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

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

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

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Specs

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Price & availability

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

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

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

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

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

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Design

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

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

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

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Espresso

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: App

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

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

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Storage & maintenance

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

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

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

IKAPE Kapo K2 Pro review: Verdict

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

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

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

When it comes to some of the best vacuum cleaners, Dyson remains a top-tier contender. And since I test vacuums for a living, I've always been impressed by its unrivaled suction power, innovative features and eye-catching design.

The new Dyson V16 Animal cordless vacuum cleaner is one of the latest models in its arsenal and comes with a few notable upgrades. First of all, its signature trigger-power operation has been replaced with a simple on/off button (no more cramped fingers).

Additionally, it comes with a conical brush bar to adapt to different surfaces without damage, and an anti-hair-tangle mechanism, which is perfect for pet households.

It also comes at a premium price, which, in a competitive market, begs the question of whether it’s truly worth the expensive tag.

I put the Dyson V16 Animal to the test in my home for a few months to find out. Here’s what happened.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A premium cordless vacuum cleaner with a Fluffy Cones floor head to tackle both carpets and hard flooring, and an anti-detangling feature for pet hair.
• Who is it for? People with pets or who prefer a non-trigger power operation for easy use
• How much does it cost? $979 / £749 at Amazon
• What do we like? The sturdy and lightweight build, power-on button, dust-detecting laser light, and the fact that it vacuums very well. Connectivity to the MyDyson app.
• What don’t we like? The edge-to-edge cleaning could be better, and the lack of extra accessories or a self-emptying dock makes the price seem overly dear

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless: Specs

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Price & availability

Priced at $979 at Amazon or £749 direct from Dyson UK, the V16 Animal sits at the higher end of the market. As one of the newest entries in the brand's arsenal, it commands a premium price that mirrors its top-tier standing.

It also comes at a premium price, which, in a competitive market, begs the question of whether it’s truly worth the expensive tag, especially since it lacks extra accessories or even a self-emptying dock (unlike the new Dyson Konical).

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Design

At first glance, the V16 resembles the Dyson Gen5Detect, but comes with a few notable upgrades. First, it has an All Floors ‘Fluffy Cones’ floor head, designed to auto-adapt from hard floors to carpets without the need to swap out heads.

Rather than the separate brush roller and fluffy heads, its conical-shaped swivel head combines two conical brush bars. It also comes with an anti-detangling mechanism and a dust-detection laser light, which is always handy for showing any hidden dustballs.

While the bin capacity might appear limited at first, it features a clever internal compressor. This mechanism compacts debris effectively, allowing for increased storage and far fewer interruptions to empty the trash.

Perhaps the more notable change is the absence of a trigger-button operation, which has been replaced with a tiny (yes, it really is tiny), on/off button at the top of the LCD screen. Underneath that is another button to set your cleaning modes — Eco, Auto and Boost.

I like that you simply press the button and it’s ready to go, which effectively eliminates the hand fatigue often caused by holding down the trigger on trigger-based models.

Included accessories are a combination brush and funnel for upholstery, crevice tool, and the Hair Screw Tool 2.0, which is ideal for pet hairs and tackling stairs.

Overall, the V16 looks sleek and premium with its eye-catching copper-and-Prussian-blue finish.

I also like the fact that it’s lightweight, at just 3.4 kg, which makes it easier to lift and carry around the home single-handedly.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Cleaning performance

Since I have different types of hard flooring, I’m constantly whizzing around my home with a vacuum to deal with the inevitable accumulation of daily dirt, stray crumbs, and household debris.

First, I passed the V16 across my living room's wooden flooring and through the kitchen and dining area tiles. Even when operating in Eco mode, I was impressed at the suction power to quickly pick up dust and loose particles. It even tackled those annoying bits of debris wedged deep within the narrow gaps of my floorboards.

Similarly, in Auto and Boost modes, the power ramps up to give it an even deeper clean.

Another favorite feature of mine is the dust-detection laser light that’s built into the floor head. I find this incredibly useful to spot where the hidden dust is lurking, especially under my sofa, bed (which is usually untouched and has tons of dust balls), and other low-rise furniture.

Plus, its "lightsaber" illumination adds a layer of contentment to the chore (it’s always good to know you haven’t missed any spots); even my son found himself eager to tackle the dust balls in his own bedroom. So that’s a win-win!

Perhaps one slight frustration I encountered was its tendency to struggle with larger debris, like stray cereal or gravel. I often found myself needing several passes over the same area to ensure the floor was left entirely spotless.

Another disappointment is that it struggled with edge-to-edge cleaning, as I still observed the odd dust line along the skirting boards. However, this wasn't a major deal breaker and was easily resolved with another pass over.

Carpet cleaning

Although my home is mostly hard flooring, my carpeted staircase constantly highlights every bit of stray hair and accumulated debris.

Even though I’m not a pet owner (you would think I do), I’m constantly dealing with my own long hair shedding across the house, which tends to get stubbornly embedded in my beige carpeting.

In fact, it looked so dull that you wouldn’t be able to tell what color it originally was.

Set to Auto mode, I was equally impressed that the V16 could tackle these stubborn hair strands, thanks to its anti-detangling function. Moving on, I put the V16 to work on my carpeted staircase.

By switching to the handheld mode and attaching the hair screw tool, I was able to efficiently remove those deep-set particles and stubborn hair fibers that often cling to the treads. Impressive results. For that reason alone, I’d recommend this for pet parents, who would certainly benefit from the pick-up power.

Unlike the hard surface results, the V16 performed better when it came to tackling larger debris on carpet. And once the suction ramped up on Auto, my carpets were left spotless.

Battery

I was impressed with its long-lasting battery life. Given how often I grabbed it for a bi-daily sweep of my living spaces, I only needed to reach for the charger once every fortnight.

However, this longevity likely stems from my reliance on Eco mode, only shifting into Auto for more grimy spots.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Cleaning and storage

Since the compressor bin is designed to hold up to 30 days' worth of dirt (thanks to the innovative internal compressor), I found myself making far fewer trips to the trash can than expected. I found this handy, especially when I was in a rush and didn't always have the time to empty out immediately.

However, one minor caveat is the messy "dust cloud" that often erupts when you trigger the release mechanism — which can be a bit of a nuisance when emptying the bin.

Despite that, the V16 is easy to maintain, and its slender build means it won't take up too much space in your storage closet.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Verdict

The V16 Animal Piston is a welcome upgrade to its predecessors and doesn’t disappoint in power. During my testing, it proved exceptionally capable, making light work of varied types of debris across both my hard floors and carpeted staircase. Plus, its power-on button and lightweight build make it easy to use and maneuver.

Although the unique 'Fluffy Cones' floor head took some getting used to, I grew to really appreciate the sheer versatility. To transition seamlessly between different floor surfaces without pausing to swap out tool attachments is a definite time-saver.

I also found the handy swivel feature and dust-detecting light useful when trying to get into those awkward spots. However, the edge-to-edge cleaning results could have been a little better.

Considering the V16 lacks extra add-ons like the Dyson Submarine’s mopping head or a convenient self-emptying base station, its premium price tag feels particularly steep.

However, if you simply want convenience and unrivaled power to tackle all floor surfaces with ease, the Dyson V16 certainly delivers on its promise.

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

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

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

Hidden coffee nerd settings galore

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

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

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

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

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

Pressure paddle for perfect performance

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

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

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

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

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

So... is it worth it?

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

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

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

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

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

More from Tom's Guide

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

With an impending heatwave across much of the States, we’re not the only ones overheating.

It turns out that the heat is putting an extra strain on our household appliances — especially if we’re running our cooling fans and air conditioning units for longer than usual to keep comfortable.

But if you notice an unusual or ‘fishy smell’ inside your home, an expert has warned that this should never be ignored. This is because it could be an early indicator that your electrical components are overheating and need immediate attention. And if left unresolved, this can risk sparking a hazardous electrical fire or permanently ruining your equipment. Here’s everything you need to know this summer.

Why can I smell a fishy smell?

According to an expert, an unusual smell could be an early indication that household devices, outlets, or internal wiring are currently overheating. But why does this often cause a metallic or fish-like scent?

“A fishy or metallic smell throughout your home may seem unpleasant yet harmless; however, you shouldn’t ignore it,” advises Ben Rawson, Electrical Heating Expert from Electric Radiators Direct.

“When electrical components such as wires or outlets overheat, the smell produced can often be fishy. This smell indicates potential overheating and, in worse cases, electrical fires.

“During periods of hot weather, when many households are relying on fans and cooling appliances for longer periods, it’s especially important not to ignore this smell.”

What’s more, during a heatwave, any extra warmth generated by your household devices makes cooling down your living space much more difficult.

For top tips, check out these appliances you need to unplug right now to cool down your home in a heatwave.

What should you do to fix this?

Whether you notice a metallic odor, or simply want to take preventative measures, what are the first steps to follow?

“To avoid electrical fires, turn off and unplug any appliances that were recently in use as a first step,” advises Rawson. “Following this, avoid using outlet sockets, switches or extension cables that feel warm to the touch.”

In addition, if you suspect electrical faults or damage, always call in a professional to do the relevant checks or fix any issues — instead of attempting a dangerous DIY fix.

“Don’t attempt to fix the electrical issues yourself,” adds Rawson. “Call a qualified electrician to diagnose the problem and make repairs.

“Smells are often overlooked in the home; however, they can be one of the earliest warning signs of serious problems. Acting quickly and putting preventative measures in place not only protects your health and safety but can also save you from costly repairs down the line.”

So if you ever notice a ‘fishy’ aroma wafting through your home — assuming you aren't preparing dinner — you might well want to have an expert inspect your household devices this summer.

More from Tom's Guide

• Frozen bed sheets and cold spoons — weird tips for how to sleep cool during a heatwave
• 5 ways to prepare your AC for a heatwave
• How to cool down a room in a heatwave — 10 essential tips

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

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

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

Ooni Karu 2 review: Specs

Ooni Karu 2 review: Price & availability

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

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

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

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

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

Ooni Karu 2 review: Design

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fuel

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

Controls

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

Ooni Karu 2 review: Accessories

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

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

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

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

Ooni Karu 2 review: Performance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ooni Karu 2 review: Storage & maintenance

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

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

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

Ooni Karu 2 review: Verdict

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

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

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

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

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

Low plastic, not no plastic

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

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

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

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

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

But how does the coffee taste?

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

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

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

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

What's your main takeaway?

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

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

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

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

More from Tom's Guide

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

I don't need to tell you how uncomfortable it is to be stuck in a room with temperatures climbing past 30°C / 86°F and no air conditioning. We're only a couple of weeks into summer but Europe (where I am) is in the grip of a heatwave with temperatures hitting over 40°C / 104°F this week.

Things are no different in the United States. According to data shared by the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Climate Prediction Center (CPC), more than half of the country should brace for temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the coming days. And that's not even taking into account the humidity.

Naturally, the response is to crank up the A/C to stay cool. But if you don't already have one of the best smart air conditioners at home, it can be expensive and time-consuming to get one installed. The solution is to pick up a portable unit right now in the Amazon Prime Day sales. Not only can you save some cash, but chances are you can have it delivered and ready to go before the heatwave really hits.

I've scoured Amazon and found a few options worth considering if you've finally decided that the personal fan you bought weeks ago just ain't cutting it.

US portable A/C deals

UK portable A/C deals

Unfortunately, finding deals on portable AC units in the U.K. is proving tough right now. Given the current state of the country — with a severe heat warning in place — many units are selling out fast.

While I haven't been able to find any specific deals worth your time, here are some units I've found that are still in stock. Although there's no telling how long they'll be available for so you'll need to be quick.

What to know before buying

The main thing you want to look at before buying a portable air conditioner is the BTU rating. That stands for British Thermal Unit and indicates the cooling capacity. In effect, how much heat it can get rid of in a room over the course of one hour.

The higher the number, the more powerful the cooling. Anything that's rated 5,000 BTUs and above will be more than sufficient to cool a small-to-medium room. The only trade-off you need to be aware of is noise levels, particularly if you plan to run the air con while you sleep. Anything over 65 decibels is likely to become a disturbance during the night.

We're tracking all the best Prime Day deals

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

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

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

Meet the Ninja Crispi DualZone

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

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

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

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

Why I can't wait to try it

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

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

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

More from Tom's Guide

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

When a heatwave hits, I want to escape into my fridge. It’s the only place in my home that feels cool. However, opening the door and enjoying the cool chill is the last thing I should be doing.

As the temperature soars outside, our trusty refrigerators work overtime to keep our milk from turning into cottage cheese and our proteins safe to eat.

And just as we take extra precautions to keep ourselves cool and hydrated during a heatwave, we need to take extra measures to ensure our fridges and freezers perform efficiently and survive the heat.

So, to avoid an appliance disaster during a heatwave, I'm sharing my golden rules for keeping your refrigerator chilled in the height of summer.

Let it breathe

It’s important to give your refrigerator room to breathe so it functions properly. The cooling system absorbs heat from inside the unit and expels it into the surrounding room. If there is insufficient space for heat to be expelled, it remains trapped around the unit, raising the inside temperature and causing the compressor to run continuously to maintain the desired level.

To provide sufficient space for air to circulate, allow 5cm of clearance around your appliance for ventilation.

What’s more, consider where you place your refrigerator in your kitchen, as it’s best to avoid putting it next to any hotspots, such as an oven or radiator.

Don't put hot food in a refrigerator

When the temperature is high, it’s tempting to put hot food straight into your refrigerator to cool it quickly. However, this is one habit you should stop. While leaving hot food on your countertop to cool for too long is a major food safety hazard, placing it into your refrigerator is also ill-advised.

When hot items are placed in a fridge, the temperature rises, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and putting other food into the ‘danger zone’. To solve the conundrum, the best solution is to either place your food into an ice bath to cool, or use one of the best coolers, before placing the food in your fridge. You could use something similar to Coleman’s Xtreme Marine 28-quart Cooler Box, £68 at Amazon.

Get the temperature right

Rather than just guessing whether to turn the thermostat up or down in my fridge, I use a thermometer to regularly check whether it’s at the right temperature. The optimal temperature should sit between 3 °C and 5 °C, so if it’s higher or lower, I know I need to make an adjustment. Too low and I’m wasting energy, and too high and the food’s freshness and safety are at risk.

If you have a smart fridge, you can control your appliances through an app, meaning you can be away from home during a heatwave and be reassured you won’t return to a meltdown. You could try the LG InstaView American Style Smart Fridge Freezer, £1,295 at Amazon, which lets you control your refrigerator remotely via the LG ThinQ app.

Check the door seals

If the rubber seals around your refrigerator are worn, they will leak out cold air and let hot air in. This causes the appliance to work harder than needed to keep the inside perfectly chilled. You can check how well your seals work by placing a piece of paper between the door and the unit. If the paper holds steady when the door is closed, you know your seals are fine. But if the paper slides down, it indicates that the seals need replacing.

Don't keep opening the door

I’m guilty of constantly opening the fridge door when I’m preparing a meal. Instead of taking everything I need out at once, I hop back and forth, opening my refrigerator multiple times.

However, every time that door gets opened, I’m making my fridge work harder to keep the temperature in check. And especially during a heatwave, when it’s hotter than usual in my kitchen, I’m setting off a heat exchange.

So, now, I think about how often I open my fridge door, and limit the number of times its get open

Keep your fridge full

Your fridge runs more efficiently when it's full rather than empty, so don't let it run down completely before going to the grocery store.

The food inside acts as a thermal mass, and retains its heat much better when the door is opened. Whereas, if there's more space for air, it spills out when the door is opened and is replaced by hot air, causing the compressor to work harder to restore the internal temperature.

More from Tom's Guide

• This 5-minute hack will make your fridge look better and save you money
• 5 reasons why you’re loading your refrigerator all wrong — and expert tips on how to do it right
• People are using Vaseline on their fridge to beat the heatwave — here's why it makes more sense than you think

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

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

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

How can I make cold brew in a French press?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why I'll be picking one up

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

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

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

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

Availability

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Specs

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Price & availability

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

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

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

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Design

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Espresso

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Milk

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, I would not recommend this for cold foam.

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

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

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Storage & maintenance

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

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

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

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

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

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Verdict

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is a WDT tool?

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

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

The before and after

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

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

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

They tasted pretty much the same.

The verdict

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

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

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

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

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

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

More from Tom's Guide

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

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

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

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

Gozney Dome XL (gen 2): Price

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

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

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

Design

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Performance

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

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

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

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

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

Accessories

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

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

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

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

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

Bottom line

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

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

Window air conditioners are notoriously heavy, hard to install and inefficient, but Zafro’s U-shaped Auro Window Air Conditioner puts an end to all that with a safe and easy to install design that blocks less of the window’s view.

Think of it as an upside-down Midea U window air conditioner. But apart from the aesthetics, the Zafro’s design means that you get better insulation from the outside, as your window is blocking the elements, rather than a thin accordion-piece of plastic.

But how does the Zafro Auro compare to the best smart air conditioners, such as the GE Clearview, which has a similar design? I tried it out for a few sweaty days in June to find out.

Zafro Auro review: Price and availability

Introduced in time for the dog days of 2026, Zafro sells three versions of the Auro. An 8,100 BTU unit (model 54091EWA1-8K-ZAZ) that also doubles as a heat pump in the winter lists for $599, but we’ve seen it on sale for $539. An 8,100-BTU unit that only cools is $519 (on sale for $467), and a 6,200 BTU unit costs $469 (on sale for $422).

That makes the $300 Garvee 8,000 BTU U-Shaped Window Air Conditioner and the $382 GE Clearview 8,300 BTU unit look like bargains. Each can cool 300 to 350 square feet.

Zafro Auro Window Air Conditioner review: Design

Instead of the traditional window air conditioner design that hangs the heavy compressor and condenser outside the window frame and risks falling during the installation or afterwards, Zafro’s Auro AC is balanced on the windowsill. Part of a new design generation, it’s shaped like a saddle or lower case “n” that balances the compressor outside with the condenser, fan and electronics inside. A thin 10-inch-long section connects the two and straddles the sill.

Like GE’s Clearview and the Garvee U-Shaped Window Air Conditioner, this design keeps the unit’s center of gravity firmly on the sill with less chance of it falling. It also blocks only about 4 inches of the window compared to more traditional air conditioners; Windmill’s 8,000 BTU AC blocks 13.2 inches of the window, as an example.

On the other hand, the Auro AC sticks out eight inches into the room with knee-high vents. The AC’s powered vanes direct the cooled air up-down and right-left to even out the cooling.

Based on the popular R32 refrigerant, its direct-current inverter design delivers 8,100 BTUs per hour of cooling potential, using the U.S. Department of Energy’s Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity (SACC) standard. It gets an optimistic 12,000 BTU/hr rating using the ASHRAE standard. It was too hot to test its 8,000 BTU heating potential.

The Auro AC’s front panel has an On/Off button and a bright green 1.9-inch circular screen showing the current temperature or the AC’s set temperature. Frankly, it’s hard to tell which is which. Using a different color or font would have been a big help.

In between are buttons for changing the mode from cooling to fan-only, Eco, Sleep, dehumidify, heat or to set the unit’s timer. The three fan speeds are augmented by a blast mode that’s activated with a 3-second press.

As it’s turned on, the AC’s vent LEDs light up. Thankfully for the sleepy, they quickly go dark.

On the left, the Auro AC has a short plastic pipe sticking out. While the air conditioner pumps its condensate wastewater to cool the compressor, this pipe may need periodic draining on hot and humid days.

Zafro Auro Window Air Conditioner review: Installation

At 29.5 x 18.9 x 15.4 inches and 64 pounds, the Auro AC is a lot but easier to maneuver than the 74-pound Garvee U-Shaped AC. Even if you’re a weightlifter, my advice is to have two people on hand to avoid an emergency room visit.

Before I read the AC’s quick-start card or watched Zafro’s installation video, I measured the window. In addition to being at least about 20 inches wide, the distance from the inside sill to the outside wall must be less than 10 inches for it to fit. Unlike GE’s Clearview, the Auro’s connecting section isn’t adjustable. In fact, I couldn’t install it where I originally planned, as the windowsill I wanted to use was too wide.

After I put the high-density foam base in place and the AC on top, I sealed the window with weatherstripping. The kit includes a window locking bracket.

Finally, I pressed the mode button for 3 seconds to connect with the house’s Wi-Fi and Zafro’s app on my Samsung Galaxy S25 phone; there’s also an iPhone version. The linking process took less than a minute.

Start to finish, the entire installation took 20 minutes.

Zafro Auro Window Air Conditioner review: Performance

With the temperature and humidity hitting the 90s, I was hot and sweaty from installing it. Its 35-degree Fahrenheit air cooled the 315 square foot bedroom to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in 25 minutes, delivering between a gentle 5.7 miles per hour and a robust 11.3 mph.

At full blast, the AC used 505.8 watts, while the consumption dropped to 250.8 watts in Eco mode and 6.4 watts when idle. The unit’s 15.1 CEER efficiency rating is one-third higher than GE Clearview’s 11.4 rating, making for a DOE annual estimate of $61 versus Clearview’s $70.

At its highest setting, the Auro AC was annoyingly loud at 56.4dBA measured 10 feet away; the room had a background noise level of 37.8dBA. Using the Eco and sleep modes lowered that to a more nap-friendly 48.2 and 43.2dBA, compared to Clearview’s 45dB. Zafro rates the noise level at 32dB.

After six hours on a day with 90+ degree Fahrenheit and 90 percent relative humidity readings, the unit’s outside gurgled and dripped condensate water. If I had ignored it, the unit would eventually have shut itself down, so I emptied the unit’s wastewater reservoir. After unscrewing the cap, I pulled the plug and 3 cups of water flowed out. My advice: have a small bucket handy.

Zafro Auro review: Remote control and App

It’s easy to adjust the AC without getting up using the infrared remote control. It uses two AAA batteries and its 23-foot range worked everywhere in the room. The 2.1-inch screen shows the temperature and settings, but it lacks backlit keys, making it hard to adjust on a hot night.

Although not as visual as Windmill’s app, the Zafro app gets the job done. I tapped to adjust the temperature fan speed and mode and even started it up on my way home. Ultimately, I ended up leaving the remote control on a night table and used the phone app more.

The Aura works with Google Assistant and Alexa, but does not support Matter.

Zafro Auro review: Verdict

If you have a mid-sized room that needs cooling and have been wary of installing a window air conditioner, there’s no excuse anymore. Zafro’s Auro air conditioner is not only efficient and chock full of features but is safe and easy to install. It’s efficient, can quickly cool a 350 square foot room and offers a bonus of being able to heat the room as well.

However, there’s a few things that keep it from the top of our list of the best smart air conditioners. For starters, its design limits it to windows that measure less than 10 inches from the outside of your house to the inner wall. While we found the GE Clearview a bit fussy to install, it could accommodate a wider range of windows.

I also found the Auro to be loud at full blast, and, unlike every other window AC we’ve tested, you’re going to need to empty its internal water tank manually. More to the point, its price of $539 could make you hot under the collar, no matter how cool your room gets.

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

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

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

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Specs

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Price & availability

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

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

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

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

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

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Design

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

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

The accessories are just as high-quality, with a weighty tamper, 58mm bottomless portafilter, and a milk jug engraved with fluid ounce and milliliter measurements so you don’t have to measure separately.

Like the Breville Oracle Dual Boiler, the Espresso Series 1 has a little screen that walks you through making each drink. Unlike the Oracle Dual Boiler, the Espresso Series 1 doesn’t have a full-color screen, but it’s still bright and luminous. If you’ve seen the Fellow Tally Pro scale, the screen looks like a brighter, bigger version of that. I’ll go into more detail in the ‘Espresso’ section below.

My only con regarding the design is that there’s no ‘Back’ button. If you scroll all the way down to the last customization option (there are a lot), you have to scroll back up. I wish there was a simple button to take me back to the home screen. Maybe on the next edition?

App

Yep, the Fellow Espresso Series 1 has an app. I’m not a huge fan of the concept of espresso machines with apps, so I did roll my eyes when I saw this. There isn’t really much you can do on the app that you can’t do on the machine itself, but as this is a pretty new model with firmware updates rolling out, you might want to get the app just so you can iron out those natural bugs.

As you can see, you can customize your espresso pre-infusion, infusion, and ramp-down settings based on roast level, and you can even cycle through various different types of shot. I’ve never heard of this ‘Turbo’ shot, so of course I had to try it. You have to grind your beans coarser for this shot, and it makes a more tea-like espresso. Very interesting, and good that the Espresso Series 1 has an option for it. As I said — perfect for both beginners and nerds!

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Espresso

As promised, I’ll discuss the LCD screen. This screen teaches you how to make tons of different drinks: cappuccino, espresso, Americano, latte, flat white, and so on and so forth. This is great for beginners who may not know the difference between each beverage, or simply may not want to activate their brains at 7am. Personally, I didn’t feel the urge to use this outside of testing purposes — I just selected ‘espresso’ for all my drinks and steamed my milk manually.

Of course, I tested this for the purpose of the review. It works as advertised. When I selected ‘flat white’, the machine told me how much coffee to dose, actually stopped extraction at 1:2 ratio as designed (although once or twice it dosed 35g rather than 36g… tut tut, Fellow). After espresso, the machine told me to pour 4oz of milk — and, yes, you can tell it which type of milk you’re using — and automatically stopped steaming when the milk reached the desired temperature of 140°F.

This is ideal for beginners, and one of the best parts of the machine if you’re the kind of home barista who needs a little more help. As mentioned earlier, I didn’t really use this outside of testing purposes, but it’s great to have.

If you’re a coffee nerd, though, you’ll love this machine. There are tons of espresso customization options. I physically cannot list them all here — this review would be tens of thousands of words long, and I’d lull you all into a stupor. Let’s just say: if you can imagine it, you can do it. Pre-infusion at 2 bars of pressure for 10 seconds? Go for it. Flow rate of 4ml/s? Yep! Ramp-down of 6 bars of pressure? You got it!

Although there’s no PID controller, the boiler is designed to control water temperature at every stage of the extraction, much like a PID controller. The Espresso Series 1 has a patented boiler system, “Boosted Boiler”, which has a precise temperature control. You can customize the temperature using the shot profile I discussed above, or using the app.

As with every espresso machine I test, I ground my beans using the Mazzer Philos, the best coffee grinder in the world (if you have $1,500).

For the purpose of this review, I followed Fellow’s recipes and made some of my own. This is a Fellow-default espresso using the ‘Medium roast’ profile and Square Mile beans.

There’s a little bit of spray, but that’s an occupational hazard with a bottomless portafilter. This shot was extracted at a 1:2 ratio over 26 seconds, safely within the ‘Golden window’ of extraction. The shot tasted gorgeous, with a strong sweetness and bright acidity at the back of the mouth. I guzzled this like a parched heron.

For the next shot, I experimented. I used the same beans and adjusted the settings to ‘Turbo’, as I’d never seen this style of espresso before.

As you can see, it’s quite larger than a standard shot. The Fellow app told me this is a 1:3 shot extracted using 6-bar pressure rather 9-bar. The flavor was interesting — quite sour but with a pocket of bitterness hiding at the back of the mouthful. I probably wouldn’t make this again, but it’s great to have options.

The only downside to this machine is that it makes quite wet pucks. Usually, if a machine has a 3-way solenoid valve, it sucks the water back out of the shot for a dry, biscuit-like puck you can knock straight into the bin. I did have to scrape these pucks out, which is strange, as the machine has a 3-way solenoid valve. I noticed other users on Reddit had this issue too, so it might just be a Series 1 bug. Either way, I’m not overly fussed about this.

The Fellow Espresso Series 1 is a fantastic machine for beginners and snobs alike. You can get seriously nerdy with all the customization options or you can just use it at face value — and it’s super easy either way.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Milk

Ugh, I love the Espresso Series 1’s steam wand. And I say “ugh” like this: Ugh, it’s so good and I’m so sad that nothing else will compare now and every machine I test in the future will pale in comparison and my dreams will be filled with the Espresso Series 1’s steam wand until the end of time.

Alright, so that’s a touch exaggerated, but you get what I mean. This is a steam wand to end all steam wands. It looks very much like the Meraki — a long, thick steam wand with a ball joint and a wide tip.

Here’s a photo of a flat white I made with oat milk.

Although the latte art isn’t quite as good, this is the best plant-based milk texture I’ve ever gotten. My colleague Nikita — who has been a test subject of every single espresso machine I’ve ever reviewed — confirmed that this was the smoothest, velvetiest oat milk she’d ever drunk.

I got a little frustrated at the auto-purge function, but I easily turned this off in the machine settings. I like controlling purging myself so I can really clean it out.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Storage & maintenance

Although the Fellow Espresso Series 1 is quite large — 23.1 x 14.6 x 12.6 — it fits nicely on my kitchen countertop. It’s quite short, but very wide and deep, so make sure you’ve got enough room. You’ll need to access the top to insert and remove the water tank.

I was surprised to find out it’s 21.7 pounds as I swear it didn’t feel that heavy when I was carrying it. Even so, it’s worth noting that you might need help setting it up.

As it’s large, the drip tray is roomy enough to hold a surprising amount of water, but I still emptied it after every use. I don’t know about you, but the idea of having stagnant nasty coffee-milk-water in my kitchen is gross.

Now, I know this is all written in the conditional tense and what has happened in the past may not occur in the future, but it’s still worth noting. I got a Fellow Stag EKG kettle a couple of years ago, and it stopped working after a couple of months. The replacement still works, but I know longevity is a known issue with Fellow gear.

The possibility of the Espresso Series 1 suffering from this issue isn’t confirmed. I can’t see the future — I’d be a lot richer if I could. However, this makes me a little hesitant to recommend the machine wholeheartedly. I didn’t experience any issues during my testing period, but I only had it on a 10-day loan.

Even so, Fellow offers a 2-year warranty with the Espresso Series 1, which is the same as Breville and Ninja, and pretty standard for espresso machines these days.

Fellow provides two sachets of cleaning products, which should be enough for around 400 shots (depending on how long that would last you!), and these cost $14.95 for 10. Descaling solution costs $9.95 per sachet, or $14.95 for an 8 fluid ounce bottle.

Fellow Espresso Series 1 review: Verdict

If you couldn’t tell from my waxing lyrical for 2,000 words, I love the Fellow Espresso Series 1. It’s got everything: looks, brains, brawns, ambition. I never made a bad shot and my milk was perfect every single time. This is the machine I dream about.

But, at $1,499, I’m realistically never going to own this machine, and I know that’s expensive for most people. Although most fancy espresso machines will set you back well over a grand, so this isn’t particularly overpriced; it’s just unobtainable for most people. I’d recommend waiting until a sale (Black Friday, maybe?) or getting something a bit cheaper, like the Breville Bambino.

Got $1,499, though? Yeah, you will not be disappointed by the Fellow Espresso Series 1. I’m not sure how I can go on after testing this absolute delight. If you’re in a position to spend 1.5k on an espresso machine, don’t walk — run to the checkout.

Panasonic has been releasing innovative kitchen appliances for decades. Evolving with the times and listening to consumer concerns, the Japanese company has just launched a microwave that comes with a feature many of us desperately want from our microwaves: even cooking.

I love heating up leftovers. "Cook once, eat thrice" is a motto I live by, but I don't love that my current microwave is pretty uneven with its spread of heat. Some parts are piping hot while others are unappealingly cold. Finally, Panasonic has an answer in the form of the Japanese Microwave.

Launching for $429.95 at Panasonic, the Japanese Microwave utilizes smart technology to revolutionize the way you cook up your food. And it also looks really nice. Here's what's packed into this modern-looking microwave.

Even cooking with smart technology

As mentioned, the Panasonic Japanese Microwave comes with a feature we've all been desperately waiting for – even cooking for your meals. To achieve this, Panasonic has loaded up its new microwave with some super smart tech that I'm pretty excited about.

The Genius Sensor 2.0 is one of the shining features that makes this possible, precisely monitoring the temperature of your food for even heating. This is paired up with some pretty clever 3D antenna technology to target your food at a whole range of angles, meaning that those cold spots you hate to find in your leftovers will be gone.

Panasonic reveals that the Genius Sensor 2.0 uses a thermo sensor positioned at 64 points in the microwave interior: "This allows the microwave to respond to different foods and temperatures as they cook, helping deliver more even results across the entire plate, all with a simple push of a button."

And using Panasonic's patented Inverter Technology, the Japanese Microwave will maintain a consistent power level rather than pulsing on and off to reduce those hot and cold spots even further.

Panasonic's one and done approach works in a number of ways from the One Push Reheat button that'll bring your food to the ideal temperature with just one press of a button.

To One Bowl Cooking where you can add all the fresh ingredients for a dish into a single bowl and the Japanese Microwave will cook them all up throughly and evenly. The options include Chili, Carbonara, and more.

Ridiculously good looking

For this microwave, Panasonic has also focused on style, adopting the design-first approach that has long been popular in Japan. And I'll be honest, I've never looked at a microwave and thought it was a pretty sleek addition to my kitchen. With the Japanese Microwave, my mind has been changed.

Not only am I impressed by its minimalistic and smart design, but I'm particularly interested in its pull-down, oven-style door to fit into tighter kitchen spaces. It's a design feature makes this microwave smoother, quieter and better looking.

You've also got a flatbed interior design that's modern and easier to clean with the Japanese Microwave. There's no traditional turntable inside. Instead, you can simply place down your dishes. This makes the interior footprint larger meaning it can accommodate larger dishes and even multiple items at once.

And, thankfully, you don't have to worry about those multiple items not getting an even cook. Panasonic's smart technology has got you covered.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best microwaves in 2026
• 5 game-changing microwave hacks you didn’t know you could do
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Smeg is one of my favorite brands for sheer style. Everything the made by the Italian company just seems to ooze cool, whether that be its classic retro vibe or the new sleek modern aesthetic.

The coffee collection is no different. The Smeg x La Pavoni EMC02 is one of my favorite espresso machines of all time; it combines sheer beauty with iconic Italian function, and helped me make some of the best coffees of my career. When I dream about espresso machines, many of them are EMC02-shaped.

But the newest thing catching my eye is the Moonlight colorway. This sleek, modern style is simply gorgeous — and I finally got to see it in real life. Moonlight combines low-key aesthetics with serious function. You can get it on the Smeg toaster, Smeg electric kettle, and the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker. I cannot wait to get my hands on the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker in Moonlight — and here's why.

Healing & harmonious

I could spend a thousand words waxing lyrical about the Moonlight colorway, but just look at it. When I first saw the coffee maker, I gasped and stroked it like it was a kitten. Trust me — not only does it look gorgeous, it feels super satisfying and matte as well.

Smeg designed the Moonlight colorway to "reflect the growing shift towards natural materials and calmer palettes, enhancing each appliance’s form while integrating into modern living spaces."

As much as I love the industrial-cool aesthetic of the Moccamaster and the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer, I know that look doesn't suit all homes. The Moonlight shade is intended to "work seamlessly alongside wood, stone and satin metals" and "create interiors that feel considered, cohesive and easy to live with".

What do you think? Do you think the Moonlight colorway would suit your kitchen? Or would you want something a bit more in-your-face?

Anti-fingerprints

As Moonlight is a matte shade, you shouldn't have to wipe off those pesky greasy fingerprints as much as with a chrome product. I swear, when I was testing the Aarke Coffee Maker, I was wiping off fingerprints more than I was making coffee. Don't get me wrong — that's a great machine that makes great coffee (it's just expensive), but those fingerprints...

Obviously, I didn't get a chance to use the Retro Coffee Maker as I would if it were mine, but I didn't notice any greasy fingerprints on the machine. I'll be getting it in the week after next for a full review, so watch this fingerprint-related space.

A full set

Like other Smeg gear, the Retro Coffee Maker, Electric Kettle, Toaster, and refrigerator are all available in Moonlight. In theory, you could get the whole set and have a completely matching kitchen.

Smeg is no stranger to full kitchen sets. Many of its appliances are available in harmonious colorways, like the Smeg x Porsche Shade Green set or the Smeg x Dolce Gabbana Blu Mediterranean set.

What sets the Moonlight collection apart, though, is its inconspicuity. As this is a muted, mellow design, just one item could suit a monochrome kitchen, or the entire lineup could mesh well with a brighter kitchen.

But still pretty plastic

Because of my series The Coffee Lab, I've been on an anti-plastic kick recently. You guys really hate plastic in your coffee machines. As a result, whenever I test a new coffee machine, plastic is all I can see.

The Smeg Retro Coffee Maker still seems to be pretty plasticky, especially the inside of the filter basket, where hot water will touch time and time again. I know this is a dealbreaker for a lot of coffee lovers — would this put you off?

As much as I'm trying to find a plastic-free coffee maker for the anti-plastic crew out there, I'm not personally super against plastic in my coffee makers. I think I'd still grab the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker. This plastic wouldn't totally put me off. Of course it wouldn't — I use an AeroPress!

I love the Moonlight colorway enough to look past the plasticky interior, too. I mean, come on. It's gorgeous. My kitchen needs this matte, celestial beige in its life.

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If you have a damp problem, getting one of the best dehumidifiers is a no-brainer. These helpful devices draw moisture from your air to prevent damp and mold. Not only is that good for your walls, ceilings and paint, it’s also highly beneficial for your health.

Unfortunately, my home is rather damp, especially in winter. So I’m always running two dehumidifiers (one upstairs and one downstairs) to keep things in check. Throughout winter and spring 2026, one of those was the Pro Breeze Dehumidifier, which I had for a long-term test.

The Pro Breeze is a moderately quick dehumidifier, extracting up to 50 pints / 20 liters a day, with (according to the manufacturer) a wide coverage of up to 4,000 square feet. It’s designed for larger spaces and/or an entire floor of a house. It’s fairly compact given its capacity and has some helpful features like a status LED and a handle.

It isn’t perfect, with slow operating during stress tests, slightly confusing controls and a water tank that can be awkward to refit. But could it still be worth buying? Find out in my full ProBreeze Dehumidifier review.

Pro Breeze Dehumidifier review: Specs

Pro Breeze Dehumidifier review: Price & availability

The Pro Breeze Dehumidifier is available in the U.S. from Amazon for $239, which is essentially the going rate for a decent 50-pint dehumidifier. The GoveeLife Smart 50-pint Dehumidifier also costs $239, while the slower Waykar 34-pint Dehumidifier costs $228. The excellent Frigidaire 50-pint Dehumidifier costs slightly more at $279, but is an excellent performer — at full price, that’s where my money would go. However, we’ve seen the Pro Breeze drop as low as $138 at Amazon, and at those prices, it’s a solid choice.

In the U.K., where Pro Breeze is based, this dehumidifier is no longer available. However, Pro Breeze offers a much wider array of dehumidifiers in the British market, so there are plenty more to choose from.

Pro Breeze Dehumidifier review: Design

The Pro Breeze Dehumidifier isn’t going to win any awards for its design. It’s a white, upright slab — hardly prepossessing. In fairness, though, they all look like that. I haven’t seen a good-looking dehumidifier that uses wood or makes any effort to look stylish and homely. They all look like medical equipment that’s been stolen from a hospital.

The top panel of the dehumidifier is particularly ugly and dated-looking in my opinion. My Bosch Dry 2000 (not available in the U.S.) looks much more modern with its round display and minimalist touch controls. The Pro Breeze features LED status (red, green and blue) to quickly display humidity levels — these are handy, but again, kinda ugly and dated.

It’s a fairly tall dehumidifier, but the trade off is that it’s a fairly narrow unit, giving extra versatility with placement. That said, when in use, you should always maintain a gap between any dehumidifier and walls or furniture, so they’re always placed slightly awkwardly anyway.

I like that the Pro Breeze features a handle and wheels. This makes it super easy to move around to different parts of your home if you need to target a specific area. During winter, I noticed some mold growing in a corner of my hallway, so I quickly scooted the dehumidifier across my wood floor and positioned it very near the problem spot. The wheels aren’t quite as effective on carpet, but hey, they’re still nice to have.

The filter is removable and washable, which is great to see, although I wouldn’t advise buying any dehumidifier without this feature. They get such heavy use that replacing filters would cost you a fortune. The GoveeLife Smart Dehumidifier and Waykar Dehumidifier also have washable filters.

Controls

The Pro Breeze’s controls are clearly labelled and fairly self explanatory. There are buttons for everything you’ll need. However, I found the display a little confusing. There are various modes, many with similar icons, doing different things. There’s a fan speed setting, but also a high power setting — isn’t the high fan speed also the high power setting? There’s a laundry mode that does basically the same things as the high power mode.

After a read-through of the manual, I realized what these different modes were doing, and that there were subtle differences between them. But it was still a little frustrating, as other dehumidifiers like my Bosch Dry 2000 and the GoveeLife Smart are extremely intuitive and easy-to-use straight out of the box.

Pro Breeze Dehumidifier review: Performance

The Pro Breeze Dehumidifier will extract up to 50 pints of water from your air per day, according to the manufacturer, which is a lot of moisture. This will depend on specific circumstances, of course, which I wasn’t able to match in my testing. I needed to empty the tank at least once a day with it running constantly — so 9-18 pints of water per day.

Pro Breeze’s claims about the dehumidifier’s range are all over the place. The Amazon page for the 50-pint model claims it can cover spaces up to 4,000 square feet, which is enormous. However, the Pro Breeze site only claims 2,000 square feet, while the U.K. Pro Breeze site claims 322 square feet for the equivalent model. The U.K. model has slightly lower energy consumption, but the exact same 195 m³/h airflow rate as the U.S. model… So where is the circa 3,700 square foot difference coming from? It’s a mess.

Taking the top estimate of 4,000 square feet — that’d be equivalent to a whole storey in a very large house, or the floor of an office building. While this dehumidifier is good, I’m not sure those claims stack up to reality. In fact, as I’ll cover immediately below, I’m more inclined to believe the British rating of 322 square feet…

Testing

My kitchen — the most humid room in my house — measures around 270 square feet. To test the Pro Breeze, I cooked a pot of pasta and two slow-cook sauces on our induction cooker, without lids, and kept our extractor off to generate steam. On the maximum setting, it took the Pro Breeze several hours to take the humidity from red on the LED status to green (from nearly 80% back down closer to 60%). By comparison, our favorite dehumidifier for large spaces, the Frigidaire Dehumidifier, cleared a basement from 90% to 35% in just 40 minutes, although that was in a smaller 100 square-foot space.

In less extreme scenarios, the Pro Breeze performed admirably, though. I left it running in the default de-humidification mode, where you can set the target humidity and fan speed, and it was able to keep the moisture levels in my kitchen stable (until I cooked).

In my kitchen and in my hallway (where I had mold and condensation), the Pro Breeze did a great job. There was no window condensation in the mornings and once we cleared the mold with some spray, it didn’t return. Importantly, though, the Pro Breeze wasn’t able to dehumidify my entire downstairs — to fight the mold, I had to move the unit from the kitchen to the hallway — so again, those 4,000-square-foot claims seem pretty bogus to me.

There’s a laundry mode, which is awesome for drying clothes inside during winter. I use this regularly, and the Pro Breeze dries most clothes in a couple of hours if positioned near your dryer. Annoyingly, there’s no timer by default on laundry mode. My Bosch Dry 2000 automatically sets an 8-hour timer in laundry mode for effortless overnight drying. You have to do this manually on the Pro Breeze, otherwise laundry mode will just keep running indefinitely at max, wasting energy.

The Pro Breeze Dehumidifier gets noticeably warm in use, especially in the higher power modes. It packs out quite a bit of warm air, so you won’t want to sit next to it if you’re hot. I like that the Pro Breeze can be used as a standalone fan, though — when in fan mode, it doesn’t dehumidify but pumps out cooler air, helping to cool rooms down in warmer weather.

The water tank is fairly spacious at 9 pints / 5.1 liters, easy to empty and features a fill window to tell you when it’s full. It’s awkward to get back into place, though, often getting jammed — not a huge deal but a little annoying all the same. The Pro Breeze has an outlet for continuous draining and comes with a rubber pipe, so if you need to run it indefinitely with it draining into a bath or sink, you can — this is ideal for super damp homes needing emergency dehumidification.

Noise & night mode

The Pro Breeze is rated for 48dB of noise, although I wasn’t able to achieve anything lower than 54dB in normal mode and 52.5 in night mode. The Waykar dehumidifier ran at a lower 49dB in our testing, so may be the one to go for if this is a priority.

Still, the Pro Breeze isn’t too loud. 54dB is around the same level as other household appliances. It’ll be enough to disturb people who sleep lightly, but the same is true for pretty much every other dehumidifier. You get used to it.

You can turn off the digital display and LEDs, so the Pro Breeze won’t disturb you light-wise.

Pro Breeze Dehumidifier review: App

In the U.S., there doesn’t appear to be a companion app for the Pro Breeze. In the U.K., there is an app version of the dehumidifier, which is slightly more expensive (and which I’d recommend, as the controls are awkward). I tested the U.K. non-app version.

Pro Breeze Dehumidifier review: How does it compare?

The Pro Breeze Dehumidifier isn’t the best at anything, really. The Frigidaire 50-pint Dehumidifier and GoveeLife Smart 50-pint Dehumidifier are faster, while being similarly priced. Personally, I’d spend a little more and bag the Frigidaire.

That said, while its high-speed, extreme humidity performance may not be the best, the Pro Breeze still does an excellent job at keeping levels stable longer term. With that in mind, all three rivals are equally ugly, similarly priced, and take up around the same amount of space. So, realistically, you can take your pick.

In the U.K., I’d definitely recommend my other dehumidifier, the Bosch Dry 2000 (or its bigger sibling, the Dry 4000), instead. Performance is similar, but I find the controls more intuitive and the styling ever-so-slightly nicer.

Pro Breeze Dehumidifier review: Verdict

The Pro Breeze Dehumidifier isn’t a bad product. It does a good job at everyday dehumidification, keeping levels low if you run it all the time. It wasn’t the fastest performer we’ve seen, but did the job eventually in high-humidity scenarios. The variety of modes is useful, if not a little confusing at first, and the water tank is spacious and easy to empty, if not a little tricky to refit.

At the end of the day, if you’re struggling with damp and mold, there are better dehumidifiers out there, but the Pro Breeze isn’t a terrible solution by any stretch. Still, I’d advise waiting for a sale if you can.

The Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer is a coffee maker with a bold claim — and said bold claim is right in the name. “Plastic-free” is big talk. It’s the thing every brand seems to chase. How close to truly plastic-free can a coffee machine get? Well, I hate to burst this bubble, but the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer isn’t actually plastic-free. It has a plastic exterior and silicone water tubing.

A few years ago, I saw a meme that went along the lines of: “My grandpa full of lead, my dad full of asbestos, and me full of microplastics”. It made me laugh. Serious belly-laugh. Perhaps making light of it is the only way we can deal with our plastic-related predicaments. Consequently, I’m not overly fussy about plastics in my coffee machine. It’s in everything else. What’s a little more?

But I know a lot of coffee lovers are serious about minimizing those plastics — so is this low-plastic approach enough to make this model one of the best coffee makers? To find out, keep reading this Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer review.

Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer: Specs

Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer review: Price & availability

The Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer is objectively expensive. It’s $479 from Amazon U.S., and isn’t available in the U.K. at the time of writing.

This is $100 more expensive than the Moccamaster KGBV Select and $130 more expensive than the Breville Luxe Brewer. As the Simply Good Coffee Brewer is “plastic-free” (more on that in the ‘Design’ section below), you can expect to pay a premium. Metal and glass inherently costs more to produce than plastic. A similar price difference is mirrored in the AeroPress ($39) and the AeroPress Premium ($199).

Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer review: Design

So let’s just rip the Band-Aid off nice and fast: the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer isn’t actually plastic-free. The water lines are made from medical-grade silicone, and some exterior parts are actually made entirely of plastic.

The water lines are made from medical-grade silicone. I’m not going to tell you if this counts as plastic or not — some people think silicone is plastic, some people class silicone as rubber — so you can make up your own mind about this. Life Without Plastic recommends consumers to exercise caution, but ABC News Australia reports that if used conventionally, silicone is a food-safe material.

Regardless, there's no getting away from the fact that the exterior is clad liberally in what is, quite obviously, black plastic.

I’ll let you come to your own conclusions, but the fact of the matter remains: the Simply Good Coffee Brewer is not “plastic-free”. It’s low plastic. It’s a similar story with the low-plastic Ratio Four — considerably less plastic than the Moccamaster and the like, but still plastic.

Complaints about plastic aside, the brewer looks gorgeous. It’s like a stripped-back Moccamaster, super utilitarian and functional and industrial and cool.

I love the directions engraved on the water tank. The brewer tells you how much coffee to put in for a full batch, which is a great feature ideal for newcomers or coffee lovers who don’t have time to fuss over brewing ratios.

Another innovative feature is the drip stopper on the back of the filter basket. I love this feature. It’s very simple — effectively a piece of metal that covers the filter hole. This lets you pour coffee without having to wait for the brewer to finish each and every drip (lest you spill coffee all over the hot plate).

If you want a low plastic machine but miss that Moccamaster art style, don’t fret. You can get a color wrap for $29, available in pretty much every shade you can imagine. These color wraps are pre-cut vinyl (yep, more plastic!) and you have to stick them to the main body of the machine yourself. I love the idea of this in theory, but I am the least handy or co-ordinated person in the world — so I know I would majorly mess this up.

Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer review: Performance

As it’s a drip brewer, the Simply Good Coffee Brewer is super easy to use. All you have to do is grind your beans, put your beans in the filter, and press go. It’s as straightforward as that. The hot plate keeps the coffee warm for forty minutes, which is less than the Moccamaster’s 100 minutes, but still a decent chunk of time.

I never made a bad batch on the Simply Good Coffee Brewer. Every pot tasted clean, fresh, with zero bitterness and a pleasant, well-rounded finish. This coffee tastes just as good as the Moccamaster’s, and I’m sure any Moccamaster transplants will be satisfied with this flavor.

To show you how easy it is, I’m going to share my ideal Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer routine.

My go-to Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer routine

As the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer is a drip machine, it’s super easy to use — and here’s the proof!

1. Fill the water tank to your preferred line. There are notches for the minimum 2 cup, 4-cup, and the max 8 cup.
2. Grind your coffee to a medium grind size. I use my Mazzer Philos.
3. Put your desired coffee in the #4 cone filters.
4. Optional: Put the filter in the filter basket and press ‘bloom’. Bloom will saturate the grounds to release gases and, in my opinion, give you a cleaner flavor.
5. Not optional: Make sure the drip stopper is off (otherwise no coffee will flow into your pot).
6. Flip the on switch to start the brew.
7. After around 6 minutes, you’ve got a full pot of delicious coffee.

And that’s it!

Of course, you can experiment with dose and grind size, to achieve your ideal flavor. I tried every dose from 56g (the minimum for a full pot) to 72g (the maximum for a full pot), and found anywhere between 60g-72g to be perfect.

Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer review: Storage & maintenance

The Simply Good Coffee Brewer feels more compact than it is. At 13 x 14 inches, it’s the same size as the Moccamaster, so not a particularly small machine. Even so, I was able to fit this nicely on my kitchen countertop without making it feel cluttered.

Like the Moccamaster, the brewer uses #4 conical filters; Simply Good Coffee provides a pack with the brewer itself, then these cost around $8 for 100.

Simply-Good-Coffee-branded cleaning chemicals and descaler will set you back $22 for 6 months or $39 for a year. You could probably also use Durgol, $16 for 25 ounces, which is Technivorm’s recommended product for descaling the Moccamaster.

Ironically, Simply Good Coffee reassures users that the plastic parts are dishwasher safe (even though it’s “plastic-free”). I just washed mine by hand though.

Finally, I’ll address warranty and repairs. Technivorm is famous in the coffee world for being the only company to offer five-year warranties as standard and then lifetime repairs.

Simply Good Coffee has recently improved its two-year warranty to a five-year warranty as standard, which is fantastic.

I would recommend the Moccamaster if you want a machine with lifetime repairs — I wish Simply Good Coffee would offer this perk too, but a five-year warranty is still good going.

Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer review: How does it compare?

Simply Good Coffee also makes a Plastic-Free Programmable Brewer, which is exactly what it sounds like. You can program the machine to come on at certain times, which would be ideal if you’re the kind of person who loves waking up to a fresh pot of coffee. This is a huge $519, so $30 pricier than the one I’m reviewing here.

The cheapest model under Simply Good Coffee’s belt is The Brewer Glass, which has a plastic filter basket (like a Moccamaster) and a glass carafe (like a Moccamaster) for $199.

I would probably buy the Moccamaster for the lifetime repairs, but if you’re serious about minimizing your plastic usage, you might want to consider the Ratio Four and the Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer.

Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer review: Verdict

The Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer is a great coffee machine — with one major caveat. I love the look of this machine; it’s modern, it’s utilitarian, it’s stylish and sleek. It has a bloom setting, can keep coffee warm for forty minutes, and does all that without breaking a sweat.

However (and this is a big however)... it’s just not plastic-free. There are plastic elements all over the body and the inner lines use silicone. Whether or not this is a dealbreaker is up to you. My main issue is with Simply Good Coffee using “Plastic-free” in the name when that’s not the case at all — it could be seen as false advertising.

But as someone who is already full of microplastics (“What’s the harm in adding a few more,” I think to myself as I microwave Tupperware and bemoan the state of the world), I’m honestly not too fussy about plastic tubing or sealant in my coffee machines. The Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer makes delicious coffee quickly, and looks gorgeous while doing it. This is more than enough for me to wholly recommend it — I just wish Simply Good Coffee would adjust the name slightly.

The best espresso machines are expensive. That's just a fact of life. The cheapest espresso machine I've ever truly loved is the Breville Bambino ($299), and I've always recommended the De'Longhi Stilosa ($149) and cheap-and-cheerful Casabrews 3700 Essential. Of course, though, many of these cheap machines have drawbacks — well, the De'Longhi Stilosa and Casabrews 3700 do — because corners have to be cut to keep the price down.

But when I tested the Casabrews Marenza recently, I couldn't quite believe my eyes. What do you mean, it's a bean-to-cup espresso machine for just $349 — and often on sale for $299? What do you mean, it's got a tamping collar, a 58mm portafilter, and a built-in timer? All this for just $50 more than the Breville Bambino?

So where's the catch? Well, it breaks my heart to tell you this, but quite a few corners have been cut. The materials and build are pretty flimsy, the steam wand is quite weak, and the grinder is relatively poor. But might all this be a worthy trade-off for a machine that costs literally hundreds of dollars less than the next-cheapest alternative? Let's find out.

The pros

Don't get me wrong, the Casabrews Marenza has a lot going for it. The main one? The price. At just $349, this is one of the cheapest espresso machines with a grinder I've ever seen. The other one is the Gevi Espresso Machine with Grinder, which I wouldn't recommend due to its very weak steam wand and long boiler heat-up time.

If you have $349 to spend on a coffee machine, I'd go for the Casabrews Marenza over the Gevi. The Casabrews offers far superior espresso brewing. Take a look at this photo of an espresso pulled on the Marenza.

When I tested the grinder, I got pretty poor results. Because grind size is arguably the most important factor when making espresso I had low expectations — but I was genuinely really impressed by every shot I made on the Marenza.

If you're not the kind of home barista who desires a coffee scale, you'll love the built-in grinder on the Marenza. This is the most unique design feature on the machine.

I'm sensing a trend here, but was also disappointed by the Marenza's steam wand... on paper. In reality, I got beautiful milk texture and even more beautiful latte art, as you can see here.

So surely all these features make the Marenza a 5-star product? Espresso, check. Steam wand, check. Shouldn't I be singing this machine's every praise?

Yes and no — as much as I was impressed by these features, it's not all perfect. Now onto the cons.

The cons

While I was eventually won over by the milk function and espresso function, there are some major downsides to the Marenza.

The main one is the flimsy, plastic-heavy build. The grinder hopper actually broke (yep, broke itself...) while I was cleaning it. I removed the hopper to clean the burrs, it fell off my kitchen counter... and smashed all over the floor. You can see the broken hopper in the video above.

This plasticky, low-quality build is present over the entire machine, from the drip tray to water tank. I would proceed with caution to not accidentally damage it.

I'm not a huge fan of how the Marenza looks, but beauty is subjective. You may love it. In an ideal world, the Marenza would be a little more brushed silver, a little less black-cube-in-the-2000s.

But what do you think? Are you willing to put up with an inconsistent grinder and a slightly frustrating steam wand to save serious $$$ and get a bean-to-cup for about half the price of competitors?

Personally, I'd probably stick with my Breville Bambino and get a hand grinder like the Timemore Chestnut C2S ($60) — but what do you think? What would be your ideal home coffee setup? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to check back next Friday for the next Coffee Lab!

More from Tom's Guide

• I'm an ex-barista but I'm not great at latte art — and this is my cheat code to perfect art every time
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• I made two identical espressos with $5 coffee beans and $20 coffee beans — and yes, the coffee snobs are right

The Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 (bit of a tongue-twister, right?) is a 2-in-1 floor fan and air purifier, designed to help keep your home air healthy while you stay cool.

As you can probably already tell from the image up there, it looks about as quintessentially Dyson as it’s possible to get and comes with equally Dyson-esque build quality. It’s a strong air purifier and boasts a range of useful features in its app. Plus, none of its rivals on our roundup of the best air purifiers include a fan, either.

Unfortunately, the Dyson looks and build quality also bring the inevitable Dyson premium: this thing is extremely expensive. The cooling function, meanwhile, isn’t much better than that of a standard blade fan.

But could this still be the right air purifier for you? Find out in my full Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review.

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review: Specs

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review: Price & availability

The Dyson Find+Follow PC3 costs $849 from Dyson in the U.S. and £549 in the U.K., so you’re paying the usual Dyson premium. The U.S. price is especially high, and if you can’t stretch that far, I’d advise looking at the Windmill Air Purifier ($299) or Blueair Blue Signature ($499, although often discounted at Amazon) — these are two of our favorite air purifiers.

The Dyson somewhat justifies an enlarged price tag over rivals. Firstly, it’s also a fan, which the Windmill and Blueair aren’t. It packs the usual beautiful Dyson build quality and beautiful modern styling; plus connectivity with the Dyson app. So, if you already use Dyson gear, the PC3 will blend in seamlessly from both an aesthetic and user-interface standpoint.

Still, $849 is wildly expensive, and there isn’t really any way to make it make sense. It’s an extravagance. You want Dyson, you have to pay the Dyson tax.

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review: Design

The PC3 design is archetypal Dyson — gloss-white finish; premium bronze base; confident curves contrasted with clean, straight lines. It’s pure neo-noughties, and I love it. It pairs extremely well with my DysonSolarcycle Morph desk lamp, which I also have in a bronze finish.

It feels like a Dyson product, too — extremely high quality. I moved my two review units around the house a lot during testing. Annoyingly, there are no wheels, so I simply scooped my forearm through the top of the fan loop to carry it around. I neither heard nor felt a single groan or unnerving sound while doing so.

The air purifier uses HEPA filters, which are the bare minimum you should look for in any air purifier or vacuum cleaner. These filter out 99.95% of particles, including viruses, bacteria, spores, pollen and pet dander. There’s a carbon filter to trap the potentially harmful byproducts of combustion, including NO2; and a Selective Catalytic Oxidation (SCO) filter, which traps toxic formaldehyde and, according to Dyson, never needs replacing.

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review: Setup & use

The Dyson PC3 is extremely easy to set up as it comes pre-assembled. You simply unbox and unpackage it and it’s basically ready to go. You can use it without the Dyson app, but I wouldn’t advise doing so. There’s a QR code on the packaging for downloading the app.

Once in the app, there’s a simple setup process to pair the fan to your app via Bluetooth. This works flawlessly each time (I had two PC3s to set up) and takes a minute or so. You then choose your room and, voilà, you can use the app as a remote control. The app is fantastic, giving you control over modes, fan speed, precise fan direction and rotation, and air purification. The controls are straightforward and all self-explanatory.

There’s a remote control included, which attaches to the top of the fan magnetically and features the same controls as in the app. But although any changes you make on the remote will be shown on the PC3’s LED display, it’s still way more intuitive to see exactly what you’re doing in the Dyson app.

The remote’s buttons aren’t backlit, either, so it’s impossible to see what you’re pressing at nighttime. It’s handy for making basic adjustments during the day, I guess, and will be necessary if multiple people want to adjust the fan (visitors, or in an office).

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review: Performance

The PC3 serves dual purposes. Not only is it an air purifier, but one of Dyson’s renowned standing cooling fans. I’ll evaluate both separately, as well as the Find+Follow mode and noise levels.

Air purifier

Firstly, I’ll discuss the PC3’s air purification, which is pretty good. According to Dyson, a single fan purifies rooms up to 27m², filtering over 290 litres per second. The PC3 filters and tracks a variety of contaminants, which can be viewed in basic form on the display, or in detail via the app.

• PM2.5 — Particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, including smoke, burning candles and industrial emissions
• PM10 — Particular matter smaller than 10 microns, including pollen and allergens
• VOCs — Volatile organic compounds, such as cooking odors, burning fuel, perfume and cleaning products
• NO2 — Nitrogen dioxide and oxidizing gases, the remnants from combustion, including from cooking and vehicles
• The PC3 also tracks general air quality, which is affected by all the above

Initially, I ran the air purifier in my living room, which is next to a busy road, keeping the windows open to see if there was any spike in NO2 emissions. If there were, these proved easy work for the PC3, which kept NO2 and air quality in the green.

I ran the same tests in my kitchen with the doors and windows to my garden open, to induce some PM10 allergens like pollen into the room. The grass pollen count in my area was moderate to high, but even so I couldn’t get a reading on the PC3.

So, I subjected the air purifier to some sterner tests. I first cooked homemade pizza in my oven. After it was done, I deliberately left semolina flour and cornflour to burn on my pizza steel inside the oven. Then I opened the oven door.

The PM2.5 and PM10 immediately spiked, and my kitchen air quality was sent straight into the red (very poor). Within 30 minutes, the PC3 in auto mode had pulled the air quality back into yellow (fair). By 2.5 hours later, the air quality was back in the green (good).

I then ran a closed-door, closed-window and closed-curtain test in my bedroom, which is smaller. I sprayed lots of aerosolized dry anti-perspirant, lit a candle and burnt several matches down to the wick before blowing them out and letting them smoke. I could literally taste how disgusting the air was in the room. PM2.5 and PM10 figures went through the roof, this time the worst level: purple (severe). The PC3 automatically ramped up to max power and cleared the room back to green (good) in around 30-minutes. The smell of the aerosol was cleared earlier, though, in around 10 minutes.

These rates are fairly good in my book. The Windmill Air Purifier and Blueair Blue Signature — two of our favorite air purifiers — will clear candle smoke or a handful of flour in minutes, but the test I subjected the Dyson to was way more extreme, and it only took half an hour to get air quality levels from severe back to good.

Cooling fan

I tested the PC3 at the perfect time — a heatwave hit the U.K. just two days after I started testing. Temperatures hit 33C, or 91F, and if you’ve ever been to Britain in the summer, you’ll know we don’t do aircon in our homes.

The PC3 definitely helped keep my wife and I cooler than if we’d had no fan. Unfortunately, though, the PC3 isn’t worth spending the money on if you’re only after a cooling fan. The performance wasn’t any better than my $50 conventional bladed fan.

At night, with the PC3 at the foot of my bed and running at full blast, the fan wasn’t strong enough for air to reach my face and keep me cool. I had to dig out my small bladed fan to put on my bedside table. At close quarters, this felt as powerful and cooling as the Dyson.

On a positive note, the PC3 has a rear diffusion mode, which is useful. This diffuses cooler air out of the rear of the fan loop, rather than directly at you through the front — it’s better for gentler, longer-term cooling in less extreme ambient temperatures.

Find+Follow

The PC3’s Find+Follow setting uses a sensor and subject detection to detect, lock onto and track subjects round the room, following them with the fan (there’s no recording taking place, though, for the security conscious). It’s kinda cool, accurately detecting and following you when you walk nearby. With more than one person detected, it’ll automatically rotate to hit them both, so no need to keep setting rotation angles manually as people move.

There are a few problems, though. Firstly, it doesn’t work with animals. In the hot weather, I wanted my dogs to get some breeze, so I had to set the rotation angle manually. Secondly, the detection range is a little narrow, so it failed to find me a few times, and I had to manually start a detection sweep. Finally, it had trouble recognizing people when they sat down on a low sofa or lay down, meaning I had to set the rotation manually again. These issues undermined the hands-off experience Find+Follow is supposed to allow.

Noise levels

The PC3 obviously makes noise. It’s a whopping great big fan. It isn’t that loud though, and at full power (10) it was peaking at 57.6dB on DecibelX — equating to other household appliances like a dishwasher. There’s a night mode, which turns off the display and pares back the noise a little, but at its quietest, the PC3 still operates at 50dB.

This is obviously rather noisy in the dead of night. I’m used to running a dehumidifier at night, so running the PC3 at full pelt didn’t bother me. But if you’re a sensitive sleeper, the noise may still be an issue. Check out the Dyson HushJet Compact Air Purifier instead, which operates at just 27dB.

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review: App

The Dyson app is fairly good. It’s a little janky sometimes, failing to connect to my Dyson Solarcycle Morph desk lamp. But with the PC3, I have no complaints. As I’ve detailed throughout, the app is by far the easiest and most insightful way to control the PC3. Being able to visualize the controls on your smartphone instead of the tiny LED screen is super handy. And then there are the in-depth graphs to show you real-time and longer-term air quality. Without the app, I’m not sure I could’ve scored this product as highly.

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review: Storage & maintenance

If (like me) you don’t have a large house, storing this badboy is gonna be a problem. The PC3 is very tall, and although narrow (making it easy to fit into narrow spaces), still takes up as much real estate as a floor lamp. If you’ve already got a floor lamp where a floor lamp should go, well, the PC3 will need to stand awkwardly wherever it can. And with no folding or dismantling possible, what you see is what you get.

Maintenance is fairly simple: just replace the filters when needed. Dyson recommends changing every 12-months, or when the app/LED counter reaches 0%. I ran both my fans at full tilt for around a week (day and night), and the percentage dropped to 97%. That was quite an extreme test, though, and home users should only need to replace one a year.

The PC3 uses Dyson’s 360-degree combined HEPA H13 + K-Carbon filter, which costs $89 / £85 each. Replacing the filters couldn’t be easier: press the button to release the case covers, remove the filters, insert new ones, then close it all back up again.

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review: How does it compare?

In terms of its purifying, the Dyson is a match for other large rivals like the Windmill Air Purifier, albeit much more expensive and bulky. The Windmill is much more understated, design-wise, blending in perfectly alongside a laundry basket in our review — that might be the one to go for if you’re not a fan of the Dyson’s “statement piece” design. If you’re short on space (or indeed cash), meanwhile, the Blueair Blue Signature or Shark NeverChange Compact Pro are much better choices.

I’d only really recommend spending extra on the PC3 over any of its rivals if you have other Dyson products using the app and/or you need a 2-in-1 fan and purifier — none of our favorite air purifiers offer that. Still, you can grab a cheaper, older model like the Dyson PC1 ($549) and get many of the same core benefits.

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 review: Verdict

The Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool PC3 is an excellent air purifier, cleaning extremely polluted air in under 30 minutes during testing. For moderate day-to-day use, it’ll have no issues keeping the air in your home healthy. It packs a variety of very useful features, not least the Dyson app, which is critical to the PC3’s user-friendliness. There’s also the Find+Follow function, which is cool, but a little flawed. And of course, there’s the built-in floor fan, which our other favorite air purifiers don’t offer.

That said, it’s heinously expensive in the U.S., and rather difficult to justify. If you really need a 2-in-1 purifier and fan combo, it could be worth the spend. And if you have other recent Dyson gear, the PC3 will fit in both aesthetically and technologically, thanks to the ecosystem-wide Dyson app.

At the end of the day, the PC3 is a Dyson. It’s expensive, arguably overpriced, but would I give it back? Only if forced.

This week in the Lab, I'm answering the age-old question: Are coffee beans actually that important? Do you need to buy $20 coffee beans grown in treacherous, remote mountainside farms and massaged every day by angels? Or can you get away with the oil-coated shells seen at Starbucks, Dunkin', and the like?

Well, I'm going to give you a little spoiler — yes. It does matter which beans you use. Although we try to forget coffee snobbery here at The Coffee Lab, in this case, coffee snobs are actually correct. If you want genuinely delicious, barista-beating brews at home, unfortunately, it's gotta be those fancy premium beans. But — they'll cost you, and, for that reason, I don't even buy expensive beans often.

Even so, it's not about the destination; it's about the journey. So buckle up as I take you through exactly which beans I used, exactly how I made the espressos, and my overall thoughts. Coffee snobs — you're actually right on this occasion (but here's why I don't buy $20 coffee, and why you don't need to either).

The beans

I live in the U.K., so I went to my local grocery store, Sainsbury's (which I would say is closer to Trader Joe's or Target than Walmart), and bought the cheapest beans on offer. £3.60 ($4.85 at time of writing) for 227g, espresso blend, with tasting notes of "STRONG". They are Fairtrade, though!

Then, I went to a local independent coffee shop and bought some guest roastery beans, £16 ($21.55) for 200g, with tasting notes of tropical, lime, and mango.

This works out to 1.58 pence per gram versus 7.1 pence per gram — making the fancy beans almost five times the price.

The machine

As always, I ground the beans to espresso-fine using my Mazzer Philos ($1,500) and used my Fellow Tally Pro ($189) to weigh out 18g of espresso.

Then, I used my Breville Bambino ($299) to pull two identical shots of espresso.

Both have a lovely, thick crema, although the expensive bean is lighter in color — you would hope, as it's medium roast. Now, it's time for the most important part: the taste test!

The taste test

I tasted both espressos immediately after brewing. No milk, no water, just espresso. I wanted to get the full depth of flavor without any interference.

The cheap espresso just tasted like coffee. I know, I know, I got a degree in Creative Writing just to describe something as tasting like coffee? But seriously. There was no nuance. No exciting juiciness at the back of my tongue. No caramelly richness to round it out.

In a latte, with some vanilla syrup, though, it would be delicious. It's the perfect baseline espresso flavor to build out a Starbucks-style cup.

Now, the expensive espresso. It had a lovely, bright zinginess that made my mouth water. I could taste the lime notes, and I could drink it straight. Usually, I drink Americanos or flat whites, but this espresso was delicious. Not too intense at all.

The bottom line

If you have the money to spend on artisan coffee beans, you won't be disappointed. There's a whole world of fancy, jargon-loaded coffee for you to discover — anaerobic, washed, natural, so on and so forth.

But it doesn't come cheap, and when you have to "dial in" espresso (effectively waste a shot or two while finding the perfect grind size), it's a lot to ask. I very, very rarely buy coffee this expensive. Usually, I grab the £8 ($10.78) bag from the grocery store — I know, I know. Please don't take away my coffee snob badge.

If you can afford it, sure, get the artisan beans. But in this economy, I know it's a big ask. I'm happy to continue buying my generic £8 beans and wishing I could indulge in the £16 nuggets of delight — and I wouldn't judge you if you do the same.

More from Tom's Guide

• I'm an ex-barista but I'm not great at latte art — and this is my cheat code to perfect art every time
• Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
• Nespresso gets a bad rap in the coffee world — but here's why I think it's perfect for some people (from a coffee snob)

I consider myself a decent cook, but I absolutely despise the clean-up afterward. And baking? That’s usually a definite pass for me. With my Italian background, I'm much more comfortable with the "intuitive cooking" approach.

Even though some of the best air fryers can be somewhat tricky to clean, the Cosori Iconic Air Fryer has surprisingly changed my mind. Its ease of clean-up has me cooking more meals more frequently, and I've even found myself motivated to bake with it.

In fact, I really don’t have anything negative to say about the Iconic. Every meal I’ve cooked in it has been delicious and cooked to perfection — once I learned that I had to shorten my cooking times due to the powerful heating element and motor. I even baked a cheesecake! I followed a recipe and everything!

The Iconic has become a staple in my kitchen, and I imagine it will stay there for a long time because it’s so easy to use and produces such consistently delicious results. Here’s what happened.

Cosori Iconic Air Fryer review: Price and availability

The Iconic is available for purchase now for $249 at Amazon. Cosori offers free shipping, 30-day returns, and a 5-year limited warranty. It is also available for purchase at other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

Cosori Iconic Air Fryer review: Design

The Iconic Air Fryer’s exterior is made of stainless steel, while the top is tempered glass. All the touch-sensitive controls live beneath that glass. The basket slides out from the front of the unit and is also faced with stainless steel, as well as a large handle with a button-release on top. All told, it weighs 14.1 pounds, making it easy to move around the kitchen.

The 6.5-quart basket’s inside features a nonstick ceramic coating, and it’s dishwasher-safe. Cosori says you can feed 3-5 people with the basket’s capacity, though that, of course, depends largely on what you’re cooking.

The Iconic comes with a crisper plate that fits perfectly within the basket. It’s removable for easy cleaning, and it’s also dishwasher-safe.

All of the cooking functions rely upon a DC motor, which Cosori says is more powerful and energy-efficient than a traditional AC motor. There are six cooking functions: Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Proof, and ReHeat.

There are five fan speeds, and temperature range settings from 90 degrees to 450 degrees. And you can operate the Iconic anywhere from 1 minute up to 24 hours.

Aside from the main unit and crisper plate, the Iconic doesn’t include any other accessories. However, it does come with a brief recipe book — a good place to start if you’ve never used an air fryer before.

Like other air fryers, the Iconic cooks food by using a powerful fan to circulate hot air around the food. The small basket makes this an efficient process. One of the big benefits of an air fryer is that the exterior of the food crisps quickly, sealing in moisture and providing an even cook on all sides. The crisper plate creates a gap between the bottom of the basket and your food, through which the hot air can circulate.

The heating element is situated above the fan at the top of the Iconic’s internal structure. The fan then transfers this heat downward toward the food in the basket. Cold air around the food is quickly forced away, allowing the hot air to crisp the outside of the food quickly.

Cosori Iconic Air Fryer review: Cooking performance

My biggest question when I took on the Iconic review was how much more convenient it could be over a conventional oven. It is, in a lot of ways, just a small oven, after all. But the forced air cooking system does have its benefits, as does the super small size of the cooking basket.

I found that cooking with the Iconic is vastly more convenient than a conventional oven for a lot of reasons. For starters, it’s far more efficient in terms of power use and cooking time. Since it’s small, it heats up quickly, using less power and getting to the important work of cooking almost immediately, rather than wasting lots of time and energy on pre-heating a larger space.

Secondly, the Iconic does an incredible job of crisping the outside of food, sealing in moisture and flavor. I cooked chicken thighs during my first use, and they came out exceptional — I would say even better than my usual method, which involves a cast-iron pan in the oven at a high temperature, usually 425 degrees or higher, for up to 40 minutes. With the Iconic, I had crispy, moist chicken thighs ready to eat after just 20 minutes of cooking.

After my initial success with chicken, I took the plunge and put a New York Strip steak into the oven. I don’t eat steak often, so when I do, I want it to be perfect, especially since beef is getting more and more expensive. The Iconic was up to the task.

The internet recommended 7 minutes per side for my cut of beef. I found this to be too long, however, and I ended up slightly overcooking the steak, even though I cut down the cooking time to five minutes on one side and three on the other. I ended up with a medium cook, though I much prefer medium rare.

The outside was crisped beautifully, almost as well as I could have done with a sear in a pan. On my second run through with steak, I did do a quick sear in a pan after cooking in the Iconic, and this time, it was an absolutely perfect finish.

To complement both the steaks and the chicken, I also cooked some potatoes sliced thin. I marinated them first, then tossed them in the basket with the crisper plate at the bottom. In just ten minutes, the potatoes were perfectly cooked: tender and soft in the middle, crispy on the outside.

Over the last few months of testing, the Iconic has become my go-to method of cooking chicken dinners. I’ve cooked a few steaks in it too, and even tried a cut of fish. The latter was a bit tougher to nail down in terms of cooking time, so I would recommend checking in frequently when you’re cooking fish. And a simple meat thermometer helps a lot with beef. Even better, a wireless meat thermometer is ideal so you can check on the internal meat temperature without opening the unit and letting out the heat.

Cosori Iconic Air Fryer review: Bread and baking

I love homemade bread, so I was thrilled to see there’s a proofing function on the Iconic. Basically, this is just a super-low setting. It automatically sets the Iconic at 90 degrees, and you can adjust the time to your liking. It defaults to 90 minutes.

The idea of proofing my bread and then just baking it right in the Iconic was super appealing. It didn’t quite work out that way, however. The proofing function is definitely handy if you want to cut down your proofing time. No complaints there.

But when it comes time to bake, you need to be very aware of how much your bread will rise. I kept my dough in the unit and then hit bake for 25 minutes. About 20 minutes in, I smelled burning. The bread had risen during baking and was touching the top of the unit.

The solution is, of course, to measure out the dough more carefully, so this isn’t an issue. I could have cut my dough in half and baked two loaves instead. Ultimately, this largely indicates there’s a learning curve to using the Iconic, as is the case with just about any air fryer.

The recipe book that comes with the Iconic includes a recipe for cheesecake. I’m not much of a baker, but I sure do love cheesecake. In fact, I’ve never actually made one before, so this seemed like a great opportunity.

I had to get a 7-inch spring pan, which proved surprisingly difficult. But once it arrived, I modified the cheesecake recipe slightly (I don’t love cottage cheese, so I subbed that out).

Once again, the cheesecake batter rose while it baked, and I ended up scorching the top a bit. Luckily, I had peeked in to see how it was coming along and shortened the recommended cooking time. Other than the thin layer on top, the rest of the cheesecake was cooked to perfection. Once again, the trick here seems to be keeping a very close eye on the food while it’s baking. A viewing window would be wonderful here. As it is, you’ll need to open the basket and peek in periodically.

Cosori Iconic Air Fryer review: Cleaning and maintenance

I found clean-up to be super easy. I ended up washing both the crisper plate and basket by hand, but you can also toss them in the dishwasher. The stainless steel exterior does get fingerprints on it super quickly, and it streaks if you wash it with a paper towel and some spray. But if you’ve got a microfiber cloth handy, you can get a nice, streak-free, and fingerprint-free finish.

So far, my only complaint with the Iconic is the relatively short power cord. It would help if this were longer to make it easier to place it in various locations in my kitchen.

Cosori Iconic Air Fryer review: App

You can control the Iconic using Cosori’s VeSync app. It’s a quick and easy setup once you register your account. You’ll pair the Iconic to the app via WiFi, which only took seconds when I did it.

Once in the app, you can choose recommended settings for any number of meals, and it’s easy to cycle through the options to find what you’re looking for most of the time. The odd thing is, you can’t start the Iconic remotely, even with the app. You can basically send the cooking time, temperature, and settings straight to the unit from your phone, but in order to start the Iconic, you will need to physically walk over to it. That’s likely a safety feature, but no less annoying because of it.

The app also has other nifty features. You can monitor the cooking progress of your food and activate voice control, too. There are other resources in the app so you can learn more about how to cook, what to cook, and what you’ll need to prep certain meals. Overall, it’s a well-thought-out app, if not a little cluttered.

Cosori Iconic Air Fryer review: Accessories

Cosori sells plenty of accessories specific to air fryers, and others that are more multi-purpose. The Air Fryer Accessories bundle ($32) includes a cake pan, pizza pan, silicone mat, metal holder, egg bites mold, and a rack with 4 skewers. This will likely cover most of the cooking you’ll do with the Iconic.

You can also get a Smart Meat Thermometer which I would highly recommend, so you can monitor your food’s internal temperature without opening the basket. Other nifty accessories include a food dehydrator, fruit roll sheets ($20), Cosori Air Fryer Liners ($12), and a Cosori NutriLens Smart Nutrition Scale ($50).

Cosori Iconic Air Fryer review: Verdict

Overall, I really don’t have anything negative to say about the Cosori Iconic. It’s been a fantastic addition to my kitchen, and it makes my life much simpler come dinner time. It cooks quickly, efficiently, and with an ease that makes me actually want to cook.

While its small size might be limiting if you’re cooking for a lot of people, I’ve found it’s an ideal size for my family of three.

Granted, there is a learning curve to it, even if you’ve owned an air fryer before. Perhaps it’s because of the DC motor, which is quicker and more efficient than AC motors, but the cooking times seem to be shorter than what’s often recommended. So, as you learn the particular features of the Iconic, be sure to keep an eye on the food within.

You've been asking, and I've been listening — you are sick of plastic in your coffee makers. Coffee lovers desperately want a plastic-free coffee machine. The plastic-free SimplyGoodCoffee Brewer is your answer if you want a drip machine, and the AeroPress Premium is a glass-and-metal manual gadget.

The SimplyGoodCoffee Brewer has arrived at The Coffee Lab — it's due on the dissection table as soon as possible — and I'm super excited to get testing. But you want plastic-free coffee makers now... so, please, let me introduce you to the Ratio Four.

The Ratio Four is a delightful coffee maker. There's nothing else quite like it. Although it's not entirely plastic-free, hot water never comes into contact with internal plastic — with a caveat that the filter basket is plastic, but you use a paper filter, or use a metal Kalita Wave or Hario V60. The carafe is made from borosilicate glass, not plastic. And the joint-best part is that it makes delicious, nuanced, complex, coffee-snob-approved coffee with zero effort — just like any other drip machine.

Perfect for plastic haters

I'll cut to the chase: the Ratio Four isn't completely plastic-free. In no way am I suggesting this is a non-plastic alternative. The Four is low-plastic, which has a slightly different meaning.

Let's compare the Ratio Four to a truly plastic-free brewer, the SimplyGoodCoffee Brewer.

Here, you can see that the Ratio Four isn't completely plastic-free. Even so, hot water only touches the filter basket, and the Ratio is designed so you can switch out the default filter basket for a Hario V60 or Kalita Wave. As you can see in this week's The Coffee Lab video, you can easily fit a V60 into that filter space.

Pour-over taste with zero effort

If you're more concerned about taste and ease of use than plastic, I'm sure you'll be familiar with the Moccamaster KGBV Select, or another low-plastic option, the Aarke Coffee Maker. These are two revered drip machines, and I'll recommend the Moccamaster for its 5-year warranty and lifetime repairs until I'm blue in the face.

But they're drip machines, right? The Moccamaster makes delicious coffee, but, at the end of the day, it's drip. It's not pour-over, and pour-over delights my coffee snob heart.

That's where the Ratio Four leads the way. The Four is an automated pour-over, not a drip machine, with separate bloom and brew modes. The result is a more defined, complex, and lighter taste than your traditional drip.

Of course, you can experiment with grind and dose to adjust this flavor, but at its heart, the Four is for coffee snobs who don't have time to mess around with concentric circles and flow rates at 7 A.M.

Would you try the Ratio Four? Or are you happy with your Moccamaster? How about the plastic-free SimplyGoodCoffee Brewer? As always, stay tuned for my full review.

I post new episodes of The Coffee Lab on Tom's Guide's Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube every Friday, so be sure to check back next week for more!

More from Tom's Guide

• I'm an ex-barista but I'm not great at latte art — and this is my cheat code to perfect art every time
• I love my Moccamaster, but $370 is a lot for drip coffee — this Ninja brewer is the best alternative (and it's under $90!)
• Nespresso gets a bad rap in the coffee world — but here's why I think it's perfect for some people (from a coffee snob)

Whichever side of the Atlantic you are on you've probably been struggling with the heat this month.

The United States was hit with a sweltering heatwave last week, and now the UK is struggling. If you're finding it all a bit much, then investing in a new fan is a good idea. It's not just a stopgap: we're about to enter summer, and most homes in the U.K. don't have air conditioning, so investing in a good fan is a smart choice.

On this page we've pulled together a selection of nine fans in a variety of shapes and sizes so you can choose the right one for your bedroom, office, or other living space. We're starting off with some budget offerings and working our way up to more expensive and feature-packed offerings. Keep your cool and read on...

Here at The Coffee Lab, we're all about making coffee easy. And what's the main thing I see new baristas struggle with? Latte art. And you know what? Latte art is actually super easy if you follow these simple steps.

I also have a confession... even after three-and-a-half years behind the bar in various coffee houses, and a decade of tinkering with at-home espresso machines, I'm not actually that good at latte art. I can't do the tulip, I sure as heck can't do the swan, but I can do the rosetta — and that's what I'm going to teach you today.

So buckle up, strap yourself in, get your thinking caps on, because I'm going to show you exactly how to get the rosetta every single time. You'll need one of the best espresso machines, an angled spout milk jug (like Breville's), and some high-quality milk. Let's get stuck in!

It's all about the milk texture

When it comes to latte art, before you get the actual art down, you need to perfect your milk texture. If your milk is too thick or too thin, you won't get latte art — it's as simple as that.

You want milk that looks like melted ice cream. It should be textured, smooth, and velvety. There should be no bubbles and it should not look like microwaved milk. The "art" comes from the foam.

Follow these easy steps to get perfect milk every time.

Now you're ready to go and make perfect latte art every time! Please, spread your wings and fly!

Let me know in the comments if you need any more help figuring out the overwhelming world of coffee, and I'll see you back here next Friday for more from The Coffee Lab.

I post new episodes of The Coffee Lab every single Friday, so be sure to follow our TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube pages to never miss out.

More from Tom's Guide

• AeroPress is so much easier to use than you think — here's why it's my favorite manual coffee maker
• I love my Moccamaster, but $370 is a lot for drip coffee — this Ninja brewer is the best alternative (and it's under $90!)
• Nespresso gets a bad rap in the coffee world — but here's why I think it's perfect for some people (from a coffee snob)

The Lelit Mara X3 is, hands down, one of the best espresso machines for coffee nerds. As it’s surprisingly easy to use for a prosumer machine, I’d even recommend it as your first heat exchanger, or first foray into the coffee snob world.

And… just look at it. The Mara X3 looks like it knows what it’s doing. It looks like it struts rather than walks. It looks like it’s never late — everyone else is simply early. The wood flourishes and chrome accents make this an espresso machine and an art piece at the same time. I just can’t get over how beautiful it is.

Thankfully, it also works a treat, too. Although it took me around thirty drinks to finally get some latte art, I’d put this down to user incompetence rather than the machine itself. Want to find out more about this gorgeous new machine? Why wouldn’t you? To find out, keep reading this Lelit Mara X3 review.

Lelit Mara X3 review: Specs

Lelit Mara X3 review: Price & availability

The Lelit Mara X3 is brand new, and, as a result, isn’t yet available for purchase in the U.S., but it will be $1,999 direct from Lelit. You'll also be able to get it from Seattle Coffee Gear. You can get the Mara X — the original version — for $1,359 from Seattle Coffee Gear, which is a nice $350 off its original price.

The Mara X3 will be available to buy in the U.S. on 1st July for $1,999. In the U.K., the Mara X3 is £1,499 from Lelit direct. While this might seem pretty pricey, for a prosumer model like the Mara X3, this is pretty standard. The triple-boiler Smeg Mini Pro EMC02 is $1,800, the dual-boiler Diletta Mio is $1,400, and the Fellow Series 1 is $1,499. The revered La Marzocco Linea Mini is an eye-watering $6,600. If you want a Lelit for a fraction of the cost, the $599 Lelit Anna has a PID controller and a manometer for pro-on-a-budget performance.

The Mara X3 is a heat exchanger and has a 1.8L single boiler that lets you steam and brew at the same time.

The Mara X3 also has some more prosumer features, namely a 58mm-L58E group (Lelit’s proprietary version of the E61), and a near-commercial steam wand.

The main difference between the X and the X3 is the flow control system, Pagaia. Pagaia lets you control the intensity of the flow using a little paddle on the side of the machine — this is for pre-infusion. There’s also a temperature configuration button (so you can change the water temperature depending on your beans, as light roast beans need hotter water), and a steam boost.

Lelit Mara X3 review: Design

As you might expect, the Lelit Mara X3 is a sight to behold. I knew it would be, because the Lelit Bianca ($2,999) is, hands-down, the most beautiful espresso machine in the world. If I were to describe my ideal espresso machine, in terms of looks alone, it would be the Bianca.

Thankfully, the Mara X3 has the same wood finishes as the Bianca. You could almost describe the steam and water knob placement as anthropomorphic, like the machine is watching me, judging how I make my coffee. Hey, Mara X3, enjoying the show?

I jest, I jest, but enough people in the office commented on the almost ocular knob placement, so I’ll let you be the judge of it.

Another thing you might expect is that the Mara X3 is built incredibly well. The drip tray slots into the machine perfectly, the cold-touch steam wand is fluid and flexible, and the knobs are easy to twist. The L58E group looks divine, with shiny chrome and a non-removable “CAUTION: HOT” sticker.

Looks aside, let’s get into the real meat: things that actually make the coffee. The Mara X3 has three unique features: the Pagaia flow control paddle, the steam button, and the temperature control switch.

The Pagaia paddle is for customizing your flow, so, effectively, it gives you complete control over your low-pressure and high-pressure infusion. Want a 20 second pre-infusion? Go for it with the Pagaia. Minimal pre-infusion? Again, you can do it. I found that a few seconds of low pressure before ramping up the flow to the max provided me the best flavor.

The steam button is hidden on the right side of the machine: either flick it up for max pressure, or down for less pressure. I preferred mine on the max.

Lastly, the temperature control switch is under the drip tray. You can change this from low, medium, and hot, each setting correlating to different roasts. As I only really drink light roast, I kept the temperature on the hottest setting.

Lelit Mara X3 review: Espresso

Alright, let’s get into the good stuff. I tested the Mara X3 for around four weeks, making up to ten coffees per office day. It got through about four bags of the same Rwandan coffee — and every single one tasted divine. I ground all my coffee using the Mazzer Philos, the best grinder in the world (if you’ve got $1,500 to spare!).

After a 15-ish minute heat-up, I was ready to brew. While the Mara X takes 25 minutes to preheat, the Mara X3 takes closer to 15. The temperature button flashes while it’s heating and stays solid white once it’s ready, so it’s easy to know when the machine is good to go.

Unlike cheaper machines, the Mara X3 has a real manometer. This displays the pressure — you want it around 9 — so you can easily see if your coffee has been ground too fine or too coarse. Of course, experienced baristas can tell this from looks alone, but it’s great for beginners. There’s also a steam manometer so you can see if the steam wand needs to be on “Max” mode.

Take a look at this espresso. This extracted in 28 seconds at a 1:2 ratio, so just on the higher end of the “golden window” of extraction.

As you can see, the crema is rich, decadent, and a beautiful caramel color. This espresso tasted perfect, with delicate roasted sugar notes and a nice juicy sweetness to round it out. I had this in an oat milk iced latte. There was zero bitterness or staleness.

I obtained this flavor consistently. I never made a bad shot on the Mara X3.

Of course, you can adjust the flavor of your espresso using the Pagaia paddle and customizing pre-infusion. You can literally experiment to your heart’s desire with the X3. It’s the ideal machine for coffee lovers who want to get a little bit nerdy about their extraction.

Lelit Mara X3 review: Milk

As touched upon earlier, I used the steam wand on max power (adjustable via a switch on the side of the machine). I was gobsmacked by how fast the steam wand heated a full jug of milk — around thirty seconds. You really have to be quick with it, and you really have to know what you’re doing.

I thought I knew what I was doing, but, reader, the Mara X3 humbled me. It took me about thirty drinks to get a flat white with latte art. Usually, I can wrangle latte art from any machine — even $350 Casabrews Marenzas — and there’s visual proof of this on all my espresso machine reviews, including my best-ever latte art on the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo ($649).

But, no, the Mara X3 taught me to think again. I am not the coffee god I thought I was. I had to really lock in and concentrate my butt off while using this steam wand. Maybe it was my fault for using it at max power, but I found that lower power was even more difficult to obtain an optimal texture. Also, I used to be a professional barista! I used to use commercial-standard machines day in, day out, hundreds of cups of coffee with perfect latte art every time.

This is the best latte art I achieved on the Mara 3.

It’s fine, but it’s not symmetrical enough for me to like it. This is the Mara X3’s only downside: its steam wand is a little tricky to use. With practice, I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out and master it, but just be warned that it takes more time than, say, a Breville Bambino Plus. I was able to get the all-important vortex easily thanks to the Mara X3’s extreme power, so it’s just a game of acclimatizing to the wand.

The Mara X3 also doesn’t come with a milk jug, so you’ll need to buy one separately. I personally love Sage’s angled spout jugs, or you could splurge on the Subminimal FlowTip ($39), the Fellow Eddy ($39), or the Lelit Jug ($39).

Lelit Mara X3 review: Storage & maintenance

The Mara X3 is quite large, but it looks so good while it’s out on the counter, so I don’t really mind. It’s a chunky 21 inches deep and 15 inches wide, so make sure you’ve got enough space in your kitchen for this monster. It’s bigger than the Breville Oracle Dual Boiler, which is the biggest machine I’ve tested thus far.

Lelit offers a 12-month limited warranty as standard, which is a little disappointing. I’d expect at least two years for a prosumer machine — Diletta, Meraki, Rocket, and Fellow offer two years. Profitec only offers one year, though, too.

Cleaning is easy — just wash the drip tray at the end of each day, make sure you’re descaling as necessary (your location’s water hardness will dictate this), and use a water filter if needed. I had no issues maintaining this machine.

Lelit Mara X3 review: Verdict

The Lelit Mara X3 is a dream first prosumer machine. It’s surprisingly easy to use — once you either make peace with no latte art or spend enough time to perfect said latte art — and makes delicious espresso without breaking a sweat. Once, I made eight flat whites in a row, and the Mara X3 brewed with a smile on its face.

Although the steam wand requires a little more practice than any other espresso machine I’ve ever used, this is fine if you’re the kind of barista who enjoys finessing your skills. The Mara X3 is made for you — not those who’d rather get a fully automatic machine and call it a day.

Would I buy the Mara X3 for myself? 100% yes. This is a beauty. It’s a talking point. I’d invite people round to my house just to show it off. If I had $2k, the Mara X3 would already be in my kitchen.

The Puraflow Auramist Cold Press juicer is an affordable option for juicing newbies, but I can’t recommend it as one of the best juicers. The controls are easy to use, and all of the components are dishwasher safe, which can make the cleanup process quicker, but ultimately, it clogs too frequently.

Considering it’s supposed to be ultra-quiet, the machine makes a whole lot of noise, which is annoying, and when it’s juicing, the top half moves around so much it almost looks like it’s dancing. There are also no variable speed settings, which could put off a lot of people who want to use a variety of ingredients to make more complex juices.

To find out more about the juicer and what it can do, you can keep reading this full Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer review.

Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer review: Specs

Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer review: Price & availability

The Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer is available for $249 at Amazon. It comes with one filter for juicing as standard, but if you order from the Puraflows website for $259, you can purchase a version with three different filters so you can also make pulpy drinks, sorbet, jam, and smoothies.

This is cheap for a vertical juicer and is half the price of the Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer, which costs $599. But like with most things that are a fraction of the price, you’re trading off on build quality and ease of use.

If saving money is your main priority because you’re new to juicing and you just want to see what all the hype is about, then I’d recommend the AMZCHEF Cold Press Juicer for $129. This has minimal components and is perfect for beginners.

Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer review: Design

The Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer looks good with its brushed silver finish, but feels unstable due to the plastic body and hopper. When the juicer was powered on, the top of the juicer moved around, which I haven’t had happen with any other juicer I’ve tested.

It has a vertical hopper design, so all of the components slot on top of one another. This was a tricky process. For instance, the hopper will only lock onto the bottom if the lid is unlocked. It takes a bit of jiggling around to get everything else to fit into places, too, even when aligning the arrows with the dots as instructed.

For safety reasons, you can only juice when the hopper lid is closed, but the chute at the top of the hopper is pretty small, so if you want to add in chunky fruit, you need to stop juicing and lift the lid. I didn’t have to do this with the Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer. But the hopper is six inches in diameter and can fit a lot of ingredients in anyway. I was able to fit five quartered apples in at once, and this is a lot bigger than the Kuvings Auto8 (£450).

The pre-cut blade is made from stainless steel, but it didn’t do the best job of cutting up the ingredients smaller, and at the end of each batch, I had some leftovers in the hopper. Instead, the ingredients were pushed to the side, which is annoying. And even when using the included tamper, the ingredients wouldn’t move down.

It comes with two 33.8-ounce containers, one for the pulp and one for the juice. The container for the juice also has a small filter with teeth to catch any large pieces of pulp that get through (although there shouldn’t be any).

The controls are easy to use and basic — it’s just turning a knob to the right to switch it on and to the left to reverse. There’s no variable speed with this, which can make pulping certain ingredients tricky, depending on the result you want. The Tribest, on the other hand, has different settings for different ingredients.

Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer review: Juicing performance

Now onto the best part: the juicing. Puraflows says the juicer operates at less than 60 decibels… that’s not the case, but I’ll get into that later.

Apple juice

Firstly, I made some apple juice to test how the juicer coped with hard fruit and small seeds. I cut six apples into quarters and fit them into the hopper. The first thing that stood out to me was how slow the process was. It took about four minutes, but the Tribest juicer, for example, is incredibly fast and took less than a minute, so it felt like I was doing a lot of waiting around here.

Thai produced 20 ounces of liquid that was smooth. It gave me great results, but there were some fragments of the seeds that made it through.

Citrus juice

Next up, I made orange juice. I cut six oranges into quarters and put them in the hopper. Again, I was waiting around for about four minutes for the process to finish. When it was finished, there were still a few pieces lingering in the hopper, and even when I used the tamper, I couldn’t get them through.

When I cleaned the juicer later, I could see a buildup of pulp, which made it harder for the other oranges to move down.

As you can see, it produced lots of pulp and gave me 400ml of liquid. Unfortunately, this didn’t taste good, and it let through far too much pulp, making it feel thick.

Celery juice

Finally, I put eight stalks of celery into the juicer. This took the longest to juice, and the celery fibers tangled in the blades. This meant I needed to stop the juicing and untangle everything. I haven’t had to do this with any other juicer I’ve used.

I got 6.8 ounces of juice from the celery. And even though it was refreshing, it was such a task to clean up afterwards, I don’t think it was worth the hassle.

Noise level

The Puraflows site says that the juicer is ultra-quiet and operates below 60 decibels. But I’d like to beg to differ.

Let’s play a game of “Guess the Sound”.

If you guessed Chewbaca, shockingly, you’d be wrong. It’s a juicer!

While obviously not as loud as a blender, it sounds like a creaky door being opened, which is annoying, especially when using it for long periods of time.

Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer review: Cleaning

The Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer is easy to clean if you have a dishwasher. The components (with the exception of the motor base) come apart and can be washed in the dishwasher on the top or bottom rack. But if you want to unclog any built-up pulp first.

As I mentioned in the juicing section, when ingredients became trapped in the juicer, it took a while to detangle for cleaning. And if you’re washing by hand, then this process is arduous, and there are a lot of components to clean. Cleaning any juicer is a daunting task, but this one from Puraflows was the toughest I’ve cleaned.

But to make this easier, there’s a small double-ended brush included, and this helps to scrub away any stuck pulp and get into the tighter spots of the machine.

Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer review: Verdict

The Puraflows Auramist Cold Press Juicer is an affordable option for anyone starting their juicing journey, although the amount of effort it takes to clean is enough to put anyone off. But it has its perks, like the large hopper, which can hold a lot of ingredients, the easy-to-use controls, and its ability to make a half-decent juice.

But while it’s dishwasher safe, it’s difficult to clean by hand, with most of the ingredients becoming tangled and clogged. It’s also incredibly loud while operating, and the top of the machine moves around while juicing, so it doesn’t seem stable. And for anyone who likes to adjust their juicer depending on the ingredients they’re using, there’s no variable speed.

I think this juicer is a great option for juicing newbies, but if you want something more advanced, you’re better off opting for something a little more expensive, like the Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer, which is easier to clean and more reliable.

I can’t live without my morning coffee fix. It’s an essential that gives me a boost and signals the start of my day. I’m not alone in how I enjoy this daily ritual, and I, like many others, would feel lost without it.

However, you may notice that your coffee has been tasting a bit “off” lately, even after trying new beans and adjusting the grind. But before you splurge on a fancy new coffee machine, try these expert cleaning tips. They might just fix your coffee’s flavor.

Upgrade the taste of your coffee

Improving the taste of your coffee doesn’t always require new equipment; it can simply come down to maintenance habits, according to Sarah Dewison, cleaning expert at North West Commercial Cleans Ltd, who’s partnered with Redrow.

Give it a daily clean
“To maintain optimal performance, your coffee machine should be cleaned at the end of each day,” says Dewison.

Before you start cleaning your machine, she says switch it off and allow it to cool. Then she says, “Remove and rinse all detachable components such as the portafilter, drip tray, and water reservoir using dish soap and warm water.”

The next step is to clean the exterior. “Wipe down external surfaces with a clean, damp cloth with washing up liquid and warm water to remove coffee residue and spills. This prevents build-up and keeps the machine looking professional.”

Don’t neglect the grinder and filter

There are other parts of your coffee machine that shouldn't be ignored. “For machines with built-in grinders or filters, empty and clean these components regularly. Coffee grounds left in the system can become stale and impact flavor,” says Dewison.

She also suggests using a soft brush, such as a clean makeup brush or a paintbrush, to remove residue, while also being careful to avoid water contact with electrical components.

Apart from giving your coffee machine a daily clean and checking the grinder and filter, there are a few other areas that could be impacting the taste of your brew.

Don’t skip descaling

Limescale and coffee oils can build up inside the machine, affecting both taste and performance. Use a manufacturer-approved solution or a natural mix of water, white vinegar and lemon, followed by a thorough rinse to remove any remaining residue.

However, before you clean your coffee maker with vinegar, always check the manual for your machine, as different manufacturers have different guidelines for cleaning their products.

How often should you descale your coffee maker? It can be quite hard to tell, but Tom's Guide’s Coffee Lab host, Erin Bashford, judges when her kettle needs descaling, and she cleans her coffee machine at the same time.

Check the milk

To avoid bacterial growth, keep the milk system clean. Purge and wipe the milk frother after each use and soak any removable parts daily. You really don’t need to be spending out on coffee shop lattes to get a premium coffee taste. By making a few tweaks to your coffee machine cleaning routine, you can savor the taste of flavorsome at-home brew.

Better tasting coffee without buying new

Cleaning your coffee machine is one way to ensure your coffee tastes its best. But you can also make a few other tweaks to improve its flavor.

1. Keep your beans and grinds fresh. Store your coffee in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature; a dark pantry is ideal. Beans stay fresher for longer than grinds, so grind just what you need. If you buy ground coffee, keep it well sealed and use the date on the pack.

2. Use a coffee scale to measure your beans accurately; it will eliminate the guesswork and help you achieve consistency across your brew, including the flavor.

3. Grind your coffee correctly to achieve the perfect grind for your choice of brew. The grind size should depend on your brewing method. Espresso requires a fine grind to cause resistance against the machine's high pressure, while French press needs coarser grinds for a slow brew.

Coffee essentials we love

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The Mobius 60 from Mova is big, and that’s because it’s packed with tons of cool features that set it apart from some of the best robot vacuums. A nifty, multi-mop-head system tailors cleaning capabilities to various types of spills and messes to offer precise cleaning results. And a cool suction system promises better, deeper cleaning on your carpets.

And that’s only the start of what Mova packs into this unit. Unfortunately, the promises didn’t stack up in execution. Despite the cool mop head system, the mopping results were just okay. More problematically, the Mobius 60 struggled with some basic tasks, like retracting into its own dock. With some streamlining of all this cool technology, the Mobius 60 could rise the ranks quickly. As it is, the Mobius 60 falls short.

Mova Mobius 60 robot vacuum review: Price and availability

The Mobius 60 is currently $1,169 on Amazon and costs $1,299 on the Mova website. It ships in 2-3 days from purchase, free, via FedEx.

Mova offers a 30-day free trial, as well as a 3-year warranty. There are plenty of options for payment at checkout, including Klarna, which allows you to split the purchase into payments.

The Mobius 60 is also available for purchase at other retailers like Amazon, though details of the purchase can vary by retailer.

Mova Mobius 60 robot vacuum review: Design

Of all the robot vacuums I’ve tested, the base for the Mobius 60 is easily the largest. It stands almost two feet tall and looks an awful lot like a mini-fridge. It even has a fridge-style glass-fronted door so you can access all the vital components within.

The internals of the base include the MopSwap system. Three different pad pairs are mounted inside the door. The robot will sense which of the pads are best for the type of messes in your home. The ThermoHold pads are for greasy messes often found in the kitchen; the Plush pads are for delicate wood floors; and the HyperClean pads are for all-around use.

When the robot is done cleaning, the base can utilize its 212-degree-fahrenheit boiling water sterilization system to ensure everything is clean as a whistle for next use.

The dust bag also lives within the base, and it’s here that the robot will self-clean and dump all its dry waste. There’s a second bag included with the purchase. The robot auto-washes, empties, and charges in the docking station. And all cleaning solutions and fluids auto-refill as well. Mova includes a floor cleaner and a specialized cleaning solution with purchase.

The robot itself is also packed with some impressive features. The JetSpray DryBoard feature includes 20 nozzles that spray for improved coverage and efficiency. The used remnants are collected through a central filter that minimizes water spots.

The mops feature 12Nm of downward pressure to more efficiently scrub surfaces, and they spin at a max of 260 RPM, while the angle of the mop heads adjusts up to 5 degrees.

What’s more, the Mobius 60 will automatically recognize not only your pets themselves, but also pet waste like fur and kitty litter. Here, the robot will automatically adjust its cleaning processes to ensure an efficient clean.

The MaxiReach Brush activates a side brush to reach edges, corners, and narrow spaces. Meanwhile, the TroboWave DuoBrush removes 99.99% of tangled hair, according to Mova. An anti-wrap Omni-Wheel with a hard bristle design picks up more dirt and debris from all surfaces, including carpets.

Speaking of carpets, the Mobius 60 also features a dynamic suction retention system for deep carpet cleaning. It detects carpets during use, and a pressure retention baffle lowers to form a semi-sealed space that helps increase suction efficiency.

If you’ve got several transitions in your home, the StepMaster 2.0 system deploys. These retractable legs allow the robot to climb obstacles up to 3.14 inches high. And for tight spots, the FlexScope Retractable Sensor lowers the robot’s height to fit under furniture and other tight areas.

The robot will avoid obstacles automatically, and can sense new obstacles using advanced AI SmartSight. There’s also a Light 3D scanner to help the process, and LED lights on the front of the vacuum.

When the Mobius 60 is activated, you can view its progress by checking the app. You can even see a live camera view and track exactly what your robot sees. And if you’d like to operate the unit from the other room, just use the intelligent voice assistant by saying, “Hey Mova.”

Mova Mobius 60 robot vacuum review: App

Essentially, the app serves as your home base for Mobius 60 operation. You’ll download the app and create an account, and do any updates that are necessary before you begin. Then, you’ll activate the automatic mapping system so the robot can map your home. It will create a 3D environment and allow you to custom-program no-go zones and other operations specific to your home.

The app is easy to use, logically laid out, and provides plenty of useful features so you can tailor your cleaning processes. You can, for example, set up your vacuum to perform automatic cleanings; do a mop and a vacuum at the same time; do a deep clean; and much more. You can also exclude specific rooms or only vacuum certain rooms, which makes the app overall user-friendly.

Mova Mobius 60 robot vacuum review: Set up

Before mapping, you’ll need to attach the ramp to the dock. And all of the mop heads need to be mounted on the inside of the dock door. From there, you’ll fill the water tank and the cleaning solution tanks. It all takes a total of five or 10 minutes, and it is not a difficult process.

After downloading the app, you’ll pair the robot using WiFi, which, of course, means you’ll need to set up your WiFi too, all within the app. Again, the process is easy and doesn’t take long.

Once I did all that, the app indicated that it needed to download some firmware or widget specific to the Mobius 60. But it got stuck several times and looped over and over again, unable to perform the download. It took over an hour before it finally updated, and I was ready to do the mapping.

It’s a one-touch procedure, but you’ll want to clear away most obstacles from the floor so the robot can make an accurate map. The robot does all the work, wandering through your home and creating a detailed map within the app. It took about 30 minutes to perform this task, mapping just under 800 square feet (excluding places in my home that it couldn’t access, like bulky furniture or around appliances).

After mapping, the Mobius 60 will return to its dock to charge. You can vacuum right away, but your best bet is to let the robot recharge to 100% first, especially if you intend to perform any mopping functions.

Mova Mobius 60 robot vacuum review: Performance

The first time I used the Mobius 60, I had it perform a mop and vacuum run through the entire house. Since we have carpets in some rooms and laminate vinyl flooring throughout, there’s quite a lot to mop.

The first cleaning session left me largely unimpressed, especially with the mopping function. For starters, it takes a long, long time. It took 84 minutes to clean 650 square feet, according to the app. The robot had to return numerous times to the dock to empty and/or change mop heads. That part wasn’t so problematic — it was the streaks.

The mops left a lot of streaks all over the house. I’ve found this to be the case with most robot vacuums I’ve used that have mopping features, and the Mobius 60 is no different — no better, no worse. So while it certainly does clean the floors, the copious streaks are disappointing.

After the mopping session, the robot returned to the dock and performed a self-cleaning. I could smell the heater working for probably the first hour of the cleaning process. And the cleaning process takes a long time: the first time the Mobius 60 performed this process, it took several hours. Additionally, it is noisy, which both my wife and I found annoying.

The second time I used the Mobius 60, I just vacuumed the same space. It took 95 minutes, curiously longer than the mopping and vacuuming session. The Mobius 60 seemed to spend a lot of time spinning in circles, looking lost. And it went over the same spots several times.

What’s more, it also missed several spots, mostly in tight corners or along baseboards. While it’s not any worse than other robot vacuums I’ve tested, Mova makes specific claims about cleaning tight areas like this, and it did not stack up.

Another observation was that the Mobius 60 got hung up on obstacles frequently. While I was impressed to see that it could hop up and over the trim between the floor and the fireplace surround, the robot then got stuck there, up on the surround. I was able to make a manual adjustment in the app so the robot wouldn’t go there again, but the robot did get stuck on my home office desk legs frequently. When I did the same process to make the robot avoid these obstacles, it seemed to get confused, spinning in place for quite some time.

Most problematically, the Mobius 60 got stuck getting back into its own dock. The wheels simply slipped and prevented the robot from retracting all the way back into the base. I had to push it in with my hands. I have not yet figured out how to remedy this.

Battery-wise, the Mobius 60 burns through battery power pretty quickly, which isn’t so surprising given how many different functions it may cycle through in a single cleaning session. I wouldn’t be so bothered by this if the results were better. As it is, the robot missed enough spots and created enough mopping streaks that all of those different functions don’t seem worthwhile.

Mova Mobius 60 robot vacuum review: Accessories

There aren’t any accessories per se, but Mova’s website does list many replacement parts like brushes, mops, rollers, and replacement bags. You can also purchase refills of the cleaning solutions the Mova uses for mopping.

Mova Mobius 60 robot vacuum review: Competition

Since the robot vacuum market is very crowded, at this price point, the best competitors are those that also offer mopping functions. I recently tested the RoboRock Qrevo, which is smaller, quicker, better at vacuuming, and about the same at mopping.

It also uses a smaller dock that doesn’t take up nearly as much space as the Mobius 60. For the money, the RoboRock is the clear winner here.

Mova Mobius 60 robot vacuum review: Verdict

Overall, the Mobius 60 holds a lot of promise. There are a lot of features that could help it stand apart from the competition, particularly the various mopping options. But the mopping performance isn’t much better than the competition, so it falls a bit flat here.

Plus, some of the other basic functions need improvement. I found it irksome that the robot couldn’t get back into its own dock, and the dock itself is simply too big to fit in my home. I like the Mobius 60 for its ambitious features, but I would like to see those features streamlined to really make it stand out above the rest.

In 2024, Ninja launched a frozen drink maker that turns any drink into a slushy. The aptly-named Ninja Slushi was, and has continued to be, a huge success. So much so, the Ninja Slushi Max launched after it, providing you with even bigger, smarter and faster frosty beverages.

It shouldn't be all that surprising then that Ninja has introduced its next twist on the viral original. Twist being the operative word. What is surprising is that it did it so quietly.

All of a sudden, the Ninja Slushi Twist, able to mix two flavors in one go, is now available to buy for $399 at SharkNinja.com. Or, it would be, if it wasn't already completely sold out. A viral success like its predecessors, a quiet launch clearly didn't go under everyone's radar.

But, if you're patient enough to wait, you'll be able to grab one when they're back in stock — just in time for some summer hosting.

Meet the Slushi Twist

The Ninja Slushi Twist takes the unique design of the OG model and combines it with the increased capacity of the Slushi Max (just 6oz less). But, what makes it really different is that it allows you to mix two separate flavors together, if you want to.

With purely automatic programming, at just the touch of a button you can slush two drinks together creating endless exciting combos, or keep them entirely separate. And what's really clever about the Slushi Twist is that it uses Dual SlushAssist Technology to sense the ingredients in each vessel to auto-adjust temperatures to suit.

So, if you're hosting in the summer months, whether it's for a BBQ or World Cup viewing, you've got the perfect slushy, every time. Plus, the Slushi Twist is capable of producing 10 separate servings at a time for all your guests. Even better? You don't need any ice whatsoever. Pour, press, and slush.

Ninja is calling it "the first of its kind," creating an ultimate solution if you're after multiple slushies without having to buy multiple Ninja Slushi machines.

Why I can't wait to try it

I think I'm amongst friends when I say that when I'm picking my frozen slushy at the movie theater, I'm combining flavors. But, I've never been able to recreate this at home.

And then Ninja is suggesting I could whip up a kid-friendly slushy in one side and a more adult-friendly drink in the other (I'm thinking frozen margs) and now, I'm incredibly intrigued to try it out. As long as I'm labelling each side appropriately!

But, while the Slushi Twist images I've been seeing online show off perfectly twisted drinks in vibrant colors, I'm a little worried I won't be able to recreate this myself. I know there's an art to it and fortunately, Ninja knows that too. In fact, it has even made a YouTube tutorial on 'Mastering the Twist' that makes it look a little simpler.

Whether I've got the skills or not, I'm certainly excited by the prospect of twisted frozen drinks on tap. I'll just have to wait until I get my hands on one for a review.

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja Slushi review: Should you buy or skip it?
• I've been crafting drinks in the Ninja Slushi for a month — here are my hot tips for the ultimate frozen drink
• Forget the Ninja Slushi — how to make a slushie in a blender in 3 easy steps

The Moccamaster is revered in the coffee world, and for good reason. It's one of the few SCA-certified (Specialty Coffee Association) drip brewers, it has a lifetime repair promise, and is so good that it's remained mostly unchanged since the '60s. But it's also $369... yes, $369. This price is simply unattainable for most of us.

If you're looking for a drip brewer for less, let me introduce the Ninja 12-Cup Coffee Brewer. This little workhorse is just $89 — but often discounted to $69 — and is a fantastic budget option. We've got this in our New York office and it's a crowd pleaser (and then some).

So, no, you don't have to spend $400 to get one of the best coffee makers. Let me tell you exactly what the Ninja 12-Cup Coffee Maker is capable of. Spoiler alert: it's an absolute steal if you can snag it for $70.

Choose your brew

Just like the Technivorm Moccamaster KGBV Select, the Ninja 12-Cup puts you in the driver's seat. You can choose to brew either a full batch or a small batch (1-4 cups vs 12 cups), so you never waste coffee. And when you have guests around, everyone gets a cup of hot coffee at the same time.

If that's not enough, there are also two brewing modes: Classic and Rich. Classic makes that smooth and full-bodied cup, whereas Rich is more intense. Of course, you can still adjust this flavor based on how much coffee you put in the filter basket — you're in control, after all.

Wake up to a fresh pot every day

Now, this is something my Moccamaster actually can't do. With the Ninja 12-Cup, like the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker, you can program a delayed brew start. Essentially, you can set your coffee maker up before bed, then it will come on before you wake up so you get a fresh pot of coffee as your alarm clock.

Honestly, how cool is that? I want to wake up every day to the smell of coffee. Maybe it'd make that early-morning alarm more palatable.

But there are some sacrifices for the $90 price tag

Of course, you're not going to get the same performance in a $90 coffee maker as you would in a $370 coffee maker. The Ninja doesn't have SCA certification, and it doesn't have a 5-year warranty or lifetime repairs.

Ninja only offers a 1-year warranty, which obviously pales in comparison to Technivorm's. If you want an SCA-approved machine, you'll unfortunately have to fork out a bit more for something like the Moccamaster, the super-speedy Breville Luxe Brewer, or the gorgeous Fellow Aiden.

One of the cheapest SCA-certified models I've seen is the $149 Bonavita 5-Cup. Of course, though, this is only a 5-cup brewer — the Ninja does double that!

You're always going to have to weigh up pros and cons when choosing a new coffee maker — but the Ninja excels in the price department. You get a surprising range of features for your $90, which is why the Ninja 12-Cup is my go-to for a great drip machine that won't break the bank.

Have you tried the Ninja 12-Cup, or would you try it? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to check back next Friday for more from The Coffee Lab. I post new videos on Tom's Guide's TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube every single week.

More from Tom's Guide

• AeroPress is so much easier to use than you think — here's why it's my favorite manual coffee maker
• You don't have to spend $1k on espresso — my pro setup is under $650 (trust me, I'm an ex-barista)
• Nespresso gets a bad rap in the coffee world — but here's why I think it's perfect for some people (from a coffee snob)

If, like me, you suffer from seasonal or dust allergies, I've found having one of the best air purifiers in my home to be a real life-saver. And when it comes to air purification and tech, Dyson has always been ahead of the game. Not just for its advanced filtration and exceptional power but for its iconic bladeless designs.

Which is why the HushJet Compact Air Purifier is a breath of fresh air (no pun intended). With its jet engine nozzle design, it boasts more power whilst claiming to be whisper-quiet, and its small footprint makes it more convenient for compact rooms, without looking like an eyesore.

But with its hefty price tag, is it really worth the hype? I put the HushJet Compact Air Purifier to work in my home for a month to find out. I tested its ease of use and how quickly it got rid of smoke, scent, and lingering cooking odors. Here's the lowdown.

Dyson HushJet Compact Purifier: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? The HushJet Compact Purifier is a mini air purifier engineered with a 360° Electrostatic filter to captures 99.97% of pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. These include odors, pet_dander, pollen, volatile organic compounds (vocs), and wildfire smoke.
• Who is it for? People with compact spaces or to filter small-medium sized rooms.
• What does it cost? You can pick one up for $349 on Amazon, but it does go on sale. Models come in either black/teal or white/silver.
• What do we like? It quickly responds to air quality changes, and gets to work at filtering quickly. We also like that it's super quiet. You don't even notice when it's on, especially in Sleep mode.
• What don’t we like? While it's touted as 'compact', it's still too big to put on a desk or table. Plus, it doesn’t come with a cooling function like other Dyson models, given the expensive price.

Dyson HushJet Purifier Compact: Specs

Dyson HushJet Purifier Compact: The ups

While testing the Dyson HushJet Compact purifier, here are some of the key things that I loved about it.

Smaller and sleek upgraded design

Unboxing the Dyson HushJet Compact purifier was a simple task, thanks to its smaller, lightweight profile. In addition, putting it together was a breeze; you just secure the top 'jet-engine' piece on top of the body with a click.

Perhaps the most interesting thing is its upgraded, stylish design. Unlike its predecessors, the HushJet has a nozzle at the top that's inspired by jet engine (promising a more quieter operation), and a sleek, cylindrical body. In fact, the HushJet resembles more of a speaker than an air purifier, and certainly won't look out of place in any room.

It's also the smallest air purifier in the line-up (so far), with a footprint of 23 -49 cm (19 in height), which is ideal to fit in a compact room.

It's also simple to operate with just three buttons (fan speed, power, and info), and an LCD screen on the body. You can either use it manually or connect via the app, via Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi, which gives you more options at a glance.

Perhaps the only downside is that it doesn't have a cooling fan or heat function, which other Dyson air purifiers offer. However, if your sole purpose is having clean air on a regular basis, this isn't a major deal breaker.

I'm still undecided whether I prefer the iconic, bladeless Dyson design, but the HushJet's, sleek, low-profile upgrade does well to blend with any modern interior.

Quick responses to air quality changes

I decided to first put the HushJet to the test in my medium-sized living room to see how well it removed odors. Since I frequently burn scented candles and incense, this was the ideal first challenge.

Set to Auto, it didn’t take long before the power ramped up within seconds after I lit an incense stick. I was impressed by the fast response to the change in indoor air quality, where the color on the LCD screen quickly went from green (good) to red (very poor).

The readings also indicated high levels of particulate matter: a PM2.5 reading of 69g/m3 and a PM10 reading of 71g/m3, which is often linked to the removal of larger microscopic particles.

And while you wouldn't ordinarily hold a lit incense stick up close to your purifier, I was pleased to see that the color readings had returned to a green after cleaning the air in under 40 minutes — which is impressive considering how strong the aroma was. What's more, I could tell the difference in the overall air quality when I walked back into the room an hour later, which was literally refreshing.

I also replicated the same test by squirting some perfume in the air. To my surprise, it managed to filter the air in just five minutes, going from a poor (orange) quality to good. Of course, you have 10 fan speed settings to choose from, but I tend to stick to Auto as I find it to be more effective when detecting pollutants in the room, and also more eco-friendly, cutting down on energy consumption.

Since I have a somewhat open-plan living area, there's nothing I hate more than cooking smells drifting in from the kitchen. After placing it on the floor nearby my stove, it took slightly longer to remove any lingering odors. In fact, looking at my timer, it had taken precisely 52.29 minutes to completely clean the air. Compared to removing scents, this process took longer, but was still completed in under an hour, which still outperforms other air purifiers I've tested.

It's worth noting that considering both my living room and kitchen area are medium-sized , the HushJet may not be as effective in larger spaces. But, since the HushJet is designed for smaller spaces, I was very impressed at how powerful and effective it was at getting the job done well.

It really is super quiet

The HushJet isn't called 'whisper quiet' for no reason, and I was particularly impressed by how quiet it remained, especially when set to Sleep mode. According to my sound meter, it recorded a steady 27dB on Auto mode, and ramped up to 60dB at the highest dan speed of 10, which is equivalent to a conversation.

In Sleep mode however , it registered as 24dB. This reading is slightly louder than a whisper, which is typically classified as 20dB, but was significantly quieter. In fact, I didn't even notice it was on while I was sleeping, and I appreciate that the LCD light automatically switches off when set to that mode.

This makes it ideal for placing in a bedroom, nursery, or simply when you just want to relax in peace, without the usual interruptions of an air purifier.

It has a user-friendly app

Since I already have Dyson appliances pairing the HushJet purifier through the MyDyson app was simple. However, first-timers will need to download the app that allows one-touch control through its intuitive interface. In addition, if you have a smart home set-up, you can connect by using compatible voice services such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.

Besides being able to control your settings, fan, and Sleep mode, I like how the app gives you real-time insights about how good or bad your indoor air quality is, and even lets me know what the outdoor quality is like (so I can close my windows if need be). You can also customize a schedule, so you can set specific times when you want your air purifier on and off in advance.

Admittedly, I'm not a big app person, but I found it to come in handy, especially when monitoring my air quality at a glance.

Dyson HushJet Purifier Compact: The downs

While it's clear that the Dyson HushJet purifier had some great wins, there were downsides (albeit minor ones).

It's not as 'compact' as it claims

Interestingly, the HushJet air purifier claims to be compact enough to fit on a desk or tabletop, but I found this not to be case (unless you have a massive desk!). I thought its size was still too big and looked clunky on my table, despite having the word 'compact' in its name.

But, it is still smaller in comparison to other powerhouses, and if you have limited floor space, light enough to elevate. If you do want a mini air purifier however, I'd probably opt for the Shark NeverChange air purifier, which can fit snugly into a corner or on a small table.

Dyson HushJet Purifier Compact: Verdict

In a nutshell, the Dyson HushJet is a powerful, lightweight, and eye-catching purifier that works well to quickly pull in airborne particles and pollution. I was most impressed at how quickly it detects air quality changes and reacts accordingly, (especially to my extremely potent incense stick). Its filter also has a five-year lifespan, which is always a bonus. Best of all, it's super quiet — you might not notice when it's on.

While it performed well within my small to medium-sized spaces, this probably wouldn't be as effective in larger spaces. In which case, you should opt for the Blueair Signature air purifier, which came tops in our guide for the best overall.

Also, bear in mind that this doesn't include a cooling function, which you can get in other models. And considering its premium price tag, I would expect to get more versatility to make this a worthwhile investment. Still, if you do want a dual air purifier/fan, you can opt for the Dyson Purifier HP07, which also heats.

Overall, the Dyson HushJet air purifier is highly effective, particularly in smaller rooms or households. So if you need a compact, efficient air purifier, the HushJet is an excellent choice that will easily meet, and likely exceed, expectations.

Nespresso machines get a bad rap in the coffee world, and there's no hiding it. Coffee snobs love to hate on anything that doesn't have a triple boiler, quadruple E61 group head, quintuple-hole steam wand.

I jest, of course, but I can jest because I used to be a Nespresso hater, too. I used to turn my nose up at these little plastic pod machines. I used to say, "It's not real coffee," and drink the petty taste of nothing at all. But now? Now, I love Nespresso.

I accept that even the best Nespresso machines can never replace the best espresso machines, like the Breville Bambino Plus (which is my one true love), but I also accept that there's a time and a place — and a person — for pods. Every time I go to an Airbnb, I squeal with joy when I see a Nespresso machine. If you love coffee but are low on time, or you want to simplify your morning brew, there's nothing better than a Nespresso machine.

Tiny kitchen? No problem. No time? No problem!

Picture this: you're waking up at 6am for work, you have a tiny, apartment kitchen, and you have never watched James Hoffman. You just want hot, caffeinated coffee, and you're not fussed about flow rates or tamping pressure.

You are perfect for a Nespresso machine. They don't take up a lot of space — the CitiZ is 7.4 inches wide, heats up in five seconds, and makes genuinely delicious coffee in fifteen.

Not only does my CitiZ take up very little space, but it also heats up in seconds. This is great if you don't have time to wait for your machine to heat up in the morning — let alone dose and grind your beans.

For those short on space or time, Nespresso machines are a sure-fire win.

Coffee varieties galore

I adore getting different types of coffee and trying them all out. I love single origins, blends, washed, naturally processed, light roast, medium roast — the list goes on. I just love them all. However, if I want to try all these different types of coffees, I need to buy $20 bags at a time.

With Nespresso, sure, you don't get artisanal or specialty beans in the same way you do with wholebean, but you can try out different pods and flavors much more easily.

For example, you can get fifty Starbucks pods for $28, or you can get forty Atlas single-origin pods for $26 on Amazon. This works out much cheaper per drink — and you get to try a variety of beans without breaking the bank.

But it's not for everyone

In no way am I claiming that Nespresso machines are the best coffee machines in the world, because that would be incredibly wrong. For people who really care about coffee perfection and flow rates, a Nespresso machine would not be ideal.

However, in a pinch, or in an Airbnb, there's really nothing as easy as Nespresso. I really don't think Nespresso tastes half as bad as I've seen it get dragged for online. The flavor depends on the pods you're using, but I've never had a bad coffee from my Nespresso CitiZ. In defense of Nespresso machines — you're not actually that bad.

I'm sorry I was so mean to you, Nespresso machines. It won't happen again.

I post new episodes of The Coffee Lab every Friday here on Tom's Guide, on our TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Stay tuned for next week's episode!

More from Tom's Guide

• AeroPress is so much easier to use than you think — here's why it's my favorite manual coffee maker
• You don't have to spend $1k on espresso — my pro setup is under $650 (trust me, I'm an ex-barista)
• You don’t need a $1,000 espresso machine: This $299 'budget' model makes barista-quality coffee at home

Since the laminate vinyl flooring in my home is routinely subjected to the carelessness of a dog, an 11-year-old child, and the most egregious culprit (me), having one of the best vacuum cleaners is essential. And with footprints, mud, dust, dirt, and spills seeming ever-present, the traditional mop is often leaning against a wall in the kitchen.

Dreame’s Aero Pro Wet Dry Vacuum seems tailor-made for households like mine, in which spills are frequent, and a whole-house clean is often required. The Aero Pro has proven itself up to the task for all the messes I threw at it, from spilled wine to dripping honey, dog hair, human hair, the horrors of the downstairs bathroom floor, and everything in between. It’s just about perfect, though it could use some LED lights on the front and slightly larger water tanks.

Read on to find out how it performed in testing and why it’s one of the best robot vacuums for pet hair out there.

Dreame Aero Pro Wet Dry Vacuum review: Price and availability

The Aero Pro costs $449.99 on Amazon and on the Dreame website. The unit ships within 2-5 business days of ordering, and there’s a 30-day return policy. Shipping is free. Dreame offers financing through Afterpay. You can also purchase the Dreame Aero Pro through Amazon.

Dreame offers the Aero Pro with other configurations too, including a 1-year accessory bundle ($545.94) that includes everything you’ll need for a full year of operation, and a 6-month accessory bundle ($506.95). These bundles come with extra rollers and cleaning solutions, among other things.

Dreame Aero Pro Wet Dry Vacuum review: Design

The Aero Pro looks an awful lot like a normal vacuum cleaner. It comes with three main parts: a handle, main body, and charging base. Assembly involves inserting the handle into the main body and plugging in the base. That’s it. It takes all of a minute, if that, to assemble the unit. There’s also an extra filter, a cleaning brush, and cleaner fluid included in the box.

On the main body, you’ll find the clean water tank. The top is removable so you can fill the 1,000mL tank with clean water and the cleaning solution. As you use the Aero Pro, used water will then be directed to the used water tank, a 600mL vessel located higher up on the main body. This detaches for easy emptying.

The main body pivots fully flat so you can reach spaces underneath furniture. It folds down to a minuscule height of 3.88 inches, which makes it easy to reach places other vacs might not be able to venture.

The Aero Pro’s maximum suction comes in at a strong 25,000Pa, which makes it useful for most messes you’ll encounter on hardwood floors. The runtime varies depending on what mode you use, but you can get a max of 60 minutes in certain modes.

There are four operation modes:

• Smart Mode — auto adjusts suction and water flow, 40min runtime
• Quiet Mode — lower noise, steady cleaning power, 40min runtime
• Turbo Mode — enhanced suction and water flow for sticky spills, 35 min runtime
• Suction Mode — quickly absorbs water from floor, 60min runtime

Plus, there are two additional modes when the unit is not in use — drying mode and self-cleaning mode. The drying mode activates a 203-degree heating session that takes just 5 minutes and leaves the Aero Pro dry for storage or another use. This helps prevent swampy smells and ensures the Aero Pro is always ready to use for an optimal clean. The hot self-cleaning mode activates at the push of a button and cleans the critical components at 194 degrees.

During mopping, fresh water is fed to the roller so it’s constantly rinsed. A scraper wipes the dirty water off the roller, while the Aero Pro’s strong suction not only removes stains, but also pulls the dirty water upward toward the used water tank. And while all that’s taking place, the TangleCut 2.0 feature lifts hairs off the floor and upward into the waste tank instantly so they don’t get tied up around the roller. You shouldn’t have to clean any tangled hair off the roller, ever.

Dreame Aero Pro Wet Dry Vacuum review: Performance

For several weeks now, I have regularly used the Aero Pro throughout my house. That means it’s been used on tile, vinyl flooring, and even the painted concrete in my garage. It has excelled in every situation.

I found the Aero Pro cleans up messes super quickly, and while it leaves a little bit of streaking in some situations — mostly on darker surfaces like the tile by my front door — everywhere else it has left sparklingly clean finishes.

I used it in my garage to clean up a major spill that I didn’t want to test inside on the laminate flooring. I purposely spilled a bottle of old wine and let it spread, and sit for a few minutes. It took seconds to clean it up with the Aero Pro on the auto setting. It was a much easier process than pulling out the mop, spreading it all in a circle, and then finally cleaning the mop by hand. The mess was gone in seconds, and I didn’t spare a second thought for cleaning the Aero Pro at all.

It was especially impressive in my basement bathroom, which also features dark tile (the same as the stuff I have in the entryway to the house). The Aero Pro once again proved quick and easy to use, leaving very little moisture behind, so there’s not much waiting for the floor to dry. Since we’re a family of long-haired folks, there tend to be stray hairs just about everywhere (and dog hairs too). The Aero Pro munched it all up, and there were exactly zero strands wrapped around the roller afterward.

It’s easy to change modes on the fly. There are two buttons mounted on the top of the LED screen: one is the power button, and the other is the mode select button. The screen itself is bright and clear. Each mode does something different, so it’s best to learn them ahead of time so you know what’s best for each type of mess. Largely, I left it in auto mode and let the Aero Pro do the deciding for me.

The only issue with the mode select feature is the voice that announces which mode you’re in. It’s kind of garbled, and difficult to hear over the sound of the Aero Pro itself. I couldn’t really hear what the voice was announcing as I cycled through the modes. This feature probably could have been left off the unit with no detriment to the Aero Pro itself.

If I had the opportunity to swap that feature for another, I’d choose LED lights on the front of the main body to make it easier to see what parts of the floor are clean and which need attention. This is a common feature on most vacuums these days, and it seems like it would be an obvious bonus on the Aero Pro.

The water tank lives on top of the main body, and you’ll need to replace this water frequently if you’re cleaning with the Aero Pro a lot. I do wish both the clean water tank and the used water tank were both a bit larger so I could go longer between exchanges.

The charging dock is small enough to tuck into a corner of a room, though it needs to be plugged in, which discounts storing this in most closets. The recharge process is quick — a full charge from zero in about four hours — and I found the run time to be reasonably within the advertised range. You can clean your whole house (as long as it’s not a massive mansion) with one charge if you’re judicious about what power level you use.

Dreame Aero Pro Wet Dry Vacuum review: Accessories

The Dreame website lists a few key accessories for the Aero Pro: the Dreame Multi-Surface Cleaning Solution ($18), and the Dreame Accessory Cleaning Kit ($21). Aside from those, the rest of the parts listed on the accessories page are largely replacement parts you’ll need for long-term service.

Dreame Aero Pro Wet Dry Vacuum review: Competition

The wet dry vac space is growing rapidly, and there are already some big competitors making quality products, including Bissell and Shark.

One of the Aero Pro’s closest competitors is the Tineco Floor One i5 Stretch Wet Dry vacuum ($299). It also offers 20,000Pa of suction, a lay-flat design, anti-tangle roller, and hot cleaning, but it maxes out at 30 minutes of run time. Additionally, the i6 Stretch has up to 40 minutes runtime but costs $399. The Aero Pro bests both units on price versus runtime and key features.

Dreame Aero Pro Wet Dry Vacuum review: Verdict

Overall, I love the Aero Pro for its quick and easy cleaning and low water use. There’s not a lot of waiting around for your floors to dry after you clean. It has tackled big and small messes, both wet and dry, and even sticky, with ease. It’s cleaner than a mop, easier to maintain, and less of a hassle overall.

However, it could use larger water tanks and some LED lights on the front to complement its thorough cleaning capabilities. But otherwise, the Aero Pro is a top choice in this category for whole-house cleaning on hardwood floors and other non-carpeted surfaces.

As someone who writes about all things Homes for a living, I'm always looking for ways to switch up my interior style or upgrade my decor for each season.

Be it scrolling through Instagram feeds or Pinterest, or taking inspiration from my fave designers like Joanna Gaines, I love nothing more than giving my interiors a makeover. I’ve also realized that it can take money (and time) to achieve my dream, 'instagrammable' home.

However, if new, costly furniture replacements aren't within your budget, there are simple, money-saving alternatives that you can try without buying brand new. Not only will this be a fraction of the cost, but it will also instantly refresh your furnishings just in time for summer. I came across a smart fix for my tired-looking dining chairs that saves me from buying new ones — slipcovers.

I gave my drab chairs an instant makeover

My old dining chairs have been with me for as long as I can remember, serving their purpose well. However, after all these years, they were definitely showing signs of wear and tear and in need of a replacement.

Plus, since I’m always hosting dinner parties, I really needed a summer refresh immediately. Trouble was, my dream dining chairs cost around $200 per chair (yes, each), so I realised I had to wait a bit longer.

That was until I stumbled across this easy, quick ‘makeover’ hack on Pinterest that caught my eye — simply add a removable slipcover to transform them.

Not only did they easily fit over my chairs, but I was impressed by the overall look. Additionally, its stretch-fit material is super soft, making it comfortable to sit down on. I love how versatile this simple hack is, and it instantly gave my old chairs an upgrade in seconds.

Be sure to check the measurements first, though, but you can usually find slipcovers of any size, color, and design. What’s more, these are super easy to maintain as you can remove and throw them into the washing machine, just read the care instructions beforehand. And you don’t have to stop at dining chairs— you can also find stretch-sofa removable covers.

In fact, I've become a huge fan of slipcovers that I've bought several sets in different colors, allowing me to easily switch up my chairs to match my style (or suit the occasion).

Even better, these were an absolute bargain — $20 for a set of six. Making this my new budget-friendly alternative to buying new chairs or even paying for costly re-upholstery. Which is the ultimate win-win for my bank account (until I finally get my dream chairs!).

More from Tom's Guide

• Plus, check out these 7 paint colors that make a room look bigger
• Or these 7 hacks to make a small bathroom look bigger
• Just avoid these 9 decor mistakes that are making your home look smaller

Is the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk one of the best Nespresso machines you can get? Yes. Totally. I love this little machine, and I’m not sorry about it.

At $379, the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk isn’t the cheapest Nespresso pod machine you can get, and not by a long shot. However, it is the cheapest Nespresso with built-in milk frothing capabilities, and that’s super important for serious latte lovers. If you don’t feel like splurging $699 on the Nespresso Vertuo Creatista (no, that’s not a typo), then you would love the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk.

On top of being mind-numbingly easy to use — in a good way — the CitiZ looks better than a Vertuo Pop and can make you a latte with two presses of a button. To find out more, keep reading this Nespresso CitiZ & Milk review.

Nespresso CitiZ & Milk review: Cheat sheet

• Who is it for? Easygoing coffee drinkers who want to take the stress out of morning espresso
• What does it do well? It’s beyond easy to use and looks sleek
• What are its weaknesses? The machine looks good, but is very plasticky

Nespresso CitiZ & Milk review: Specs

Nespresso CitiZ & Milk review: Price & availability

The Nespresso CitiZ & Milk comes in two versions: just the Nespresso machine, and with a built-in milk frother. I tested the model with the milk frother attached. Just the CitiZ will set you back $319 on Amazon, but the CitiZ + Aeroccino will be $379. Similarly, the CitiZ is £175 from Amazon in the U.K., and £225 for the CitiZ + Aeroccino.

If you want to find out more about the CitiZ, check out our review. This review is of the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk model. The standalone Aeroccino 4 is $119, but the CitiZ uses the Aeroccino 3, which has been discontinued.

The Vertuo line — such as Nespresso Pop+ ($129), Nespresso Next Vertuo, $189. Nespresso Vertuo machines use centrifugal force rather than traditional espresso pressure, which creates an airier, frothier foam. If you’re after that traditional espresso crema, I’d recommend a standard Nespresso (like the CitiZ or the Pixie, which is $179).

To save as much money as possible, you could check out the Casabrews Pod Machine, $99, which is compatible with Nespresso pods.

Nespresso CitiZ & Milk review: Design

The only difference between the Nespresso CitiZ and the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk is, well, the Aeroccino. If you only drink black coffee, you needn’t worry yourself with the milk frother. But, if you’re the kind of coffee drinker looking to match your daily Starbucks latte, you’ll definitely want the Aeroccino model.

There isn’t much size difference between the CitiZ and CitiZ & Milk models: the Aeroccino adds an extra four inches to the width, but other than that, they’re identical. You can’t move the Aeroccino: it’s connected to the side of the machine.

If you’re the kind of person who values a sleek, modern-looking coffee machine in your kitchen, I’d recommend getting the CitiZ over a Vertuo. In my opinion, the Vertuo machines tend to look more like a plastic lump. Sure, the CitiZ is still 100% plastic — or, at least, looks that way — and is my biggest con with the machine, but there’s something to be said for the scallop-like design.

As you might expect from a Nespresso machine, there are two buttons: lungo and espresso. Lungo is a long shot, whereas espresso is, obviously, a small shot. You can customize both of these default volumes (40ml and 100ml) by holding down the shot button and releasing when you reach your desired volume.

Using the Aeroccino is just as simple: press the power button, and it’s good to go!

Nespresso CitiZ & Milk review: Performance

As the CitiZ has a built-in Aeroccino, I evaluated both coffee and milk performance. I used Nespresso pods and third-party pods.

Coffee

I’m a self-professed coffee snob, but I genuinely devoured the coffee made by the CitiZ. It was so delicious, and I’m not even sorry about it.

Take a look at this crema.

Of course, this is not ‘real’ espresso in the same way that the Breville Bambino Plus or Smeg EMC02 brews ‘real’ espresso. But for Nespresso, this is darn delicious. You can also make long coffees, which, as mentioned earlier, are customizable up to 150ml, but I’m an espresso (and Americano) lover so I mostly drank espresso.

The flavor will obviously depend on which pods you’re using. I tested a variety, from ristretto, to lungo, to rich Italian blend. No coffee I tasted was burned or stale; every drink was lively, fresh, and full-bodied.

Vertuo and original use different pods. Vertuo pods are patented, so you can only get Nespresso Vertuo pods. However, original pods are widely available, even from smaller roasteries (like Grind, which I use!), so if you’re a fellow coffee snob, I’d recommend getting the original for that specialty-ish coffee flavor.

Please don’t take away my coffee snob hat, but I think I’d rather drink Nespresso CitiZ coffee than poor-quality ‘real’ espresso. There, I said it.

Milk

Alright, so milk frothing capabilities are the USP of the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk. The Aeroccino offers an 8-ounce capacity, enough for one latte or cappuccino. Here’s a photo of milk frothed on the Aeroccino. It took 2 minutes and 34 seconds to heat the full 8 ounces of milk.

Of course, the texture isn’t as pro-level as the Subminimal Nanofoamer Pro Gen 2, but that costs $159. I think the Aeroccino is more than good enough for the average Nespresso user.

If you want a Nespresso machine with a top-notch milk frother, you might want to check out the Nespresso Latissima One ($429) or the Nespresso Creatista ($699). Obviously, though, these machines are eye-wateringly expensive.

Creatista has an actual espresso-machine-style steam wand, and you can pick from different textures and frothing styles. It also pours directly into your cup, so it’s easier and better for completely hands-off baristas. If that sounds like a bit of you, you might want to consider investing.

Nespresso CitiZ & Milk review: Storage & maintenance

I am obsessed with the used pod compartment of the Nespresso CitiZ. It brings me such indescribable joy to lift up the pod compartment and watch the pod tumble in what I like to call “pod prison”. There’s something absurdly hilarious about seeing Nespresso pods behind bars.

Anyway, this feature isn’t just to entertain small-brained people such as I. This is so you can easily throw your used pods into your recycling (or compost if you use compostable third-party pods, like I do). Then, you just have to clean the pod drawer with some warm soapy water and you’re ready to go again.

If you live in a hard water area, I’d recommend descaling your Nespresso CitiZ once a month. You can get a descaler for $11.99 on Nespresso’s website. This is cheaper than Breville and De’Longhi’s descaler — but then again, the use-cases are completely different.

Nespresso CitiZ & Milk review: Verdict

If you want a Nespresso machine with a built-in milk frother — and you don’t want to invest over $400 on the Latissima One or the $700 Vertuo Creatista — then it’s gotta be the Nespresso CitiZ & Milk. This is the best all-rounder Nespresso machine. You don’t have to splurge on an almost espresso-machine-price pod machine, but you get a built-in milk frother.

While I wish it had some more premium-feeling, metal materials to help justify the $379 price a little more, I loved testing the CitiZ. It’s obviously the easiest espresso machine to master — just press a button, and you’re good to go.

Would I ditch my Bambino Plus for a Nespresso machine? No. But if I didn’t have one of the best espresso machines already, I’d seriously consider this Nespresso CitiZ & Milk— as should you!

I know AeroPresses can look a little daunting, but please don't let the plastic contraption put you off! AeroPress is so much easier to use than you might think — and it's my favorite manual coffee maker. I love my gorgeous pink AeroPress, and I'm sure you will too.

This is The Coffee Lab, where we do away with snobbery and focus on what's important: helping you get the best cup possible, without spending your life savings on the fanciest equipment. And the AeroPress is perfect for me, because it combines that sophisticated coffee taste with an affordable coffee maker.

Yes, the AeroPress starts from just $39, but it makes full-bodied yet aromatic coffee. AeroPress doesn't require tons of fancy equipment or pro know-how to master — AeroPress is actually way easier to use than you think. Here's why the AeroPress is my favorite manual coffee maker.

Unbeatably portable and storable

At just 5 inches tall with a 4-inch diameter, the AeroPress is uniquely portable and storable. If you get the AeroPress Manual Grinder, it even fits inside the AeroPress, so you don't have to lug around a huge bag just for coffee accessories. The AeroPress stacks inside itself, too — the plunger is hollow, so you can fit your stirrer and scoop inside.

The AeroPress is only 8 ounces, so you can easily stuff it in your backpack for camping trips, overnight bag, or, honestly, even in your purse. This is much lighter than any portable espresso machines I've tested, like the Wacaco Picopresso (12 ounces), Wacaco Minipresso GR2 (10 ounces), or the Wacaco Pixapresso (30 ounces).

I literally leave my AeroPress in my cutlery drawer between uses, where it fits just fine. I love this little contraption.

Unique flavor

Alright, now for the most important thing: flavor.

And, boy, what a flavor. It's difficult to describe just how good the AeroPress tastes, but I'll do my best. Let's put this Creative Writing degree to good use.

While your beans will — obviously — affect the flavor, AeroPress brings out different tasting notes. My usual testing beans are Ethiopian beans with notes of citrus and bourbon biscuits (chocolate), but AeroPress amplifies delicate cherry notes absent on other brewing methods.

AeroPress creates a rich, full-bodied cup, but with soft aromatic notes that round out the mouthful. It's like all the best parts from espresso, French press, and pour-over in one satisfying mouthful.

There's seriously nothing else like it. AeroPress is patented for a reason.

Remarkably affordable

This last one may be the most important feature for most people. Yes, the AeroPress starts from just $39 for the AeroPress Original. It goes all the way up to the $199 AeroPress Premium, a glass-and-metal version of the plastic model.

When you consider the Chemex is $48 for the 8-cup model and the Kalita Wave is $44, you're actually saving five bucks with the AeroPress OG. Obviously, this isn't a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, but think about it like this: you could buy a $20 bag of coffee, and it would only cost you $15. That's girl math — and also coffee snob math.

I do think the AeroPress Clear Color is a little overpriced — it's $49, not $39 — but if you really want a pink AeroPress, you're gonna have to pay that $10.

Let's look at the bigger picture, though. I'm not saying the AeroPress is the most affordable manual coffee in the world, because that would be untrue. The cheapest coffee snob dripper is the Hario V60, just $11-13.

As much as I love V60 coffee, I just can't forget about the AeroPress. The flavor is unlike anything else I've ever tasted. It's rich, strong coffee, with a super-delicate floral aroma that drifts across your tongue with every sip. You just have to try it.

Do you still have doubts about trying the AeroPress, or is it next on your list now? Let me know in the comments!

I post new Coffee Lab videos every Friday on Tom's Guide's TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, so be sure to check back for next week's video!

More from Tom's Guide

• Your espresso machine is the least important part of your coffee setup — here's why it's all about the grinder
• You don't have to spend $1k on espresso — my pro setup is under $650 (trust me, I'm an ex-barista)
• You don’t need a $1,000 espresso machine: This $299 'budget' model makes barista-quality coffee at home

Dyson is well-known for making air treatment products from stylish purifiers to wearable fans. In fact, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 held the top spot among the best air purifiers we’ve ever tested for a seriously impressive stint. While the 3-in-1 hybrid cools down and cleans the air in the room, as well as offers top notch heating, Dyson’s latest design comes with a futuristic twist that I’m really excited about.

Introducing the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool. And you'll find the hint of its very clever feature hidden in plain sight – the purified air will find you and it will follow you.

Using AI technology, it intelligently tracks you when you’re in the room and even when you’re not – automatically stopping the smart oscillation when you leave. Genius. For now, it's just launched in the U.K. for £549 at Dyson. In the U.S., Find+Follow launches early June and will be priced at $849.

Clean air finds you

For all intents and purposes, the Dyson Find+Follow looks and acts like other Dyson air purifiers already on the market. It uses HEPA filtration, keeps you cool, and has a modern design that's in-keeping with the rest of the brand's products. But, it’s the technology packed inside it that really makes it stand out.

With AI intelligent sensing, it figures out where you are in the room, whether sitting down, standing up, or even moving around, and projects the purified air towards you without you needing to do a thing. It can even detect and respond to multiple people in a room at one time, splitting the air efficiently and evenly.

As Omer Ali, Senior Dyson Engineer, explains: “We designed the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool to respond to real human behavior. You shouldn’t need to manually adjust your fan for comfort. With Find+Follow air projection, the machine automatically oscillates and directs airflow to the person – even as they move to different areas of the room, so you can enjoy consistent comfort without constantly repositioning the product.”

AI, no problem

While I’m excited to try it out, I wondered whether the use of AI in this latest product would have any impact on your privacy. Fortunately, as far as Dyson is concerned, your identity is safe. While the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool is tracking you with an AI vision system that uses a 17-key point user detection technology, it’s noting how you move, not who you are. So, Dyson states: “Identity is never detected or stored.”

Expanding on this, it explains that while images are being taken, they’re immediately deleted. While I love the idea of having an AI technology know exactly where I am to provide me the best air, I certainly don’t want it uploading photos of me wandering around my home and thankfully, that's not the case here.

Other fun features include a Night Mode that’s 50% quieter than the usual operating mode and it's all easily controlled via the MyDyson app. While Dyson launched the Dyson Purifier Cool PC1 last year, it’ll only cost you just £349.99 at Dyson right now, which is £200 cheaper. Whether the intelligent technology is an added feature that's worth the extra money, I'll have to wait and see when we put it to the test.

More from Tom's Guide

• Dyson just launched its first-ever portable fan — and it could be the gadget of the summer
• I just tried the Dyson PencilVac — 3 things I like (and 1 I don't) about the 'world's slimmest vacuum'
• I tested the new Dyson Hot+Cool air purifier for a month, and it left my kitchen free of cooking smells in seconds

As the weather warms up, it’s the perfect time to enjoy your outdoor space or start entertaining outside. And if you're dealing with a small patio and need a coffee table, or if maximizing storage and decluttering are priorities, then I've discovered IKEA's perfect answer to those tricky small-space issues.

The IKEA LÅGASKÄR is a modern outdoor coffee table that transforms into handy storage beneath the removable tabletop. This versatile table is just the right size for smaller areas and will instantly uplift any space. Plus, it comes in a neutral yet appealing beige colorway — and just costs under $50. Here’s why I’ll be adding this to my shopping list for my patio right away.

Why I love the IKEA LÅGASKÄR Coffee table

I’m a big fan of unique, multi-purpose furniture, and this coffee table does just that. Not only is it a practical and modern coffee table for enjoying coffee, snacks, or summer drinks outdoors, but it's also a stylish storage solution.

This is particularly the case since I'm already limited in space, and struggling to keep everything in one place. You can simply lift the round tabletop to reveal hidden storage underneath. I plan to use this deep compartment to keep my chair cushions, throws, and outdoor lanterns all neatly together.

What’s more, these versatile tables can also be used anywhere in the home, such as for storage in children’s playrooms or even in the home office. Not bad for just $50, which is a good 2-in-1 buy — and just in time for the summer.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve just found 12 IKEA storage ideas that are perfect for my tiny entryway — all under $20
• I just found this clever IKEA hack that turns a classic storage staple into a stylish coffee bar
• 5 IKEA outdoor essentials for your yard this summer that are so underrated

The Casabrews Marenza is the newest super-affordable espresso machine with a built-in grinder from Casabrews. At just $349, I can’t quite believe how cheap this machine is. What do you mean, it’s only $50 more expensive than the Breville Bambino, and you get a grinder?

But is a low, low price enough to make it one of the best espresso machines? Actually, yes. At this price point, you’re genuinely not going to get any better. I’ve tested other $350 bean-to-cups that fell at every hurdle (Gevi Espresso Machine with Grinder), so I was so relieved and impressed by the Marenza. The Marenza makes delicious espresso (despite a non-uniform grinder), pro latte art (despite a weak steam wand), and, likely due to its flimsy plastic build, is just $350.

If you’re on a super low budget, I recommend the Marenza wholeheartedly. Of course, you can get much, much better machines if you’re willing to spend more, but for those on a budget? Marenza all the way. To find out the full story, keep reading this Casabrews Marenza review.

Casabrews Marenza review: Cheat sheet

• Who is it for? Baristas on a budget
• What does it do well? There’s really nothing cheaper and it makes genuinely delicious coffee
• What are its weaknesses? The grinder is a little inconsistent, and the steam wand could be more powerful

Casabrews Marenza review: Specs

Casabrews Marenza review: Price & availability

The Casabrews Marenza is $349 from Casabrews and Amazon U.S.. This is a very, very reasonable price for a bean-to-cup — the second-cheapest (good) bean-to-cup I’ve tested is the De’Longhi Arte Evo ($699).

I’ve tested the Gevi Espresso Machine with Grinder, $349, but I wouldn’t really recommend it. I would stick with the Marenza if you’re on a tight budget.

If you’re not crazy about having a built-in grinder, I’d recommend checking out the De’Longhi Stilosa ($149), Casabrews 3700 Essential ($99), or Breville Bambino ($299), the latter of which is the cheapest coffee snob-approved model I’ve ever tested.

Casabrews Marenza review: Design

I’m in two minds about the Marenza’s design: half of its features I love, half I don’t so much love.

I love that it has a 58mm group head, which creates a more faithful, well-rounded espresso. I love that it has a grinding collar, as it prevents mess. I love that its tamper is weighty and well-made.

However, I do not love the aged-looking LED screen, the flimsy water tank, or the flimsy grinder hopper. I actually broke the hopper after dropping it once. The plastic shattered all over my kitchen floor — I didn’t throw it… just fell off the counter.

This machine also doesn’t come with a milk jug. You need to pay $19 for Casabrews’ milk jug on top of your $349 for the machine itself.

I really don’t understand why Casabrews does this, because Breville, De’Longhi, and even Gevi ship their cheapest espresso machines with milk jugs.

You can, however, fit a coffee scale and a (small) mug/shot glass on the drip tray, which is great to see on such a compact machine.

Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and just because I don’t like how something looks doesn’t mean everyone won’t like how something looks. My colleagues said they liked the Marenza’s appearance, so to each their own. If you like what you see in the pictures illustrating this review, then you’re gonna love it!

Casabrews Marenza review: Grinder

Bizarrely, the Marenza’s grinder has 30 grind settings, from espresso-fine to French press-coarse. I have no idea why. It makes zero sense to me. If you are making a grinder for an espresso machine, it only needs to grind finely.

As this is an espresso machine grinder, I tested its capabilities at grinding coffee espresso-fine. Here are my results.

As you can see, the grinder isn’t overly uniform. I look for huge jumps when I test grinders: think 0% to 100%, not 40% to 60%.

I wish Casabrews had put more energy into finessing the grinder’s espresso range rather than inexplicably giving it coarse grind settings. Why does the built-in grinder on an espresso machine need to grind coarse enough for French press? It doesn’t make sense.

You’ll probably only ever use grind 1-5. I never went above click 5 during my testing, and even that was pushing it for espresso. Despite the lower-uniformity grinder, my colleagues and I enjoyed every espresso shot made on the Marenza, so I think as long as you’re using high-quality beans on grind 1-5, your shots should taste good.

Casabrews Marenza review: Espresso

The Marenza has quite a few shiny features. The built-in shot timer is quite nice should you forget to grab your scale, and it can make ‘ristretto’ and ‘lungo’ and ‘cold brew’. Personally, I always manually start and stop espresso extraction, but these are nice options if you’re a hands-off barista. You won’t find a PID controller or customizable pre-infusion, though.

Espresso is where the Marenza really excels. Thanks to the 58mm group head, you can get a whole horde of aftermarket accessories like WDT tools, tampers, and puck screens. 58mm is the “coffee snob” standard.

I was able to get some seriously pro-level espresso on the Marenza. Here’s a photo of an espresso at a ratio of 1:2, 22g in and 44g out.

Not only did this espresso look great, but it tasted divine, too. I used natural-washed Rwandan beans with notes of mango, creme brulee, and shortbread. Everyone who tasted these espressos said the biscuit and creme brulee notes came through clearly. Without milk, this espresso had a delightfully juicy aftertaste that made the sides of my tongue light up.

I will say that the default volume doses are a bit skewed — the ‘double shot’ pulls 66g of espresso, ‘ristretto’ 17g, and ‘single shot’ 30g. If you’re looking to finesse your espresso, I would manually stop extraction when you reach your ideal weight (which you will know by using one of the best coffee scales, of course).

I would also never use the ‘Americano’ mode, as pulling shots for this amount of time can wear out the pump of the machine itself.

Casabrews Marenza review: Milk

Even though it’s a budget espresso machine, which means I cut it a bit more slack than I would a super-expensive espresso machine, I still have to say that the Casabrews Marenza suffers from a slow steam wand.

The steam wand also takes a while to preheat after pulling a shot. I found myself waiting between 30 seconds to a minute. This meant my crema had cracked or shrunk while I waited. While this is a symptom of a conventional single-boiler Thermoblock machine, you don’t have to wait for the boiler to heat on the Breville Bambino or Bambino Plus.

This is a recurring issue with Casabrews gear. I’ve only ever tested one Casabrews machine with a decent steam wand (and no weird preheating or boiler purging) — the 3700 Essential. I don’t know how it’s possible for a $99 machine to have a better steam wand than a $349 machine, but here we go.

I was still able to get decent milk quality and pretty latte art, but if you’re a beginner, you’ll likely need to practise a lot to get a similar milk texture. Here’s a photo of a latte I made on the Casabrews Marenza.

As you can see, the latte has delicate microfoam and nice latte art. However, this is after years of professional and consumer practice. This milk also took 66 seconds to heat to drinking temperature, which is a long time. Usually, a powerful steam wand will be able to heat a full jug in around 40 seconds.

This is a major shame, because the espresso performance was so good. Even so, the steam wand isn’t weak enough for this to be a major, deal-breaking drawback, but it’s worth noting if you’re searching for barista perfection.

Of course, this is the best performance you’re going to get at this price point — and there is quite literally zero competition — but I would personally save up a bit longer and get a De’Longhi Arte Evo for the powerful steam wand.

Casabrews Marenza review: Storage & maintenance

Considering the Marenza is a bean-to-cup espresso machine, it’s actually surprisingly compact. At just 8.6 inches wide, it should be able to fit in tight kitchens better than, say, the 18-inch Breville Oracle Dual Boiler.

I found cleaning the Marenza to be straightforward. The drip tray was easy to remove and didn’t leak. I’d recommend cleaning it every day, lest you want nasty stagnant coffee-milk-water in your kitchen.

Thankfully, it comes with a bellows to clean out the inside of the grinder. Do not use water to clean a coffee grinder, as it will damage the burrs.

You will need to backflush and descale when the machine reminds you — I do not recommend ignoring these messages, as it can damage the internals.

Unfortunately, Casabrews only offers a 1-year warranty on its espresso machines, which isn’t as good as Breville, De’Longhi, and Ninja’s 2-year warranty.

Casabrews Marenza review: Verdict

The Casabrews Marenza has probably been my biggest surprise of 2026 thus far. I’ve learned to expect little from bean-to-cup espresso machines under $500 — and the Marenza has taught me that I was very wrong. This is a surprisingly excellent espresso machine.

Of course, the grinder isn’t overly consistent and the steam wand is quite slow, but I still managed to get delicious espresso and barista-level latte art using said inconsistent grinder and weak steam wand. If I can do it, I’m sure you can, too!

If you’re verging on coffee snob territory, you might be better off with a De’Longhi Arte Evo, Breville Barista Express, Breville Bambino/Bambino Plus, but for an espresso machine with a built-in grinder, you’re seriously not going to get better for this price.

My morning routine usually consists of two things —a perfect cup of coffee from my bean-to-cup De’Longhi machine and a regular scrool of home inspiration and affordable finds from IKEA. So I was thrilled, to find these clever IKEA coffee bar hacks that combine the best of both.

Having your very own coffee bar at home is becoming a popular trend on social media, and if you want to create a barista-style coffee bar in your kitchen, you don’t even have to spend a fortune.

I recently discovered this simple yet brilliant IKEA HAGAAN hack. This clever idea instantly turns the classic storage wall bathroom cabinet into a chic coffee bar, perfect for showcasing all your coffee essentials and keeping everything in one dedicated spot.

Best of all, this requires zero effort, and you can repurpose this versatile piece of storage across different rooms, earning its place as the ultimate IKEA essential. Here’s how to make a fuss-free coffee bar station.

The IKEA coffee bar corner hack

Before you start, first decide on an empty corner or space in your kitchen that is suitable to place the storage unit, keeping its dimensions of 18 inches wide by 37 inches tall in mind.

The easy ‘IKEA Coffee Corner hack’ was shared on Instagram by @pieceofhayel. Here she simply places the HAGAAN storage cabinet on a clean and empty spot on her kitchen countertop, flush against the wall.

She then places her coffee machine at the bottom, before using the above shelving to store her coffee mugs and essentials. To complete the look, a potted plant was placed at the top of the cabinet as a finishing touch.

I really liked the simplicity of this, especially the fact that it requires no effort or complicated installation at all. With that said, comments were a mixed bag. While many users praised how ‘beautiful’ and great it looked, others mentioned the practicality of it in order to fill the water in the coffee machine. However, another user suggested: “If the first level is removed, would it be easier to refill water?”

Of course, you can customize this to suit your needs and kitchen, and I’ve even seen some similar hacks where the user has turned the HAGAAN horizontal instead of upright.

Needless to say, this is a super easy (and lazy) way to create a stylish coffee bar that can spruce up your kitchen — and charm your guests when they visit.

Our favorite coffee maker picks

More from Tom's Guide

• Here’s how to make pour over coffee
• Plus, learn these 5 ways to froth milk without a milk frother
• Just avoid these 9 coffee brewing mistakes that are ruining your cup of Joe

When I get asked, "Which is the best coffee maker to buy?" I only have one answer. The Technivorm Moccamaster KGBV Select.

The Moccamaster is famous in the coffee world for a reason — it looks gorgeous, makes delicious, intense, rich coffee, is a delight to clean, and the best part? It has a 5-year warranty as standard, and Technivorm offers lifetime repairs. Yep. Lifetime. Repairs.

If you've been struggling to figure out which coffee maker to buy, struggle no more! Get the Moccamaster. I know it's a little pricier than the competition — $369 from Amazon right now — you won't have to buy another model again. Think of it like investing in the future of your coffee maker.

And, yes — I've seriously reviewed 44 coffee makers. I've added another one to my belt since publishing my last roundup.

SCA-approved

SCA stands for "Specialty Coffee Association," which basically means the Moccamaster has got a nice shiny medal from serious coffee snobs. To achieve this accreditation, machines must meet the SCA's requirements for "proper water temperature, brewing time, and ability to brew within the SCA Golden Cup recommendations."

According to Bonavita, another SCA-accredited manufacturer, the "Golden Cup" involves the following criteria: "Coffee volume, brewing time, water temperature, beverage preparation, consistent performance, uniform coffee extraction, beverage clarity, holding temperature, instruction manuals."

Of course, an SCA accreditation isn't the be-all and end-all of coffee makers, but if a coffee is good enough for some seriously knowledgeable coffee nerds, it's good enough for me.

Built to last

You've heard me say this before and you'll definitely hear me say this again, but the Moccamaster is a coffee maker that'll survive the apocalypse. Technivorm offers a 5-year warranty as standard, and lifetime repairs (for a fee after 5 years). This after-purchase care is better than Breville, Ninja, Krups and Bonavita... combined.

As you can see, Technivorm is just leading the crowd here. There's very little competition. If you want your coffee maker to last you a lifetime, it's gotta be Technivorm.

This is not to say all other-brand machines will break within a few years, not at all. But, if your Breville Luxe Brewer were to break after 366 days, you'd be stuck with it. Moccamaster breaks after 3,666 days? Technivorm'll fix it.

And, of course, taste

Moccamaster coffee is frustrating, because once you try it, you won't be able to go back to the $50 drip machine you got off Amazon. There truly is nothing like it. It's dark and intense and rich — all those adjectives I associate with diner coffee — but it's much more complex than you might think. It's juicy and flavorful with zero bitterness.

Of course, you can adjust flavor based on ratios and grind size. If you want it stronger, use less water/more coffee and a finer grind size (but not too fine, otherwise it'll take ages to brew and get clogged). If you want it weaker, use a coarser grind, or more water/less coffee.

That's the beauty of the Moccamaster — you can experiment on it and customize it as much as you like. It makes consistently excellent coffee, and it's my favorite drip machine for a reason.

Have you tried the Moccamaster before? Is it right for you, or do you prefer something else? Let me know in the comments!

Don't forget to follow along with The Coffee Lab — I release new episodes on our TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram every single Friday.

More from Tom's Guide

• Your espresso machine is the least important part of your coffee setup — here's why it's all about the grinder
• You don't have to spend $1k on espresso — my pro setup is under $650 (trust me, I'm an ex-barista)
• You don’t need a $1,000 espresso machine: This $299 'budget' model makes barista-quality coffee at home

The Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer is the most intelligent juicer I’ve ever used. It could be one of the best juicers out there. If you’re looking for something that can intuitively juice based on contents, then the Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer is the one for you.

As long as you’re willing to accept a tiny bit of pulp in your juice, the Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer is a winner. There are eight preset functions to choose from to ensure the correct speed of juicing based on your ingredients, but there’s also an AI mode — which is great for using various ingredients simultaneously.

The touchscreen is very easy to use, too, so if it’s simplicity you’re after, keep reading this full Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer review.

Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer review: Specs

Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer review: Price & availability

The Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper juicer is available at the Tribest online store for $599. The juicer is also called SWA-3GY-B, which is handy to note since there are many juicers available on the site. Since its release earlier this year, the juicer has not been made available on any other sites, even so, by ordering from Tribest, you are assured a 15-year warranty.

The $599 price means the Tribest is expensive, even for a juicer. It’s quite the investment, so you need to be sure it’s something you’re going to use long term — don’t just buy this machine if you’re a beginner hopping on the latest juicing fad.

If you’re trying out juicing for the first time, I’d recommend the AMZCHEF Cold Press Juicer for $129. This one offers a more minimal setup and a lower initial cost — perfect for beginners.

An added perk with the Tribest is its ability to make a mean sorbet, but this isn’t unique to the Tribest. So if you’re already part of the juicing world and you want a machine that can do more, you should take a look at the Nama C2 juicer and blender. That one is going to set you back a whopping $800, but it’s a blender and a juicer in one unit, saving space in your kitchen.

Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer review: Design

The Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer has a sleek design and looks great when set up in the kitchen of our testing studio. It’s also futuristic, so if high-tech gadgets are your calling, this juicer will be right up your alley.

A touch screen display isn’t something I typically look for in a juicer, but it made using the machine incredibly convenient.

I assembled the machine quickly as the augers, filters, and hopper all slot on top of each other easily and then fit into the main body — which also means it’s not too tall. The Nama C2 Cold Press Juicer and Blender, for example, is 21 inches. The Tribest measures 17.6 x 8.8 x 8.1 inches in comparison. It’s shorter but wouldn’t fit under your cabinets and would need to be dismantled for storage. I also found it very easy to attach and detach the components since the juicer is just 12.6 pounds.

The stainless steel chopper attached to the auger is strong and made light work of crushing even the toughest of ingredients like carrots. However, the tamper that comes with the machine is very short, so pushing ingredients down is a little tricky.

This hopper holds up to 52.8 ounces, and I found this was a good size to fit most of the ingredients I was using. The juicer also comes with a 27-ounce juice container and a 32-ounce pulp container to catch the juice and pulp. The juice container is a great size, but I never got near to filling the pulp container.

Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer review: Juicing performance

I was pretty impressed with the juicing capabilities of the Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer, especially its speed. It was a lot faster than the Kuvings Auto8 juicer I reviewed earlier this year.

And it’s not just for juice; I was also able to quickly make some of the best sorbet I’ve ever had (a wildly bold claim, I know). So if you were considering purchasing the infamous Ninja Creami ($229) this summer, you can kill two birds with one stone and get your sorbet fix and juice fix in one machine with the Tribest… even though it’s double the price.

The juicer uses a brushless motor for a quieter sound and runs at around 60 decibels when it has fruit inside, which is pretty quiet. This is around the same volume as the Kuvings Auto8. I could still maintain a conversation with the people around me (who were waiting patiently for their fresh juice).

Juice

Citrus juice:

To test out the citrus function, I added two grapefruits and four oranges (peeled and quartered) to the hopper. The mess was minimal, and the machine spat the pulp out into the side container.

I got about 28.1 fluid ounces of juice from this. Although the juice was mostly smooth, some minute bits of pulp settled at the top. If you don’t mind pulp like me, this is fine, but some of my colleagues are pulp-deniers and wouldn’t go near the juice — tough crowd.

Apple juice:

Again, I was impressed at how quickly the juicer worked. I added six quartered apples and let it get to work. In just a few minutes, I had 600ml of fresh apple juice, which was pretty foamy. I expected this foam as this also happened when I tested the Kuvings Auto8 juicer, so it’s not really a flaw.

However, there were some very small flakes of solid in the juice. I personally didn’t notice them as I was too busy drinking up the delicious juice, but my colleague pointed out the apple pulp floating around. As I said, this isn’t something that bothered me, because I don’t mind pulp in my drink. But it’s worth considering before you buy if you’re a pulp-hater.

Watermelon juice:

This juice has to be the best and easiest to make of them all. And no, I couldn’t just whack a whole watermelon into the hopper. I used watermelon chunks that were pre-cut from the store. I got 14.1 fluid ounces of liquid from this, which had some very small bits.

This was the fastest juicing process, as there isn’t much resistance from the soft watermelon, and the juicer moves a little faster to account for that.

Pomegranate juice:

Although this was a function on the juicer, it’s not an option that I would use again. When I’ve had pomegranate juice previously, the liquid has been red and clear, but with this juicer, the liquid was almost pink and opaque. This makes me think that some of the inner seeds were crushed and let into the drink, which would make sense since it felt quite astringent in the mouth.

During the juicing process, some pieces got stuck in the hopper, and the tamper was too short to reach them to direct them towards the augers.

Grape juice:

This is a setting I was intrigued to try out, as everybody loves grape juice. I filled the hopper to the brim with grapes, which it took just a few minutes to pass through. I got about 21.1 fluid ounces.

But after looking at the pulp that came out of the juicer, I think it could have squeezed more liquid out. The pulp was still pretty wet.

Carrot juice:

I added a 17.5-ounce bag of carrots to the juicer, and it all fit into the hopper with a few cuts to shorten them. I got 10.5 fluid ounces of liquid from this.

I noticed that the augers were moving a lot slower in this setting since the carrots are a lot tougher than some of the other fruits I tried out in the machine. Although the result wasn’t to my personal taste, I would use this setting again and add some ginger and lemon at the same time to get a more varied flavor.

Celery juice:

For this juice, I simply threw in a few sticks of celery, but this took the longest of all of the juices. It’s a tough test for a juicer, as celery is very fibrous.

I got 7 fluid ounces of juice from a bunch of celery, but cleaning up after this juice was an absolute nightmare. Since celery is so fibrous and stringy, it got tangled up in the augers, so I literally had to detangle it after use.

AI mode:

The AI mode detects ingredients in the hopper and adjusts the speed of the mastication accordingly. I would recommend using the AI mode if using a mixture of fresh fruit and vegetables, as it will provide a more reliable result, given the amount of force needed.

Sorbet

Don’t be fooled, this machine is more than just a juicer. It can also whip up a mean sorbet, much to the delight of my colleagues in the office. I added a mixture of frozen fruit to the hopper, including banana, strawberries, raspberries, and mango, and then set the machine to sorbet mode. The sorbet then comes out where the pulp would usually be.

The process was very quick and gave me incredibly smooth sorbet. I’d recommend using a juicer like this for sorbet rather than a blender like the Tribest Backspin blender, as the result is far more consistent.

Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer review: Verdict

The Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer is a great kitchen addition for anyone who is looking for an easy-to-use and intuitive juicer. The touch screen makes it simple to select your functions, and I found the AI mode increased efficiency.

I only have a few minor complaints about the juicer. Some pulp got through, so if you’re a pulp hater, this won’t be the juicer for you. The tamper is very short, so it’s hard to push some ingredients into the path of the augers. It’s also not dishwasher safe, so if you’re lazy about washing up (like me), then this could be too much maintenance.

But for anyone who already enjoys juicing but is looking to step up their game with more high-tech functionality, I think the Tribest Slowstar AI Vertical Hopper Juicer is a great option.

The Tribest Backspin Blender has all the makings of one of the best blenders due to its powerful 900W motor, backspin technology, and vacuum capabilities. It makes light work of frozen fruit and has a huge 63.4 Quart capacity for batch blending.

But unfortunately, I think it’s just too big to claim the title of best blender. But why? Surely the bigger the better, so you can blend more? But the jug’s size just meant that ingredients kept getting caught on the sides, and the lack of a pour spout made things quite messy. I would expect a premium-priced product to pour more easily.

You can find out more about the blender to decide whether it’s the one for you by reading this full Tribest Backspin Blender review.

Tribest Backspin Blender review: Specs

Tribest Backspin Blender review: Price & availability

The Tribest Backspin Blender is available for $599 at Amazon U.S. However, it has always been listed for sale at Amazon for $499. This makes it look like you’re getting a good deal when reduced from $599, but in actuality, $499 is the listed price on the official Tribest site.

You won’t find another blender directly like the Tribest Backspin from the likes of Ninja or Vitamix. The Backspin jug is unique, meaning that if you want the effect of a contra-rotating jug to avoid needing to tamper down ingredients, you have to get the Tribest.

That said, the methods used by other blenders often perform just as well. The Beast Mighty 850 Plus, for example, has ridges to direct the flow of ingredients, which work super well, but this blender is a lot smaller and costs a fraction of the price at $149. The Beast is a portable blender, too, so it's much better for dealing with smaller quantities, which the Tribest struggles with.

If you want a large blender, then you can look at the Ninja Detect Power Pro with BlendSense for $179, which holds 72 ounces but also comes with a 24-ounce single-serve cup for smaller blends. This is an incredibly strong blender capable of making nut butter in under five minutes. Why spend more?

Tribest Backspin Blender review: Design

The Tribest Backspin Blender has one of the most interesting designs of any blender I’ve used. It’s a pretty large machine, with its measurements coming in at 14.5 x 12.3 x 8.3 inches. But it’s not that heavy, as it only weighs 14.2 pounds, so I found it very easy to lift and move around my countertops. The larger size of the blend jug also means it can hold 60 ounces.

Having a design that automatically directs the ingredients makes blending far less time-consuming and is actually a step ahead of our top pick for best blender, the Vitamix Ascent X2 ($549), which requires you to manually push down thicker ingredients that get caught on the blender walls.

The Tribest Backspin Contra-Rotating Impact Blender tries to ensure everything gets blended by the rotating inner wall — it rotates in the opposite direction to the blades to create more impacts between the blades and ingredients. This was very effective as the blending process was very quick… if you fill the jug. However, the blend jug is very large, and if you don’t have enough ingredients to fill it, this method isn’t very effective at all.

Annoyingly, the top of the blender has two lids, which help to create the vacuum seal. But if you need to add in ingredients, this gets frustrating as you have to unseal and then re-vacuum the blender. This is done by hitting the vacuum button on the top of the blender before selecting the blend option. Tribest says this removes the air from the blender to reduce oxidation of the ingredients, which retains more nutrients, but I didn’t notice any difference.

The blade is made from stainless steel and has fins that catch as many of the ingredients as possible. This is the same type of blade that you will find in most blenders, including the Nutribullet Pro 900W ($84). The blade in the Tribest is magnetic and so easily attaches and detaches to the base for easy cleaning. When I was putting the blender together, the blade was easy to attach and detach.

Decanting mixtures from the blender is very difficult. Since there is a space between the walls of the jug and blender, when pouring out your blends, any excess falls between the spaces. While it can be cleaned, it’s pretty inconvenient, and the design would benefit from a pour spout to make cleanup easier.

Controls

The controls of the Tribest Backspin Blender are very easy to use. If you want to use the vacuum function, then you need to make sure you hit the vacuum button first before selecting the blend preset. The vacuum takes about a minute to activate, but after that, you’re good to go.

The blender has five blending presets: Auto, Auto low, Auto high, Vacuum and Pulse. It’s great to have this variation and the control that comes with a pulse setting for a refined blend. There are also 12 variable blend speeds, and the LED ring light illuminates to depict these levels.

Tribest Backspin Blender review: Blending performance

I was generally impressed with the blend performance of the Tribest Backspin — when blending a full batch. As I mentioned earlier, the jug needs to be pretty full to reap the full benefits of the backspin feature. When the jug wasn’t filled, a lot of the mixture stuck to the sides. Even so, the 900W motor is very powerful, so on larger blends it could easily process any ingredients that came into the blades’ path.

Smoothie

Firstly, I decided to make a classic smoothie. In the summer, I use my blender to make a smoothie most days, so I want something efficient. I added a mixture of frozen fruit, including mango, strawberry, and banana, to the blender and then topped it up with orange juice.

The blender made light work of this and wasn’t hindered by the solid frozen fruit when using the auto blend preset; it only took a minute to blend completely. However, the lack of a pour spout made it hard to decant the smoothie into a glass and made a mess, as I covered above.

Sorbet

Next, I whipped up a quick sorbet. To do this, I simply added frozen mango and a splash of plant-based milk to the blender. After blending on the auto-high blend preset with the vacuum, the result was mostly smooth, although some larger chunks of mango remained. This was disappointing, as my usual Beast Mighty 850 Plus blender has no issues making sorbet. I don’t think the vacuum setting made any difference to the taste of the end result.

Hummus

Finally, I whipped up a quick hummus, but the blender had a hard time with this. I added a can of chickpeas, garlic cloves, lemon juice, and olive oil to the blender and put it on the auto low blend setting. The result was a pretty chunky dip.

It’s also hard to make dips like this, as typically with hummus, you’d slowly add in olive oil to get the correct consistency, but since the blender has two lids, this process was cumbersome.

Tribest Backspin Blender review: Storage & maintenance

The Tribest Backspin Blender needs to be cleaned after every use to ensure everything works smoothly. It’s also pretty easy to clean once you dismantle the components.

The components must be washed by hand — the blender is not dishwasher safe. You can also use the pulse function on the blender to clean the inner container, but I preferred to wash by hand.

This isn’t the kind of machine you’d need to leave out on your countertop, because it’s pretty big. So if you’re not blending on a regular basis, you’d be better off with something that’s easier to store, like the Beast Mighty 850 Plus.

Tribest Backspin Blender review: Verdict

The Tribest Backspin Blender may be on the expensive side, but it comes with backspin technology that you can’t get anywhere else. The powerful 900W motor means that everything is blended quickly.

Backspin is great for creating more contact between the blades and ingredients to get a finer blend, but in reality, a lot of ingredients just get caught on the side of the jug. The lack of a pour spout meant that when I wanted to decant smoothies and dips, it was a little messy.

I like the concept of this blender, but it would be more useful on a smaller scale, so ingredients don’t get caught up on the sides. As hard as it might try, the Tribest Backspin is no serious competition to the Vitamix Ascent X2.

There’s a surprising overlap between coffee lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, so you’d expect there to be a plethora of camping-focused coffee gear on the market. And you’d be right. The VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set is one of those coffee-enthusiast-slash-camping-equipment products, and I’m all here for it. It’s definitely up there with some of the best pour-over coffee makers.

Although pricey, at $55/$80 (for two mugs), you also get a lifetime warranty. Yes — Lifetime. Warranty. So, although $55 feels quite expensive for what is essentially a smaller Hario V60 + thermal travel mug, you will literally never have to buy another camping pour-over kit ever again. The clue’s in the name: lifetime warranty.

So, could the VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set be the perfect product for you? Are you a camper who can’t live without fresh coffee, even in the wilderness? Then it just might be. To find out, keep reading this VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set review.

VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set review: Cheat sheet

• Who is it for? Coffee + outdoor lovers = VSSL enthusiasts
• What does it do well? It’s so portable and has a little sleeping bag
• What does it cost? $55 / £54
• What are its weaknesses? Might not impress extreme coffee snobs, but it impressed me (a medium coffee snob)

VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set: Specs

VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set review: Price & availability

The VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set is $55 from Amazon U.S. and in the U.K. it can be bought for £54 from Amazon U.K. or VSSL or Wildbounds (both £54). This is pretty pricey — but you do get a lifetime warranty (more on that later). Similar outdoor-focused options would be the $60 Yeti Rambler Pour-Over, $26 Stanley Perfect Brew, and the $34 Wacaco Cuppamoka.

For $80 / £80, you can get the VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Kit, which includes two 10oz mugs. If you’re often on camping trips with another person, I might recommend getting the ‘kit’ over the ‘set’ for the double mugs. However, you still only get one dripper and one filter.

As I touched on briefly above, $55 for what is essentially a conical piece of metal and a travel mug is quite pricey. However, you’re getting a lifetime warranty. The Yeti Rambler Pour-Over is $60 for a mug and a dripper (no lifetime warranty), and the Stanley Perfect Brew and Wacaco Cuppamoka are less for coffee fanatics and more for everyday users. I’d probably recommend the Yeti and VSSL if you’re more snobby about coffee (relatable).

VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set review: Design

As you might expect from an outdoor-focused pour-over, the VSSL Nest is both rugged and gorgeous. It’s constructed from 80% recycled stainless steel — nicely aligned with the general ethics of many outdoor lovers — and stacks into one 7-inch cylinder between uses.

You also get a carry bag that looks way too much like a sleeping bag for it to be a coincidence. I inadvertently anthropomorphized the VSSL Nest every time I tucked it into its little bed.

Cute sleeping bag aside, the VSSL Nest works hard and plays hard. Everything stacks into itself (like the Wacaco Minipresso GR2 or Wacaco Picopresso), which means it’s perfectly portable. The screw threads felt a little gritty at first, but after a few uses, they loosened up.

As you might expect from an outdoor-focused pour-over, you get a reusable mesh filter rather than the (albeit compostable) single-use filters you might be familiar with. This mesh filter is considerably smaller than the standard V60 #2 or Kalita Wave filters. The filter’s compact size means there’s a smaller chance of funnelling — but you still have to pour carefully if you’re seeking perfection — but I didn’t get on with it as well as I’d hoped to.

The filter is pre-folded, but I found the stitching around the seams meant that the filter folded awkwardly when placed inside the dripper. Even so, this didn’t result in a bad coffee, but it’s just something to think about if you’re that aforementioned person seeking perfection.

If you want more than one, you can buy additional reusable mesh filters for $28 on Amazon. The pour-over kit and set both come with just one filter, so if you wanted to double brew with the two 10oz mugs in the ‘kit’, you’d need to buy more filters (and dripper). Of course, you could just use the same filter for both mugs, but you’d need to wait.

VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set review: Performance

As the VSSL Nest Pour Over is an outdoor-focused product, you’ll be pleased to know that it has a sturdy, weighty metal bottom so it’ll stay upright even on bumpy surfaces. The dripper itself screws into the cup, so don’t worry about errant hands knocking your drink into the campfire.

Again, as the VSSL Nest is a pour-over, it works just as any other pour-over. I will note that while it has the controlled grooves you might expect from a V60 or the Yeti Rambler, the filter is so thick that these may as well not exist, so perhaps this is less for perfectionists or coffee snobs and more for genuine enthusiasts.

This isn’t to say the VSSL Nest makes a bad coffee, not at all. It might not have the same snobbish complexity as you might expect from a V60, or the same intensity as a Kalita Wave, but the VSSL Nest makes a delicious brew with zero bitterness. I used medium-roast Colombian beans for this test; I could taste the delicate fruitiness at the top of my tongue, a satisfying amount of sourness around my tongue, and a pleasant richness rounding it all out.

The double-walled insulation mug also keeps coffee warm for hours. I enjoyed my coffee slowly — and the final sip was just as warm as the first.

To show you how easy the VSSL Nest is to use, I’ll share my go-to routine now.

My go-to VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set routine

As the VSSL Nest is a pour-over, it’s very easy to use. There are no centralized grooves like in the Hario V60 to force water through the middle of the filter, but the small dripper means there’s little room for error. Just be sure to pour slowly and ‘tuck’ the water behind the coffee, to prevent funnelling. This just means you should pour the water behind the coffee, in between the grounds and filter, rather than on top of the coffee.

1. Grind 16g of coffee beans to a medium coarseness for 295ml of coffee. I used my Comandante C40 MK4, a great hand grinder perfect for camping trips.
2. Heat water to at least 196°F, no hotter than 210°F.
3. Pour around 50ml of water to ‘bloom’ the grounds.
4. Once the grounds have expanded and released their gases, pour in another 100ml of water in a slow, controlled, circular motion.
5. Once this water has passed through, repeat until you reach 295ml. Ensure you are tucking the water behind the coffee to prevent funnelling.
6. Enjoy!

And that’s it! Of course, you can adjust the grind size and ratio to suit your tastes. If you want it stronger next time around, just add more coffee at the first stage!

VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set review: Storage & maintenance

Now, let’s get into arguably the most impressive spec: the lifetime warranty. Yes, I’m serious, and no, that’s not a typo. The VSSL Nest has a lifetime warranty. In VSSL’s world, this is called ‘Geared for Life’.

VSSL offers Geared for Life on the Nest Pour Over Set and the Kit, so worry not if you want to get the $80 Kit instead of the $55 Set.

Comparatively, Yeti offers a 5-year warranty, which is still impressive — but obviously not as impressive as a warranty that’ll expire when you do. VSSL confirmed to me that lifetime means lifetime. There are no time limits on this warranty, so as long as VSSL is in business, it’ll repair or replace your Nest.

Even so, Yeti replaces parts, should you need to do so (like the sippy slider) and has detailed instructions on how to care for its products on its site.

And, as I’ve already gushed over, the VSSL Nest comes with a cute little sleeping bag for storing your Nest between uses. Everything (including the filter) stacks inside neatly.

Finally: cleaning. VSSL recommends you only hand-wash the Nest, so no dishwasher adventures, please! The mug, dripper, and mesh filter are all perfectly easy to clean, although be prepared to get your hands dirty when you scrape out coffee grounds from the inside of the filter. If you’re on a long camping trip, you might want to check out compostable single-use U-shaped #1 filters to avoid needing to clean on the trail.

VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set review: How does it compare?

The VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set is a great product for outdoor lovers or simply coffee lovers who are short on space and need a portable, stackable coffee maker. I’d recommend the Yeti Rambler for sticklers — if you can’t live without grooves in the dripper — but for coffee lovers who aren’t fussed about said grooves, the VSSL Nest will be great.

I’d recommend the VSSL Nest over the Wacaco Cuppamoka — which probably wouldn’t impress serious coffee nerds — and the Stanley Perfect Brew. But, if you want to save as much money as possible, check out either of those cheaper options.

I was able to get a delicious, easy pour-over with very little stress. The screw threads ensured the pour-over was steady, even on uneven surfaces, and the reusable mesh filter is better for the planet than single-use paper filters.

VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set review: Verdict

If you want an outdoor-friendly manual coffee maker that’s not afraid of uneven ground and comes with its own sleeping bag, I wholeheartedly recommend the VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set. This functional and stylish coffee maker combines usability with finesse for a versatile, enjoyable brewing experience.

Although yes, it’s pretty pricey at $55/$80 for two mugs, you do get a lifetime warranty, so… You win some, you lose some. You’re kind of futureproofing yourself with the splurge. And, while some serious coffee perfectionists might turn their noses up at the thick filter covering the directional grooves, this was a non-issue for me.

For campers and coffee lovers, the VSSL Nest Pour Over Coffee Set is a great option that’ll see you through every camping trip for the rest of your life — literally.

AeroPress finally released its own grinder last year, solving a problem no one had even realized existed — you can fit the grinder inside your AeroPress like a Russian doll. Talk about convenience.

When you go on trips, you can still pack light. Forget trying to fit your grinder, beans, and AeroPress into your camping backpack or fighting with an overstuffed carry-on. But is this portability enough to make the AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder one of the best coffee grinders on the market? If you’re an AeroPress addict, without a shadow of a doubt.

However, I’m not going to claim the AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder is the most uniform grinder in the world. It performed best at medium-fine coarseness — the optimal grind for AeroPress, funnily enough — but I wouldn’t recommend it for French press or cold brew. If you want to find out more, though, keep reading this AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder review.

AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder review: Cheat sheet

• Who is it for? AeroPress aficionados
• What does it do well? Fits inside my AeroPress and is super easy to use
• What does it cost? $199 / £199
• What are its weaknesses? Not as uniform as some Timemore or 1ZPresso alternatives

AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder: Specs

AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder review: Price & availability

The AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder is $199 from Amazon U.S. and £199 from AeroPress U.K.. You may be thinking this is expensive for a coffee grinder, but you’d be wrong. This is firmly in the budget-midrange category for burr grinders.

If you want to spend as little as possible, I’d recommend checking out the Timemore Chestnut C2s, just $79. You might also want to check out the ceramic-burred Hario Mill Grinder ($40) or the 1ZPresso Q-Air ($60).

At the premium end of the spectrum, we’ve got the Comandante C40 MK4, my personal grinder and my highest-recommended hand grinder. If you’ve got $300 to invest in pro-level coffee, it’s gotta be the Comandante. You might also want to check out the 1ZPresso J-Ultra, $199, which is surprisingly functional for its midrange price.

AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder review: Design

As with everything else AeroPress makes, the Manual Coffee Grinder is gorgeous. The silver-and-gray exterior is sleek, modern, and stylish, and the grooves on the grinder body make it easy to hold.

Besides being beautiful, the AeroPress Grinder is also teeny-tiny. Its diameter is just 1.9 inches, and it stands at 7.4 inches tall, so it’s considerably slimmer than the 1ZPresso J-Ultra, although the 1ZPresso Q-Air is 0.1 inch smaller (but its capacity is only 15g-20g).

The handle packs down to sit flush with the grinder body, which is fantastic for portability. This is definitely one of the smallest grinders I’ve ever seen.

But the most impressive aspect is this: the AeroPress Grinder fits inside an AeroPress. If you’re going camping or on vacation, you can take your AeroPress and your grinder without taking up double the space. This is one of the biggest selling points, and makes the grinder a must-have for serious AeroPress fanatics.

While it doesn’t fit inside the $199 AeroPress Premium, it’ll slip into the AeroPress Clear Color, Go, XL — and the OG AeroPress, of course.

Although this means the grinding chamber is quite small — it fits just 25g of beans — if you’re making an AeroPress, you probably wouldn’t need to grind any more than that, anyway.

AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder review: Performance

To test the performance of the AeroPress Manual, I evaluated four main aspects: ease of use, static/clumping, uniformity, and retention.

Ease of use

As it’s a manual grinder, the AeroPress grinder is very easy to use. To adjust the grind, you simply twist the dial on the underside of the grinder body. As with every other grinder I’ve used, clockwise is finer and counterclockwise is coarser.

After putting coffee in the grinding chamber, all you have to do is twist the handle, and you’ve got it working. It’s so easy a toddler could use it (although you shouldn’t let your toddler use this).

I will say that if you’re going at superspeed, the handle sometimes flies off. I wasn’t sure if this was a skill issue on my part, but I’m inclined to believe it is — the knob of my Comandante C40 MK4 also flies off when I’m going too fast. Maybe it’s the grinder gods working together to try and save my bicep from exhausting itself.

Static & clumping

The AeroPress Manual Grinder has incredibly low clumping. I was amazed by the even distribution of the grounds. This is ideal for using with an AeroPress, where you don’t want the water to get clogged in certain areas.

The grinder also generates supremely low static. Sure, there’s a bit of static, but this is expected when you’re turning organic solids into even smaller organic solids. A static-free coffee grinder is nigh on impossible. If someone’s invented one, I have yet to see it. Static is worse when a grinder is new, and typically decreases over time anyway — often after a few kilos of beans.

Here’s a photo of the static so you can see what I mean.

As you can see, there’s a small ring of husk around the adjustment dial, but this is really not that deep. If you keep reading, you’ll be able to see my retention tests that back this up.

Here's a photo of the lack of clumping so you can see.

There are literally zero clumps in this bowl — this is best clumping performance I've ever seen.

Uniformity

Alright, I’m going to rip the Band-Aid off nice and fast: the AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder isn’t the most uniform grinder in the world.

In general, it performed much better when grinding medium-fine, which is the optimal grind setting for AeroPress, anyway. If you’re only using this grinder for AeroPress, it’ll be perfect. However, if you wanted to dabble in French press or cold brew, your brew may not taste as consistent as you’d like.

Take a look at my results. We’re looking for big jumps here: think 0% 300upm to 100% 500upm. A result like that would mean all the coffee grounds are between 301-500upm, which means a more consistent flavor in the resulting brew.

This is around the same level of uniformity as the Timemore Chestnut C2s, and unfortunately, not as uniform as the Comandante C40 MK4, whose least-consistent test saw jumps from 20%-90%-100%.

This is not to say the AeroPress Manual is a bad coffee grinder, just that it performs best between clicks 10-20 (the optimal setting for AeroPress). If you’re deep in the AeroPress ecosystem, there’s nothing like the grinder.

Retention

In general, manual grinders have lower retention than electric grinders. This is effectively due to the difference in burr position: in a manual grinder, the burrs are right there, just above the catch chamber. There’s a smaller area and fewer places for coffee to get retained. Even so, it’s still essential to test average retention.

The lowest-retention grinder I’ve ever tested was the Timemore Chestnut C2s, which had an average retention of 0.1%. However, the Comandante C40 MK4 had a high retention rate of 2.75%. In the middle, you’ve got the 1ZPresso K-Ultra ($249) with an average retention of 1.8%.

While you can get “better” grinders for cheaper or the same price — the $79 Timemore Chestnut C2s and the $199 1ZPresso J-Ultra — if you’re an AeroPress lover looking to upgrade your setup intelligently, I’d recommend the AeroPress grinder. Come on — it fits inside your AeroPress! How perfect is that?

AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder review: Storage & maintenance

Like Comandante, AeroPress offers a lifetime warranty on the burrs. This means if your burrs are defective, you can get a replacement burr set forever (assuming AeroPress still exists as a business, of course).

This is fantastic, and just goes to show how high-quality the burrs are — AeroPress wouldn’t offer this if it weren’t confident in the burs themselves. Other brands like Timemore and 1ZPresso just offer the basic 1-year warranty.

It goes without saying, but do not use water to clean the grinder. You must never use water to clean a coffee grinder — the provided brush will be sufficient day-to-day, but investing a few dollars in a rubber air blower is a good idea, to give it a good clear out if and when needed.

As the Manual Grinder is so tiny, you can easily store it in a drawer or cabinet between uses. Mine fits perfectly in the small cutlery drawer underneath my coffee unit.

AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder review: Verdict

Despite not being the most affordable or uniform grinder in the world, I can’t help but love the AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder. It fits inside my Clear Color, and looks so cool while doing so. If you’re an AeroPress fanatic like me, I wholeheartedly recommend this grinder. It’s just so convenient.

You’d get better uniformity with the Comandante C40 MK4, but that’s $100 pricier than the AeroPress (and can go up to $200 pricier in certain colorways). Again, if you’re only using this grinder for AeroPress, the medium-fine setting resulted in the best uniformity, anyway. Don’t fret, though — I was still able to grind espresso-fine. I just wouldn’t recommend it for French press or cold brew.

For serious AeroPress enthusiasts, there’s nothing like this grinder. It’s cool, easy to use, and can be packed away. Let me say this one more time: it fits inside the AeroPress!

As an ex-barista, I know how to pull cafe-quality espresso at home — and spending $1,000 on an espresso machine and $10 on a blade grinder is not the way to do it. I can make barista-quality espresso drinks with just a $299 Breville Bambino and a $299 Comandante C40 MK4.

But how is the Bambino a budget model yet the Comandante is a premium model — aren't they the same price? Yes... and no. Although the same price, the Comandante is a hand grinder, and it's the best hand grinder on the market — so, relatively, it's a premium product. Hand grinders are inherently cheaper than electric motor grinders, and you can get pro results without the price tag. Electric motor grinders can go for up to $1,500 for a similar quality (Mazzer Philos, the best grinder in the world... if you've got the money).

My entire pro setup is under $650 — but here's why most of that should be invested in a high-quality grinder.

What does a coffee grinder actually do?

Knowing how to grind coffee is a skill in and of itself — I recommend you take time to learn optimal grind size and texture before going any further.

A coffee grinder turns whole beans into the coffee grounds you can actually use in brewing. There are two main types of coffee grinders: burr and blade. Burrs crush the beans, whereas blades slice the beans.

I would only ever recommend using a burr grinder. Blade grinders have low uniformity, meaning all the coffee grounds are of inconsistent sizes. You might struggle to make a high-quality drink with uneven grounds.

Different brewing methods require different grind sizes: espresso needs fine, AeroPress and pour-over medium-fine, French press goes coarse, and cold brew requires the coarsest grind. But regardless of which brewing method you're using, you want all these grounds to be the same size.

Why does my coffee grind need to be consistent?

Consistency is key for one major reason: extraction and flavor. Let me explain.

Bitter tasting coffee is likely over-extracted, and sour or weak tasting coffee is likely under-extracted.

Coffee ground too finely is often over-extracted, and coffee ground too coarsely is often under-extracted. See where the issue might be?

If your coffee grounds are all different sizes, some will be over-extracted, whereas some will be under-extracted.

For example, if you are making espresso, your coffee should be around as fine as baker's salt — all your coffee. Not most of it, not half of it. All of it.

However, if you use a blade or low-quality burr grinder, the coffee grounds will be different sizes. Water will pass over the larger granules without extracting properly, resulting in a sour or bitter shot — or, in some disastrous cases, sour and bitter all at once.

What happens if I use a blade grinder?

Using a blade grinder is one of the biggest no-nos I can think of. Blade grinders use an electric motor to cut coffee grounds. What happens when your coffee gets stuck to the side of the grinding chamber, or the blades make a well in the middle of the grounds?

You get over-sliced grounds and under-sliced grounds, that's what. Look at this picture of coffee ground on the Cuisinart Blade Grinder.

In the foreground, you have huge chunks of coffee, and in the background, you have tiny, espresso-sized granules. What do you think would happen if I tried to make espresso on this?

It would be a watery mess, that's what.

Burr grinders don't even have to be expensive — I've tested some decent sub-$200 models. Obviously, none of these will come close to the Mazzer Philos in terms of uniformity or longevity, but could be a decent option if you're short on dollars.

More from Tom's Guide

• I've tested 43 coffeemakers in two years — but I’d only spend my own money on these nine
• You don't have to spend $1k on espresso — my pro setup is under $650 (trust me, I'm an ex-barista)
• 'This is the key to unlocking barista-quality coffee': I'm a coffee expert and you should never use pressurized baskets

It's not even May, and already the New York area is facing temperatures upwards of 85 degrees, thanks to an early heat wave that's bound to break records. When I work from home, it's from my attic, which is insulated, but still gets super-hot and stuffy. Normally, I'd crank my window A/C, but I have yet to pull it out of storage.

Instead, I'm trying out Dreo's new TurboCool Misting Fan 765S, which goes on sale today for $199 at Amazon, and it's already providing me some relief. Here's my first impressions, as well as a look at some of the other products the company announced today.

It's not small

The Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan towers about three feet tall, and has a quasi-futuristic vibe. Towards the top is a circular display that shows fan speed and the status of other settings. You can change these by tapping the buttons on the top of the fan, or with the included remote.

At the bottom is a removable water reservoir; I like that it has a handle, which made it easy to carry after it had been filled with water.

Dreo says that, unlike other misting fans, the water droplets emitted by this fan are much smaller in size — 17μm — so you won't have an issue with water condensing on furniture or electronics. When I held my hand up to the mister, I certainly didn't feel any droplets.

It made me feel a little cooler — even if the room's temperature didn't drop

Dreo claims the fan can reduce temperatures by as much as 10º F; When I turned on the fan to its highest setting, the temperature in my attic was hovering around 84 degrees, as measured by a SwitchBot hub, an Apple HomePod 2, and the IKEA ALPSTUGA air quality monitor.

I immediately felt cooler thanks to the flowing air, but after 20 minutes, the temperature readings of all three devices hadn't budged. In fact, over the course of the afternoon, the temperature crept up by a few degrees. There's only so much a fan can do.

At its top speed, the fan noise was louder than my Midea U air conditioner, but quiet enough as to not be distracting.

I'm going to keep testing out the fan throughout the summer to see how it fares as the temperatures climb even higher.

Dreo's other new cooling products

Dreo TurboPoly Fan 765S

This will be Dreo's first Matter-supported product. It will oscillate 150° horizontally and 100° vertically, and provide up to 1,500 CFM of airflow and a reach of 120 feet. The company says that will operate at around 20dB, though we imagine that's at its lowest setting. This pedestal fan can be adjusted from 39 to 44 inches tall, or sit on a squatter base if you're using it on a tabletop. The fan will cost $159, and is expected to ship in the second quarter of this year.

Dreo Portable Air Conditioner 740S

This portable air conditioner will be the first from Dreo to use both inverter technology — far more efficient than older methods of cooling — as well as a dual-hose design that will help cool your home more efficiently. It has a 10,000 BTU capacity, which the company says is good for spaces of up to 400 square feet. It also has a CEER rating of 12, also very good compared to the best smart air conditioners we've tested. You'll also be able control it via app, Alexa, or Google Assistant — unfortunately, it does not support Matter. The air conditioner will go on sale in May; pricing has yet to be announced.

More from Tom's Guide

• Summer weather in April? 15 cooling products to beat the unexpected East Coast heat wave
• How to cool down your living room without AC — 7 simple layout changes
• 9 essential tips to stay cool during a heatwave