Princess Capsule Coffee Maker

Product Information

If and when Illy rolls out pod recycling in the UK, as it has done abroad, this could become one of the best machines all round. The products or services listed have been selected independently by journalists after hands-on testing or sourcing expert opinions. Pod (or capsule) coffee machines tend to be looked down upon by espresso enthusiasts, but they are the easiest and most convenient way to make coffee at home.

We loved that this machine offered the convenience of a pod machine with the chance to be creative and a bit extra with making our coffee just the way we like it. Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. 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.

From flat whites to cappuccinos, lattes, long coffee and even herbal teas – the Miele machine can make everything pretty much. If personalising your drinks is important to you, then look out for machines with options to adjust drink sizes, temperature and coffee strength.

Many third-party brands are working to make compostable alternatives more widely available and for a cheaper rate. Key specs – Pod type: Nespresso classic; Drink sizes: Three (Ristretto, espresso, lungo); Bar pressure: 19; Water tank capacity: 1. Brew your favourite coffee drinks with L'OR Barista System - Enjoy a ristretto, espresso, lungo and more with L'OR Espresso single shot capsules or double your pleasure thanks to the exclusive L'OR Barista double shot capsules. Despite there not being a huge range of capsules to choose from, the selection is nicely varied and most are from recognisable brands such as Kenco, Costa, L’Or and Cadbury’s.Yes, I would like to receive regular personalized communications about L'OR including its products, offers, and surveys. Simply pop your chosen pod into its designated slot, close the lid to pierce it and wait while water is pushed through the grounds, extracting the coffee. They found the lever to open the capsule holder very stiff, and the machine quite noisy, but ease and precision is the name of its game – you’ll enjoy the exact coffee you desire every time.

It comes with a wide range of accessories: a milk jug and ‘razor’ tool for levelling coffee in the portafilter, along with four filters for both freshly ground and pre-ground coffee. With 19 bars of pressure, the L'OR BARISTA Philips coffee machine will create an espresso like a barista, which you can enjoy at home. If fuss-free functionality is what you’re after, look to this basic yet affordable appliance that ticks all our user-friendly boxes; think clear instructions, compact size, intuitive controls and a rapid 20-second heat-up time.This machine also only has a hopper for one coffee at a time, so you cannot switch between two types of coffee, such as decaf and caffeinated.

It can make two coffees at once and has “Thermoblock” technology designed to keep it at a consistent temperature, but I did find that on occasion this machine took a while to heat up and then re-heat between making drinks.It’s easy to turn on simply by pressing your coffee button of choice and has an auto-shut off feature after one minute to save energy.