It was the 60th anniversary of Star Trek earlier this week. I published a round-up of some of the best merchandise for fans, but missed arguably the best of the bunch: the brand new range of Trek-themed Le Creuset products!

There's some incredible items here, all themed around the original series and its iconic characters and symbols. How about a Spock mug with an ear? Or a Mini Cocotte based on the Gorn or creepy Balok? Or a "Live long and prosper" oven mitt?

Le Creuset is known for making some of the most durable cookware out there, so why not liven up your kitchen with some of these fun and no doubt highly collectible Star Trek pieces?

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

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

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

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

Ooni Halo Core spiral mixer: What I like

1. Perfect dough

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

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

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

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

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

2. Pause and go again

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

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

3. Double whisk

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

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

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

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

It wasn't great at mixing cake batter

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

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

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

Over to you

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

More from Tom's Guide

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

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

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

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

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

Foods that belong in the refrigerator

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

Cut watermelon

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

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

Fresh corn on the cob

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

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

Barbecue ribs and cooked leftovers

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

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

Open condiments and sauces

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

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

Berries

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

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

Eggs

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

Foods that belong in the freezer

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

Bread

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

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

Avocados

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

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

Excess herbs

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

Foods that should stay at room temperature

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

Tomatoes

This is one of the most common storage mistakes.

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

Once cut, however, they should be refrigerated.

Peaches, nectarines and plums

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

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

Onions

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

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

A smarter way to manage summer food storage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What's in my basket

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

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

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

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

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

How does nunc. work?

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

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

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

How is nunc. different from a normal espresso machine?

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

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

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

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

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

Here's a shot of my oat flat white.

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

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

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

Where can I get nunc.?

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

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

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

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been testing the Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer — it somehow makes juicing complicated
• I just watched a robot vacuum actually climb stairs — it took 3 minutes but those steps were sparkling after
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The Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer promises a convenient way to make juice, nut milk and sorbet. But if anything, it proved to me once and for all that if you want a smooth-sailing juicing experience, you need to spend a little more money.

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

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

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Specs

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Price & availability

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

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

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

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

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Design

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

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

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

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

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

Controls

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

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Performance

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

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

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

Apple juice:

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

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

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

Orange juice:

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

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

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

Carrot and Celery juice:

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

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

Cashew milk:

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

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

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

Sorbet:

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

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

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

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Cleaning

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

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

Canoly C16 Cold Press Juicer review: Verdict

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What actually is the Comandante C40 MK4?

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

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

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

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

Why is a hand grinder worth $300?

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

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

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

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

Should I spend $300 on a coffee grinder?

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

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

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

More from Tom's Guide

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

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

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

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

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Specs

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Price & availability

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

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

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Design

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

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

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

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

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Performance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Storage & maintenance

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

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

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

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

Subminimal Nanofoamer Go review: Verdict

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

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

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

Only seven days left before Father's Day 2026, which falls on Sunday, September 6 in Australia.

If dad enjoys cooking up a feast, or maybe hosting the occasional dinner party, there's no better way to celebrate him than nabbing a kitchen-inspired gift this year. From small appliances to cookware and drinkware, there's plenty to consider here, as I've spotted 21 of the best kitchen and dining Father's Day gifts below.

All of these items have 4-star reviews on Amazon, KitchenAid, and David Jones, plus they offer same-day or fast delivery, so your preferred gift will arrive just in time for the big day.

I'll stop with the fuss about now — here are the best kitchen-inspired Father's Day gifts available right now.

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• Forget socks — shop these 30 expert-picked skincare and haircare buys for dad this Father's Day
• Forget a new tie — I've found 15 of the best Father's Day tech gifts that will make you his favourite child
• Gamer dad? I've found 11 winning Father's Day gaming ideas to level up your gifting
• Run, don't walk — I've spotted 9 of the best fitness Father's Day gifts that'll help dad work on his #DadBod
• Got an outdoorsy or garden-loving dad? I've compiled 12 of the best Father's Day gifts that your green-thumbed dad would enjoy

The Philips Baristina is an interesting espresso machine. It’s an automatic, but also not quite an automatic. How does that work, I hear you ask? Let me explain.

So, while it grinds, doses, tamps, and brews without any input from you (aside from you clicking the shot button), you also have to empty the portafilter. Isn’t that the worst part of any manual machine? The coffee grounds always get stuck to my hands. Anyway, if you’re after an espresso machine that does most of the hard work for you, the Baristina could be ideal.

However, the espresso does taste pretty mid, and the price is about $200 more than I’d expect. So, could it be one of the best espresso machines? Hm. I don’t think so. But want to find out the full story? Keep reading this Philips Baristina review.

Philips Baristina review: Specs

Philips Baristina review: Price & availability

The Philips Baristina is $449-$529 from Amazon U.S. and £299-£379 from Amazon U.K. While this price is reasonable enough in the U.K., I would not recommend paying $529 if you’re in the U.S. You don’t even get a built-in milk frother — it looks and feels like a Nespresso Aeroccino standalone milk heater/frother. You can’t customize milk texture at all.

Even though I think the Baristina is overpriced, it’s an automatic machine, which means it’s always going to be pricier than manuals. However, I would wholeheartedly recommend spending just a little more for a genuinely decent machine.

Instead of spending $529 on what is effectively an espresso maker and a separate (cheap-feeling, one-trick-pony) milk frother, I’d spend $699 on the Philips 2300 Series, $799 on the KitchenAid KF2, or, heck, even $379 on the Nespresso CitiZ + Aeroccino. It’s a pod machine, sure, but honestly? It makes a better brew.

Philips Baristina review: Design

So, I’m not a huge fan of how the Baristina looks. I think it looks incredibly cheap, like something that costs $200 rather than $530. When I found out how much it costs, I actually gasped.

While it doesn’t look bad, it does look cheap. Whether this is a dealbreaker will depend on your preferences. For me, I’d rather spend a little extra on the KitchenAid KF2 or just get a bog-standard manual like the $300 Breville Bambino.

You get a “portafilter”. I say “portafilter” because, yes, it’s technically a portafilter in that it has a handle and a basket where the coffee goes. But you can’t use it like a traditional portafilter — you don’t dose and tamp manually. All you have to do is push the portafilter over to the grinder side at the start of the brew and then sit back and relax.

While, yes, I loved watching the portafilter snap back into place after the grinder finished (it’s the simple things), I think this is more of a style gimmick than actual function. If you’re after a truly automatic machine, it might even be a major con. Yes, you have to empty and clean out the portafilter yourself.

Philips Baristina review: Espresso

If you’re an espresso aficionado, you won’t want to read this. However, if you’re someone who prioritizes speed, ease of use, and simplicity, you’re the perfect candidate for a Baristina.

As it’s a bean-to-cup automatic — despite having a “portafilter” — you have very little input. Pour your beans in, press the espresso button, slide the portafilter to the grinder side (which is super fun), and you’ve done all the work. The machine snaps the portafilter into place hands-free, and, yes, this is mesmerizing to watch. I don’t care how lame that makes me; I enjoy watching a portafilter careen across a coffee machine like a stone from a slingshot. It’s novel. Sue me.

In terms of espresso flavor… it’s okay. It tastes incredibly average. I tried the machine with both artisan Ethiopian beans and your generic “strong” dark roast, and it tasted better with the latter. I’d recommend using cheaper, darker beans on this machine, as the excessive 16-bar pressure and the tiny (40mm) pressurized portafilter destroys any nuance anyway.

As you can see, this espresso shot is foamy and aerated, which means it was extracted under too much pressure. The crema is fluffy, but it dissipated within seconds. The first Ethiopian beans (which usually taste divine) were overly sour and astringent. However, the second generic Illy-brand beans resulted in a stronger, more palatable coffee taste. Of course, this won’t impress coffee nerds, but this isn’t a machine for coffee nerds.

Even so, I struggle to recommend this machine wholeheartedly considering you can get much better machines for just a little extra. The Philips 2300 is a modest stretch at $699; the KitchenAid KF2 is $799. Considering these machines have built-in milk preparation and zero user input, I’d recommend them if you’re after a totally automatic machine. The espresso tastes much nicer.

Philips Baristina review: Grinder

While the Philips Baristina does have a built-in grinder and therefore demands a standalone ‘grinder’ section, this is going to be extremely short.

The grinder is not adjustable. Yes, you heard me correctly. Not adjustable. The grinder grinds to one size and one size only. Want it finer? Not possible. Coarser? Oh, again, you guessed it, not possible.

Other automatic machines such as the De’Longhi Rivelia have an adjustable grinder, and also the $699 manual bean-to-cup De’Longhi Arte Evo. If you’re interested in actually playing and experimenting with coffee, I’d recommend the Arte Evo over the Baristina. You’re paying an extra $150, but it’s often discounted to $599 (so just $50 more), and you get all the bonuses of a manual machine with the ease of an assisted tamping system.

Philips Baristina review: Milk

As mentioned earlier, the Baristina comes in two variants: with milk frother and without milk frother. If you order the cheaper model, it won’t come with the frother.

Those familiar with something like the Nespresso Aeroccino will recognize this milk frother: the Philips model is essentially just your standard countertop model. It’s not particularly unique or innovative, but damn, it works. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix, right?

Here’s a photo of a milk drink made. Notice how I said “milk drink” rather than latte or cappuccino — the Baristina can only make one type of milk. No wet lattes or dry cappuccinos here. Milk or no milk only!

As you can see, the milk is extremely thick. Don’t get me wrong, the texture is satisfying, with well-distributed, evenly sized bubbles. However, this isn’t going to impress people who are used to barista-crafted beverages. It cannot make microfoam; therefore, drinks like lattes and flat whites are out of the question. You can only make cappuccinos.

Philips Baristina review: Storage & maintenance

Although 15 inches tall, the Philips Baristina feels a lot smaller. This height is solely due to the grinder hopper — its main body is more compact. Of course, you’d need to ensure you have space under your counters for the hopper, but the machine should take up less space than you think.

Due to this size, the machine has a teeny-tiny drip tray. I always recommend cleaning out your drip tray after every use, but in this case, it’s definitely a necessity. If you don’t clean it out every day, it’s going to overflow before you know it.

As with the rest of the machine, the drip tray is incredibly plasticky. This is one of my biggest complaints — a design this plasticky is pretty inexcusable when you’re charging $549 from an aesthetic and longevity perspective.

Speaking of longevity, you get a 2-year warranty as standard, which is the same as Breville, Ninja, and De’Longhi.

Philips Baristina review: Verdict

While I don’t think the Philips Baristina is the worst espresso machine I’ve ever used, I can’t recommend it wholeheartedly. Only a very specific user base should get this machine. If you can’t stretch to $699 for a Philips 2300 Series, you don’t mind mid-tasting espresso, you’re happy with one-size-fits-all milk texture, and you’re happy to spend $200 more than I think you should, then yes, this would be the machine for you.

All other people, though? You’d either be better off with the $699 Philips 2300 Series, the $799 KitchenAid KF2, or even venture into the world of manual bean-to-cups with the fantastic De’Longhi Arte Evo.

As I said earlier, if you want simplicity and ease of use over anything else, I’d even go as far to say you’re the perfect candidate for a Nespresso CitiZ + Milk.

Labor Day is almost here — and if you're hosting any backyard barbecues or celebrations, chances are you could use a little help. That's where Ninja comes into play! The kitchen appliance brand has everything you need to meal prep and get grilling!

Fortunately, Amazon is closing out the summer with a bunch of Ninja appliance deals. From high-quality blenders and air fryers to pizza ovens and grills, there are some discounts here that you definitely don't want to miss — especially since the best deals are currently up to 40% off.

I've been scouring the sale and have found the best cooking deals to help you in the kitchen this Labor Day and beyond. I've listed all my favorites below, so keep scrolling to check them out.

Quick Links

• shop all Ninja deals at Amazon
• Ninja Blast Max: was $99 now $69
• Ninja Iced Coffee Maker: was $129 now $99
• Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer: was $179 now $159
• Ninja Double Oven, 12-in-1: was $379 now $219
• Ninja Woodfire Oven & Smoker: was $399 now $279
• Ninja Luxe Café Premier: now $599
• Ninja FlexFlame Propane Grill: was $1,119 now $999

Ninja Deals

More Deals

Vitamix makes some of the best blenders on the market — our testing at Tom’s Guide consistently proves it — but the brand’s premium price tags often put them out of reach.

However, that just changed with the launch of the Vitamix Nano. The brand is re-entering the single-serve market with a compact, personal blender design for the health-conscious in mind, and it’s available for $199 at Vitamix.

Single-serve smoothies

The compact Nano isn’t designed for big elaborate feasts. Instead, it focuses on the essentials: creating smoothies and frozen drinks with a small footprint that won’t overcrowd your countertop.

Although you don’t get all the multi-functions of other Vitamix blenders, such as the Vitamix Ascent X2, which takes the top spot in our best blenders buying guide, you don’t get short-changed on performance. The Vitamix Nano has a single purpose.

Intelligent blending

At the heart of the Vitamix Nano is SmoothiePilot — the brand’s first adaptive smoothie feature. So what exactly does that mean? It senses what’s happening inside the cup and automatically selects the optimal blend program, adjusting the speed and duration to deliver a smooth result, whether making a smoothie or frozen cocktail.

Laura Ostenkamp, vice president of sales and marketing at Vitamix, says, in short, it "blends every time with no guesswork required."

Does this put an end to pausing mid-blend to check and stir the ingredients, and to finding unexpected lumps in your cocktails? We’ll have to see how it performs once we receive a unit to test.

The Vitamix Nano: What do you get?

So what does this compact 20-ounce cup blender offer, and is it worth paying $199 for the privilege? Vitamix says it comes with a high-powered 1,000-watt motor and hardened stainless steel blades to tackle tough ingredients like ice and frozen fruit.

What’s more, the technology takes away all the hard work, making the controls simple: select SmoothiePilot for a perfectly smooth drink, or select variable speed for your preferred texture.

You also get two cups with lids, so you can blend your drinks and go, or keep one in the refrigerator for later.

Cleaning a blender can be notoriously tricky, but once you’ve made your drink, clean up is easy. According to Vitamix, it self-cleans in 30 seconds; just add hot water and a drop of dish soap; there’s no need to disassemble the unit. But, for an easy life, it’s also dishwasher-safe.

And if you’re wondering whether you have enough space for another gadget on your countertop, the Vitamix Nano is mini. It measures just 8.5 inches x 5.5 inches at the base, and stands 15.3 inches tall.

The only choice you’ll have to make apart from selecting SmoothiePilot or the variable control is whether to buy the white or black version. My money is on the black, although I’d like to see a few punchy candy colors introduced in the future.

More from Tom's Guide

• Vitamix just released an entry-level version of our all-time favorite blender
• I made smoothies, shakes and pancake batter in Ninja's most powerful portable blender — here's my verdict
• I threw out my Nutribullet blender after testing this Beast personal blender — here's why

Let me put you onto something weird: the "Fridge cigarette." I've seen this term used to refer to a cold, crisp can of Diet Coke, but recently, another meaning has arisen: Diet Coke + espresso. As director of The Coffee Lab and coffee nerd, I had to try this out. What do you mean, people are mixing coffee and Diet Coke? How can that possibly taste good?

To make it, I bought a simple can of Diet Coke and made a shot of espresso using my Breville Bambino. Then, I mixed them — simple as that. No fiddling with measurements or layering cream on top like Starbucks's Sweet Cream Cold Brew.

So, is the "Fridge cigarette" worth your time? Let's get into it. If you want me to try out more weird recipes, comment them down below, and I'll be sure to include them in the next Coffee Lab video.

How to make a 'fridge cigarette'

As I said earlier, making a fridge cigarette is super easy.

How does it taste?

It doesn't look appealing, but the fridge cigarette actually tastes... good?

If you like Espresso Martinis, you'll love the fridge cigarette. It took me a moment to identify the flavor — at first I thought Guinness, but then realized that wasn't the specific flavor I was tasting. It's sweet and vanilla-y, with a rich, malty afternote rounding it out.

I mean, it's not massively shocking. Diet Coke = vanilla. Espresso = coffee. Espresso Martini = vanilla, coffee. All the same flavors are going on here.

What about caffeine content? I mean, if you're super exhausted, this might be a way to bring you back to life. As soon as I drank about half, my hands started shaking, and I was acutely aware of the fluorescent lights in the studio. This isn't a drink I'd recommend if you're sensitive to caffeine. This is only for hardened caffeinators.

As always, let me know if you have any questions or if there are any other weird coffee drinks you want me to taste-test next. Stay tuned for the next episode of The Coffee Lab, landing at a YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram near you.

More from Tom's Guide

• Overwhelmed by coffee jargon? Here are the 5 key espresso terms you need to know
• I'm an ex-Starbucks barista — you can make the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home for a fraction of the cost
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

I’ve been boring everyone in earshot about my new kitchen. It’s been on my wishlist for a couple of years, so I’ve had plenty of time to work out exactly what I want for the cabinets and countertops. But when it came to appliances, there was one non-negotiable that topped the list.

Having relied on a gas cooktop for nearly 30 years, I was ready to make a swap. I was fed up with food boiling over and cleaning up around the rings and grates.

So I was more than ready to say goodbye to gas and welcome induction into my kitchen.

It’s now one week since my new Hisense Hi8 induction cooktop was fitted (you can see from my images that I’m still working from a makeshift worktop), but in that short time I can honestly say I have no regrets.

Here I share three things I love and one thing you need to know before buying an induction cooktop.

3 things I love

1. Precision cooking

I was first introduced to induction cooking during a press visit to Smeg’s test kitchen, and was a little nervous to start. I wasn’t sure what to expect, or how easy an induction cooktop would be to use.

It turns out I had nothing to fear, and apart from taking a few moments to get used to the cooking levels, I found it instinctive.

I've since tested several portable versions, including Smeg’s portable induction cooktop and Ikea’s budget-friendly portable induction cooktop, and I’ve experienced the same with each one: induction cooking gives you precision.

Twiddling the knobs on my gas cooktop to get the heat 'just right’ always felt like guesswork, and I was forever having to clean up the mess of boiled-over liquid.

The controls on the Hisense induction cooktop make it super easy to get the exact heat you need. What’s more, because your pans sit directly on the cooktop, without a rack above, heat loss is minimal.

2. It's quick

After years of cooking on a gas cooktop, I always relied on an electric kettle to preheat my pasta water. Trying to bring a large pot to a boil from cold on a gas burner felt like it took an eternity.

Since swapping to induction, I’ve noticed a massive difference in speed, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by my son, who has taken a sudden interest in this new ‘gadget’.

Apart from noticing the increased speed when using the normal controls, you can increase the intensity with the power boost — or ‘P’ on the controls. Apart from being a feature on the Hisense induction cooktop, it’s even included within Smeg's portable version.

3. Clean up is easy

I can forget about spending time after I’ve enjoyed a meal cleaning up my cooktop. The flat surface makes it easy to wipe over. There are no awkward surfaces to work around, and with precision control, there’s less chance of spills and burnt-on messes.

What’s more, the Hisense Hi8 has a matt finish, so unlike the majority of induction cooktops with shiny surfaces, fingerprint issues are also obsolete.

1 thing to know

You may need to change your pans

I’d been using my previous pans for over 20 years, and they still have plenty of life left in them. However, as they are not induction-friendly, they simply won’t work.

Induction cooking works by passing an electric current through a coiled copper wire beneath the cooking surface. This creates magnetic energy that interacts with the cookware rather than the cooktop’s surface. For heat to be transferred, your pans need to be magnetic. That means using stainless steel or cast iron. Aluminum and copper pans won’t work.

Today, this isn’t a big issue, as when I was shopping for my new pans, the majority were induction-compatible. But if you’re not sure what to buy, look out for a symbol resembling a coil. And if you're still not sure what to look for, drop me a question in the comments below and I'll be happy to answer.

More from Tom's Guide

• Does an induction cooktop work with cast iron pans? Here’s what the experts say
• I switched to induction cooking in 2024 — here's why I'm never going back
• Are you damaging your induction cooktop? Here’s what you should do to protect it

There’s no bigger project in your home than renovating a kitchen. It’s a lengthy process even before the fitting starts, and it requires decision after decision.

But after having spent weeks washing up in the bathtub and wiping plaster dust off my cutting boards, I’ve survived and have finally got to the fun part. I’m now ready to choose all the accessories for my brand-new kitchen.

But this major project has left a big dent in my bank balance, so I need to find budget-friendly ways to style and organize the space. That’s why I’m heading to IKEA, and I’ll be putting these five items into my basket to help make my kitchen functional and fun.

Style on a budget

More from Tom's Guide

• You don’t need an appliance garage — I’ve been using this $29 IKEA classic for years, and it keeps my gadgets neatly stowed away
• IKEA’s stackable food storage containers just doubled my kitchen counter space, and they only cost $14
• I tested IKEA's portable induction cooktop — and it's a game changer for small spaces

Mastering the perfect cup of coffee can be tricky, especially if you're a total newbie to the world of espresso machines. That's where the best fully automatic coffee makers come in, and one brand that simply excels in this category is Nespresso.

If pulling the perfect shot or calculating the grind size yourself is simply too much hassle, then a machine like Nespresso's Vertuo Pop could be the right fit for you. By removing the complexities of coffee bean selection and the excessive cleaning that comes with owning a manual machine, Nespresso's capsule system takes the guesswork out of barista-made cups at home, providing consistent cups with the simple touch of a button.

And right now, Nespresso's Vertuo Pop machine is down to just AU$88 — that's 62% off RRP. This price is exclusive to the Pacific Blue, Lilac, Coconut White and Liquorice Black colourways on Amazon. You'll also need to act fast to score this stunning coffee machine, though — this deal’s only available while stocks last.

It's worth noting that this machine is rather fuss-free, and it's as simple as plugging it in, filling the water tank and hitting the button before sipping on your first brew. More often than not though, standalone Nespresso machines come with a sample pack of pods to try, but they don't always include a milk frother or extras to get your perfect sip sorted.

That said, plenty of Nespresso Vertuo models are sold in bundles, which include Nespresso's Aeroccino3 milk frother and, in some cases, a Nespresso-branded mug or tumbler.

If your budget can stretch to AU$179, you might want to consider nabbing the Nespresso Vertuo Pop and the Aeroccino 3 milk frother, with all the bells and whistles, in a fun Candy Pink bundle. This bundle also has the viral Nespresso Travel Tumbler, which typically retails at AU$42, and a fun canvas carry bag.

Not a fan of the Vertuo Pop's design? You might like the latest Vertuo model, the Up, which is discounted to AU$299 in White or Grey colourways. The Up also includes the Aeroccino milk frother and the sample pods.

I've popped both deals below if you're ready to upgrade your morning routine with this one-touch convenience.

Anyone who knows anything about coffee has heard of Moccamaster. The Moccamaster (specifically the KBGV Select) is the most famous drip machine in the world, and there's very little competition. Few brands can go head-to-head with Technivorm's industrial, hardy stalwart, arguably the best coffee maker of all time.

Mostly unchanged since its 1969 release, the Moccamaster does what many other coffee brands wish their flagship could: it has the best reputation in coffee. Whether this is from the industry-leading after-purchase care or the indestructible machine itself, I'm not sure. But people seriously love this thing. It's irrefutably "cult".

So enter the zippy young upstart — Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer. This model launched at the end of last year and was rolled out in 2026. What's the Plastic-Free Brewer got that the Moccamaster hasn't then? Well, the clue's in the name — it's not about what it has, but what it hasn't. Simply Good Coffee uses zero plastic in the brewing process.

Sure, this is all well and good — but what about taste? Let's find out which one makes a better brew.

Moccamaster KBGV Select & Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer: What's the difference?

While at their cores, the Moccamaster KBGV Select and the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewers are both drip/filter coffee machines, there are a few key differences.

These differences reside in two main areas: design and accreditation.

Obviously, the SGC Plastic-Free Brewer is that: plastic-free (well, low plastic). No hot water touches plastic anywhere in the brewing process — but it does have medical-grade silicone tubing in the water lines. Even so, I don't class this as "plastic" as it's not the kind of polymer that leaches into water or breaks down over time.

The SGC has plastic on the exterior to prevent burns. Seriously, imagine if it were completely steel. You'd need to go to the ER if you accidentally brush up against it after brewing.

Now, the Moccamaster KBGV Select has a plastic filter basket and a plastic destratification tube in the carafe. I personally don't mind this plastic — Technivorm (which makes Moccamaster) is a Dutch company, and the EU has seriously strict regulations on plastic. It's high-quality, non-leaching, BPA-and PFA-free — all the adjectives.

So what else separates them? The SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) accreditation. Now, I don't think this is the be-all and end-all. There are more important things than an SCA accreditation. Taste, feel, emotional connection, secret ghosts inhabiting your coffee maker — whatever floats your boat (stews your brew? No. That's terrible. A career in stand-up comedy is clearly not for me).

If you do care about SCA accreditations, as I know a lot of coffee lovers do, you'll be more inclined to go with the Moccamaster. The KBGV Select has been SCA-accredited since the latter's advent in 2017, but the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer isn't yet accredited.

Moccamaster KBGV Select & Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer: So how does it taste?

The Moccamaster KBGV Select and Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer both make a rich, comforting, delicious brew with zero silt or bitterness. I would have no qualms recommending either of these machines for serious coffee lovers or newcomers alike.

There are a few main differences in flavor, though. Take a look at these two photos.

The SGC Plastic-Free Brewer has a "Bloom" function, whereas the Moccamaster does not. In simple terms, this function steeps the coffee in water before pushing more water through for a full brew. This allows the coffee to grow more complex and can bring out nuanced flavors in the beans.

As a result, the SGC flavor is a little more juicy and what I would describe as "coffee-snob" territory. The Moccamaster tastes divine, don't get me wrong, but it brews a cup I would associate with "I'm a real coffee drinker because I drink my coffee black" memes.

I know people take water distribution seriously, so here's a comparison shot of the Moccamaster and Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer filter baskets post-brew.

Honestly, there's no better or worse here. Both machines brew a delicious cup. I would be happy with either of these in my apartment. The Moccamaster is pure, classic coffee, and the SCG is a little more pure, classic coffee wearing a beanie hat and a flannel.

I would choose the Moccamaster over the SCG purely for the lifetime repairs (and, well, because the SCG isn't actually sold in the U.K. yet), but you wouldn't be disappointed with either.

Which brew appeals to you? Moccamaster or SGC? Let me know in the comments and stay tuned for next Monday's The Coffee Lab, on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

More from Tom's Guide

• Overwhelmed by coffee jargon? Here are the 5 key espresso terms you need to know
• I'm an ex-Starbucks barista — you can make the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home for a fraction of the cost
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

I’m a firm believer that having one of the best blenders is the easiest way to level up your cooking at home, and squeeze in some extra nutrients. That means you need a blender that can cope with even the toughest ingredients. The Nutribullet Power Core does just that.

The Power Core costs less than $100, yet provides incredibly impressive performance and is easy to use. The large capacity means you can work in large batches, and the maintenance of the blender is really simple too.

Unfortunately, it’s extremely loud, and the motor creates a lot of airflow in your workspace. The limited speed settings could also put some users off, but I think it’s more than enough for home use. To find out more, you can keep reading this full Nutribullet Power core review.

Nutribullet Power Core review: Specs

Nutribullet Power Core review: Price & availability

The Nutribullet Power Core is available from Amazon U.S. for $99 and Amazon U.K. for £99. This is an incredibly affordable blender, but that's not unheard of from Nutribullet. In fact, they make some of the most affordable high-performance blenders, including the Nutribullet Smart Touch for $99 and the Nutribullet Pro 900W for $84.

If you want the option of smaller capacity blends, look at the Ninja Detect Power Pro with BlendSense for $179, which, like the Power Core, holds 72 ounces but comes with a 24-ounce single-serve cup.

For more control over blend speeds, check out the Tribest Backspin for $499, which has 12 speeds, or the Vitamix Ascent X2 for $549 with 10 variable speeds. In short, if you want more control, you need to pay more because you only get three speeds with the Nutribullet Power Core. That said, for everyday use, this is enough.

Nutribullet Power Core review: Design

The Nutribullet Power Core is a blender that will look good in any kitchen. It only comes in matte black, so if color matching all your appliances is a dealbreaker for you, this may not be the one (unless everything you own is black). But for most people, the simplistic design will be a win.

The jug has measurements up the side, so I found it easy to measure my ingredients as I went. The lid also has a small measuring cap that can be removed to add more ingredients, such as seasonings, as you blend. This was great for making things like dips.

Because of the large handle, the jug is very easy to hold and pour even when it’s full and heavy. Also, the spout makes pouring accurate, and I didn’t have any issues with spilled smoothies.

The blender uses a six-point stainless steel blade, and this was very effective even on tough ingredients like dates and seeds.

Controls

The Nutribullet Power Core is very easy to use. All of the button controls are at the front of the machine, and since it’s so cheap, it’s very basic. For me, this is great because I don’t think blending needs to be complicated.

The power button is in the middle, and to the left you’ll find a smoothie preset and a pulse button. To the right, there are three buttons for low, medium, and high-speed blending.

Nutribullet Power Core review: Blending performance

To test the blending performance of the Nutribullet Power Core, I carried out my usual tests and made a smoothie, sorbet, and hummus. When blending, the noise level reached a high of 101 decibels. This is around the volume you can expect from a lawnmower, and according to Hearing Loss USA, “anything above 85 decibels can damage the small hair cells in your ears and affect your hearing health.”

This is very loud, even for a large blender. In comparison, the Vitamix Ascent X2 reaches about 81 decibels. I would seriously recommend using a pair of Loop earplugs if you’re using this blender often.

That’s not the only thing — the motor base also creates a lot of wind. If it wasn’t for the powerful suction cups keeping it stable on my countertop, I’m pretty sure this thing would have taken flight. It blew around containers and papers on my countertop, which was just plain annoying.

Also, since the jug is so big, it would have been great to have a tamper so ingredients could be directed toward the blades when it wasn’t as full. I ended up having to push the sides down with a spoon intermittently.

Smoothie

I added a bag of berry smoothie mix, dates, sunflower seeds and oat milk to the blender and used the smoothie preset for blending. This did a great job of quickly dealing with frozen ingredients and mincing the sunflower seeds finely.

I was most impressed by how the blender handled the dates, as their naturally sticky texture often clogs blender blades and leaves chunks behind. There was some texture from the fruit seeds, but I was left with a smooth drink, and the blades didn’t clog. For $99, this is an extremely impressive blender.

Sorbet

Next, I blended up a sorbet. This allowed me to see how the blender would perform with frozen ingredients without adding liquid. I added a bag of frozen mango that had been thawed for 10 minutes. I used the medium-speed setting, stopping to push the mango down from the sides intermittently.

Since this is a thicker consistency than the smoothie, I spent a lot of time getting the mixture off the side walls of the blender. The mixture was mostly smooth with a few rogue chunks of mango, but it was good enough for what I needed.

Hummus

Finally, I whipped up a quick hummus — and I mean quick. I added two cans of chickpeas, lemon juice and some seasonings to the blender and used the pulse setting as I slowly added extra virgin olive oil. This only took a couple of minutes.

I was very impressed with the results. I had a mostly smooth dip with only a few whole chickpeas. For the price, I couldn’t ask for more.

Nutribullet Power Core review: Storage & maintenance

Taking care of the Nutribullet Power Core couldn’t be simpler. Everything is dishwasher-safe apart from the motor base. This meant I could just pop the whole jug and lid into the dishwasher and give the motor base a quick wipe down with a cloth. To clean the jug by hand, use detergent and a soft sponge, but be very careful with the blades at the bottom.

You need to be prepared for it to take up a lot of space on your countertop, or potentially a whole shelf in your cupboard. It measures 15.5 x 7.8 x 7.5 inches and weighs 7.5 pounds. The 72-ounce jug detaches from the motor base for cleaning and easier storage.

Nutribullet Power Core review: Verdict

The Nutribullet Power Core is an incredibly affordable blender that delivers impressive performance for under $100. This easy-to-use blender made mixing up large batches of my favorite smoothies, sorbets, and dips an absolute breeze. It completely blended even the toughest ingredients like dates, seeds and frozen fruit, leaving no chunks behind. It’s a must if you need a big blender on a budget, and it’s dishwasher-safe, so very easy to maintain.

However, you’ll need to protect your hearing with some earplugs because it gets incredibly noisy. I’d argue it’s louder than should be possible for a blender. The motor also generates a lot of air, making the surrounding workspace insanely windy.

With only three speeds, some users may feel limited, but for casual blenders, this is more than enough. For reliable and impressive results on a budget, this blender is a great choice.

Amazon is closing out the summer with a bunch of Ninja appliance deals. Whether you're hoping to extend grilling season into the fall, want to keep enjoying delicious smoothies, or even improve your knife skills while cooking — there are some discounts here that you definitely don't want to miss.

I've been searching the sale and have found up to 30% off Ninja appliances. I've listed all my favorites below, so keep scrolling to check them out.

Quick Links

• shop all Ninja deals at Amazon
• Ninja Blast Max: was $99 now $69
• Ninja Iced Coffee Maker: was $129 now $99
• Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer: was $179 now $159
• Ninja 10-Pc German Steel Knife Set: was $249 now $199
• Ninja Woodfire Oven & Smoker: was $399 now $279
• Ninja Luxe Café Premier: now $599

Ninja Deals

When I tested the original Casabrews Ultra last year, I was perplexed. It has a PID controller and a built-in timer for under $349? And it doesn’t look overly plasticky or feel flimsy? How? Some major boiler issues, that’s how. Thankfully, these issues have been sorted out on its successor, the Casabrews Ultra Pro, released in July 2026.

So is this enough to make it one of the best espresso machines? Hmm — not if you’re serious about your coffee. While it’s a good entry-level model with premium features like a customizable PID controller and has a built-in timer, its weak steam wand and habit of burning espresso holds me back from recommending it fully.

But might it be worth the $349 price tag? To get the full story, keep reading this Casabrews Ultra Pro review.

Casabrews Ultra Pro review: Specs

Casabrews Ultra Pro review: Price & availability

The Casabrews Ultra Pro is $349 from Amazon U.S. At time of writing, it’s not available in the U.K.

For a Casabrews machine, this is a pretty premium price. I mean, you can probably tell from the name, right? They don’t call it the “Ultra Pro” for no reason. I tested the original Ultra last year and liked it, but it had some flaws, like a weak steam wand and boiler issues. More on that later, but I didn’t experience the same boiler problems.

The $349 asking price is a little too steep for this machine. When you can get the $299 Breville Bambino, PID controller and customizable pre-infusion included, or the $499 Breville Bambino Plus, there’s not a lot of wiggle room.

Casabrews Ultra Pro review: Design

The new Casabrews Ultra Pro looks pretty identical to the original Ultra. I liked the original version, so I like the new version. I didn’t notice any tarnishing issues this time around, so I’m glad to see Casabrews has improved on that; however, there’s still no water tank alert on the screen.

Speaking of the screen, I love it, and it’s by far the best feature on this machine. You don’t have to scrabble with a coffee scale timer anymore. Of course, you still need a coffee scale to ensure you’re getting the proper 36g espresso out, but forget that timer function. It’s redundant to you now. The Ultra Pro times your shot for you — and it’s reliable, every single time.

The screen has a few more capabilities: it shows you the double or single shot, hot water, and steam wand functions. That’s it, but I’m not mad about it. All I need is that sweet, sweet timer function, and I’m happy.

Like the previous model, the Ultra Pro utilizes a steam button rather than a dial, which is good if you need a low-effort machine.

Also like the previous machine, there’s a nice little groove on the top so you can store your tamper. I liked this feature as much as I like the 58mm portafilter basket. This is the coffee-snob standard, so is ideal for getting higher-quality aftermarket accessories… which you will need to purchase, as the Ultra Pro doesn’t come with a milk jug. Many Casabrews machines omit the milk jug, which I’m not a fan of. It’s so stingy. It’s literally a milk jug. All Breville machines come with a milk jug, but the $149 De’Longhi Stilosa doesn’t.

Casabrews Ultra Pro review: Espresso

I didn’t experience any boiler issues while using the Ultra Pro. On the previous version, it took ages for the machine to switch between milk and espresso. The Ultra Pro makes strange clicking noises after brewing espresso, but I was always able to get the steam wand up and running in a few seconds.

Despite these successes, I have a few espresso-related qualms with the Casabrews Ultra Pro. Casabrews claim “this espresso machine ensures consistent 9-bar extraction”, which isn’t true. I know it isn’t true because the Ultra Pro has an LCD screen that literally displays the bar pressure during extraction.

Not once did the bar pressure number stay the same. It fluctuated from 3 to 7 to 9 to 15 at one point, and down and up again throughout extraction. I know pressure is supposed to increase from low to 9-bar during infusion, but it’s not supposed to go back down when only 5g has extracted.

This is not a consistent 9-bar extraction. Casabrews kind of shot itself in the foot here. Why include a digital “manometer” (quotation marks necessary there) only for it to tell on itself?

Despite what Casabrews says on its website, there also doesn’t seem to be a solenoid valve, as all my pucks came out wet. Now I’ve grown accustomed to my Bambino Plus’s solenoid valve, I’m not sure I can ever go back. Cleanup is so much easier with dry pucks.

Here’s a photo of an espresso I made on the Casabrews Ultra Pro.

I wasn’t a huge fan of this espresso. It tasted burnt and overextracted, despite extracting in 25 seconds. This is the “ideal” extraction time. It didn’t pour too quickly or too slowly, meaning it wasn’t over- or under-extracted.

However, perhaps I’m simply too picky. I gave my colleagues many coffees made on the Casabrews Ultra Pro, and the feedback ranged from “really nice actually” to “a nice fruitiness”.

There’s also the (customizable) PID controller (temperature controller to prevent burnt or weak brews) to mention. This is better than Breville’s entry-level models, which have a non-programmable PID. You can easily adjust the brew temperature in intervals from 194°F to 204°F. This is great to see on a cheaper machine.

Finally, there’s a cold brew mode. Here’s a photo of said cold brew.

The cold brew was bright and juicy, but quite astringent. It took 101 seconds to brew 160ml. I wouldn’t use this again, but it’s good if you like juicy, sharp flavors and you’re on a time crunch.

If you’re what you’d consider a “coffee snob”, this machine might not be the one for you. In that case, I’d recommend the aforementioned Breville Bambino or Breville Bambino Plus. You may even want to go for the $499 Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro, which has no PID controller but is a coffee nerd goldmine.

Casabrews Ultra Pro review: Milk

My biggest issue with the Casabrews Ultra was the weak steam wand. Seeing as Casabrews fixed the boiler issues, I hoped the steam wand weakness would have been fixed, too.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. It still takes a whole minute to steam half a jug of milk, and said milk is unevenly aerated. I found my milk separated into layers immediately after finishing steaming. I also struggled to obtain the ideal “vortex” while steaming, which is the marker of a low-quality steam wand.

As you can see, the latte art is squashed. This is because the foam wasn’t integrated into the milk, so when I poured, it separated into layers. This is not what I’d want to see.

The De’Longhi Stilosa, Breville Bambino, and Breville Bambino Plus don’t suffer from this issue, so I’d recommend grabbing one of those instead if you value latte art. Even the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus ($499)’s auto steam wand is better, if you can afford the extra $150 (but you get a grinder).

Casabrews Ultra Pro review: Storage & maintenance

The Ultra Pro is just 13 inches deep and 12 inches tall, which makes it a mid-sized espresso machine. While considerably larger than the 7-inch-wide Breville Bambino and the 5-inch wide Casabrews 3700 Essential, it’s nowhere near as massive as the frankly Titanic Breville Oracle Dual Boiler ($3,000, 18 inches tall).

Obviously, still check it will fit in your kitchen, but it’s not a large model, as far as espresso machines go.

In terms of cleaning, well, Casabrews doesn’t provide you with any accessories, unlike Breville and De’Longhi. You’ll need to buy backflush tablets and descaler yourself, which is around $20 for a huge bottle on Amazon.

In terms of warranty, it’s also pretty slim pickings here. Casabrews offers just one year, while Breville, De’Longhi, and Ninja offer two as standard.

Casabrews Ultra Pro review: Verdict

I gave the Casabrews Ultra Pro 3 stars. Yeah, I know. “You gave the Ultra 3.5 stars, so how does that work?” The most egregious issue — the steam wand — has not been fixed. Even though Casabrews has had time to fix this, it didn’t, hence the lower rating this time around. Do I think the Ultra Pro is worth $349? No. No I do not.

When you can get the Casabrews CM5148 Pro for $199 — PID controller included — I really cannot see why the Ultra Pro is so much more expensive. The on-screen timer is a nice addition, but is it worth an extra $150? I think not.

So while I’m sure you won’t be majorly disappointed by the Ultra Pro, I simply can’t recommend it when there are similar machines for cheaper, or much better machines for a little extra. Treat yourself to the $499 Breville Bambino Plus or Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro, or save a little and get the Breville Bambino or Casabrews CM5418 Pro. It’s a no-brainer.

Ever since my dad got a fancy espresso machine, I’ve dreamed of brewing my own crema-topped coffee at home. But most at-home, coffee makers don’t offer this feature — unless you want to pay hundreds of dollars and sacrifice a large chunk of your kitchen’s counter space.

When I saw that Keurig was coming out with the K-Crema, I wondered if it could be a good lower-cost option to my dad’s top-of-the-line model.

Ultimately, the K-Crema brews a tasty cup of coffee with a layer of foamy crema on top. It might not stack up to an espresso shot from a pricier machine or a coffee shop, but for those of us who want to save money while still enjoying a delicious shot of coffee, the K-Crema is a decent pick.

Read this Keurig K-Crema review to find out how it performed over several weeks in my kitchen, and why I think this is a top pick in the Keurig coffee maker lineup.

Keurig K-Crema review: Price and availability

The Keurig K-Crema is available for $219 at Keurig and Amazon. You can also buy it at Target, Kohl’s, Walmart, and other major retailers. Plus, the machine is available in a single color: Black.

You can use any K-Cup pod in the K-Crema, though mine came with Global Trek medium roast pods. The machine doesn’t come with a reusable pod, but you could buy one and use your own coffee if you prefer. For this review, I stuck with the provided K-Cups.

Keurig K-Crema review: Design

After initially unboxing the Keurig K-Crema, the first thing I noticed was its size. It’s bigger than your basic Keurig machine, like the K-Slim or the K-Mini, yet smaller than most coffee machines.

The K-Crema has a removable water reservoir that sits to the right of the machine, making it wider than some other single-brew coffee machines. But the reservoir was easy to fill: simply pick it up using the handle, fill it with water, and pop it back.

The K-Crema has six size options, from a single shot to a 12-ounce brew. The “Pressure” button brews coffee at five times the pressure of a standard cup, resulting in a silky layer of crema. That’s what sets the machine apart from other Keurigs, but can it justify the higher price tag?

Keurig K-Crema review: Performance

To determine whether or not the Keurig K-Crema is a good buy, I put it to the test in my kitchen over several weeks. I timed each drink setting and took the temperature of multiple cups to gauge the average hotness of a cup of coffee.

Here’s how the Keurig K-Crema performed:

These brew times are comparable to other Keurig machines, though it was interesting to note that the machine brewed faster when I used the pressure setting. Coffee temperature was a little colder than I expected, especially for the shot and double-shot sizes.

I measured brew temps from a low of 163 degrees to a high of 174 degrees. Experts recommend a water temperature of 195 to 205 degrees for the best-testing coffee, but that’s not realistic from a single-serve machine like the Keurig K-Crema.

Noise-wise, I measured a high of 68 decibels for both the Classic and Pressure settings, with an average in the 50 to 60 decibel range. That’s considered to be in the moderate range — and since the machine brews most sizes in under two minutes, it’s unlikely to cause much disruption.

Now for the most important factor: taste. My only prior experience of a crema machine is in my dad’s kitchen, where he has a fancy (and expensive) espresso machine. I didn’t expect the K-Crema to measure up, yet I was still pleasantly surprised by the taste of the resulting cup.

In the past, I’ve found K-Cups to taste too weak or artificial, but the Global Trek pods I tested were just right. I liked the addition of the crema, though it didn’t quite hold up when I mixed in milk and sugar.

Keurig K-Crema review: Comparison

The Keurig K-Crema is a solid single-serve coffee maker, but how does it compare to other Keurig models? I have previously tested the K-Mini Mate, and the K-Crema definitely brews a superior cup. But it comes at a cost: The Keurig K-Mini Mate costs $59.99, compared to $219.99 for the K-Crema.

You might also consider the Keurig K-Cafe, which comes with a milk frother. This machine is ideal if you like coffee drinks, like lattes and cappuccinos. But if you prefer to drink straight shots of espresso, the K-Crema is the right choice.

Ultimately, you’ll want to consider what you want out of your coffee machine. If you’ve always wanted an espresso machine but don’t want to spend the money, the Keurig K-Crema is a good budget-friendly option.

Keurig K-Crema review: Verdict

If you’re looking for an affordable coffee maker that can brew a decent cup of coffee or a shot of creamy espresso, I recommend looking into the Keurig K-Crema. While it doesn’t quite measure up to the expensive espresso machines on the market, it’s available for a fraction of the price, and the resulting coffee is smooth and enjoyable.

It’s the ideal middle ground for someone who wants to brew coffee drinks at home, but isn’t ready to commit to an espresso machine.

As a tea-drinking Brit, I have big opinions on kettles, and the Dualit Design Series Kettle is a good option for most people’s homes. It has an aesthetic stainless steel design which is easy to maintain with regular cleaning. It has good heat retention and is easy and accurate to pour with.

Unfortunately, though, the window design makes it hard to read the measurements when filling the kettle. The boiling is also a little slow when compared to other kettles.

To find out more about the kitchen appliance, you can keep reading this full Dualit Design Series Kettle review.

Dualit Design Series Kettle review: Specs

Dualit Design Series Kettle review: Price & availability

The Dualit Design Series Kettle is available to purchase from Amazon U.S. for $178 or directly from the Dualit online store for $179. You can also purchase the kettle in the U.K., where it’s called the Dualit Architect Kettle.

The kettle has a stainless steel finish, but you can purchase interchangeable panels for the bottom section from the Dualit store to make it your own. These include the colors Shadow, Metallic Silver, Copper, Brass, Evergreen and Eucalyptus.

Dualit also sells the Classic Kettle for $249, which is more of a fashion statement than a standard kettle. Its curved shape is much more interesting than the Design Series — the irony is not lost on me.

But you don’t need to spend the best part of $200 for a good kettle. I have also tested the Cosori Electric Glass Kettle, which, while not as dashing, is a fraction of the price at just $27. And honestly, it does just as good a job as the Design Series Kettle — you just have to be willing to put up with the odd leak while pouring, which isn’t a worry with the Dualit.

While the Dualit has a Pure pour spout to ensure zero leaks when pouring, if you need even more precision for drinks such as pour-over coffee, you may want to consider a gooseneck kettle such as the Fellow Stagg EKG for $165. If you take your brews seriously, I’d recommend the Fellow over the Dualit.

Dualit Design Series Kettle review: Design & features

The Dualit Design Series Kettle is certainly eye-catching. It measures 9.4 x 8.6 x 5.5 inches, weighs 3.2 pounds, and has a reflective surface that will have you checking out your hair while the water boils.

It can boil a maximum capacity of 1.5 liters, enough for six cups. However, you’ll find yourself playing a guessing game when filling it because of the design and positioning of the measurement window. The window has a fish-eye effect, warping the water as you peer through, and it sits directly in line with the handle, so you need to look around that too.

The handle extends down most of the body, making it easy to hold. At the top of the handle there’s a button to release the flat, hinged lid. This means you can open it without touching it, but to close it you’ll need to push it down. If you’ve already boiled the kettle once, be wary as this part can get very hot.

The power switch is just below the handle at the base. This base is very cohesive with the rest of the kettle — it looks like one whole unit with the kettle on top. It has a three-foot power cord, so it is best set up near a power outlet. If you need to make this shorter, you can store the excess in the base.

Dualit Design Series Kettle review: Performance

I have to say, when testing the Dualit Design Series Kettle, I was a little confused. After testing the Dualit Classic Kettle, I was impressed at how fast it boiled the water. It boiled five cups in just two minutes and 35 seconds. The Design Series Kettle took three minutes and 11 seconds — a stark difference.

All of my testing conditions were the same, so if you want an appliance that won’t have you waiting around all day, spring for the more expensive Classic. You may be spending a little extra, but hey, you’ll get to enjoy life with your fresh brew instead of staring into your lifeless eyes in the kettle’s reflection as the water boils for an extra minute. Just me? Well, as a tea-drinking Brit, by the time I’ve made my daily quota, all of those minutes add up.

I measured the temperature of the water immediately after boiling and got a reading of 209.3ºF/98.5ºC. This was very slightly cooler than the 210ºF/99.3ºC reading I got from the Classic Kettle. But the Design Series holds heat pretty well. After an hour, I got a reading of 161.1ºF/71.7ºC. So, if you wanted to reboil the water, you won’t be waiting for the full *checks notes* three minutes and 53 seconds — yikes.

Pouring with the kettle is a dream. If you’re a little shaky when pouring, I would fully recommend this kettle. I encountered no spillages. And the water went exactly where I needed it to. It can be a little heavy when you fill it to the top, so I only ever filled it about halfway so I could still use it with ease.

The kettle isn’t too loud either, and gave me a reading of 76dB on the Decibel X app.

Dualit Design Series Kettle review: Storage & maintenance

The Dualit Design Series is a kettle, and as such, this is a generally straightforward affair. It’s easy to maintain; you’ll just find yourself wiping down the exterior more than your usual kettle given its reflective nature.

If you live in a hard water area, you’ll also need to descale the kettle regularly. You can purchase descaling tablets for this or use natural methods such as lemon juice or baking soda. The spout of the kettle also has a removable limescale filter which is easy to remove, clean, and refit.

Dualit Design Series Kettle review: Verdict

The Dualit Design Series Kettle is undeniably good-looking. The stainless steel finish is slick and will fit in with any kitchen. The kettle is also easy to maintain (if you don’t mind wiping it down a lot). It has good heat retention and is very easy to pour with. There were absolutely zero drips thanks to the Pure pour spout.

Unfortunately, it’s tricky to tell where the water has been filled up to because of the poor window design, and boiling is a little slow. It took a whole minute longer to boil the same volume of water as the Dualit Classic Kettle.

If sleek looks are your priority, this is a great kettle, but $178 is a lot of money to spend on a kettle that takes so long to boil.

The Smeg Retro Coffee Maker is certainly gorgeous enough to be on the catwalk model of coffee machines. As with seemingly everything else made by the Italian coffee brand, the Retro (DCF02) looks sleek, sophisticated, and effortlessly cool.

But is appearance enough to make it one of the best coffee makers? Thankfully, this time, the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker isn’t style over substance. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Smeg ECF02’s performance despite a premium appearance — but the Retro Coffee Maker can walk the walk and talk the talk. It brews clean-tasting, balanced coffee with minimal silt and zero bitterness. And all you have to do is press one button.

So, want to find out more about this gorgeous coffee machine? Spoiler alert: it’s an absolute treat. To get the full story, keep reading this Smeg Retro Coffee Maker review.

Smeg Retro Coffee Maker: Specs

Smeg Retro Coffee Maker review: Price & availability

The Smeg Retro Coffee Maker is $259 from Crate&Barrel in the U.S., regardless of color, and £199-£219 from John Lewis in the U.K. The Moonlight colorway, the model I tested, runs for £20 more than the standard colors: cream, navy, black, pastel blue, pastel green, silver, gray, red, and white.

In the U.S., though, Moonlight is the usual price of $259. Functionally, the “standard” colors and Moonlight are the same, so if you’re looking to save as much as possible, I’d go for the older colors. But isn’t the Moonlight oh so pretty? Just look at it!

In keeping with Smeg’s back catalogue, the Retro Coffee Maker is pretty pricey for what it is. This is a common theme with Smeg, though: you pay a premium for the style.

For $369, you could get the Moccamaster KGBV Select, which has a 5-year warranty and lifetime repairs. For $250, you could get the single-serve Moccamaster Cup-One, complete with the same after-purchase benefits.

I’ve also tested the SCA-accredited $329 Breville Luxe Brewer and the low-plastic $319 Aarke Coffee Maker, alongside the low-plastic Ratio Four ($259), an automated pour-over. Although it’s not available in the U.K., so I haven’t tested it, I can assure you that the budget $90 Ninja 12-Cup Drip Brewer is a crowd pleaser in Tom’s Guide’s New York office.

Bonavita and Braun have also mastered the budget drip coffee maker: Bonavita’s SCA-accredited 8-Cup Brewer is just $189, the 5-Cup is even cheaper, at $149. The 12-Cup Braun Drip Coffee Maker is $129. This is where I’d like to see the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker’s price due to its lack of SCA accreditation and mostly plastic build.

Smeg Retro Coffee Maker review: Design

As with everything else under Smeg’s belt, the Retro Coffee Maker looks really cool. Per the name, it’s certainly retro, and would look at home in either a diner on a cheesy high school drama (I’m thinking Riverdale, anyone?), or in any sleek, sophisticated home kitchen.

I tested the gorgeous Moonlight shade, which has the same muted gray buttons as the rest of the color line. The buttons control power, brew amount, auto start, and flavor intensity. The lever is solely for adjusting the machine’s time display and the auto start timer. At first, I thought this was an unnecessary use of space, but it’s actually really fun to use.

It’s worth noting that the Retro Coffee Maker is bigger than it looks online: it’s 14 inches tall, 10 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. If you’ve got a small kitchen, I’d measure your space before purchasing. Comparatively, the Moccamaster KGBV Select is 6.5 x 12.8 x 14 inches, the Breville Luxe Brewer is 14.7 x 7 x 16.1 inches, and the Ninja 12-Cup is 8 x 10 x 14 inches. The Moccamaster is the narrowest, but it’s longer and the same height as the Smeg.

As for accessories, the Retro Coffee Maker comes with just two: a scoop and a permanent mesh filter. You can use single-use #4 conical filters, but I tested with the reusable filter as provided.

Smeg Retro Coffee Maker review: Performance

The Smeg Retro Coffee Maker is supremely easy to use. All you have to do is put your coffee in the filter, add your water, and press go.

Smeg recommends a recipe of one scoop per cup, so if you’re making a full batch, that would be 10 scoops. A half-batch requires 4 scoops. Of course, you can adjust this recipe to your tastes.

A full batch sometimes took seven minutes, sometimes eight, and a half batch took around three minutes. This is a little slower than the Moccamaster KGBV Select, but not by much at all.

The water tank isn’t removable, so I poured water in using the carafe. I have two qualms with this: one, the carafe is angled in such a way that it’s tricky to get the final dregs of water, and two, the water tank opening is on the right side, so if you’re left-handed like me, this will pose an issue. Alas, this will only irritate 11% of the population, so it’s not enough to knock half a star off (but justice for us devil-worshippers [for legal reasons, this is a joke]).

Here’s how I made delicious coffee on the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker.

My go-to Smeg Retro Coffee Maker routine

Smeg recommends one scoop per cup. One scoop was between 8.5-10 grams depending on if I levelled it or not.

I used 87g of coffee (10 level scoops) for a full carafe, which works out to a ratio of 1:16.

1. Fill the water tank to max.
2. Grind your coffee to a medium size. I used my Mazzer Philos, the best grinder in the world.
3. Put your desired amount of coffee in the filter. I used 87g for a full batch, a 1:16 ratio.
4. Select your desired intensity level. I used level 1.
5. Press the power button to start your brew.
6. Wait 7-8 minutes!

And that’s it!

Here’s a photo of the grounds after brewing. As you can see, there’s very little funnelling here.

The Retro Coffee Maker brews clean, fresh-tasting coffee. You can obviously adjust the intensity using either the on-machine button or increasing the coffee dosage (or grinding finer), but the out-of-the-box flavor is great.

Smeg Retro Coffee Maker review: Storage & maintenance

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker come with a 2-year warranty. This is better than Ninja’s 1-year warranty, but still not comparable to Moccamaster’s 5-year warranty (and lifetime repairs) or Simply Good Coffee’s new 5-year standard warranty.

To keep your Retro Coffee Maker lasting as long as possible, do not put the carafe in the dishwasher. I put the mesh filter in the dishwasher and it survived, but I’d recommend only washing by hand.

As mentioned earlier, the Retro Coffee Maker is pretty large — so make sure you’ve got enough counter space before buying!

Smeg Retro Coffee Maker review: How does it compare?

The Smeg Retro Coffee Maker looks just as cool as the industrial-chic Moccamaster, so I’d recommend either of these brands if you’re after that vintage vibe. I’d also put Simply Good Coffee’s Plastic-Free Brewer in this category — it looks sleek and effortlessly cool.

The Retro Coffee Maker isn’t as fast as the Breville Luxe Brewer, but it is $70 cheaper, so you win some, you lose some. It’s also considerably cheaper than the $319 Aarke Coffee Maker — but the Aarke is low-plastic, which is what a lot of consumers want these days.

But, and that’s a relatively big but, I would say the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker is a touch overpriced for what it is. The Moccamaster is $369 because it has lifetime repairs and is SCA-accredited. The SGC Plastic-Free Brewer is $469 because it’s made almost entirely from glass and metal. The Breville Luxe Brewer is $329 because it brews in three minutes.

As mentioned earlier, I’d like to see Smeg’s pricing fall more in line with Ninja’s, Bonavita’s, and Braun (or get SCA accreditation or improve the materials/after-purchase care). Ninja’s 12-Cup Drip Brewer is just $89, and Bonavita’s SCA-accredited 8-Cup Brewer is just $189. The 5-Cup is even cheaper — $149. The 12-Cup Braun Drip Coffee Maker is $129.

The Smeg doesn’t really have any USPs other than looking really cool. While I do objectively like this coffee maker, I’ll be the first person to admit it falls into Smeg’s main pitfall: it’s expensive for what it is.

Smeg Retro Coffee Maker review: Verdict

Despite being a little pricey for what it is, the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker gets a big thumbs up from me. I thoroughly enjoyed testing this machine and would recommend it for people who value style and ease of use.

Yes, it’s expensive considering its plastic build and lack of SCA accreditation, and no, it doesn’t have any unique features like a lifetime repairs warranty or an SCA accreditation. The auto-start timer is cool, but the $89 Ninja 12-Cup has this, too. However, just look at it. Doesn’t that speak for itself?

So, if you want a kitchen centrepiece that’ll have guests going “Ooh” and “Aah” and “Where did you get that from?” then you’ll get on just fine with the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker. It’s literally plug-and-play, and tastes as good as it looks.

Getting into coffee can feel impossible at first. But fret not! I'm here to help. I'm an ex-barista and now a professional coffee tester, so I can help you understand the most important parts of your espresso machine.

If you're a total newbie, forget everything you've learned so far. These five key terms are all you need to know right now. Of course, the more your confidence grows, the more you'll absorb and retain, but if you're pulling out your hair and stressing over niche jargon on the daily, you're doing yourself a disservice. You don't need to be perfect on the first try! All you need is an espresso machine and a clear head. I can take care of the rest.

So strap in as I teach you exactly what you need to know to start pulling shots like a professional barista. And, most importantly, have fun! Coffee is all about enjoyment. If you're doing things "wrong" but having fun, go you! That's all that matters.

What's a portafilter?

A portafilter is the handle of the basket. I've also seen this called a group handle.

A portafilter basket is where you put your coffee. This is where the espresso machine will send water to extract your espresso.

That's it! I told you it was easy.

What's a tamper?

The tamper is the circular accessory you use to tamp (press down on) the coffee grounds. If you hear someone say tamp the coffee, this is what they're referring to. You want to apply around 20kg of pressure — which basically means just push hard, but be mindful to keep the coffee level.

This is to flatten and compact the coffee grounds and create an even surface for the water to flow through (preventing channeling).

What's channeling?

Channeling is where water flows through channels in the coffee rather than saturating the entire portafilter. This is caused by an uneven grind, uneven tamp, or an uneven dose. When you put coffee in the portafilter basket, you want to make sure it's flat, evenly distributed, and there are no major clumps.

A channeled espresso will taste sour and bitter and generally unpleasant. Nothing you wouldn't be able to mask with syrups, though!

What's puck prep?

Puck prep is kind of a coffee snob term. It refers to everything you do to prepare your espresso. When people say, "Make sure you do your puck prep right," they're referring to the following:

• Grinding your beans evenly, using one of the best grinders
• Weighing out the right amount of ground coffee, using one of the best coffee scales
• Putting the coffee in your portafilter basket and making sure there are no huge clumps
• Tamping with proper pressure

What's overextraction/underextraction?

Both are bad!

Overextraction is where the coffee has spent too much time with water or pressure, resulting in a burned, bitter coffee. You have probably ground your coffee too coarsely.

Underextraction is where the coffee hasn't spent enough time with water or pressure, making a sour, acidic coffee. You have probably ground your coffee too finely.

If your coffee is coming out really slowly, that's overextraction. This will taste incredibly intense and burned, like charcoal.

If your coffee is coming out quickly, that's underextraction. This will taste like lemon juice. Nasty!

Did I answer all of your jargon-related questions? Let me know in the comments if you want me to explain anything else.

I release new episodes of The Coffee Lab every Friday, so be sure to check back next week for the next coffee adventure.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tried the new Nespresso summer flavors — here's my favorite
• I'm an ex-Starbucks barista — you can make the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at home for a fraction of the cost
• I tried Lelit's brand-new 'entry-level' espresso machine — and I wish I had $2,000 so I could buy it

Ninja makes some of my favorite kitchen appliances on the market — and right now, Amazon is offering some pretty impressive deals on the top-rated gadgets! You can score big savings on summer must-haves like coolers, slushy machines, grills, air fryers and much more.

Whether you're firing up the grill for a barbecue or you're hoping to simplify your weekly meal prep, Ninja is slashing up to 40% off its best-selling kitchen appliances. And the best part? The deals start at just $59 and are the perfect finds for summer.

If you're in the market for some new cooking appliances, take it from me: Ninja is the brand to buy. Keep scrolling to check out my favorite Ninja picks from Amazon's sale.

Quick Links

• shop all Ninja deals at Ninja
• shop all Ninja deals at Amazon
• Ninja Blast Portable Blender: was $69 now $59
• Ninja Professional Blender: was $109 now $89
• Ninja Iced Coffee Maker: was $129 now $99
• Ninja Backpack Cooler: was $199 now $179
• Ninja Mega Kitchen System: was $219 now $179
• Ninja FrostVault Cooler, 45qt: was $349 now $279

Ninja Deals

As a kitchen appliance reviewer, some of my favorite and top-rated products hail from KitchenAid. I've owned an Artisan Stand Mixer for years now, and use many KitchenAid appliances and accessories on a daily basis, so it's no surprise that when the opportunity arose to review the brand's new fully automatic coffee machine range, I volunteered immediately.

Now, I'm no stranger to a manual espresso maker — I love my Ninja Luxe Cafe more than anything else — so I really wanted to switch it up to see how a fully automatic machine compares to the manual control I'm used to. After all, these automatic coffee machines claim to deliver the perfect espresso in one touch, without worrying about grinds, milk or the like, so my curiosity was definitely piqued. (And spoiler alert: the KF2 did not disappoint).

Launched earlier this year, KitchenAid's new machines — the KF2, KF3 and KF4 — each have different functions, prices and colorways to suit every kind of one-touch coffee-lover. The machine reviewed here, the KitchenAid KF2, is the most affordable option and offers some hands-on time for hobbyist baristas who want manual control over their milk.

Over the course of a month, I put the KitchenAid KF2 through its paces and used it to make hot, iced and milk-based drinks.

KitchenAid KF2 review: Specs

KitchenAid KF2 review: Price and availability

The KitchenAid KF2 in Australia, where I'm based, is priced at AU$1,099. For those in the UK, it's £699 and in the U.S., it's $799.99. When compared to the other coinciding releases of the KF3 ($999.99 / £749 / AU$1,349) and KF4 ($1,299.99 / £899 / AU$1,599), this is the "budget" or entry-level option in KitchenAid's new fully automatic lineup.

Now the word budget is a bit of a stretch — it's still pretty expensive — and it doesn't quite dazzle compared to similarly priced automatic machines. I’m talking largely about De’Longhi here, as you can often pick up one of the esteemed brand’s machines for less, in return for more extensive features, like one-touch drink presets and automatic milk-foaming systems. That said, the KF2 offers six drink presets and a steam wand (which some 5-star automatic machines neglect entirely). And, I won't lie, the KF2's sleek, matte black design is nice to look at.

KitchenAid KF2 review: Design

KitchenAid's newest fully automatic machines, including the KF2, have a much smaller footprint than their predecessors. Measuring just 14.2" x 7.7" x 18.5" / 36.07cm x 19.56cm x 46.99cm, the KF2 takes up very little counterspace, making it ideal for those with smaller kitchens. The KF2 has five function buttons on the front of its backlit LED screen, as well as a power button on the right side. It also features a 1.8L water tank at the back, a Pannarello steam wand, a drip tray and a concealed 250g bean hopper.

Unlike the KF3 and KF4, which are both available in matte black and KitchenAid's signature Porcelain white, the KF2 is limited to the former. I quite like the simplicity of the black colorway, but it isn't as visually appealing as the white or Juniper green colorways that the KitchenAid KF8 offers, in my opinion. The stainless steel accents in the drip tray and the steam wand are a nice contrast to the matte machine body, but I didn't love the feel of the function buttons.

A fun surprise discovered during set up were two wheels under the machine, making it easy to move around if you needed to fill the water tank. It's also not that heavy, at just 22lbs / 10.1kg, so I could easily lift it and move it into place.

KitchenAid KF2 review: Performance

Grinder

The KF2 uses KitchenAid’s Intelligrind technology, which aims to take the guesswork out of selecting the best grind size for your chosen beans. For most users, it allows for a hands-off approach, just pour your beans into the top-mounted hopper and select a drink. If you do want to make some finer adjustments, you can open the machine's side panel, where you’ll find a slider to make the grind finer (to the left) or coarser (to the right). However, for most users, I don't think any adjustments would need to be made, as the automatic function takes away any manual hand tamping or grinding.

Regardless of whether you make adjustments or not, the KF2's grinder is so quiet. That's largely due to its Quiet Mark certification, meaning it won't make too much noise while you're brewing your early morning coffee.

If you prefer decaf or coffee grounds, the KF2 also has a 250g ground coffee section next to the bean hopper. It is worth noting that when you add in ground coffee, the machine will switch into its ground coffee mode and exclusively use it over any beans in the hopper. To fix this, you'll need to toggle the bean setting before every use.

Espresso

The KF2 can truly customise your coffee to your liking, thanks to its drink, strength and dosage settings. Once you choose your drink recipe — e.g. either an espresso, coffee or over ice — you can make your coffee or espresso shot as weak or strong as you'd like using the strength and dose buttons. If you make adjustments to the strength, the KF2 will grind fewer or more beans, resulting in a dose that’s between 7g and 14g.

Regardless of the strength setting you choose, the KF2 excels at pulling a consistently well-extracted shot of espresso. For the test brew, I used the double strength on the espresso setting to extract a single shot, and it was perfectly balanced. Just look at that crema! This was using medium-dark roast beans with notes of rich caramel, butterscotch and sweet red fruits. I'm not one to drink straight espresso — I prefer iced coffee all year round — but I really enjoyed the deep caramelly notes I achieved with the KF2.

When extracting an americano, I used the coffee setting with double strength, single cup dose, and it was pretty spot on for a black coffee. There was a bit of trial and error — initially, I opted for triple strength, and it was too strong for my liking — but the second time around, it worked a charm.

Milk

If you have milk with your coffee, then you’ll likely want to know how well the KF2 can froth milk. You may also have an opinion as to the best method for foaming milk. For me, the fact that the KF2 uses a conventional steam wand as opposed to a hose system on the KF3 and KF4 is a huge plus point. While it might not be as hands-off as the other KitchenAid models — you have to pour the milk into the jug (sold separately) and then pour it into your mug — the result, in my opinion, is much better milk foam. Conversely, when using the KF3 and KF4, milk was silky in texture and did have some froth, but it paled in comparison to what the KF2 could achieve.

What’s more, having manual control means the KF2 inherently performs better with plant-based milks. This is because you can easily check the temperature whilst milk is heating up and turn it off when it reaches the optimal heat.

I am a big fan of manual control when milk frothing, so I was very eager to try the steam wand, and as a plant-based milk drinker, I preferred the wand to the milk jug/hose set-up. I could easily check the temperature and make sure my almond milk didn't burn, as most plant-based milks will burn at lower temperatures than dairy. The wand also has a side toggle where you can adjust the foam to your liking, so you don't have to second-guess too much when heating milk to your preferred foaminess.

Before using the steam wand, you need to wait a short while for the internal water system to preheat. It’s not a long process, just something to be aware of. When you’ve finished frothing your milk, you’ll want to purge the steam wand to remove any residue. The purge process can get quite messy as the wand is rather powerful and sits an inch or so above the drip tray. I resorted to purging it a few times inside an empty milk jug, just to avoid powerful steam explosions.

My first test was an Aussie staple, a flat white, which is typically made from steamed milk with very little foam. To do this, I flicked the foam setting to ‘less’ and put the wand in just below the surface.

The result clearly speaks for itself, as I made the most perfect flat white to ever exist. Even in my teenage barista days, I've never made glossy steamed milk like this, so it was a true feat to be admired for KitchenAid's steam wand.

Next up was a latte, so I moved the toggle to the highest foam setting and made sure to keep the wand under the surface of the milk. There were some bubbles initially, but after a few attempts, I ended up getting an equally perfect latte with some great microfoam. (My latte art definitely needs work, though.)

Iced coffee

KitchenAid has given its new compact trio of coffee machines the ability to make iced drinks, although the method in which they make them gave me a little cause for concern, as they’re made ‘over ice’. By this, it means you still need to put ice in your cup or glass first, and the KF2 will then pour a shot of espresso over it. The company says it brews at a cooler temperature than a ‘regular’ shot of espresso, but it’s not quite the same as the Ninja Luxe Cafe I use daily, for example, which has dedicated settings for brewing cold shots of espresso.

The results were interesting to say the least. I was a little anxious before making my first iced drink, because I'm picky about iced lattes, and if it's too watery, I don't want it. The fact that an iced latte made with the KF2 has to include a few ice cubes indicated that it may indeed end up being a bit weak.

Fortunately, my worries weren’t necessary, as the KF2 did a commendable job of making an iced coffee. When coupled with cold milk and ice, it was particularly delicious, although it was, admittedly, on the weaker side due to the melted ice.

After the first try, I tweaked the strength higher as the machine automatically selects the lowest setting, and it made a better improvement to the taste. I also opted most days to not brew it immediately over ice to avoid watery shots, and that made the experience much more pleasant.

KitchenAid KF2 review: Storage and maintenance

When it comes to everyday maintenance of the KitchenAid KF2, it was pretty straightforward and I didn't need any handholding to keep the machine running. The drip tray has a handy full alert sign when it needs emptying, and can be easily removed. And if you need to add more coffee beans, the backlit screen will give you a helpful alert.

The KitchenAid KF2 comes with a couple of cleaning tablets for cleaning the brewing group and water filter inside the box. It also comes with a handy water filter insertion tool, which doubles as a ground coffee scoop. As per the manufacturer, the water filters will last two months if using tap water, but could last up to 6 months if you use filtered water. You will need to buy descaling solution separately.

KitchenAid's routine cleaning and maintenance is pretty easy, as the machine rinses itself before and after each use. This also clears the system of any blockages as well as warm the internal pipes to the right temperature before making a coffee.

If you need to descale the machine, clean the steam wand, add beans or water, the screen will give you an alert and guide you through the process if needed. Now, during my review period, I didn't need to descale the machine at all; however, I am certain that the machine would let me know if it needed an extra clean.

KitchenAid does sell additional water filters and brew units if you need more, and offers a 3-year limited warranty.

KitchenAid KF2 review: Verdict

If you prioritise time in the mornings, then the KitchenAid KF2 is something to consider and add to your routine. It's easy-to-use, delivers excellent crema, and offers some hands-on control for your milk. All you need to do is add your preferred beans (or grounds), and you've got the perfect morning brew.

That said, it doesn't offer full one-touch convenience — you'll need to tweak your strength and dose settings with each use — however, that doesn't knock too many marks off for me. And iced lattes could be better, but that won't matter to most non-iced coffee drinkers.

That being said, if you're interested in a fully automatic, low-maintenance coffee machine, the KitchenAid KF2 is hard to beat.

I love going to coffee shops, whether I'm just quickly grabbing my favorite vanilla oat milk latte, meeting up with a friend for coffee or getting some work done. However, every time I step foot inside a cafe, I'm spending at least $7 — and that's just for a coffee.

After calculating how much I was spending weekly and monthly, I was astonished. That's when I decided I needed to cut back a bit — and my Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee and espresso maker made that possible. Even better? It's currently 41% off on Amazon.

At nearly $100 off, the Nespresso Vertuo Next is practically a steal — and it can quickly pay for itself compared to buying coffee from a café every day. I typically buy Nespresso Vertuo capsules, which cost $42 for a pack of 30. That works out to about $1.40 per cup, making it a much more affordable daily coffee habit than my typical coffee shop run.

The best part is, my Nespresso machine actually makes delicious coffees, lattes and cappuccinos, so I don't feel disappointed making coffee at home rather than buying one. The included Aeroccino Milk Frother is really the icing on the cake. I add my favorite oat milk to the frother and in seconds, I have creamy, frothy milk to add to my coffee or latte.

The machine is super easy to use — all you have to do is add your capsule, make sure the water tank is full and press the brewing button. You'll have a delicious, barista-style coffee in just seconds. You can also choose from six cup sizes including 5, 8, 12, and 18-oz., as well as single and double espressos brewed hot or over ice. The machine truly does it all!

Of course, I'll never fully stop indulging in my local coffee shops — but at least I can save a little bit of money by making my coffee at home a few days a week. If you're hoping to do the same, I recommend grabbing the Nespresso Vertuo Next for just $134 on Amazon.

The De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic is an ambitious superautomatic coffee machine. It can make 38 drinks and is even app-compatible, so you can control it from your phone (in theory). Is this enough to make it one of the best espresso machines?

Yes and no. The PrimaDonna Aromatic is extremely pricey, at a whopping $2,500, and I’m… not really sure why. You can get 80% of the same performance with the $1,500 De’Longhi Rivelia and — checks notes — 99.9% of the same performance with the $2,000 De’Longhi Eletta Explore. I’m not saying don’t get the PrimaDonna Aromatic — I’m saying you might be able to save your money without sacrificing quality here.

But, I digress. The PrimaDonna Aromatic is a fun, consistent, and functional coffee machine. Want to find out more? Keep reading this De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review.

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Specs

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Price & availability

The De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic is objectively expensive. You’ll find it for $2,499 from De’Longhi U.S. and £1,549 from Currys in the U.K.

If you’re wincing, you’re not alone. $2,499 makes the PrimaDonna Aromatic the most expensive fully automatic coffee machine made by De’Longhi. Yes, the most expensive. As you might already be able to guess, this is markedly more expensive than the De’Longhi Rivelia ($1,499/£749), De’Longhi Magnifica Duo ($999).

However, it’s only (only, she types, while wincing) $499 more expensive than the KitchenAid KF8, which I reviewed a couple of years ago and loved.

If you’re familiar with the world of superautomatic coffee machines, you might’ve come across Jura — its fully automatic models can go up to $5,499. I’ve tested the $2,699 Jura E8, and let me tell you — the PrimaDonna Aromatic is much better.

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Design

Like other automatic De’Longhi machines, the PrimaDonna Aromatic is a somewhat narrow but incredibly deep machine. It stretches a whopping 18 inches deep, so you’ll need to check your kitchen countertops can fit this behemoth before purchasing.

Even so, the 10-inch width is pretty good, even with the water tank on the side. You shouldn’t need to clear too much space if your counters are deep already.

And the PrimaDonna Aromatic also looks like other De’Longhi superautomatics. If I didn’t read the name, I could believe it was the Magnifica Duo or the Dinamica or the Eletta. All these machines are effectively big shiny squares. They’re not massively gorgeous, but they’re functional, unobtrusive, and get the job done. It obviously works, because De’Longhi machines are everywhere.

There’s also a bright LCD screen on the machine. Here, you can select your desired beverage — 38 recipes, some of which I’d never heard of — and customize your intensity and volume. Two buttons on either side of the machine configure hot and cold, so you can view only cold or only hot drinks.

App

I like apps when they’re actually useful. I like the Fellow app. I like the Acaia Brewmaster app. I like the apps for all the earbuds I test. But I do not like the De’Longhi My Coffee Lounge app.

I was prompted to complete a “coffee taste profile”, which told me I should get fruity coffee with notes of citrus, forest berry, and florals. I already knew this, though. It’s why I buy the same Ethiopian beans every time.

I suppose this is helpful for complete newbies — but I wouldn’t recommend complete newbies spend $2,500 on a coffee machine.

The app was also riddled with connectivity issues: There’s a Spotify-Wrapped-esque “Statistics” setting. This never loaded for me. You’re also supposed to be able to make your own recipes, but, again, these never loaded for me. The app just said “Couldn’t load any drink”. Hm, maybe because you won’t let me make any recipes?

I like two parts of the My Coffee Lounge app: One, the “Health status” setting. Here you can see how many uses you have until you need to descale, how empty your water tank is, and how full your grounds drawer is. I love this. This is great for newbies. And “experts”. Everyone, actually.

And two: Suggested recipes. I got some super cool, super unique offerings here: Iced orange coffee, Iced raspberry tonic espresso, Iced espresso Mojito. Yes, please! I want more of this and fewer connectivity issues, thank you!

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Espresso

The De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic espresso tastes like an automatic coffee machine’s espresso. That’s neither a good nor a bad thing depending on your preference. If you know you dislike automatic coffee, this wouldn’t be for you. If you know you like it, then great!

Here’s a photo of a shot of double espresso.

As you can see, the coffee has a lovely bright caramelly color, and there’s a layer of fluffy crema. Did it taste like the most nuanced, complex, scintillating coffee in the world? No. It was a little weak, but it had enough of a coffee flavor to be devoured by straightforward coffee fans. I would not recommend this machine for coffee snobs or espresso lovers, but if you’re a general coffee drinker who prioritizes ease-of-use over messing around with doses and flow rates, this would get the job done.

I also made a cold brew, which was, in all honesty, pretty nasty. I wouldn’t recommend this for cold brew aficionados. The coffee was actually hot as it extracted, which means it’s also not “cold brew”. It’s more like an iced Americano.

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Milk

Milk performance is what (mostly) separates the PrimaDonna Aromatic from other De’Longhi models. The PrimaDonna Aromatic comes with both a hot and cold milk frother, so you can have hot microfoam or cold foam.

The De’Longhi Eletta Explore ($1,999) also has this capability, so it might be worth checking out that model if you want to save some $$$. However, the Eletta Explore has a smaller water tank capacity. Again, not sure that’s worth an extra $500, but some food for thought.

Here’s a photo of a drink.

As you can see, the milk is smooth and evenly textured. Hot foam tends to deflate quite rapidly, so I’d recommend not leaving your cappuccinos around before drinking. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

This milk texture is around the same quality as the De’Longhi Rivelia, but that model doesn’t come with cold and hot — you’d have to buy the cool version separately ($129).

I really like the milk function on the PrimaDonna Aromatic. It has great texture, it’s easy to clean, and it comes with all the necessary accessories (unlike Jura).

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Storage & maintenance

The PrimaDonna Aromatic is easy to clean. The app tells you exactly when to clean, and I would recommend cleaning out the drip tray every day at a minimum.

My only major qualm is that you have to empty the grounds drawer more often than you think. I emptied it after around 3-4 drinks each time, and the drawer was full of ground beans each time. I don’t think this machine is particularly economical in terms of coffee and water usage, but that’s true of almost all automatic machines.

In terms of longevity, you get a 2-year warranty as standard, which goes up to 3 years with registration. Comparatively, Breville offers a 2-year warranty, as does Ninja.

De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic review: Verdict

The PrimaDonna Aromatic prioritizes simplicity and speed over coffee snobbery. It’s perfect for automatic machine users who want coffee and want it now. Would I buy it? Probably not. Would I recommend it for people who love Starbucks and Dunkin’ coffee and want to make drinks easily at home? 100%.

However, I’m still not totally sure what separates it from De’Longhi’s $1,999 Eletta Explore — it has Bean Adapt, De’Longhi’s My Coffee Lounge app connectivity, and 50 recipes compared to the PrimaDonna Aromatic’s 38. I think I’d recommend saving your $500 and getting the Eletta Explore — or save $1,000 and get the De’Longhi Rivelia.

But if you have $2,500 to spend, by all means, go for it. The PrimaDonna Aromatic is a great machine capable of making consistent espresso over and over. It’s just very expensive.