: there are detailed instructions in the app and you can start cleaning cycles from your phone. You can also buy cleaning kits directly from the app: a descaling kit is $10.99 for two sachets.

Alright, last but not least: pod recycling. Of course, not buying single-use pods is inherently more environmentally friendly than buying single-use pods, but at least you can recycle Nespresso pods. You can either get a recycling bag direct from Nespresso, return your pods to Nespresso stores, or drop off your pods at select convenience stores.

Nespresso Vertuo Up review: Verdict

The Nespresso Vertuo Up is a really great Nespresso machine. It’s beyond easy to use, looks pretty good, and the app is genuinely useful. While it’s not perfect, hence the 4-star rating, it’s bound to make any hands-free coffee lover happy. My colleagues all remarked on its ease of use and pleasant coffee flavor.

Sure, I’d appreciate some on-machine controls for the next gen and I’d appreciate more pod options, but if you want to save that initial cost with a Vertuo, this is a pretty good one to get. It can make iced and hot coffees in seconds, and never made a bad brew (except my experiment).

I recommend the Nespresso Vertuo Up for anyone interested in upgrading an old Nespresso machine, anyone who particularly likes having smart control features on their coffee machine, or, simply, anyone who wants hot (or cold) coffee and wants it now.

Nespresso always seems to be cooking up something exciting. So what's happening this summer 2026? Not only have we got the brand-new Nespresso Vertuo Up, one of the best Nespresso machines, we've also got...

Summer Nespresso flavors! I tried three of the new flavors — Yuzu & Vanilla Over Ice, Coconut Vanilla Over Ice, and Oatly Barista Edition. I didn't get a chance to try out the new decaf French Lavender & Vanilla, but this is a super fun flavor. Usually, decaf drinkers don't get as many options, so it's great to see Nespresso remember our non-caffeinated brethren.

So, which of the new Nespresso summer flavors is worth it? Does it actually taste like yuzu? Don't fear, because I'll answer all your questions and more. I made all of these drinks on the new Nespresso Vertuo Up.

Flavor 1: Yuzu & Vanilla Over Ice

First up is the one I'm most excited for: the Yuzu & Vanilla Over Ice. This pod makes 80ml, a "double espresso", and I served it both black and with milk. While milk brought out a creamy, almost cheesecake-like flavor, just water tasted light and clean.

The first photo is black, the second is with oat milk.

The flavor: The yuzu flavor is really subtle. If you're worried about it being a wall of citrus, don't be. The coffee, vanilla, and yuzu notes are complementary, rather than battling one another for dominance. It tastes more like a coffee with a whisper of lemon than anything else.

If you like juicy, fruity drinks, like African coffee beans or Starbucks Pink Drink, you'll probably like this a lot.

Flavor 2: Coconut & Vanilla Over Ice

Next is Coconut & Vanilla Over Ice. This pod is a little different as it makes a 230ml "coffee" rather than an 80ml "double espresso". You don't need to add anything except ice.

Here's a photo of the Nespresso Coconut & Vanilla Over Ice.

The flavor: Just like the Nespresso Yuzu & Vanilla Over Ice, Coconut & Vanilla is subtle and delicate. You might not even know it's supposed to be vanilla flavored without reading the packet. I like the caramelly mouthfeel — the drink is smooth and warming even though it's completely iced — and the coconut does well to round out the coffee.

I'd say this tastes more like an iced batch brew with a little brown sugar than a coconut milk coffee. I was worried it would be too coconutty, but it's not. This coffee is better for people who want a subtle toasty flavor rather than a coconut milk latte. I really enjoyed it, but I think I would prefer a bolder coconut taste.

Flavor 3: Oatly Barista Edition

As an oat milk fanatic, I was surprised and pleased to see an Oatly Barista Edition Nespresso pod. Those who know me will know I go through a carton of the stuff every few days.

This pod brews an 80ml "double shot" and is designed to be made iced.

Here are two photos of the Oatly Barista Edition over ice. The first photo uses oat milk and the second was made with dairy milk.

The flavor: This was my favorite of the three by far. This pod has a strong, malty coffee flavor. The beans are rich and caramelly with zero bitterness. There's no whisper of yuzu or coconut. It tastes like coffee — in the best way possible.

This would be the best pod if you like flat whites or cortados.

My rankings

Alright, after much deliberation, I've finally settled on my Nespresso pod ranking.

1. Oatly Barista Edition
2. Yuzu & Vanilla
3. Coconut & Vanilla

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried this ridiculously cheap bean-to-cup espresso machine so you don't have to — and it's a total head-scratcher
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

I love my kitchen, but there are some days when I want to replace every single utensil I own. I'm talking mismatched cutlery and crockery, a hard-to-clean stainless steel pan, and some ageing kitchen scales that have served me and my baking skills well over the last few years.

Upgrades like these are ones I've been putting off, simply because I don't have the means to replace everything. And I'm sure most of us would agree that it's easier to shove an old can opener or chipped plate back into the kitchen drawer than try to find a replacement.

Thankfully, it's Prime Day, and I've found 24 discounts on kitchen accessories, utensils and small appliances that will upgrade your kitchen for under AU$150 on Amazon. Granted, there's one item on this list — namely, the Corelle Portofino 18-piece dinner set — that is a bit above this price, at AU$159.20; however, I've had my eye on it for a while, and it's finally within my reach at AU$40 off RRP. And for an 18-piece set, that's only AU$8.80 per piece, which is a big win in my books.

Another great deal I've spotted is on Shark's Cordfree Handheld vacuum, now AU$135.85. While it may be a bit odd to put on a kitchen deals round up, I swear by my handheld vacuum for all the teeny crumbs and coffee grinds in my kitchen. Trust me, it is life-changing.

Don't just take my word for it, though — all these products come with 4+ star ratings, including those of my colleagues at Tom's Guide. Better yet, these deals are exclusive to Prime members, and if you're not signed up already, you can get a free 30-day trial here. You'll need to act fast to nab any of these kitchen deals, though, as they will expire on Monday, July 13, at 11:59pm.

As a kitchen and home appliance reviewer, there's no denying the infatuation I have with Ninja Kitchen. I have loved every product I've tried from the brand, from fun, novelty gadgets to actually practical, borderline normal gizmos. Late last year, Ninja's glass air fryer, the Ninja Crispi, launched in Australia, and I immediately got my hands on it.

After using mine for the past six months, I can honestly say that I swear by the Ninja Crispi every night for easy and deliciously crunchy dinners. And right now, my favourite air fryer is discounted by 37% on Amazon to just AU$188.

What really takes the cake with this discount is that it's the lowest price I've ever seen for the Crispi, undercutting the AU$196 rate on Christmas Day 2025. Better yet, this discount is for all three colourways: Cyberspace, Sage and Stone.

But the Ninja Prime Day discounts don't stop there, as the latest evolution, the Ninja Crispi Pro, is also discounted by 32% to just AU$341.05. The new air fryer only debuted last month in Australia, and this is the first discount I've clocked for the device.

Do note that these discounts are exclusive to Amazon Prime members – and you'll likely need to act fast, as the Prime Day sale ends on Monday, July 13.

In our Ninja Crispi review, we gave it a massive 4.5 stars, as it was super quiet and delivered surprisingly crispy results. Our reviewer was pleasantly surprised by the device, and found the gadget "reinvented the traditional air fryers" they've used in the past. As for the Crispi Pro, we gave it 4-stars, as we found it was a bit pricey to justify at full cost. However, this tidy 32% discount nips that in the bud.

While I haven't used the Crispi Pro as much as I'd like, I've really appreciated the simplicity and convenience that come with the Crispi. It's become an integral part of my daily routine — from frying up chicken tenders to roasting salmon perfectly, I've enjoyed every meal and side I've made with my Ninja Crispi. But something I've appreciated even more than the tasty results is the fact that I can pop a lid on my leftovers and chuck them in the fridge almost immediately.

Both of these sentiments easily extend to the Pro, as in my short time of having the device, I've thoroughly enjoyed making larger portions of my favourite dishes and using the Pro to help with meal prepping for the week ahead.

The key differences between the air frying pair are that the Crispi Pro comes with three borosilicate containers instead of two, and uses a sliding mechanism to slot into the base, rather than using the Crispi base as a lid. Further, the Pro offers more control over temperature settings, whereas the Crispi has four preset modes to choose from. The timer on both the Crispi and Crispi Pro can be adjusted in minute increments, and you can also add or reduce your cooking time.

But no matter what model you choose, let the Ninja Crispi be the airfryer for you.

ICYMI, it's Amazon Prime Day, and that means all the best deals can be found at the e-commerce retailer. Prices have been sliced across almost every category, including some of the best coffee machines.

Now, I don't necessarily consider myself a coffee snob, but I cannot begin to express how vital it is to start your day with a good cup o' joe. What's even more important, though, is having an excellent machine that does the job — and does it well.

Whether you prefer a fully automatic machine, with a built-in grinder and steam wand, or something a bit more manual, I've got you covered with my handpicked Prime Day coffee machine deals below. I've even listed some top-rated pod machines for those who prefer that one-touch convenience in the mornings.

Personally, I cannot live without my Ninja Luxe Cafe machine, and while it is currently out of stock, during Prime Day, it reached an all-time low price of AU$799.99 AU$524.20 in the Stainless Steel colourway. There's also a huge 62% off the beloved Nespresso Vertuo Pop in Mango Yellow, bringing it down to just AU$88.

I've also spotted some nice discounts on coffee-focused accessories, like a tidy 34% off a Le Creuset French Press, and 31% off Breville's Pro Control coffee grinder. If none of the deals below tickle your caffeine-fuelled fancy, make sure to check out our live Prime Day coverage to find more of the best coffee machine bargains available.

You'll need to act fast to secure these discounts, though, as Prime Day will come to an end on Monday, July 13, and these deals won't stick around long after.

Best coffee machine deals

Best coffee machine accessories

• Back to the top ⤴

Back to school season means checking off a long list of essentials — and if you're moving into a dorm, small appliances deserve a spot at the top. Whether you need a fan to beat the heat or a coffee maker for early classes Amazon has plenty of dorm room deals to help you kickstart the school year (without overspending).

Top brands like Keurig, Dreo, Ninja and Shark are discounting best-selling small appliances that will make dorm-life simpler. And the best part is, I've rounded up my top picks — and they're all under $100. Keep scrolling to check out all the back to school appliances that are sure to come in handy this upcoming semester.

Quick Links

• shop all back to school deal at Amazon
• Cosori Electric Kettle: was $27 now $25
• Swiffer PowerMop: was $29 now $26
• Keurig K-Mini Mate: was $89 now $59
• Dreo Smart Fan: was $79 now $62
• Ninja Blast Max: was $99 now $69
• Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer: was $129 now $69
• Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner: was $89 now $79
• Bissell Little Green Mini: was $99 now $89
• Nespress Vertuo Pop+ by Breville: was $129 now $99

Appliance Deals

The IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro is the best portable espresso maker I’ve tested so far. I’ve used pretty much everything Wacaco makes, and if you’re a camping aficionado who wants the best trail coffee possible, it’s gotta be the IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro.

While pricey, if you want the best of the best, you may as well invest. The Kapo K2 Pro can make six shots of espresso on one charge and has a customizable flow rate and pre-infusion time (if you get the app). If I were on a desert island with only the Pixapresso or the Kapo K2 Pro, I’d choose the latter.

Although you don’t get as golden a crema as my coffee-snob heart would like, you can’t really ask for the world from a portable espresso maker. If you want to find out more about this surprisingly excellent espresso maker — why wouldn’t you, it’s great — then keep reading this IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review.

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Specs

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Price & availability

The IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro is $199 from Amazon U.S. and £170 from Amazon U.K. Curiously, the machine itself is embossed with ‘CERA+’, another coffee company. IKAPE’s representative has confirmed to me that Cera and IKAPE collaborated on this product, but they are two separate brands. Cera+ sells its own portable espresso machine for $139 at Amazon — and if the machines are manufactured by the same company, it might be worth getting the cheaper option.

However, Cera+ and Kapo K2 Pro differ in some key ways: the Cera+ can use both Nespresso pods and ground coffee, and the IKAPE only ground coffee. However, the IKAPE has an array of coffee-snob-approved features like a bottomless portafilter and comes with a grooved tamper.

$199 is pretty expensive for a portable espresso maker; the Wacaco Pixapresso is $159, the non-self-heating Wacaco Pipamoka and Wacaco Picopresso are $49 and $129, respectively. I see the OutIn Nano portable espresso maker everywhere — this is $159 from Amazon.

None of these alternatives have app compatibility, which means you won’t be able to customize pre-infusion and flow rates.

You can also buy the IKAPE stand, which is $42 from Amazon.

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Design

The Kapo K2 Pro looks pretty darn cool. It’s very simple, with a gray plastic exterior and a one-button system. You only have to press the button once for the machine to do its thing. Unlike Wacaco’s complex, convoluted portable espresso makers, the IKAPE is so easy that a toddler could do it (but obviously don’t give it to your toddler…).

There are only a few moving parts: the bottomless portafilter, the dosing collar, a tamper, a water tank lid, and a drinking cup. Each part feels well-made — the dosing collar has (relatively weak, but still present) magnets, and the bottomless portafilter screws smoothly into the maker body. The tamper is particularly impressive; it’s spring-loaded with a grooved circular impression, which just makes me feel so fancy.

I have nothing bad to say about the build at all. Sure, if you’re upset by plastic, you might want to go for the 9Barista Espresso Machine Mk.2, which is constructed from nickel-plated brass, stainless steel, anodized aluminum, silicone, PTFE plastic (Teflon), and PEI plastic. However, the 9Barista is… — checks notes — $699… At that point, just get a Breville Bambino ($299) and a generator. I jest, I jest, but that’s a lot of money for a manual coffee maker. Our reviews editor Pete Wolinski has also taken the 9Barista camping, and had this to say: “Honestly, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.”

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Espresso

It took 3 minutes and 21 seconds for the Kapo K2 Pro to make one shot of espresso. This is wildly faster than the Wacaco Pixapresso, which labored for 9 minutes before finally giving me an espresso.

The battery life on the IKAPE is also far superior — I made 6 shots of espresso before needing to recharge it, whereas the IKAPE died after 2 ½ (yeah, the half is the real kicker there, because not only have I wasted my time, but also my expensive coffee).

Alright, now let’s get into what really matters: espresso taste. I use the same Ethiopian beans for 90% of my coffee testing, which is what I used here.

Take a look at this espresso. This was made using 18g of finely ground coffee (using my Mazzer Philos, $1,500, of course) and 50ml of water.

As you can see, there isn’t much crema. The espresso doesn’t have the same gorgeous caramel you might expect, and it definitely looks worse than the Wacaco Pixapresso. However, quality of life on the IKAPE is far superior — it just depends on what you value.

Taste-wise, though, the espresso was good. It’s definitely better than drinking instant while on camping trips, but I’m not going to throw away my Breville Bambino Plus any time soon. The espresso was rich and satisfying, with some juicy notes in iced lattes. Americanos were balanced and not bitter, with a pleasant mouthfeel. It wasn’t the best coffee I’ve ever had, but it’s definitely good enough for camping trips.

I didn’t experience any scalding issues with the Kapo K2 Pro. It dispensed hot espresso into the provided drinking cup without spilling anywhere.

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: App

I was surprised to find the Kapo K2 Pro came with an app, and I worried it wouldn’t be worth it. However, it’s actually got a huge range of niche features. It’s called ‘Happy Go Cera+’, and the eagle-eyed amongst you will realize that’s the same company that also co-manufactured the Kapo K2 Pro itself.

You can do a whole load of things on the ‘HappyGo Cera+’ app. You can customize pre-infusion time, customize “standby” time (I assume this means the coffee has been saturated before pressurized extraction), and customize flow rate. I played around with this and found that a long pre-infusion and slow flow rate provided a lovely juicy flavor profile for my Ethiopian beans.

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Storage & maintenance

As the Kapo K2 Pro is relatively small — just 10 inches tall and 3 inches wide — it will easily fit in backpacks for camping trips. At 1.8 pounds, it’s around the same weight as the Wacaco Pixapresso.

Cleaning was also super easy. All the main parts are removable, which I washed in warm soapy water. The only thing you can’t remove is the water tank, but as this only touches water, it probably doesn’t need soap anyway. If you’re worried, just run fresh water through before brewing up.

IKAPE offers a 1-year warranty, which is the same as Wacaco’s. Even so, I’m not entirely impressed by this — if I’m spending $199 on a coffee maker, I want at least two years.

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Verdict

The IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro is the best portable espresso maker I’ve ever tested. As much as I enjoyed testing the Wacaco Pixapresso, the IKAPE version is much, much better. For starters, it can brew six shots rather than two on one charge, it comes with really weighty, high-quality accessories, and it’s much easier to use.

Of course, the IKAPE is more expensive. You’re looking at $200 rather than $150. While I wish the IKAPE was cheaper, if you’re a serious coffee lover looking to upgrade your camping coffee setup and you don’t care how much you spend, then I’d recommend the Kapo K2 Pro over the Pixapresso.

For those looking for the best of the best, go for the IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro. It’s the best portable espresso maker I’ve ever tested, and, while pricier than alternatives, if you want the best, you gotta pay for it — right?

One day, I aspire to have a really, really nice espresso machine. Don't get me wrong, I love love love my Breville Bambino Plus, but at some point, I want a machine that pulls out all the stops. I'm talking dual boiler or heat exchanger, walnut flourishes, 58mm portafilter, commercial-level steam wand, custom everything.

So when I tested the Lelit Mara X3, I thought I'd died and gone to coffee heaven. This beautiful prosumer machine has it all, and more. Did you know you can customize water temperature, steam pressure, and pressure? And it looks that good while doing so? Oof, sign me up.

The Mara X3 is definitely one of the best espresso machines I've ever tested. And, luckily for the Americans reading this, it's finally out across the pond! As of July 1st, the Mara X3 is available for purchase from Seattle Coffee Gear and Lelit direct, for the very — checks notes — "reasonable" price of $2,000. So... is this $2k espresso machine worth it? Let's get into it.

Hidden coffee nerd settings galore

As you might expect from a machine that costs almost double my monthly rent, the Lelit Mara X3 is replete with high-tech coffee-snob-approved features.

The Mara X3 has three main standouts: 1) custom steam pressure, 2) Pagaia pressure paddle, and 3) water temperature control.

It doesn't take a genius to guess what all these features do. The steam pressure can be increased or decreased depending on your preference (so you could practice with lower pressure before ramping up to commercial-level pressure). I kept this on 'Max' to mimic commercial espresso machines.

There's also a temperature switch hiding under the drip tray — this is for different coffee roasts. Light roast requires a higher temperature, dark roasts a cooler, and medium, well, medium.

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed I omitted the 'Pagaia' paddle — fear not, because that requires its own section.

Pressure paddle for perfect performance

When you start getting into espresso aficionado territory, you start hearing things like "pre-infusion". Pre-infusion is when you saturate the grounds at low pressure before ramping up the pressure for a normal espresso extraction.

Varying this pre-infusion can bring out different flavors in your coffee. If you're using great artisanal beans, you'll start noticing things you've never noticed before. Cherry, biscuit, whiskey, lime — coffee can and does taste like all these things. I promise you.

Of course, you need to experiment with this to get the best performance. No, you're not going to start tasting bubblegum in your coffee on your first try. You really need to play with it.

You can customize pre-infusion on Breville machines — Bambino, Barista Express — but the Pagaia paddle takes it up a notch. You can put the machine on low pressure, then high pressure, then low pressure again. It's what coffee is all about — having fun!

I had a whale of a time playing with different pressures and noticing all the unique flavors in my espresso. Trust me — you'll get obsessed. The Mara X3 makes seriously delicious espresso.

So... is it worth it?

Ugh, I hate this. But yes. Yes, it's worth it.

However, I know I'm never going to have $2,000 to spend on an espresso machine, and that's fine. I've made my peace with that. Although I want one of these gorgeous prosumer models, unless I win the lottery or fall into a pile of cash, I know it's not going to happen.

But if you do have $2,000 lying about and you're extremely into coffee, then you should definitely buy the Lelit Mara X3. You will not be disappointed at all.

Obviously, the Mara X3 is gorgeous. I mean, just look at it. Everyone in the office made oohs and aahs when they walked past. The walnut flourishes are eye-catching, the cream body screams high-quality, and the overall aesthetic is simply perfect.

I'll leave you with this: When you're scrolling coffee YouTube/TikTok/Instagram, just look at what machine most influencers have. Yep, it's the Lelit Bianca. This brand has a cult following for a reason — and the Mara X3 is one of the cheapest ways to be inducted.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried this ridiculously cheap bean-to-cup espresso machine so you don't have to — and it's a total head-scratcher
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• Do you need a WDT tool for barista-quality coffee at home? I put the controversial coffee tool to the test

The Ooni Karu 2 is a compact outdoor pizza oven, capable of cooking up to 12-inch pizzas and using three different types of fuel. Formerly named the 12G, the Karu 2 is one step up from the entry-level Karu 12. It gives newbies and intermediate pizza makers everything they need, wrapped up in a compact, foldable design and with the versatility of multiple fueling types.

It isn’t the cheapest, but its premium build makes up for that; and when using charcoal or wood the temps can get a little variable, although nothing that a few pizza’s worth of experience won’t let you handle.

Is this the best pizza oven for you? Find out in my full Ooni Karu 2 review.

Ooni Karu 2 review: Specs

Ooni Karu 2 review: Price & availability

The Ooni Karu 2 costs $449 at Amazon and Ooni, while in the U.K. it costs £349 at Amazon. This model (the 2026 variant) just dropped to $349 during Amazon’s Prime Day sales in June 2026, so I’d recommend holding out for sales to scoop up a discount.

The MSRP and feature set make the Karu 2 an mid-range pizza oven, although it’s very similar to the entry-level Karu 12 ($349), which doesn’t feature a glass door and burns fuel a little quicker (otherwise, the specs are virtually the same). The Karu 2 kinda straddles that border between (pricey) entry-level and mid-range.

The Karu 2 is priced similarly to the Gozney Roccbox ($499), which is also a multi-fuel oven, although the Gozney can't technically use charcoal.

There are more affordable alternatives, like the Big Horn 12-inch Multi-Fuel pizza oven ($169). But the Big Horn lacks that premium polish of Ooni and Gozney ovens — you’re paying big-name prices for the Karu 2, but getting a premium product in return.

Note that you’ll need some accessories, especially if this is your first time cooking pizza. This will add to your overall spend and I’ll cover it more in the Accessories section below.

Ooni Karu 2 review: Design

Before you can do anything with the Karu 2, you gotta build it. There’s usually some assembly required with pizza ovens, although the Gozney Arc and Tread are mostly just a case of sliding in the stone and doing a pre-cook burn.

The Karu 2 is a little more in-depth, but not complicated. It comes half built: you basically just install the door and add the chimney. There are instructions included, which I found clear and easy to follow. There’s a video walkthrough online, although it’s a little misleading and caused some owners to damage their ovens. I just followed the included instructions and didn’t go wrong. After building, you get it up to temperature for 30 minutes to burn off any residual coatings from manufacturing.

I love that the hex key you use to build the oven stows under the rear leg once you’ve finished assembly, simultaneously locking the leg into place for safety. Very handy.

Assembled, the Karu 2 feels like a premium product. I love the matte black housing and brushed metal trim, and the whole product feels generally high quality and built to last. The pizza stone itself is reassuringly thick and engraved with the Ooni logo, plus there’s a glass door — both adding to the premium feel.

The Karu 2 measures 30 x 16 x 28 inches, making it a fairly compact oven when compared to beasts like the Gozney Dome XL Gen 2 ($2,799).

At 33lbs, I found the Karu 2 relatively easy to carry around, too, although it’s not exactly ‘lightweight’. Thankfully, the legs fold down and the chimney is easy to remove, which stops it being an awkward shape to transport. Theoretically the Karu 2 is designed to be suitable for taking out on the road, but if it’s sheer portability you’re after, I’d recommend the smaller and lighter Gozney Tread ($499)

Fuel

The Karu 2 is an outdoor oven, running on either gas, wood or charcoal. This makes it highly versatile: if you’re out of gas, just head down to the store and pick up some lumpwood charcoal or (cook safe) wood kindling. The Gozney Roccbox is multi-fuel, but isn’t technically capable of using charcoal, making it a little more restrictive. The larger Ooni Karu 16 ($799) is more versatile, though, as it can also use pellets.

Controls

There are no complicated controls on the Karu 2, only an ambient temperature gauge on the right-hand side and a chimney dial to change air flow and bring flames over the top of the pizza. As such, it’s very simple to use. Just add fuel to the fuel tray via the hatch at the back, light it up and go.

Ooni Karu 2 review: Accessories

As I mentioned above, if you’re new to pizza ovens or pizza-making in general, you’re gonna need some accessories. The basic accessory you need is a pizza peel, to assemble on and then “launch” your pizza into the oven. These come in metal or wood, but for beginners I’d recommend wood peels as they’re easier to launch from.

I tested Ooni’s 12-inch Bamboo peel ($40); the Ooni Turning Peel ($65) for turning the pizza while cooking and removing it; and the Ooni Infrared Thermometer Gun ($65) for measuring the stone temperature (the Karu 2’s temperature gauge only measures ambient temperature, which doesn’t tell you when the stone is ready to cook). These are all high quality, although as you can see, they’ll cost ya. If you want to use the Karu 2 with propane, you’ll need to drop another $112 into the gas adapter.

I also tested Ooni’s folding metal table ($249), which is fantastic. It‘s designed to have the oven on top, but with its smooth stainless steel surface, I preferred using it for prep and dough stretching — as an ex chef, working on it was like being back in a commercial kitchen. It also has three hooks that can be fitted to either side for hanging accessories. I put the oven on a folding camping table instead, which was possible thanks to the Karu 2’s relatively low weight.

Ooni offers various bundles, which are also often on sale, so keep an eye out for those. Of course, you can grab way more affordable alternatives to all these accessories online.

Ooni Karu 2 review: Performance

I’m very impressed with the Karu 2’s performance. It isn’t perfect, but this thing will still give any newcomers the pizza bug. It’ll also give more experienced pizza makers like me everything they need. It’s extremely versatile and capable of producing fantastic pizza. The only major limitation is its fueling, which leads to some variable results. I’ll cover this below.

With a full tray of fuel, the Karu 2 took around 10-12 minutes for the stone to get up to 750F/400C, which was the temperature I needed for neapolitan style pizza. I used a combination of lumpwood charcoal and beech pizza logs to cook, and this combo seemed to get things really hot, really fast. The Gozney Arc Lite ($399), meanwhile, took 15-20 minutes to heat up on gas.

The charcoal I used provided a constant and lasting base of intense heat. By adding chunks of wood before each pie went in, I created intense spikes of heat and a flame over the top to cook toppings. This is easy: just open the rear hatch and drop fuel in as needed. For 5 pizzas, I needed 2-3 handfuls of lumpwood charcoal and 5-6 small logs — not much, but this will add up over time (although fuel is always something you have to factor in).

Because you’re adding fuel by eye and need to top up constantly as you cook, heat levels are variable in a way you won’t see from a gas-fed oven like the Ooni Koda 16 ($599) or Gozney Arc Lite. This means you’ll experience variations in temperature. This could be between cooks, meaning one pizza takes longer than another; but it can also be intra-cook, as fuel runs out and temperatures drop, leading to one side of your pizza crust rising more than another. Of course, you can simply buy the gas adapter to fix this.

This was my only major issue with the Karu 2, though, and wasn’t a big deal in use. I just had to keep a close eye on my pizzas as they cooked and adjust fuel accordingly. Sure, I got a couple of oddly risen pizzas and a few burnt crusts, but it’s all part of the fun. (Anyway, I kinda like a burnt crust.)

I primarily cooked Neapolitan style pizzas on my Karu 2, and whatever I made came out super tasty. Some highlights were an Ndjua pizza which I then added a whole burrata to after cooking (this went so fast I didn’t get a chance to take photos); fennel sausage and red onion; and an artichoke and roasted red pepper pizza for my wife, who is vegetarian. I also made the typical slew of old favorites: margherita, ham and mushroom, marinara, etc.

When cooking for a group of friends, I was able to deliver five pizzas in a row and keep everyone happy. For larger groups, though, I’d look at an oven capable of cooking multiple pizzas at once (like the Gozney Dome XL) or larger 16-inch pizzas (like the Ooni Koda 16 or Gozney Arc XL).

When cooking for a group, I used the oven’s dropping temperature to pitch towards low’n’slow style pizzas, like New York style, cooking margheritas at lower heats for longer, to get that properly browned mozzarella on top. Delicious.

I also used the oven to cook side dishes, like charred red pepper and tenderstem broccoli. So it proved to be a great all-in-one solution for group meals outdoors (although, I spent all the time manning the oven, rather than sitting with my friends).

Ooni Karu 2 review: Storage & maintenance

While the Karu 2 is mostly rainproof, you can’t leave it outside exposed to the elements, as temperature changes can cause the stone to crack. At the very least, remove the stone if you’re going to do that. But ideally use a cover (Ooni sells one for $50), move it under shelter or stow in a garage/shed.

As I mentioned earlier, the Karu 2 is fairly easy to move, so I had no issues returning it to my garage after each use. A full cooldown takes around 60-90 minutes once you’ve removed the fuel tray, at which point you can clean and move the oven.

The Karu 2’s cook heat is high enough that it’s effectively self-cleaning. Just wipe down the stone with a dry cloth after use to remove loose debris, and wipe the soot from the inside of the case once cooled. For any tougher burnt remnants on the stone, simply fire up the oven to max temperature and burn everything off. Never get your stone wet while its hot, and avoid wetting it altogether otherwise.

Ooni Karu 2 review: Verdict

If you want a versatile little pizza oven, perhaps as your first upgrade from using your kitchen oven, look no further than the Karu 2. It isn’t the cheapest on the market, and its fueling can lead to unstable temperatures.

However, it heats up fast and makes excellent pizza, while the temperature variations can be managed easily through experience or by adapting the oven to gas). It’s a premium product that feels built to last, is easy to maintain and fairly easy to store, too. It’s just the ideal oven for first-timers, and I’m kinda sad my time testing it has now come to an end.

Prime Day may be over, but it seems like the savings on Ninja appliances are still going strong. With 4th of July sales happening now, it's the perfect time to take advantage of discounts — especially if you're hosting a backyard barbecue or holiday celebration.

If you're getting ready to fire up a new grill, the Ninja FlexFlame Propane Grill is down to $999. Need a new cooler to keep those beers and sodas ice cold? The Ninja FrostVault 30QT is sporting a $50 discount. And if you're looking for an all-in-one blender to assist you in prepping dips, drinks, desserts and more, the Ninja Kitchen System is now 41% off.

Ninja has everything you need to cook (and host) like a pro this 4th of July — and the devices start at just $69. Keep scrolling to check out these summer deals.

Quick Links

• shop all Ninja deals at Ninja
• shop all Ninja deals at Amazon
• Ninja Blast Max: was $99 now $69
• Ninja Professional Blender: was $109 now $89
• Ninja Iced Coffee Maker: was $129 now $99
• Ninja Air Fryer 5-in-1: was $179 now $109
• Ninja Mega Kitchen System: was $219 now $129
• Ninja FrostVault 30QT: was $279 now $229
• Ninja Slushi Max: was $349 now $299
• Ninja FlexFlame Propane Grill: was $1119 now $999

Ninja Deals

I drink coffee every day of the week. Whether I'm using my drip machine or moka pot, not a day goes by when my apartment doesn't smell like a coffee house. Plus, now that studies indicate drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee can be beneficial to your health — I have even more reasons to enjoy that cup of joe.

Prime Day ends tonight, but I'm still seeing a lot of amazing deals on coffee makers, accessories, beans, and more. Some items are at their lowest price of the year. Below I've picked out all of my favorite Prime Day coffee deals so that you too can enjoy a nice cup of joe without having to pay full price. (For more personal recommendations, check out our last-minute Prime Day deals live blog).

Coffee Machines

Coffee Accessories

There's nothing worse than spending $200 on a coffee machine just for it to croak a few years later. Who's got the time and money to research and buy a new coffee maker more often than the World Cup? Not me, that's for sure.

A wise man once said, "Buy it nice or buy it twice" — and in the Technivorm Moccamaster's case, truer words could not have been spoken. At $370 full price, the Moccamaster is in no way the cheapest coffee maker you can get. But right now it's down to $239, which means it's a little more attainable for us common folks.

But the temporary discount isn't the most appealing part — Technivorm's best-in-class aftermarket care is. Unlike every other coffee brand, Technivorm offers a 5-year warranty and lifetime repairs as standard. So... does it actually make more sense to buy the Moccamaster over a cheaper alternative without this post-purchase treatment? To help you decide which coffee maker to make a part of your family, I've done the math — so let's get into it.

The initial cost

Getting a brand-new coffee maker is inherently expensive. Let's run through some of my favorite models.

Coffee maker math

Now, let's do some coffee maker math. For your ease, I put all this information into a nice little table.

Hm, I don't think it takes a Harvard Math graduate to work out that the Moccamaster has the best warranty by far. Technivorm is an industry leader here — no other manufacturers come anywhere near as close.

Let's toss around some possible future scenarios.

Now, these are all just possibilities. I am in no way saying these machines will break at any point — they may last five years, ten, twenty. I am also not claiming these companies have to follow these rules. Each warranty has fine print. This is just a hypothetical scenario.

Scenario 1

• You buy the Bonavita 5-Cup. It's got the lowest initial cost of any SCA machine and you can't be sinking $300 into a Technivorm or Breville right now (relatable).
• However, on day 366 of usage, the Bonvita says RIP.
• You can't claim anything under warranty, as it's been more than 365 days.
• You have to buy it again.
• Overall cost: $149 + $149 = $298

Scenario 2

• You buy the Breville Luxe Brewer. It's $350, but it's a gorgeous machine and you have been saving up for a year.
• You use it for a year and it breaks.
• Breville send you a new one as it was under warranty!
• You use it for another two years and the new one breaks.
• You can't claim anything under warranty, as your two years are up.
• Overall cost: $349 + $349 = $698 (yeouch!)

Scenario 3

• You buy the Technivorm Moccamaster. Again, it's expensive, but that warranty looks appealing.
• After two years, it breaks.
• You get a new one from Technivorm as it was under warranty.
• After twelve years, it breaks!
• Technivorm repairs your Moccamaster for a fee.
• You don't have to buy a new coffee maker!
• Overall cost: $239 right now, $369 full price

Again, these are all completely hypothetical scenarios. In no way am I suggesting any Ninja, Breville, Bonavita, or Simply Good Coffee machine will break after a few years. It's just an example.

Offering a 1- or 2-year warranty for a coffee machine is, if you ask me, pretty poor going. Do these brands not have faith in their products, or is there some other reason for it? If zero manufacturers offered a 5-year warranty or lifetime repairs, we'd be able to excuse it with, "Well, no one else is doing it."

But Technivorm is doing it. I'd like all these major brands to follow suit, learn from the masters, and offer customers better after-purchase care. Customer relationships don't end when you press "Checkout". They don't end — ever. I'm using that coffee maker every day, and the longer each product lasts, the more trust grows.

The bottom line is this: if you buy it nice, you don't have to buy it twice. If I were buying a new coffee maker, I know which one I'd choose: the Moccamaster.

And my decision would be instant.

We're tracking all the best Prime Day home appliance deals

Here at The Coffee Lab, I'm always trying to find the best coffee maker. With so many options out there now — Moccamaster, Ninja 12-Cup, Breville Luxe Brewer, Aarke Coffee Maker — it feels like finding a coffee granule in a haystack.

Thankfully, Simply Good Coffee literally put it in the name. This week, I've got the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer on the dissection table, so let's get stuck in. You guys hate plastic in your coffee. Personally, I'm not vehemently anti-plastic. While I was researching for this article, I discovered that BPA plastic is not banned in the U.S., which explains a lot. European food safety standards are pretty robust already — BPA plastic has been banned in the EU since 2025. Of course, minimizing plastic usage is the best course of action for the environment as a whole, so we should all be consciously choosing the eco-friendly option.

Simply Good Coffee is trying to make one of the first "truly" plastic-free coffee makers... and it's kind of succeeded? I say "kind of" because the Plastic-Free Brewer has a plastic-coated exterior (for health and safety to prevent burns) and silicone tubing in the water lines. Are these dealbreakers for you, or would you still get the Plastic-Free Brewer? Let's get into it.

Low plastic, not no plastic

Let's just get this clear: the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free brewer is not plastic-free. As I mentioned earlier, it has a plastic coating on the exterior to prevent burns and the internal water lines have medical-grade silicone tubing.

However, no hot water touches plastic at any point during the brewing process. The heating element, water tank, carafe, filter, and destratification tube are all made from stainless steel or glass. Water obviously touches the silicone in the water tubing, but this isn't hot yet. And, it's silicone. It's not plastic in the traditional sense. Do you consider silicone a dangerous plastic, or not?

There are some key differences between the SGC and Moccamaster: the latter has a plastic filter basket, a plastic destratification tube (yes, that's its real name), and a plastic water tank. Let's look at a side-by-side.

It would be completely inaccurate to claim the Moccamaster leaches plastic into hot water, though. Technivorm is based in the Netherlands, a country with strict plastic laws. Every Moccamaster is handmade in the Netherlands using "virgin plastics in key components". Technivorm uses virgin plastics rather than recycled to "ensure structural consistency, long-term durability, and full traceability of materials." Don't worry — even though BPAs aren't explicitly banned in the U.S., all Moccamaster's plastics are "BPA, BPS, phthalate, and BPF-free."

There's no one correct answer, and I'm not going to pretend there is, or tell you what to believe. You should get whichever machine you feel more comfortable with.

But how does the coffee taste?

The Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer makes delicious coffee. In my 4-star review, I wrote, "I never made a bad batch on the Simply Good Coffee Brewer. Every pot tasted clean, fresh, with zero bitterness and a pleasant, well-rounded finish. This coffee tastes just as good as the Moccamaster’s, and I’m sure any Moccamaster transplants will be satisfied with this flavor."

Of course, you can experiment with flavor by adjusting grind size, water-to-coffee ratio, and bloom time. The SGC Plastic-Free Brewer has a bloom button; you can switch it on or off depending on preference.

"I tried every dose from 56g (the minimum for a full pot) to 72g (the maximum for a full pot), and found anywhere between 60g-72g to be perfect," I wrote in my review. Usually, I'm a rigid ratio stickler, but I enjoyed the SCG flavor at pretty much every ratio.

Unfortunately, the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer isn't SCA-accredited yet, but the company claims the Brewer adheres to the SCA's guidelines.

What's your main takeaway?

Would you be willing to try the Simply Good Coffee (Mostly) Plastic-Free Brewer? Or would you rather stick with your old faithful Moccamaster, Ninja, Breville, and the like?

It's worth noting that Simply Good Coffee does not offer a 5-year warranty or lifetime repairs like Technivorm, but "a two-year warranty as standard and a five-year warranty if you enrol in the Coffee Quality Assurance Programme (costs $120…), which gives you free shipping, filters, and cleaning products."

I honestly think I would be happy with either the Moccamaster or the SGC Plastic-Free Brewer. Looks-wise, they're both a bit of me. I love that modern, functional, industrial, yet sleek vibe.

Let me know in the comments which machine you'd rather buy! Be sure to check back next Friday for the next episode of The Coffee Lab brewing on our TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried this ridiculously cheap bean-to-cup espresso machine so you don't have to — and it's a total head-scratcher
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• Do you need a WDT tool for barista-quality coffee at home? I put the controversial coffee tool to the test

TL;DR Woolworths’ Fissler cookware promotion promised shoppers they could earn and redeem credits for free cookware, but tempers are flaring online over missing stock and credits that can’t be redeemed.

I asked Woolworths if there was even one store with stock I could call. They never got back to me, and now the entire stock locator is offline.

So I headed down the rabbit hole looking for answers — and ways to cash in before time runs out.

Update note: I've added new details and a timeline showing just how early complaints started.

Promo and stock timeline

• Week 1 – March 18: Promotion starts
• Week 6 – April 25: Complaints start about lack of stock
• Week 6 – April 27: Complaints start about accuracy of stock locator
• Week 7 – May 4: Media reports start on redemption/stock frustration
• Week 8 – May 12: Halfway point
• Weeks 9 to 13 – Ongoing stock/rdemption complaints on social media
• Week 14 – June 21: Cookware display first reported removed
• Week 14 – June 23, 11:59 PM: Credit earning period ends
• Week 15 – June 24, Midnight: Redeem-only period begins, Woolworths adds warning majority of stores are out of stock
• Week 15 – June 25: Woolworths says almost no stock anywhere and takes stock locator offline
• Week 16 – July 7, 23:59: End of promotion
  ⁤
• Jump to sources.

Fissler or fizzle?

On June 23, Woolworths’ stock checker told me I could redeem Fissler promo cookware at my local store.

When I arrived, however, there wasn’t even an empty cookware display. While you could still earn cookware credits, it turns out you can’t actually cash them in.

That was my first clue that my plan for a How to best claim your Woolworths cookware credits before they expire article was not going to be as simple as I thought.

To recap: the latest Woolworths purchase promotion is a Fissler cookware offer built around a straightforward deal. Customers earn credits by doing little tasks, like buying certain brands or products, signing up for the rewards app, or simply remembering to scan their rewards card when doing their regular shopping.

Those credits could be used to ‘buy’ any (or all) of a set of six Fissler-branded cookware items, and there was even a two-week ‘redemption only’ period (which officially started on June 24 and ends on July 7) to make sure anyone earning credits in the last few days or weeks of the promo wouldn’t miss out.

There’s always a catch

The warning signs were all there: back in April, over two weeks before the halfway point, complaints were already showing up on Reddit about the lack stock for redeeming cookware.

We get it. Who among us hasn’t made a few mistakes when running a national cookware campaign?

Fortunately (at least from Woolworths’ perspective), there was a failsafe in the terms and conditions: the promotion would only run ‘while stocks last’ and could be ended early at any time.

But when shortages became apparent, Woolworths didn’t bow out gracefully, or even take a pause – at least not publicly. They continued on, leaving customers increasingly frustrated.

My journey into cookware madness begins

On the final day of credit earning, I headed into my local store to see how full the cookware display was, trying to get an idea how it would hold up for the two week redemption only period.

But there wasn't any cookware. The entire cookware display, which should have at least held some stock, had already been dismantled and removed.

All that was left were banners urging me to buy the right brands to earn more bonus credits to redeem for cookware that was nowhere to be seen.

I naively asked a staff member in the self-serve checkouts where I could find the cookware.

There wasn’t any.

I said the app told me there was stock.

I got a look of pity.

I tried to leave, but the exit barriers refused to open. I awkwardly stumbled past them and hurried away, too embarrassed to look back and see if I had done something wrong.

Where's the stock?

Safely back in the digital realm, I found another store with stock and gave them a call.

No cookware.

The staff member told me the store hadn’t had any for weeks.

I kept trying stores where Woolworths’ app cheerfully insisted products were available, but I couldn’t find even one that actually had any cookware.

Part of the problem, I realised, was that Woolworths’ website and AI chatbot stock checkers didn’t always agree and directed me to different stores.

There are more than 1,000 stores, Australia-wide, so I’m sure some had stock. There just didn’t seem to be a way to figure out where they were.

Things only got weirder that night as the clock ticked from June 23 to June 24, and the customer-friendly two-week redemption-only period started.

At the stroke of midnight, Woolworths slapped a new warning on the cookware promo stating:

“Due to high demand, stock is now exhausted in the following areas: Sydney & Wollongong areas, Melbourne metro, Brisbane metro, Adelaide metro and Northern Rivers.”

I did the maths. By my count, that out-of-stock area covers around 60% of Woolworths stores Australia-wide.

Yet somehow that mighty stock shortage wasn’t worth warning about one minute earlier, or a day, a week, or a month before, while customers were still being openly encouraged to hustle to earn a few more credits.

Yeah, I had questions about that.

No really, where is the stock?

I reached out to Woolworths and cut straight to the point.

Why, I asked, did “while stocks last” appear to line up so neatly with “while customers were still spending money to earn credits” but not “while customers could redeem those credits”?

Woolworths politely dodged the question and suggested customers could use the stock locator to find places to redeem their credits.

I even asked if I could get the location of just one store with stock. Somewhere, surely, there had to be a store where staff would be overjoyed to receive a call from someone who wanted the bounty of cookware overflowing their shelves.

Woolworths said they’d check and get back to me on that.

They didn’t.

A day later, the entire Cookware stock checker was taken offline, and Woolworths released a statement that the majority of stores Australia wide were out of stock.

Customers could earn credits less than two days before and still had 12 days left to redeem them. But Woolworths hadn't ordered stock to actually honour that.

Fissler flop

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are clearly a lot of happy customers, and Woolworths has said that more than 1.8 million cookware products have been claimed. That’s impressive.

But why had stock started drying up less than halfway into the promotion?

Why wasn't enough stock ordered to cover the redemption only period in the terms and conditions?

Woolworths, of course, declined to comment.

In hindsight, it turns out the promotion’s cheery “First come, best served!” slogan was actually a warning.

And that leaves a bad taste not even a secret stash of Fissler cookware could fix.

Woolworths Cookware Claiming Compendium

So, where does that leave anyone still holding credits? Is there a way to redeem them?

If you happen to live somewhere that still has stock, then you might have a chance. With the stock locater offline, your only option is to call around and see.

Unfortunately, that probably doesn't include anywhere in the Sydney & Wollongong areas, Melbourne metro, Brisbane metro, Adelaide metro and Northern Rivers much at all really, Australia wide.

If you’re a glutton for punishment, I suggest using the web or app stock checker, as while it was still wrong every time I tried, it's a less hopeful, more up-to-date kind of wrong.

And make sure to call the store before you go, but be nice to the staff – it’s not their fault.

Updated advice: good luck, as you're going to need it!

Timeline sources

These are the earliest reports about stock and other issues I can find so far.

April 25 ~6 weeks in — earliest social media complaint we have seen about stock issues in the comments on this Facebook reel from Woolworths. A follow up comment on April 27 flags the stock location issue – saying: "I’ve tried 4 stores today, 3 said in stock and not there."

April 27 ~6 weeks in — this Reddit post has further claims about lack of stock, as well as one user saying (on April 29) that the stock locator is not accurate.

May 4 ~7 weeks in — Nine News story covering the early stock problems and customer frustrations.

June 21 ~14 weeks in — a user adds a comment on a Reddit post noting that their stores cookware display had been removed that day.

Woolworths terms and conditions PDF that includes promotion dates.

Other sources and discussion:

• Everyday rewards discussion group — Facebook
• What’s the point exactly? — Reddit
• Woolworths non-existent cookware promo — Reddit
• Hi, I’m not complaining but… — Reddit
• PSA: Claim Fissler cookware from Woolies before 7 — Reddit
• Don’t let your credits go to waste post — Facebook
• Don’t let your credits go to waste video — Facebook
• Got Cookware Credits built up? — Facebook
• Looking for your free premium cookware credits? — Facebook
• Leftover credits discussion — Facebook group

Still unhappy about your unredeemable cookware credits?

We hear you. Woolworths seems determined to try to ignore the whole fiasco, but that doesn't seem very likely, considering our tools show Google searches for Woolworths cookware credits have jumped up over 400,000%.

This is especially bold considering Woolworths is currently waiting to find out the outcome of an ACCC misleading-discounts case that was heard in April and May.

Plus, there's extra scrutiny right now from regulators, as from July 1, 2026, new laws banning supermarket price gouging go into effect to protect Australian shoppers.

Does saying "while stocks last" make it OK for cookware to run out before the end of the promotion?

In the terms and conditions PDF, Woolworths states: "The Promotion runs from 00:01 AEDT on 18 March 2026 until 23:59 AEST on 7 July 2026 or until stock of Cookware is exhausted".

Only a court can decide if the promotion was actually misleading, but I would certainly feel misled if Woolworths kept encouraging customers to earn more credits past the point they could reasonably redeem them.

Woolworths can see (or reasonably should have checked) customer credit balances and remaining stock numbers and thus know when outstanding customer credits were enough to redeem all the remaining stock.

That's when I would say that, yes, cookware is exhausted, and Woolworths should have stopped credits from being earned and focused on helping customers redeem cookware.

Or, just order more stock!

Even just allowing customers to redeem credits online and have the products shipped directly to them would have helped prevent any backlash.

But was the promotion actually misleading? We'll have to see if the ACCC weighs in to find out.

Make a complaint

Woolworths doesn't have a published complaints handling process I can see, so your best bet is to reach out through one of the contact methods or use the feedback and enquiry form online.

If that doesn’t get you anywhere, these are the official places to try next.

ACCC — report a consumer issue: lodge a report here if you think Woolworths’ lack of cookware stock is an issue that should be investigated. Reports about these types of promotions is how the ACCC knows when there is a problem.

For state specific help:

NSW Fair Trading — general complaint form: NSW customers can lodge a general complaint if they’ve already tried to resolve it with Woolworths.

Consumer Affairs Victoria — resolve your problem: Victorian customers can use this page to work out whether to make a general complaint and what information to provide.

Queensland Office of Fair Trading — make a consumer complaint: Queensland customers can use this page to start a complaint after trying to sort it out with the business.

SA Consumer and Business Services — online forms: South Australian customers can use CBS’s online form to complain about a business or product.

WA Consumer Protection — complaints: Western Australian customers can use the complaint form for a problem with a product or service.

Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Tasmania — complaints: Tasmanian customers can use this page to work through the complaint process and contact CBOS if needed.

Access Canberra — get help with a consumer issue: ACT customers can use this page for consumer-protection help and complaints.

NT Consumer Affairs — consumer conciliation request: Northern Territory customers can use this free conciliation service to ask for help resolving a dispute with a business.

Woolworths' response

I asked Woolworths a lot of questions about the Fissler cookware promotion, none of which were directly answered. They did give me a little bit of background information, but not anything that I am allowed to quote, or that answered my questions in a meaningful way.

Here are some of the things I asked:

• Could customers rely on the online and app stock locator, why was it showing stock at stores that said they had none, and why was the locator later shut down?
• Were customers expected to call stores directly to check stock, and what official advice did Woolworths have for finding remaining cookware?
• Which stores still had stock, how much stock was available, and were stores still receiving cookware deliveries?
• How much stock did Woolworths expect to have available during the two-week redemption-only period?
• Why did stock appear to have dried up so far ahead of the end of the promotion?
• What steps did Woolworths take to ensure customers who earned credits before the end of the promotion could redeem them during the redemption-only period?
• Why did Woolworths continue encouraging customers to earn bonus cookware credits when stock appeared difficult or impossible to redeem?
• Why did Woolworths not end, suspend or modify the promotion early when stock shortages became apparent?
• Why were customers only warned about exhausted stock in major areas after the earning period had ended?
• Would Woolworths extend the redemption period, offer online redemption, provide rainchecks, or otherwise help customers who could not find stock?
• How many cookware credits did Woolworths expect would go unredeemed?
• Did Woolworths receive supplier funding, placement fees, advertising contributions or other commercial benefits from participating brands?
• Did commercial agreements with participating brands influence Woolworths’ decision not to end, suspend or modify the earn period before June 23?
• Did Woolworths consider the promotion transactional, and how did it characterise the value of credits customers had already earned?
• Has Woolworths ended the promotion itself, or only shut off the stock locator?

Statements from Woolworths

Woolworths made a number of public statements, which I have included below.

Woolworths’ first statement

“We’ve been absolutely blown away by the response to our latest cookware program, with customers bringing home over 1.8 million pieces to date.

“While we try to predict demand as accurately as possible, the love for this specific range completely exceeded our expectations. We understand how disappointing it is to miss out on a piece you've had your eye on, and appreciate everyone's understanding.

“While the Fissler range is strictly ‘while stocks last,’ we want to help customers redeem their credits on the remaining items. Before heading into a store, we highly recommend checking the live stock locator in the Woolworths app to see what is available nearby.”

Woolworths’ updated statement

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to our latest cookware program, with customers bringing home over 1.8 million Fissler cookware products to date.

“While we tried to predict demand as accurately as possible when ordering these products based on previous collectables campaigns, demand in the final weeks of this promotion was genuinely unprecedented.

“Stock is now very limited, but we do still have some items available across our store network.

“We understand the frustration from some customers who missed out on their preferred items, and we thank our community for their enthusiasm and patience as our store teams distribute the final remaining pieces of stock.”

Woolworths’ latest statement

After Woolworths shut down the online and app stock locator, the company provided another statement:

“The final rush for this collection was huge, and it means we've now run out of stock in the vast majority of our stores.

“We want to thank all of our customers who participated in the campaign and collected over 1.9 million Fissler cookware products. We understand it's disappointing for those who missed out on their preferred items, and we really appreciate everyone’s understanding.”

We review a lot of coffee makers and espresso machines at Tom's Guide, so it takes a lot to really win us over, but Ninja did just that with the Ninja Luxe Café Pro. When we reviewed it last year, we praised features like its tamping arm, multiple presets, and massive jug for making two lattes at once.

At $749, it was priced as a premium product, along with your DeLonghis and Brevilles. However, for Prime Day, the Luxe Café Pro's price has dropped to $599 at Amazon, making this all the more attractive.

• shop all Ninja deals at Amazon from $44

In our Ninja Luxe Café Pro review, Millie Fender, our tester, loved the hot water dispenser, something that was sorely lacking in the original Luxe Café Pro, and will be welcome for those who love making Americanos.

She was also impressed with the grinder — not only does it use a weight-based system that was "shockingly accurate," but the machine can also recognize when you change filter baskets, and it also purges some grounds when you change the grind size, to ensure things remain consistent.

The machine was also great at foaming milk, and it comes with a very large steaming jug, so you can make more than one latte at a time.

The Luxe Café Pro's drip tray is removable, which lets you place larger travel mugs under the group head; it's a handy feature, but the one tradeoff is that you'll have to empty the drop tray more often.

I'll let Millie sum things up:

"As a seasoned espresso snob, I didn't expect to enjoy this machine as much as I did," she wrote. "Ninja has put a lot of thought into every element of this machine, from the automatic purging when you change grind size to the storage space for your spare baskets. And the inclusion of a tamping arm is a smart one, allowing you to still feel like you've crafted your coffee, but with less mess and more precision."

De'Longhi has spoiled us this Prime Day. The De'Longhi Arte Evo, one of the best affordable bean-to-cups and a machine capable of holding its own against Breville, is just $399 right now. This is such a good price for a machine with a built-in grinder.

Many espresso machines with a built-in grinder can set you back nearly a grand. The Breville Barista Express is the exception to that rule — its MSRP is $699 and but it's currently discounted to $499 at Amazon for Prime Day.

In most cases, grabbing the $399 Arte Evo is actually cheaper than buying a separate espresso machine and one of the best coffee grinders. To prove it, I've selected my competitors: two cheap De'Longhi machines, Breville's cheapest machine, and Baratza's best budget espresso grinder — so let battle commence!

The competitors

Now allow me to introduce some of the competitors. We've got the De'Longhi Stilosa ($99 right now), the De'Longhi Dedica Duo ($199 right now), and the Breville Bambino ($299 right now).

The grinder? The Baratza Encore ESP, my favorite beginner-friendly espresso grinder.

So, let's break it down.

• De'Longhi Stilosa, $99: A small, super-cheap machine with a Panarello frother.
• De'Longhi Dedica Duo, $199: A narrow, pastel machine with a standard steam wand.
• Breville Bambino, $299: An entry-level yet coffee-snob-approved machine.
• Baratza Encore ESP, $199: The best budget/mid-range coffee grinder for espresso.

Versus the De'Longhi Arte Evo, $399.

The math

Let's do some coffee math.

Let's say you buy the De'Longhi Stilosa and the Baratza Encore ESP.

That's $99 for the machine and $199 for the grinder, bringing your total to: $298. This is cheaper, but the Stilosa's steam wand can only make cappuccino (froth) milk, not soft latte foam.

If you buy the De'Longhi Dedica Duo and the Baratza Encore ESP, that's $398. The same price as the Arte Evo.

The Breville Bambino + Baratza Encore ESP = $498. So that's $99 more than the Arte Evo.

Of course, some coffee snobs will tell you not to buy an espresso machine with a built-in grinder, and I half agree. If you want to make coffee into a hobby, then you should not buy an espresso machine with a built-in grinder. You'll want a dedicated grinder for experimentation purposes, and you'll want to invest in a better grinder than those present in bean-to-cups.

However, if you're just getting started and you want to explore being a home barista, you can absolutely get a bean-to-cup and still make great coffee. The machine does a lot of the work for you, not to mention saving you buying a separate grinder before you know you want to take this seriously.

As the Arte Evo is a blindingly affordable $399 right now, I would recommend grabbing it instead of a separate grinder. If you're not a coffee snob. Coffee snobs, look away. You go check out The Coffee Lab instead.

For beginners, the Arte Evo is the perfect machine. It can make espresso just as well as any other De'Longhi, it looks charming, and it can make cold brew. Not only that, but the steam wand is super powerful — I got some of my best latte art while testing this machine — and it has a built-in temperature control for consistently delicious brews.

So, what will it be? Have I convinced you, or are you looking at any other machines? If you have any coffee questions at all, leave them in a comment and I'll get back to you ASAP.

We're tracking all the best Prime Day home appliance deals

My attitude to any sale is that if it’s not already on your wishlist, it’s not a bargain. The item that only sparked your interest because it’s $40 off is actually a loss rather than a gain.

One of the key questions to ask yourself is, would you buy that product at full price? If that answer is yes, you have yourself a good deal.

There are definitely many kitchen appliances that I would pay full price for, such as one of the best stand mixers. I’d also pay full price for my Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer. I use it every day, it’s a fantastic product, and I gave it a 4-star rating in my review.

What’s more, although I’d gladly pay out $119 for the air fryer at full price, you can grab it now for $85 at Amazon. That’s what I call a Prime Day sales bargain.

Why I recommend the Cosori TurboBlaze air fryer

There are many reasons I’d recommend the Cosori TurboBlaze air fryer. It has nine functions, which give you all the usual air fryer modes, plus extras such as pre-heat, dehydrate and proof.

And being a baker, I love that I can prove my dough at a consistent temperature without having to wait what seems like hours for the essential stage to complete.

What’s more, the deep 6-quart basket enables you to roast a large chicken, which really is a game-changer. It will save you from switching on your oven and filling your house with extra heat in the summer.

It also does a pretty good job at air frying potato chips, roasting vegetables and grilling protein. And I haven't even mentioned the TurboBlaze technology, which delivers a powerful 3600 rpm fan speed and temperatures up to 450°F. In air fryer terms, that means crisper, juicy food at speed.

Cosori's TurboBlaze air fryer delivers a lot of functionality for the price, and with a 29% discount it’s a worthy product to add to your basket.

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro Series is one of the best espresso machines, without a doubt. We reviewed the Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro last year and loved it. But even discounted from $799 to $599, the Ninja is still pretty pricey. If you want a machine that can do pretty much all the same things for less, let me introduce you to the $399 De'Longhi Arte Evo. Both espresso machines can make delicious espresso and cold brew in minutes.

When I reviewed the De'Longhi Arte Evo, I received the pictured yellow version. The yellow version is not included in this deal as, unfortunately, it's a U.K. exclusive. Even so, the function of the machine is exactly the same — and I only have photos of the model I tested, naturally!

If you have $599 to spare and want a machine that can do it all, then you should consider the Ninja. However, if you want to spend as little money as possible, you might be better off with the De'Longhi.

Both the Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro and the De'Longhi Arte Evo have their perks: they're both attractive coffee machines with powerful steam wands and a huge array of functions.

In our review of the Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro, Millie wrote, "Another cool feature that I’ve never seen before is the fact that the machine automatically detects when you change filter baskets. I’m not even sure how it does that, but it never failed in the pretty frequent switches I was making between the luxe basket and the double filter."

I've tested 49 coffee makers and I've never seen this feature either. The Ninja holds your hand during the brewing process, ideal for beginner home baristas or if you simply can't be bothered to figure out grind size before your morning espresso.

If you're more of a hands-on barista, you might be more interested in the De'Longhi Arte Evo. This machine has a built-in grinder and an easy tamping system to prevent coffee grounds mess.

The Arte Evo can't make drip coffee like the Ninja, but it can make cold brew. While it's not "true" cold brew (it's not steeped over 16 hours... obviously), it tastes pretty darn good. This is a feature on all of the La Specialista series, of which the Arte Evo is the cheapest.

Of course, the Arte Evo has a powerful steam wand (you can check out my review for picture proof!) and looks a treat while doing so.

Both espresso machines are great, but if you want to save as much money as possible this Prime Day, I'd recommend the Arte Evo. It's jsut $399 right now, which is stupidly cheap for an espresso machine with a built in grinder. Grinders alone can cost $200+!

We're tracking all the best Prime Day home appliance deals

I was so excited to see some of the best espresso machines get major discounts this Prime Day — and De'Longhi has seriously pulled through. The Arte Evo is down to $399, which makes the bean-to-cup actually cheaper than Breville's entry-level espresso machine.

Not only did De'Longhi understand the assignment, but Technivorm, too. The iconic Moccamaster KGBV Select is now just $239, down from its eye-watering MSRP of $369.

But there's one major brand strangely absent from this year's Prime Day sales. Breville. The Bambino Plus is still $499, the Bambino still $299. Yes, the bean-to-cup Barista Express is $499, but De'Longhi's pipped it to the post with the $399 Arte Evo. In lieu of Breville actually treating us to some meaty discounts, I've selected my favorite alternative deals, including the cheapest bean-to-cup I've seen so far, the iconic Moccamaster, and a super fun Fellow espresso machine.

Best Prime Day coffeemaker deals: Quick links

• Technivorm Moccamaster KGBV Select: was $369 now $239 @ Amazon
• De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo: was $699 now $399 @ Best Buy
• Fellow Espresso Series 1: was $1,499 now $1,299 @ Amazon

Best Prime Day coffeemaker deals

Some Breville machines are discounted, though!

We're tracking all the best Prime Day home appliance deals

Ninja has got quite the hold on the air fryer world, dominating the space (and our best air fryers guide) with the Pro 4-in-1 and Foodi DualZone. When the Ninja Crispi air fryer was released in 2025, it even prompted our expert tester to say, "It made me rethink everything I knew about air fryers."

The Ninja Crispi is a glass air fryer that cooks everything from pasta to green beans and a whole lot in between. It reinvents the traditional air fryer whilst looking incredibly smart and almost futuristic for an everyday kitchen appliance. So, how can you possibly evolve the Ninja Crispi even further?

Well, Ninja has just launched the Ninja Crispi DualZone – the first glass air fryer to cook in two independent zones. You're telling me I can cook my salmon at the same time as my vegetables, and they'll both be cooked to perfection, ready to be plated at the same time? This is the feature I've been desperately hoping for!

Meet the Ninja Crispi DualZone

The Ninja Crispi DualZone isn't the brand's first evolution of the Crispi; the Crispi Pro launched earlier this year. But, it is the first time it's used its patented DualZone technology on the innovative glass air fryer.

And it's the two independent cooking zones that are the real shining star of the new Crispi. Each zone is made up of a CleanCrisp glassware container that is designed for non-toxic cooking and speedy storage, but there's more technology at play here that's worth talking about.

Smart Finish, for example, is Ninja's answer to no-stress mealtimes. With this technology, the Ninja Crispi DualZone intelligently syncs both zones to finish at the same time. Pair this up with Match Cook that mirrors what settings you've got running across your zones, and you can use it for double-batch cooking, too.

No longer will you have to cook your food back-to-back with the Crispi or bring in other kitchen appliances to make sure your meal comes together at once – and for me, that sounds like the dream. And if you're keen to cook up using different functions, there are six customizable options onboard with Air Fry, Bake, Dehydrate, Max, Crisp, Roast and Recrisp all available,

Why I can't wait to try it

I've loved the look of the Ninja Crispi since it launched, but I've already got the Ninja Foodi DualZone that allows me to cook on two sides at the same time. It's hard to compete with that until now. I finally feel like I could replace the Foodi with the Crispi, but there's more to it than that.

I've also recently moved over from plastic food storage containers to glass, and I've definitely noticed a difference when it comes to taste. If the same can be said for the Ninja Crispi DualZone, then I'm super intrigued. With no PFAS and PTFE, it also feels like a smart choice for chemical-free cuisine.

I'm really keen to grab a Ninja Crispi DualZone now that it's got the feature I've been desperately waiting for, and it doesn't hurt that it looks incredibly stylish, too. I'll reserve full judgment until we get it in for a full review. Now, I just need them to make a Ninja Crispi Pro DualZone, and I can fit food in for the whole family.

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

Right now, the U.K. is in the middle of a heatwave, and cold brew and iced coffee are all I can manage during weeks like this — it's one of the ways I've learned to manage a heatwave. But if you're worrying about how to make cold brew, worry not! De'Longhi's newest La Specialista models — the Arte Evo, Opera, to name a few — all have a surprising feature: instant cold brew. Instead of relying on traditional cold brewing methods — literally cold brewing coffee for 16+ hours — these machines use espresso pressure to steep coffee in a fraction of the time.

As much as I love and respect this feature, it does beg the question... if you're a cold brew drinker, and only a cold brew drinker, should you be spending $500+ on these espresso machines? No.

As an ex-barista and director of The Coffee Lab, I know exactly how cafes make cold brew. All you need is a French press, coffee, cold water, and some time. Instead of spending $$$ on a cold brew-slash-espresso machine, just get this $31 Espro French press. Espro's unique dual-filter basket means you get almost zero silt, too.

How can I make cold brew in a French press?

I know it sounds daunting, but I promise you, it's not! This is exactly how we made cold brew at Starbucks when I worked there.

All you need is: a French press (with a dual-lined filter, like the Espro P3 above), coarsely ground coffee, water, and time (preferably 16 hours).

1. Use either a 1:8 ratio or a 1:15 ratio. 1:8 means you will need to dilute the final drink, so it's like a cold brew concentrate. I always use 1:8.
2. The Espro P3 is 1000ml, so I use 125g of coarsely ground coffee. Put the coffee inside the French press.
3. Pour water to the top.
4. Let it steep for 16 hours, ambient or in the refrigerator if you live in a really hot area.

And it's easy as that! You don't need to spend $500 on an espresso machine/cold brew machine. All you need is a French press.

We're tracking all the best Prime Day home appliance deals

We're down to the final full week of EOFY sales, and boy, has it been a wild ride this June. With discounts across the latest tech, NBN plans, home appliances, activewear, beauty, and so much more, there's a plethora of good deals out in the ether right now.

As a kitchen appliance reviewer and hobbyist chef (in the making at least), I've found some stellar deals across kitchen must-haves this EOFY on Amazon. From coffee machines and air fryers to fun novelty accessories and heavy-duty cookware, I've gathered 12 of my top-rated kitchen deals for your perusal below.

Notably, some of these deals are products I already own and use every day — namely the Ninja Luxe Cafe coffee machine, now 41% off, and the Inkbird meat thermometer, now 25% off — but some are new products I've just added to my kitchen's arsenal to upgrade my cooking skills (or drink making, in the Teanagoo's 7-piece Matcha set's case).

Don't just take my word for it, though — all these products come with 4+ star ratings, including those of my colleagues at Tom's Guide. I'll stop with the waffling now; here are the best EOFY kitchen deals I've found on Amazon this week.

Prime Day is almost here, but you can pick up some great deals before the big day. I’ve been searching for the best savings on small kitchen appliances, and some of my favorites are on sale.

For those who love to bake, you can snag KitchenAid’s Artisan stand mixer for $372, which is 25% off. It's an outstanding performer and the top product I recommend in our best stand mixer buying guide. If you love multi-functional appliances, take a good look at Instant Pot's Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker for just $69 — now half price.

Keep scrolling for more recommended Prime Day kitchen appliance deals! Don't forget to sign up for a Prime membership and stay tuned to our Prime Day deals live blog.

Quick Links

• shop all Prime Day deals
• Instant Pot DuoPlus 9-in-1 Multicooker: was $139 now $69
• Keurig K-Supreme Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker: was $189 now $99
• Ninja Slushi Frozen Drink and Slushie Machine with Rapid Chill: was $349 now $199
• Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer (with probe): was $299 now $199
• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer: was $499 now $372

Prime Day Small Kitchen Appliance Deals

HOME APPLIANCES

We're tracking all the best Prime Day home appliance deals

As Tom's Guide's resident coffee expert and director of The Coffee Lab, I've sifted through all of De'Longhi's early Prime Day deals and found the five you need to know about. I've formally reviewed all but one of these machines (and we have an old model of that one in the office, so I've used it!), so I can attest to their quality.

If you're a complete novice and you want to spend as little as possible, I'd go for the De'Longhi Stilosa — just $99 right now — or the De'Longhi Dedica Duo — $199. If you want to upgrade to a manual bean-to-cup and make use of a built-in grinder, you should go for the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo, a huge... $300 off. No, that's not a typo. 43% off, a $300 saving.

For the hands-off baristas amongst you, I've got the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo from just $499. But the best? My personal favorite automatic coffee machine in the world, the De'Longhi Rivelia, is $300 off, down to just $1,199.

The best De'Longhi Prime Day deals: Quick links

• De'Longhi Stilosa: was $149 now $99 @ Amazon
• De'Longhi Dedica Duo: was $299 now $199 @ Amazon
• De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo: was $699 now $399 @ Amazon
• De'Longhi Magnifica Evo: was $899 now $549 @ Amazon
• De'Longhi Rivelia: was $1,499 now $1,199 @ Amazon

The best De'Longhi Prime Day deals

We're tracking all the best Prime Day home appliance deals

It's not unusual for the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select to be released in a new color. Earlier this year, the Dutch brand announced its Color of the Year with the Moccamaster in Sorbet. And there's plenty more where that came from with the Moccamaster available in a wide selection of colors all-year round.

What is a little unusual about this latest color drop is that it's launched for one reason in particular — Amazon Prime Day. Holding the overall top spot amongst the best coffee makers we've ever tested, I'm excited to see it in this new color even if the circumstances are unexpected.

So, to mark Amazon Prime Day 2026, Moccamaster has dropped this exclusive color for the annual sales event — Eucalyptus. And, for a little something extra special, it's offering a 33 per cent discount on the usual price during the sales period (23 to 26 June).

Why I'll be picking one up

While the Prime Day exclusive color is certainly alluring, it's not just the Eucalyptus hue that is swaying my decision to grab one. It's mainly down to the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select's impressive features.

Not only did it secure a four-and-a-half star review from our testers, but it's held a spot in our coffee maker buying guide for five years now. We even recently revisited our review in 2026 to check if it was still the cream of the crop — and we ruled it most certainly is.

Handmade in the Netherlands, it boasts quality construction, dependable results and a sleek design. In fact, our reviewer Erin (who runs the Tom's Guide Coffee Lab) stated: "The Technivorm Moccamaster KGBV Select has stood the test of time, and for good reason. This is widely regarded as the best drip coffee maker ever invented. With SCA-approved functionality and a 5-year warranty (+lifetime repairs), I recommend the Moccamaster with every fiber of my coffee-addled being."

And new color releases bring a new aesthetic that may just make this machine even more appealing. Sure, Juniper and Pistachio are already available if you're looking for shades of green, but there's something about Eucalyptus that has really caught my eye.

Availability

While the Moccamaster in Eucalpytus is an exclusive launch for Prime Day — running 23 to 26 June with a 33 per cent off limited time deal — it won't be the last time you see it. In fact, I've been told that it'll return in the fall, which is great news for anyone eager for a new coffee maker but not quite ready to invest.

And despite this being an Amazon Prime Day exclusive, you can also pick it up at other retailers like Williams Sonoma and Crate & Barrel.

• 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 Ninja AutoBarista Pro is a curious automatic espresso machine. It can make a huge variety of drinks, including espresso, drip coffee, cold brew, and both hot and cold milk. So is this enough to make it one of the best espresso machines?

Hm… not really. The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is an ambitious machine, but I think it’s got its fingers in too many pies. It can’t decide what it wants to be. Does it want to be a drip machine or an espresso machine? Or a rapid cold brew machine? (The cold brew comes out warm…)

Even so, I gave this machine 3 stars for a reason — it’s unbelievably easy to use, perfect for the home barista who wants to click a button and get fresh coffee instantly, and is relatively cheaper than other automatic machines. Want to find out more? Keep reading this Ninja AutoBarista Pro review.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Specs

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Price & availability

The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is $949 from Best Buy and £899 direct from SharkNinja. I hate that I’m writing this, but $950 isn’t actually that expensive for a fully automatic espresso machine.

I’ve also tested the $1,499 De’Longhi Rivelia, the $2,699 Jura E8, the coffee-only (yes, no milk) $999 Jura ENA 4, and the $1,999 KitchenAid KF8.

So, in comparison, the Ninja AutoBarista Pro is pretty well-priced. Although it doesn’t have totally hands-free milk — you still have to pour the milk into the jug and then pour it into your espresso — it does froth the milk for you.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Design

I was surprised when I unboxed the AutoBarista Pro — it’s not as visually appealing as I’d expected. Ninja seems to always hit design out of the park, especially with the Crispi and the Creami, and even the Luxe Cafe.

But not the AutoBarista Pro. I’m not sure what about it rubs me the wrong way. Perhaps the sharp lines, the somewhat dim screen? The chrome buttons? It just looks like something that would have come out about ten years ago, not now.

The machine is almost entirely plastic, too: the water tank is relatively flimsy, the exterior is a shiny plastic, and the drip tray is mostly plastic. This is a shame, but, then again, you can’t expect perfection from a (relatively) affordable automatic machine.

The screen is nowhere near as clear as the Breville Oracle Dual Boiler ($3,000), but is, thankfully, easy to use and perfect for beginners. There are little graphics of all the different types of coffee, and then you can adjust details like coffee intensity, milk texture, heat, as much as you like. I suppose, though, it’s unfair to compare a $950 machine and a $3K machine — you would expect the quality to be different.

One thing I love is the steam wand. It looks almost identical to the Oracle Dual Boiler — it’s wider than most at-home steam wands, and has a single powerful spout rather than holes — and is incredibly powerful. I’ll talk about it more below, but this is one of my favorite aspects of the Ninja.

Don’t get me wrong, the AutoBarista Pro isn’t hideous or a plastic hunk of garbage — not at all. It just doesn’t look as premium as I would like. Even though it’s cheaper than other automatic machines, almost $1,000 is still a huge amount of money. As a result, I’d like it to look a little more premium.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Espresso

In terms of ease of use, the AutoBarista Pro wins all the awards. It’s supremely easy to control. You don’t have to do any prep at all. You do have to wait, though — each drink took at least a minute to make. This was noticeably longer than the De’Longhi Rivelia and De’Longhi Magnifica Evo ($899).

When I first installed the hopper and poured in my beans, I used GrindIQ to adjust the grind. This took about six minutes and used a decent amount of coffee, so I’d only recommend using this if you tend to use the same beans over and over. I would hate to waste that much coffee for every 200g bag of specialty beans, for example.

Thankfully, like the De’Longhi Rivelia, you get two bean hoppers, so you don’t have to empty out the hopper if you want to switch beans.

But after the machine calibrated itself, it was beyond easy to use. I simply adjusted the intensity using the screen, adjusted the ratio (you can do anything from 1:2 to 1:6), and pressed go.

On medium intensity, the espresso is really weak, so I found I had to use the strongest level to get a normal-tasting espresso. Even the most intense mode isn’t as flavorful as a manual espresso machine — so I wouldn’t recommend this machine if you’re an espresso evangelist. I think most of these issues lie within the grinder, which you can't manually control.

Here’s a photo of an espresso made using Ninja’s default settings (so 1:2, medium intensity, double shot).

As you can see, the color is quite light. This was using artisan beans with notes of almond, fudge, and cherry.

The shot tasted a little juicy, a little nutty, but didn’t have the rich mouthfeel you might expect from a manual espresso machine. Again, this is a fine trade-off if you seriously value ease of use and can’t be bothered with grinding, tamping, and dosing at 7am, but coffee nerds might want to look elsewhere.

My colleagues reported that the coffee generally tasted quite weak, but was still drinkable, even on the most intense setting.

I would also advise against using this machine for cold brew. Take a look at this...

This tasted incredibly weak (if you couldn't guess that from the photo) — there was maybe a whisper of flavor. I honestly had to throw this away. I was impressed to see the machine automatically adjusted the grind for cold brew (it needs coarser than espresso), but the result was still poor and it didn't taste good.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Milk

Even though the espresso functionality left me longing for more, I do really like the steam wand function on the AutoBarista Pro. It’s not as hands-off as other automatic machines like the Jura E8 or the KitchenAid KF8. You have to pour the milk into the pitcher and then pour it into your mug. You also have to clean and purge the steam wand as you would on a manual espresso machine.

As a barista who loves the ritual of making coffee and getting her hands dirty, this is much more my style than the fully automatic machines I’ve tested in the past.

You don’t get any control over the actual steaming, though, which is perfect for hands-off baristas who want consistently technically perfect coffees, but not ideal for someone like me.

You can adjust the milk texture settings from wet, to melted ice cream flat white texture, to cappuccino texture. You can even cold foam milk, which was super fun. Here’s a photo of a standard flat white using all of Ninja’s default settings.

As you can see, the texture is pretty good, but it’s not as soft or velvety as a human barista. Even so, my colleagues reported that the milk texture was “yummy” (direct quote), with a soft mouthfeel and a nice creaminess.

You can also toggle the “dairy milk” and “plant-based milk” setting. I’m not sure what difference this actually makes, as I forgot to turn it to plant-based milk when I was frothing oat milk and it turned out the same.

However, I would not recommend this for cold foam.

As you can see, the texture is a bit strange. It’s much too bubbly, not really stiff peaks like you’d expect from cold foam. And if you swipe to the second picture, you’ll see how it looked after a few seconds. Yep… that’s basically just an iced latte.

So, the long and short of it is: hot drinks, yes, cold drinks… no.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Storage & maintenance

As you might expect from an automatic espresso machine, the Ninja AutoBarista Pro is pretty large. It’s 17.8 x 10.7 x 15.8, and took up a decent amount of space in my kitchen. Not a con, just something to be mindful of!

Now, a con: you will be refilling the water tank after about four drinks. And if you’re making cold brew, one drink.

No, that’s not an exaggeration, and yes, I’m quite sure. I had to refill the AutoBarista Pro after four drinks, every single time. I’m not sure where all the water goes, but it goes somewhere. It’s thirstier than an AI data center.

Alright, so now you know what to expect, we can move on. Cleaning the AutoBarista Pro is straightforward: Ninja provides you with a few months’ worth of cleaning tablets and a water filter (mandatory if you live in a hard water area). Running a cleaning cycle is as easy as following the instructions on the machine itself. Replacement cleaning products are around $14 from Amazon.

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

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Verdict

If you prioritize ease of use over anything else, you’ll be happy with the Ninja AutoBarista Pro. This is one of the easiest coffee machines I’ve ever tested. You literally just have to press a button, and the machine does the hard work for you, in the same way the De’Longhi Rivelia takes all the guesswork out of coffee-making.

However, I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. It’s considerably bulkier than I expected, and the screen is nowhere near as bright as the aforementioned De’Longhi Rivelia. The coffee tends to be weak, even when extracted on the maximum intensity setting — and I wouldn’t recommend it for cold brew or cold foam at all.

All that being said, if you want a (relatively) affordable espresso machine and you’re the kind of person who drinks flavored lattes away — or you simply want a cold foam maker and you want it right now — then the Ninja AutoBarista Pro will do the job. It’s one of the most “brain off” espresso machines I’ve ever reviewed. I just wish it hit more of its marks.

The Breville Barista Express is Amazon's no. 1 bestselling espresso machine — and for good reason. The Barista Express has stood the test of time, and even though it's about six years old, it's still revered as one of the best home espresso machines. And the best part?

Right now you can get the Breville Barista Express for just $499 at Amazon, which is the same price as the entry-level, sans-grinder Breville Bambino Plus. Yes, you basically get a free grinder. Most of the best coffee grinders start from around $200, going all the way up to $1,500+ (Mazzer Philos), so getting an espresso machine + grinder for $499 is a major steal.

We love the Breville Barista Express here at Tom's Guide, and especially in my Coffee Lab, so you know this machine has the Tamp of Approval. It's a good'un — grab it while you can. (For more deals, check our our Prime Day deals live blog).

• shop all early Prime Day deals at Amazon

The Breville Barista Express is a bean-to-cup, which means... it does everything, bean to cup. You put whole coffee beans in the grinder — and you get espresso out. No messing around with manually grinding beans.

Because this is a grinder machine, it's inherently more expensive than espresso machines without a grinder. Grinders don't come cheap! But at this discount, you're saving $200 — the price of a Baratza Encore ESP (Breville's grinder brand).

As the Breville Bambino Plus is $499 at full price, if you grab the Barista Express during this deal, you're basically getting a free grinder. I don't know about you, but that's a major win for me.

We gave the Barista Express a coveted Editor's Choice 4.5-star review, and for good reason — it's one of the best espresso machines on the market.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried this ridiculously cheap bean-to-cup espresso machine so you don't have to — and it's a total head-scratcher
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I made two identical espressos with $5 coffee beans and $20 coffee beans — and yes, the coffee snobs are right

After you've lived on your own for a while, your kitchen is likely well-equipped with durable cookware and useful gadgets (and probably a few that you used once and then forgot about). But when you're just starting out after graduation, you pretty much have nothing. Grads might have some dinnerware, utensils, and a few other dorm kitchen basics, but most won't have the essentials to cook a decent meal.

I cook most of my meals, so my kitchen has accumulated a lot over the years. But if I had to throw it all out today and start over tomorrow, I'd definitely start with the 12 basics below (excluding dinnerware, drinkware, and eating utensils).

Have you ever seen a coffee accessory that looks like it could be a Medieval torture device? Let's talk about it. So this little device is called a WDT tool. This is an accessory often seen in the hands of the most ardent coffee snobs, paired with things like a spring-loaded tamper and a coffee scale.

Here at The Coffee Lab, we take coffee back to basics. At the end of the day, as long as you're enjoying your morning (or afternoon... or evening) cup of java, who is anyone to tell you you're making it wrong? But I've been so intrigued by what is essentially a set of acupuncture needles on a stick that I knew I had to get a WDT tool in to test.

So, today we're going to answer the question: Do you actually need a WDT tool, or is it just a gimmick?

What is a WDT tool?

WDT stands for Weiss Distribution Technique. John Weiss, a passionate home barista, actually invented this technique while trying to eradicate channeling in his espresso. Frustrated by inconsistent extraction, Weiss used a needle to distribute grounds evenly, giving the water a flat surface to pass through. And, ta-da! WDT was invented. You can actually read Weiss's 2007 article on Home-Barista.

A WDT is essentially a device with lots of little needles. These needles cut through the coffee grounds, break up clumps, and distribute the particles. You can get WDT tools with anywhere from around five to ten needles.

The before and after

Take a look at these two photos: one is my portafilter basket before using the WDT tool, one is after. Can you see a difference?

As you can see, the first image shows clumpy coffee grounds, and, in the second image, you can see the evenly distributed grounds.

I made two identical espressos, one with the WDT tool, and one without the WDT. And if you haven't watched the TikTok video linked above... then I'm going to spoil it for you.

They tasted pretty much the same.

The verdict

Is having a WDT tool essential for good coffee at home? No, not at all. Don't let any coffee snob tell you you're not a real home barista until you have one.

But will having a WDT tool guarantee good espresso every time? Also, no. You don't need a WDT tool to get barista-quality espresso.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret — I've worked in three coffee houses, and not one of them had a WDT tool.

We just ground the beans into the portafilter basket, tamped, and pulled the shot. No messing around with needles.

But will having a WDT tool improve the flavor of your home espresso? Well, kind of. If you're using high-quality, artisan beans, a powerful grinder like the Mazzer Philos, and you know what you're doing, you might be able to get better-tasting espresso at home.

For the average home barista, though, it's not an essential purchase. Sure, it's fun, and I'm probably going to continue using mine now I've got it. Unless you're a die-hard coffee nerd, I suggest saving your money.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried this ridiculously cheap bean-to-cup espresso machine so you don't have to — and it's a total head-scratcher
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I made two identical espressos with $5 coffee beans and $20 coffee beans — and yes, the coffee snobs are right

Ever since I moved into my house, I’ve always entertained the fantasy of building an outdoor pizza oven — laying the brick, shaping the dome, and then enjoying the fruits of a wood-fired pizza.

That dream has never gone away, even as I’ve tested a number of the best pizza ovens in my yard. However, having used the Gozney Dome XL for the past six months, I might spare myself the trouble (and my wife the aggravation) of building my own oven.

That’s because the Dome XL has just about everything you could possibly ask for in a pizza oven: a massive internal chamber, dual-fuel capabilities, and a great design that will make your patio look oh so Pinterest. But, this is also one of the largest — and most expensive — pizza ovens I've ever tested. It's overkill for many, but if you're serious about pizza (and have the dough to spend), this is the splurge model to get.

Gozney Dome XL (gen 2): Price

The Dome XL sits at the top of Gozney’s lineup, at $2,799. You can get it in either black or an off-white bone. I’ve been using the latter, and it will show soot deposits above the opening — which could be a sign of authenticity or unsightliness, depending on your tastes.

The Dome XL is large enough to accommodate one 18-inch pie, two 12-inch pies, or three 10-inchers; if your needs are more modest,

Gozney also makes the Dome (Gen 2) for $2,299, which offers all the same functions, but can fit either one 16-inch pizza or two 10-inch pizzas. I’ve rarely baked more than one pie at a time, so it’s probably the more sensible option for most.

Design

This thing is MASSIVE. The Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2) is more than 3 feet wide, 2 feet deep, stands 39.3 inches tall, and weighs 161 pounds. It’s so big that it was delivered on a pallet, and I needed to get a neighbor to help me lift it on the pedestal.

Fortunately, Gozney thought ahead, and provided straps on all the corners to make it easier to lift. If you’re considering buying this, make sure whatever surface you’re planning to place it on has a lot of support.

The Dome (especially the bone model) looks kinda like a big hamburger: The top and bottom “buns” are gently rounded, while the middle is wrapped in stainless steel.

The stand is pretty tall. I’m about 6 feet, which places the oven’s opening just below eye level. If you’re of shorter stature, you may find it’s a bit too high for comfort.

A large vent pipe extends out the top. If you bought the Dome stand along with the Dome, you’ll find it’s a little tricky to place the cap on the top of the vent pipe, as it’s waayyy up in the air.

Below the mouth of the oven is a module with a color LCD display that displays the internal temperature of the oven as well as the temperature of the pizza stone.

To the right is a control knob used to adjust the gas flame; to the left is a small control pad to adjust settings, like setting a timer. Next to it are two ports to which you can attach temperature probes, so you can use the oven to more precisely cook meat or other proteins.

If you purchase the wood-fire control kit, it comes with a little control unit that slots into the right side of the oven. Inside is a small fan, and a knob on the exterior lets you control the amount of air that gets blown into the chamber. It’s ringed with LEDs, so it was really easy to see if I had the fan on low or a higher setting. And, this controller also links via Bluetooth to the main control unit on the Gozney, so you can monitor everything from one spot.

Both controllers use a rechargeable battery, which slides easily into each unit. The batteries have small LEDs so you know how much charge you have left, and come with USB-C ports, so you can juice them up as easily as your phone.

Performance

As a dual-fuel oven, you can either use propane (or natural gas) or wood to heat up the oven. The gas flame comes out of the left side of the chamber, and the wood basket sits on the right. To test the oven, I used both propane and wood separately, and got equally consistent results. The curved interior of the Gozney allowed the flames and heat to curl over nicely from either side.

Using a little firestarter, it was very easy to get the wood burning, and the large size of the basket meant that I didn’t have to cut up the wood into tiny chunks, as I had to with other wood-fired pizza ovens, such as the older Ooni Karu. While baking with wood requires a bit more work — you have to make sure the fire doesn't go out, for one thing — it's a lot more satisfying than cooking with gas.

As with all pizza ovens, I let the Gozney Dome heat up for a good 30 to 40 minutes, to get its stone up to temperature. After that, it performed spectacularly well, making everything to perfection.

Gozney says that the Dome can fit pizzas up to 18 inches in diameter; I was able to comfortably fit a 16-inch pizza pie, but any larger, and it would have been a bit trickier to turn, and would put one edge pretty close to the flame.

The Dome did a fantastic job baking the pies, though. The gas knob allowed me to fine-tune the heat, which let me make both Neapolitan and New York-style pizzas, so I could get either a puffy, leopard crust or an evenly browned finish.

Accessories

Accessories include a $499 stand, which raises the oven up to about five feet, has two trays on either side, a platform for a propane tank, and a small tray for holding other items.

If you’re investing this much in a pizza oven, I would also recommend you pick up a cover — the one for the oven costs $89, and the one that protects the oven and stand is $99. It’s proved more than durable, having guarded the oven through two blizzards. And, it’s provided shelter for my cat when it rains.

A wood-fire control kit costs $199, and includes a metal rack to contain the wood and a module that fits into the side of the oven, and lets you regulate how much air is blown in. In my testing, it worked fantastic, and integrated perfectly with the main control unit on the oven.

Gozney also sells an assortment of peels, cutters, and other pizza-related products, most of which you can find elsewhere, and probably for less.

I will say, though, that its $44 pizza cutter is one of the best I’ve ever used. It’s solidly built, and has one of the sharpest blades ever. And, you can easily unscrew it to clean out cheese and other bits.

Bottom line

The Gozney Dome XL doesn’t come cheap, and it’s a lot more pizza oven than most will ever need. As I said above, the next step after this is building your own pizza oven. If you’re just starting out, I would recommend one of the best pizza ovens that costs less than $500, like the Solo Pi Prime or the Ooni Koda 2. You’ll get just as good results.

What separates the Gozney Dome XL is all the extras: The size, the design, the controls, and all those bits that will signal to your neighbors that, when it comes to pizza, you’re not messing around. If you get this and make nothing but cheese and pepperoni pies, Gozney should have the right to take it back. This is the ultimate pizza oven for those who are really serious about their craft, and want something that looks as good as the pies it makes.

The Fellow Espresso Series 1 is one of the best espresso machines I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. I had high hopes, given all the hype around Fellow’s first-ever espresso machine, but it’s even better than I wanted it to be.

While it’s $1,499, this actually isn’t that expensive for a prosumer espresso machine. If you’re not initiated into the world of espresso machines, I’ll just give you a quick rundown: I’ve tested the $3k Breville Oracle Dual Boiler, the $1,999 Lelit Mara X3, and the $1,800 Smeg x La Pavoni EMC02. So yeah, $1.5k isn’t as outrageous as you may think.

But you get a lot for that $1,499. You get an app that literally teaches you how to make each coffee, you get so many customization options that I physically do not have the word count to detail them all, and you get a professional-quality steam wand for beautiful latte art. Want to find out more? Of course you do. Keep reading this Fellow Espresso Series 1 review.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Specs

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Price & availability

The Fellow Espresso Series 1 is $1,499 from Amazon U.S. At the time of writing, it’s only available at Harrods in the U.K. — but it’s currently sold out.

This is pretty standard for a prosumer espresso machine, hence why I’ve not docked a star for being overpriced. The Espresso Series 1 walks you through making each drink, à la Breville Oracle Dual Boiler ($3,000), which has a built-in grinder but also costs double.

I recently tested the $1,999 Lelit Mara X3, which I loved. The Mara X3 makes pro-level espresso while looking a treat, much like the Espresso Series 1.

I’ve also reviewed the Smeg x La Pavoni EMC02, which is one of my favorite espresso machines ever, and will set you back $1,800.

If $1,499 is a little out of your price bracket (relatable), I’d recommend checking out the Breville Barista Express ($799) or De’Longhi Arte Evo ($699).

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Design

My goodness, the Fellow Espresso Series 1 is a sight to behold. As soon as I unboxed it, I had to take a step back and allow myself the privilege of ogling it like a starving lion might ogle an injured gazelle. This is a truly breathtaking machine. It perfectly combines modern innovation, functional design, and an eye-catching centerpiece.

If you’re familiar with Fellow’s other products, like the Stagg EKG, Corvo EKG, or the Aiden, you’ll know everything Fellow makes is gorgeous. The Espresso Series 1, thankfully, continues that trend. I have zero reservations about recommending this on looks alone, as superficial as that is. I want it just to stare at it.

The accessories are just as high-quality, with a weighty tamper, 58mm bottomless portafilter, and a milk jug engraved with fluid ounce and milliliter measurements so you don’t have to measure separately.

Like the Breville Oracle Dual Boiler, the Espresso Series 1 has a little screen that walks you through making each drink. Unlike the Oracle Dual Boiler, the Espresso Series 1 doesn’t have a full-color screen, but it’s still bright and luminous. If you’ve seen the Fellow Tally Pro scale, the screen looks like a brighter, bigger version of that. I’ll go into more detail in the ‘Espresso’ section below.

My only con regarding the design is that there’s no ‘Back’ button. If you scroll all the way down to the last customization option (there are a lot), you have to scroll back up. I wish there was a simple button to take me back to the home screen. Maybe on the next edition?

App

Yep, the Fellow Espresso Series 1 has an app. I’m not a huge fan of the concept of espresso machines with apps, so I did roll my eyes when I saw this. There isn’t really much you can do on the app that you can’t do on the machine itself, but as this is a pretty new model with firmware updates rolling out, you might want to get the app just so you can iron out those natural bugs.

As you can see, you can customize your espresso pre-infusion, infusion, and ramp-down settings based on roast level, and you can even cycle through various different types of shot. I’ve never heard of this ‘Turbo’ shot, so of course I had to try it. You have to grind your beans coarser for this shot, and it makes a more tea-like espresso. Very interesting, and good that the Espresso Series 1 has an option for it. As I said — perfect for both beginners and nerds!

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Espresso

As promised, I’ll discuss the LCD screen. This screen teaches you how to make tons of different drinks: cappuccino, espresso, Americano, latte, flat white, and so on and so forth. This is great for beginners who may not know the difference between each beverage, or simply may not want to activate their brains at 7am. Personally, I didn’t feel the urge to use this outside of testing purposes — I just selected ‘espresso’ for all my drinks and steamed my milk manually.

Of course, I tested this for the purpose of the review. It works as advertised. When I selected ‘flat white’, the machine told me how much coffee to dose, actually stopped extraction at 1:2 ratio as designed (although once or twice it dosed 35g rather than 36g… tut tut, Fellow). After espresso, the machine told me to pour 4oz of milk — and, yes, you can tell it which type of milk you’re using — and automatically stopped steaming when the milk reached the desired temperature of 140°F.

This is ideal for beginners, and one of the best parts of the machine if you’re the kind of home barista who needs a little more help. As mentioned earlier, I didn’t really use this outside of testing purposes, but it’s great to have.

If you’re a coffee nerd, though, you’ll love this machine. There are tons of espresso customization options. I physically cannot list them all here — this review would be tens of thousands of words long, and I’d lull you all into a stupor. Let’s just say: if you can imagine it, you can do it. Pre-infusion at 2 bars of pressure for 10 seconds? Go for it. Flow rate of 4ml/s? Yep! Ramp-down of 6 bars of pressure? You got it!

Although there’s no PID controller, the boiler is designed to control water temperature at every stage of the extraction, much like a PID controller. The Espresso Series 1 has a patented boiler system, “Boosted Boiler”, which has a precise temperature control. You can customize the temperature using the shot profile I discussed above, or using the app.

As with every espresso machine I test, I ground my beans using the Mazzer Philos, the best coffee grinder in the world (if you have $1,500).

For the purpose of this review, I followed Fellow’s recipes and made some of my own. This is a Fellow-default espresso using the ‘Medium roast’ profile and Square Mile beans.

There’s a little bit of spray, but that’s an occupational hazard with a bottomless portafilter. This shot was extracted at a 1:2 ratio over 26 seconds, safely within the ‘Golden window’ of extraction. The shot tasted gorgeous, with a strong sweetness and bright acidity at the back of the mouth. I guzzled this like a parched heron.

For the next shot, I experimented. I used the same beans and adjusted the settings to ‘Turbo’, as I’d never seen this style of espresso before.

As you can see, it’s quite larger than a standard shot. The Fellow app told me this is a 1:3 shot extracted using 6-bar pressure rather 9-bar. The flavor was interesting — quite sour but with a pocket of bitterness hiding at the back of the mouthful. I probably wouldn’t make this again, but it’s great to have options.

The only downside to this machine is that it makes quite wet pucks. Usually, if a machine has a 3-way solenoid valve, it sucks the water back out of the shot for a dry, biscuit-like puck you can knock straight into the bin. I did have to scrape these pucks out, which is strange, as the machine has a 3-way solenoid valve. I noticed other users on Reddit had this issue too, so it might just be a Series 1 bug. Either way, I’m not overly fussed about this.

The Fellow Espresso Series 1 is a fantastic machine for beginners and snobs alike. You can get seriously nerdy with all the customization options or you can just use it at face value — and it’s super easy either way.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Milk

Ugh, I love the Espresso Series 1’s steam wand. And I say “ugh” like this: Ugh, it’s so good and I’m so sad that nothing else will compare now and every machine I test in the future will pale in comparison and my dreams will be filled with the Espresso Series 1’s steam wand until the end of time.

Alright, so that’s a touch exaggerated, but you get what I mean. This is a steam wand to end all steam wands. It looks very much like the Meraki — a long, thick steam wand with a ball joint and a wide tip.

Here’s a photo of a flat white I made with oat milk.

Although the latte art isn’t quite as good, this is the best plant-based milk texture I’ve ever gotten. My colleague Nikita — who has been a test subject of every single espresso machine I’ve ever reviewed — confirmed that this was the smoothest, velvetiest oat milk she’d ever drunk.

I got a little frustrated at the auto-purge function, but I easily turned this off in the machine settings. I like controlling purging myself so I can really clean it out.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Storage & maintenance

Although the Fellow Espresso Series 1 is quite large — 23.1 x 14.6 x 12.6 — it fits nicely on my kitchen countertop. It’s quite short, but very wide and deep, so make sure you’ve got enough room. You’ll need to access the top to insert and remove the water tank.

I was surprised to find out it’s 21.7 pounds as I swear it didn’t feel that heavy when I was carrying it. Even so, it’s worth noting that you might need help setting it up.

As it’s large, the drip tray is roomy enough to hold a surprising amount of water, but I still emptied it after every use. I don’t know about you, but the idea of having stagnant nasty coffee-milk-water in my kitchen is gross.

Now, I know this is all written in the conditional tense and what has happened in the past may not occur in the future, but it’s still worth noting. I got a Fellow Stag EKG kettle a couple of years ago, and it stopped working after a couple of months. The replacement still works, but I know longevity is a known issue with Fellow gear.

The possibility of the Espresso Series 1 suffering from this issue isn’t confirmed. I can’t see the future — I’d be a lot richer if I could. However, this makes me a little hesitant to recommend the machine wholeheartedly. I didn’t experience any issues during my testing period, but I only had it on a 10-day loan.

Even so, Fellow offers a 2-year warranty with the Espresso Series 1, which is the same as Breville and Ninja, and pretty standard for espresso machines these days.

Fellow provides two sachets of cleaning products, which should be enough for around 400 shots (depending on how long that would last you!), and these cost $14.95 for 10. Descaling solution costs $9.95 per sachet, or $14.95 for an 8 fluid ounce bottle.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Verdict

If you couldn’t tell from my waxing lyrical for 2,000 words, I love the Fellow Espresso Series 1. It’s got everything: looks, brains, brawns, ambition. I never made a bad shot and my milk was perfect every single time. This is the machine I dream about.

But, at $1,499, I’m realistically never going to own this machine, and I know that’s expensive for most people. Although most fancy espresso machines will set you back well over a grand, so this isn’t particularly overpriced; it’s just unobtainable for most people. I’d recommend waiting until a sale (Black Friday, maybe?) or getting something a bit cheaper, like the Breville Bambino.

Got $1,499, though? Yeah, you will not be disappointed by the Fellow Espresso Series 1. I’m not sure how I can go on after testing this absolute delight. If you’re in a position to spend 1.5k on an espresso machine, don’t walk — run to the checkout.

I’ve always been a baking fan. When I was a child, I'd help my mom bake every Sunday morning, making fruit pies and sweet treats for the week ahead. With a family of six, there were a lot of mouths to feed.

I can still picture my mom’s Kenwood Chef with its retro design, which saw her through many years of baking for a large family. Forty years on, my love of baking is still strong, and I’ve been fortunate enough to turn my hobby into part of my work.

Being a homes writer at Tom's Guide means I get to test a whole stack of appliances, including stand mixers, and I get a really good feel for how each one performs. Currently, KitchenAid’s Artisan stand mixer is the best stand mixer we recommend at Tom’s Guide, and until recently, I really didn’t think anything else would come near.

But since testing and reviewing KitchenAid’s newest release, the KitchenAid Artisan Plus, I'm even more impressed. And it’s the reason why I gave it my first-ever 5-star review. Here's what I love about the new features the Artisan Plus offers.

Putting the spotlight on your baking — it’s not just for show

The most impressive new feature is the light that illuminates the bowl. It may not seem like much, especially if you are working in a light-filled room, but to me it really made a difference.

Although I knew the stand mixer had this feature, when I turned it on it made me go ‘Wow’. And I instantly liked how it lit up the ingredients to allow you see more clearly what’s happening with your mix.

It’s not just showbiz, it has a functionality that improves your baking.

So smooth — it purrs

With the KitchenAid Artisan you get 10 speeds, but the Plus version offers an extra ½ speed. That’s 11 speeds in total, with the option to switch the control for finer tuning. The classic presets include the ½ speed and 1 to 10, while precision control gives you the flexibility to choose from the 11 settings and every speed in between.

The ½ speed is a real bonus if you're mixing light ingredients that instantly puff out of the bowl, such as powdered sugar, which from my experience is the worst culprit and a nuisance to clear up.

Even if you are using the pouring shield, light ingredients have a tendency to misbehave, so having the ½ speed reduces this issue. Even if you tend to use your mixer for bread, rather than for cake icings, you probably appreciate the benefit just as much.

Four accessories (you'll love the double-edge flex beater)

What’s so great about the accessories is that you get four. But aside from the dough hook, wire whisk and flat beater, the flex-edge beater is double-edged. I’ve already purchased the single- flex-edge beater for my KitchenAid Artisan, and it does a grand job of clearing the mixture from the edges of the bowl, but the Plus version is double-edged, doing the work with half the effort.

What’s more, it’s much heavier and takes a curvaceous design with a slight twist. When I placed the two accessories on my kitchen scale, the KitchenAid Plus double-edge flex beater weighed in at 281g, while the single flex-edge beater weighed just under half the weight at 139g. I assume the weight and ergonomic curve of the heftier beater powers through the mixture, taking less time to do the same job.

The pouring shield is more stable

It’s not a big change, but the pouring shield has been redesigned with added grips. This makes it less likely to move on the bowl, as it can be secured in place. Surprisingly, it’s not something that is highlighted in the new product details, but I found it made a significant difference when using the appliance. Instead of often knocking the pouring shield when I’m adding in ingredients, it stays firmly in place.

In the old days, I remember placing a tea towel over my mom’s Kenwood stand mixer to stop the ingredients from flying over the side, so having a clear pouring shield really does help, as you can still see what's going on in the bowl.

No more messy cables

Again just like the pouring shield, the design is in the details, and it's these extra features that add up to make a difference with this stand mixer. I always get into a tangle with cables, especially if I am moving an appliance about and storing it in a cupboard when it’s not in use.

However, the Artisan Plus comes with a tidy cable; what’s more, it’s already attached to the power cable, so you won’t lose it when it's in transit.

Which stand mixer will I be using?

I’ve already swapped my KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer over to the Artisan Plus model, although the standard version is still an excellent appliance that I have no doubt in recommending.

However, if you do have $100 extra to spend, and will be using a stand mixer for more than the occasional birthday cake, I’d opt for the newest model.

More from Tom's Guide

• Smeg’s newest retro stand mixer gives KitchenAid a run for its money — here’s why it won me over
• I made cake, bread and even butter in the KitchenAid 7 Quart Stand Mixer — here's what happened
• Ooni Halo Pro Spiral stand mixer review

Smeg is one of my favorite brands for sheer style. Everything the made by the Italian company just seems to ooze cool, whether that be its classic retro vibe or the new sleek modern aesthetic.

The coffee collection is no different. The Smeg x La Pavoni EMC02 is one of my favorite espresso machines of all time; it combines sheer beauty with iconic Italian function, and helped me make some of the best coffees of my career. When I dream about espresso machines, many of them are EMC02-shaped.

But the newest thing catching my eye is the Moonlight colorway. This sleek, modern style is simply gorgeous — and I finally got to see it in real life. Moonlight combines low-key aesthetics with serious function. You can get it on the Smeg toaster, Smeg electric kettle, and the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker. I cannot wait to get my hands on the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker in Moonlight — and here's why.

Healing & harmonious

I could spend a thousand words waxing lyrical about the Moonlight colorway, but just look at it. When I first saw the coffee maker, I gasped and stroked it like it was a kitten. Trust me — not only does it look gorgeous, it feels super satisfying and matte as well.

Smeg designed the Moonlight colorway to "reflect the growing shift towards natural materials and calmer palettes, enhancing each appliance’s form while integrating into modern living spaces."

As much as I love the industrial-cool aesthetic of the Moccamaster and the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer, I know that look doesn't suit all homes. The Moonlight shade is intended to "work seamlessly alongside wood, stone and satin metals" and "create interiors that feel considered, cohesive and easy to live with".

What do you think? Do you think the Moonlight colorway would suit your kitchen? Or would you want something a bit more in-your-face?

Anti-fingerprints

As Moonlight is a matte shade, you shouldn't have to wipe off those pesky greasy fingerprints as much as with a chrome product. I swear, when I was testing the Aarke Coffee Maker, I was wiping off fingerprints more than I was making coffee. Don't get me wrong — that's a great machine that makes great coffee (it's just expensive), but those fingerprints...

Obviously, I didn't get a chance to use the Retro Coffee Maker as I would if it were mine, but I didn't notice any greasy fingerprints on the machine. I'll be getting it in the week after next for a full review, so watch this fingerprint-related space.

A full set

Like other Smeg gear, the Retro Coffee Maker, Electric Kettle, Toaster, and refrigerator are all available in Moonlight. In theory, you could get the whole set and have a completely matching kitchen.

Smeg is no stranger to full kitchen sets. Many of its appliances are available in harmonious colorways, like the Smeg x Porsche Shade Green set or the Smeg x Dolce Gabbana Blu Mediterranean set.

What sets the Moonlight collection apart, though, is its inconspicuity. As this is a muted, mellow design, just one item could suit a monochrome kitchen, or the entire lineup could mesh well with a brighter kitchen.

But still pretty plastic

Because of my series The Coffee Lab, I've been on an anti-plastic kick recently. You guys really hate plastic in your coffee machines. As a result, whenever I test a new coffee machine, plastic is all I can see.

The Smeg Retro Coffee Maker still seems to be pretty plasticky, especially the inside of the filter basket, where hot water will touch time and time again. I know this is a dealbreaker for a lot of coffee lovers — would this put you off?

As much as I'm trying to find a plastic-free coffee maker for the anti-plastic crew out there, I'm not personally super against plastic in my coffee makers. I think I'd still grab the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker. This plastic wouldn't totally put me off. Of course it wouldn't — I use an AeroPress!

I love the Moonlight colorway enough to look past the plasticky interior, too. I mean, come on. It's gorgeous. My kitchen needs this matte, celestial beige in its life.

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It was almost a year ago when I stumbled onto a rather incredible discount on my dream coffee machine, the Breville Oracle Touch. At the time, we were celebrating EOFY 2025, which had bargains aplenty, including a tidy AU$1,000 off the terrific coffee maker. However, I've just spotted an even better discount, and I'm definitely reaching for my credit card.

Right now, my most wished-for coffee machine, the Breville Oracle Touch, has been discounted by a massive AU$1,000 during Breville's EOFY sale. Across the sale, this is the biggest discount offered on any Breville product, let alone a coffee machine of its calibre.

That said, this discount gets even better when you apply an exclusive code, courtesy of Tom's Guide. With this code, found on our Breville coupons page, you can score an additional 10% off the Oracle Touch, bringing it down to just AU$2,249.10 — that's AU$1,249.90 off RRP!

While I was way off investing in this machine last June, I can confidently say I'm picking one up this year. So, if you're anything like me and had your eye on a Breville coffee machine for some time, you'll need to act fast. This killer price is only available until June 30, 2026.

Okay, I get it — you may be wondering how I know this coffee machine is the one for me and my home setup if I haven't used it before. Well, I can honestly say that I have, and it's one of the big reasons I regularly attend Tom's Guide AU office (other than to work, obviously).

The Breville Oracle Touch has made a fine home for itself in our office kitchen, and as soon as it gets to 11 am, you can always find me at the machine, crafting my latest coffee obsession — an iced long black with a dash of almond milk.

I'm not one to fuss around with grind and tamp settings, either, so the Oracle Touch has truly come in handy at perfecting my ideal cup. As the name might suggest, all you need to do is press the touchscreen display to select your grind size, preferred caffeinated beverage and hit start.

Plus, thanks to its dual boiler system, the machine is seriously speedy when making your morning brews, as it can foam and pull an espresso shot at the same time. And as someone who is constantly in a hurry, it's a pretty big win to have a coffee in hand as I'm flying out the door.

So if you have the means to nab this excellent machine, Breville's EOFY sale is the best time to act. And if Breville's coffee machines aren't up your alley, you can use our Breville coupon code across the entire site to score an additional 10% off. What a win.