Super Quick Summary:
#1 Best Espresso
 Sage – The Barista Express Grinder
Real espresso Steam wand £479.95* Read reviews |
#1 Best Manual
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#1 Best Pod Machine
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I’ve spent the year gathering, testing, and reviewing the best home barista coffee equipment in order to put together this definitive gift list.
If you’re ready to make the jump into real home espresso and your budget is £100-500, then take a look at my best espresso machine below, as well as my list of more great espresso machines. These machines are capable of true espresso i.e. the ability to control the extraction of your espresso-grind coffee beans to get that thick and rich drink and crema.
If your budget is <£100 and you’re serious about specialty coffee, then take a look at my list of best manual coffee makers. Manual coffee making is highly rewarding as you control every variable of the coffee extraction. Methods like the Aeropress prove time and time again that the quality can rival that of expensive machines!
Finally, if you’re still in the market for machines over manual but you’re on a budget, never fear! Take a look at my best pod machine of the year, as well as other great pod machines. Pod machines are great for consistency and you’ll always get the exact same brew every time. Great for quick pick-me-ups and morning routines! Just make sure you pick up a reusable coffee pod to save cost as well as unlock the ability to use any bean or grind size you want.
Also, please feel free to reach out to me if you’d like any advice at all on your coffee equipment purchase. I’d be more than happy to recommend coffee equipment personalised to your budget, type, space, giftee, and more!
Best Espresso Machine
I’m definitely biased when it comes to the Sage Barista Express. It was my first machine, and whilst my relationship with it started out as love-hate, it’s now just love!
This machine is budget-friendly when it comes to taking your first step into espresso, as this is really the minimum spend you will want if you are serious about getting into espresso.
The overall options and controls are simple – you can broadly select three temperatures, of which you should always be on the hottest.
It’s surprisingly flexible for its lack of digital controls, with in-built features like pre-infusion, custom shot times, dose control, and programmable single and double sizes.
The grinder is adjustable externally and internally so you will always be able to dial in properly.
Whilst the dial-in process can take some getting used to, this machine is definitely a “set-and-forget” experience. Once you’ve found the right grind setting, you can use the same beans over and over for consistency every time.
More Great Espresso Machines
#1 Best Seller
Sage – The Barista Express Grinder
Real espresso Steam wand £479.95* Read reviews |
5k+ bought for Christmas
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Amazon’s Choice
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1k+ bought for Christmas
 De’Longhi Machine Stilosa Great budget pick
Real espresso Steam wand £105* Read reviews |
2k+ bought for Christmas
 De’Longhi Dedica Great budget pick
Real espresso Steam wand £175.81* Read reviews |
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* approximate price – may vary depending on region, availability, and other factors.
Best Manual Coffee Maker
I’ve been using the AeroPress for many years now. It’s my go-to for travel and testing new coffee beans. It’s fully capable of creating “espresso-like” bases for milk drinks, or even full cups of black filter coffee.
Contrary to popular belief, the “press” action is not to create pressure to create espresso – it actually doesn’t create anywhere near enough pressure!
That isn’t to say the results aren’t amazing. The mechanism is designed to be a full immersion brewer (similar to a french press) with the added benefit of paper filtering to avoid “muddiness” in the resulting brew.
Immersion brewing is one of the best and most consistent coffee brewing methods as it allows the extraction to happen over a long and steady period – as opposed to espresso which relies on quick, high pressure (and therefore, a lot more variables to control making it harder to get results!)
More Great Manual Coffee Makers
#1 Best Seller
The AeroPress Great espresso alternative
Great budget pick Highly compact £34.99* Read reviews |
5k+ bought for Christmas
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Amazon’s Choice
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Fan Favourite
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* approximate price – may vary depending on region, availability, and other factors.
Best Pod Machine
Pod machines are a great pick for consistency. You’ll get the same brew every time without having to worry about the variables that espresso machines have to take into account.
It’s worth picking up a reusable pod too so you can use your own ground coffee if you want to level-up the experience. See below for the best reusable pods for each type of machine.
More Great Coffee Pod Machines
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#1 Best Seller
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5k+ bought for Christmas
 De’Longhi Piccolo XSℹ️ Dolce Gusto pods
Great budget pick Compact £29.99* Read reviews |
6k+ bought for Christmas
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1k+ bought for Christmas
 L’OR Barista Sublimeℹ️ Nespresso pods
Higher pressure for “esspresso-like” drinks £55* Read reviews |
2k+ bought for Christmas
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Essential: Reusable Coffee Pods
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* approximate price – may vary depending on region, availability, and other factors.
Reach out to me for expert advice on gifts for any budget
If you want any advice regarding your purchase, please don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be more than happy to help. Please let me know what kind of coffee equipment you are looking for as well as your budget and any other helpful details.
