I'm a trained barista, and these are the top 3 budget-friendly coffee makers
I recommend for cafe-quality drinks at home, from De'Longhi, Ninja and Philips

Date:
Sun, 03 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Description:
Coffee shop prices have shot through the roof, so it's a good time to pick up your own coffee maker to prepare your favorite drinks at home instead.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter I'm TechRadar 's resident
coffee expert and trained barista, and I've put together a list of three affordable coffee makers to help you break your expensive takeout latte
habit. I've personally tested each of these machines, and would happily recommend any one of them to my family and friends.

If you buy takeaway coffee regularly, you'll have noticed your caffeine habit becoming increasingly expensive. As Acorns Coffee Roastery notes, the price you pay at a coffee shop is influenced by factors including climate pressures and growing shipping costs, all of which filter down to your wallet. Buying your own coffee maker is a smart choice, and if you pick the right model, it could save you a lot of cash in the long term . All the options here offer exceptional value for money and, if you regularly grab a latte on the way to work, will quickly pay for themselves. Article continues below You may like The 3 best coffee makers with grinders, recommended by a barista The 3 best compact coffee makers for big flavor in a small package I'm a certified barista, and these are my top 3 Smeg espresso machines 1. Philips Baristina Image 1 of 8 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) I test a lot of coffee
machines, but the little Philips Baristina is my favorite of 2026 so far. It offers the convenience of a bean-to-cup machine with the easy cleanup of a manual espresso machine, and it isn't expensive either.

Bean-to-cup espresso machines are great for beginners just tap a button and your favorite drink will be stood before you, ready to drink in just a couple of minutes but they have two key drawbacks. The first is the price, which is usually several times that of a manual machine. The second is the amount of cleanup required between drinks and at the end of the day. Since all the grinding and brewing happens inside a typical bean-to-cup machine, you'll
need to dedicate considerable time to cleaning stray coffee grounds and moisture to avoid mold and keep things fresh.

With the Baristina, neither are a problem. Not only is it the cheapest bean-to-cup machine I've used, it's also the easiest to clean because it uses a portafilter and basket just like a manual coffee maker. Just load the
hopper with beans, fill the water tank, place the filter handle underneath, and slide it to the right. The Baristina will grind the perfect dose of
coffee directly into the filter basket, tamp it down, then slide the handle
to the left and begin brewing. It's an ingenious system and when it's done, cleanup is just a matter of running a little hot water through the brew
group, wiping out the filter basket, and emptying the drip tray. There's no need to remove panels or reach inside anything with a cloth.

Of course, that ease of use would mean nothing if the Baristina didn't brew good coffee, but it does that well, too, sustaining the steady temperature
and pressure necessary for consistent results. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The only thing it's missing is a steam wand, but if you're a latte fiend, you can buy it bundled with a standalone milk frother ( which my colleague Max Langridge called "a standout choice for milk-based coffee drinkers").

Read my full Philips Baristina review Philips Baristina deals 299.99 View 299.99 View 299.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every
day for the best prices powered by 2. De'Longhi Dedica Duo Image 1 of 8
(Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) The De'Longhi Dedica Duo is the cheapest of
the three options here and if you're in the UK, there are some great deals available right now that knock down the price even further. This is a compact manual espresso machine, so unlike the Philips Baristina above, it requires you to either grind the coffee beans yourself, or buy them ready-ground.
Don't let that put you off, though, because this little coffee maker is super simple to use, and you don't need any prior knowledge to get going. What to read next The 5 best cheap De'Longhi coffee makers in Amazon's spring sale
The Ninja Luxe Caf is still one of my favourite coffee makers This tiny De'Longhi espresso maker has pride of place in my kitchen here's why

Most of the coffee makers I've tested at this price point really aren't worth considering. Poor build quality and inconsistent pressure and temperature
mean wildly unpredictable results even if you're using the same beans and grind size. The result is bad-tasting coffee, wasted beans, and an overall sense of buyer's remorse.

That isn't the case with the Dedica Duo: not only is it just as well made as De'Longhi's premium coffee makers, but it brews consistently excellent coffee once you've settled on the ideal grind size for your beans. I drank so much delicious espresso during testing that I suffered many a wakeful night but I have no regrets.

The Dedica Duo also features a cold-extraction mode, which takes longer to brew a hot espresso, but produces a mellow, less harsh flavor similar to
what you'd get from allowing coffee to steep in the fridge overnight. Add a splash of your preferred milk, toss in a couple of ice cubes, and enjoy.

This model also has a great little steam wand, with enough freedom of
movement to make texturizing milk a breeze. All in all, a fabulous little espresso machine at a bargain price.

Read my full De'Longhi Dedica Duo review De'Longhi Dedica Duo deals 159.98 View 279 196 View bundle 200 View Show more We check over 250 million
products every day for the best prices powered by 3. Ninja Prestige DualBrew System Image 1 of 8 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Ninja Prestige DualBrew System Can't decide whether you want an espresso machine or a drip coffee maker? The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System (known as the Ninja DualBrew Pro in the US) is the one for you. It packs a full drip coffee maker, a capsule espresso machine, and even a milk-frothing whisk into one surprisingly
compact package, and it's a lot cheaper than buying two similarly specced coffee makers separately.

The drip coffee maker alone is worth the asking price, arriving with a timer, customizable brew options, and thoughtful little touches such as a drip-stop feature to prevent coffee leaking out if you get impatient and remove the carafe partway through brewing.

The carafe is made from non-insulated glass, but your freshly brewed coffee
is kept warm by a smart hotplate that retains a steady temperature, turns off when the carafe is removed, and doesn't allow your coffee to stew. This smart temperature control is a great feature and not one I've seen in any other coffee makers I've tested to date.

Want a coffee to take to work? No problem just remove the carafe and you'll find a pull-down drip tray designed to accommodate a travel mug. No more temptation to hit Starbucks on your way to the office.

The capsule espresso maker is excellent, too. It takes Nespresso Original-style pods (the small, top hat-shaped capsules), which gives you access to a huge range of brands, beans and roasts, since Nestl no longer
owns the design patent. You can also customize the drink size and adjust the height of the drip tray to fit your favorite cup.

For me, the weakest part of this machine is the milk frother: it's an
electric whisk rather than a steam wand, so whips air into the milk but doesn't heat it. You can heat your milk in the microwave beforehand, but you still won't achieve the fine texture of an authentic cappuccino or latte. Still, there's a lot to love here, and even without the wand, it's still spectacular value .

Read my full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System review Ninja Prestige DualBrew System deals 249.99 179 View 249 179 View bundle 249.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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