It takes a snappy thirty seconds to pre-heat and it’s quick to deliver drinks once it’s up and running, too. The coffee it produces is rich and delicious, but you don’t get much customisation, and obviously there’s no steam wand or milk frother. There’s also a container for beans, and one for ground coffee (you fill it one scoop at a go), so you can do decaf and caffeinated coffees with no stress.

Speedy to set-up and simple to use, its capsule holder operates smoothly at the lightest touch and a wide range of cup sizes can fit under the spout. Clever design always scores points from our testers; in the case of this machine, they loved the space-saving ability to change the position of the water tank. It’s the perfect compromise for big families who still want fresh coffee in the morning, least of all because the pre-set timer actually means you can set your coffee to be ready before getting out of bed.There is, however, little point in asking Alexa to start making your coffee; you have to manually pop the pod in, so you may as well push the button. This isn’t the machine for you if you want to get deep into crafting coffees and really geek out over grinds and extraction. Grinding is a tad noisy (and can’t be avoided, as this machine doesn’t take ground coffee) but it’s quick, consistent (as evidenced by the grounds) and the brewing process itself is relatively quiet. Yes, it’s heart-stoppingly expensive but be assured, this machine’s beauty is much more than skin-deep. We were looking for how easy each coffee machine was to use, how easy they were to clean, how much space they took up in our small kitchens and how easy they were to maintain.

However, it feels lighter and more plasticky than more expensive machines, and its performance can’t quite keep up with the models above. Milk is done via a container on the side, and steams and froths it so you don’t have to worry about barista training on this machine.There’s clever tech under the bonnet that automates the correct pressure, time and temperature of water every time, so you get consistently delicious espresso without too much effort. The coffee is simple to make: simply slide the lever on the pod cylinder to the right to open it, pop a vertuo pod in, close and press the button on top to go.

The statement handle locks in the Lavazza pods and this is a versatile shape, as many independent roasteries sell compatible alternative roasts.Designed to demystify the process of making espresso at home, this machine offers value for money and proves that good things come in small packages. Some come with milk frothers, which produce an aerated foam that’s more bubbly than the type you’d get from a steam wand.

As someone who enjoys coffee but hates messing around with every setting (sorry espresso aficionados), it’s a lifesaver. Dual-height drip trays: To accommodate both espresso cups and standard cups or mugs without letting espresso splash out. Weighing your coffee will mean you get consistently good coffee – rather than relying on a tablespoon or eyeballing. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. There are lots of customisable presets to try, with options to adjust the extraction, milk texture and temperature, and it heats up in 11 seconds for a speedy caffeine hit the minute you wake up.You get three options for drink size (ristretto, espresso and lungo), as well as buttons for adjusting the water temperature and selecting the frothiness of the steamed milk. We also liked the small footprint of this machine – for a bean-to-cup machine it didn’t take up too much space on our kitchen counter. We are certainly not quite barista level, but we found we were able to create fantastic coffees on this machine – wowing ourselves and passing visitors.