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Lakeland just dropped a bean-to-cup coffee machine for under £300 – this Sage lookalike is made for anyone who loves a tidy worktop with their latte

Lakeland just dropped a bean-to-cup coffee machine for under £300 – this Sage lookalike is made for anyone who loves a tidy worktop with their latte

by | Sep 17, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Lakeland has unveiled a shiny new range of espresso machines, including a stainless steel bean-to-cup model that retails for just £299.99 (via Lakeland).

Usually, one of the best bean to cup coffee machines will set you back at least £500, especially if kitted out with a good quality milk frother. That means this own-brand Lakeland option certainly looks like a great pick if you’re on a budget (or if you’re shopping for a Christmas present for the coffee lover in your life).

Here’s a closer look at this three-machine line up, which starts at £109.99 for the most basic espresso machine option.

The two espresso machines in this line up would be a great investment for anyone who wants to try their hand at making coffees at home for the first time. Perhaps as an upgrade from one of the best pod coffee machines, they will require you to either use ground coffee or pick up one of the best grinders.

If you’re not sure what size coffee machine you’re ready to invest in, one of these affordable picks may also be a better option thanks to their small footprints. Thinking about how much worktop space you have to give up is key according to our expert’s advice on buying a coffee machine.

Lakeland espresso machines on a countertop

(Image credit: Lakeland)

For me, the real star of this line up is the Barista Deluxe Bean-to-Cup model. Given its price tag, it looks like it might be a rival to ProCook’s range of affordable machines, which have sold out on multiple occasions.

It’s a bean-to-cup model, which means you grind and tamp your grounds all within the same machine – making for a very neat and tidy worktop and a very fresh cup of coffee.

It has 30 different grind settings, so that you can play around with it depending on which type of beans you have in and ‘intelligent temperature control for consistent flavour’ according to Lakeland.

Lakeland espresso machines on a countertop

(Image credit: Lakeland)

It has a simple button interface running along the control panel at the top, but I think the overall effect is quite pleasing – especially if you’re a fan of stainless steel appliances.

My everyday coffee machine at home is the Sage Barista Express Impress (which retails for £729.95) and I’d hazard a guess that this much more affordable machine definitely provided some inspiration for this Lakeland version.

One thing that this Lakeland version lacks over Sage’s bestseller is an integrated tamping system. Instead, once you’ve ground your beans with the Barista Deluxe, you’ll then use a tamper to even them out before you pull your shot of espresso.

Both feature a manual milk wand however, unlike the Ninja Luxe Café (which I think is the best value coffee machine on the market given its features) which has automatic frothing modes.

Given the bargain price tag of these Lakeland machines, there’ll certainly be an appetite for those looking to invest in a bean-to-cup machine for a little less. Can you see the appeal in a compact all-in-one model like this?

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Lidl’s retro espresso machine is giving Smeg looks without the £500 price tag – this bargain cafe kitchen buy lands in stores this weekend

Lidl’s retro espresso machine is giving Smeg looks without the £500 price tag – this bargain cafe kitchen buy lands in stores this weekend

by | Aug 15, 2026 | Design Inspiration

‘Tis almost the season to start dreaming about your homemade pumpkin spice lattes. And while most of us are still on iced coffees, after the last heatwave of 2026 (fingers crossed!) passes us by, we can all start thinking of better and cosier things: autumn! Warm coffees, fluffy blankets, double layers and… did I say warm coffee?

If you’ve been holding out for Black Friday to invest in the best coffee machine, then you needn’t wait any longer. Just head to your local Lidl and take a browse down the Middle Aisle for yourself. Come the 16th of August, it’ll be bursting with pastel-coloured boxes. Yes: the pastel appliances are back! Think toasters, kettles, and even coffee machines, all in pretty shades of mint green and pale pink.

A simple solution for kitchen worktops that need some colour, the retro-inspired pastel coffee machine is definitely the best bargain of all, at only £49.99. Available in your choice of pink or green, this ground coffee maker also boasts a steam wand for frothing milk. Plus, it has a sizeable 1L water tank for when you’re serving multiple coffees at once.

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Landing in stores very soon, be quick to snap up yours, as when they’re gone, they won’t return for quite a while. And don’t forget: it’s never too early to think of Christmas presents…

The coffee machine comes with a 3-year guarantee. It includes a 2-in-1 coffee scoop and tamper, both coming in the box, and with only 3 buttons, it looks to be pretty intuitive and easy to clean, with a removable drip tray and water tank.

Green Swan coffee machine with coffee in mug on drip tray and milk in jug under frother

Swan’s alternative pastel coffee machine, £109 at Amazon

(Image credit: Amazon)

This Silvercrest coffee maker is not too dissimilar from Smeg’s Espresso Coffee Machine. Except the Smeg one is a mere £450 more expensive, of course.

The Smeg one does come with a host of perks for that price tag, including a cold-brew function. It is one of Smeg’s most affordable coffee machines, with the retro-style bean-to-cup Smeg Coffee costing from £599.95.

Another comparable retro-inspired coffee machine is the Swan Retro Espresso Maker, at £109.99, available in green, black, cream, or grey. Its tank is the same size as the Silvercrest model, and has a steam wand for milk frothing. You can also control its brewing temperature. The best part about it? You can use it with ground coffee or espresso (ESE) pods.

IKEA’s £5 coffee station organiser is the ultimate budget hack for clutter-free kitchen worktops – its design lends itself to stacking together easily, too

IKEA’s £5 coffee station organiser is the ultimate budget hack for clutter-free kitchen worktops – its design lends itself to stacking together easily, too

by | Jul 22, 2026 | Design Inspiration

It can be hard to strike the balance between a cluttered countertop and a well-stocked one, especially when creating a dedicated space for making tea and coffee. In my time as Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor I’ve learned one of the things that those with organised coffee stations always have is some kind of tray or organiser to curate their nook around.

And now, I’ve found a very affordable solution to do just that: enter IKEA’s £5 NÅLBLECKA organiser.

This versatile organiser is one of the brand’s new-in kitchenware gems – alongside a bargain £15 fridge system and £4 hideaway dish drainer. Here’s why it’s genius for doubling storage space either on your worktop or in your cupboards.

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The reviews accumulated for the NÅLBLECKA organiser collection show off its versatility. Of course, the flexibility of these Scandi-inspired products is the reason why so many IKEA hacks flood social media feeds every week, and with a little bit of vision even a humble £5 organiser like this one can help to switch up your space.

While one user has so far remarked that they were using it as a mug holder, another has already been using it as a method to keep loose cooking items organised.

The version with a tray on the top and bottom has a 4.8 star rating out of 5 from 496 reviews, with a whole host of reviewers saying it’s a great fit for cooking oils and jars that need to be within easy reach.

IKEA NÅLBLECKA

(Image credit: IKEA)

For a coffee station specifically, the gap underneath the £5 organiser works well as it gives space for mug stacking – especially for those oversized mugs space which need to stack together without being restricted. Up top, the tray element is a good spot for tea bags, sugar or coffee too.

If you’re stuck for space horizontally on your worktop, the legs of these organisers allow them to stack together too which is great for making the most of any vertical storage space you have.

IKEA organisers stacked together

(Image credit: IKEA)

The debate on what should be left on a kitchen worktop and what should be tidied away is always alive and well at Ideal Home towers. If there’s one thing we all agree on though, its that one of the the things that people with a tidy kitchen worktop always have is a clutter bucket or tray to collect loose items.

Of course, the NÅLBLECKA is a kind of elevated tray but if you want something more interiors-led, these are the picks I would opt for in the ultra-organised kitchen of my dreams.

Whether you opt for IKEA‘s ultra-affordable organiser or one of these alternatives, the key to a curated and less chaotic kitchen countertop is all in picking the right place to gather your must-haves. Are you all for storing things on your worktop or do you prefer to hide everything away?

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IKEA’s £5 coffee station organiser is the ultimate budget hack for clutter-free kitchen worktops – its design lends itself to stacking together easily, too

I’m over black coffee machines – De’Longhi just dropped its newest bean-to-cup machine in this summer’s prettiest kitchen appliance colour

by | Jul 16, 2026 | Design Inspiration

De’Longhi, the Italian coffee machine brand behind so many well-loved machines, have unveiled a more compact and affordable version of one of its bean-to-cup bestsellers – the Rivelia.

The brand new Rivelia Start, which is available now from De’Longhi for £599.99, is a very enticing prospect to me as Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor. Until today, I thought that its more expensive counterpart was the best bean-to-cup machine for most people after our 5 star review. But somehow, this slimmed-down model looks to have even more going for it and might just knock it off its perch. Not to mention it’s available in a gorgeous green colour, which is one of the prettiest kitchen appliance colourways I’ve seen this summer.

Here’s how the new machine compares to its predecessor and why it’s the dream machine for small kitchens.

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Let’s go back to basics and dig into why was the OG Rivelia such a hit. As stated in our expert Home Economist’s review back in 2024 it’s a coffee machine with a lot going for it. Helen, our revieiwer, described it as ‘quite possibly the best designed, nicest looking, and best performing automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine I’ve ever reviewed’ – and she’s tested plenty for us since 2022.

One of the most loved features was the dual bean hopper design. That means you can switch easily between two blends or levels of caffeine. If you enjoy a decaf in the afternoons, it’s a great thing to have. Even though the Rivelia Start cost £100 less, it’s retained this standout feature.

DeLonghi Rivelia start

(Image credit: De’Longhi)

The milk frothing system, made possible by the LatteCrema Hot attachment (which is included) that makes such delectable hot drinks with the Rivelia is present within the Start too. There are 10 café-quality drinks on offer, ‘from a velvety Flat White to a classic Espresso’ according to De’Longhi along with the ability to ‘enjoy standard-setting hot and cold creations back-to-back’.

If you want to enjoy cold drinks, like I did when I tested the phenomenal Eletta Ultra, you’ll have to invest in De’Longhi’s LatteCrema Cool Tech system separately. This will set you back £99.99 via the brand’s website. If you’re an iced latte lover, I would say this is well worth it as it provides you with a huge upgrade over just adding cold milk to your coffee. It cold froths milk perfectly so you can enjoy proper iced cappuccinos all day long and serve them up to guests.

There’s also a Cold Brew setting, which will be welcome news for those who love the taste of this smooth chilled coffee drink and a treat in the ongoing heatwaves.

DeLonghi Rivelia start

(Image credit: De’Longhi)

Compared to the Rivelia, the Start has a pared-down user interface. Rather than an interactive touchscreen, it has a panel featuring touch-sensitive illustrated buttons of each type of drink available. For most, this probably won’t be much of a factor – especially with the benefit of saving £100.

For me, the colours available with the Rivelia Start are a huge draw. Two shades are available so far, the Jade Green and Umber Brown, with more to follow in the full line-up in September.

If you’re looking for a do-it-all bean-to-cup machine that will totally wow your guests, the Rivelia Start is a phenomenal value option for this price. Within a few touches of the machine’s interface, you can have a café-worthy coffee in front of you every morning. What’s not to like?!

Ninja’s brilliant new coffee machine just launched in a fresh batch of colours, including a gorgeous jade green shade – I wish I hadn’t gotten mine already

Ninja’s brilliant new coffee machine just launched in a fresh batch of colours, including a gorgeous jade green shade – I wish I hadn’t gotten mine already

by | Jul 1, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Ninja‘s shiny new automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine is now available in an array of new colours so that you can personalise this appliance to your existing kitchen scheme.

Now available for £899.99 from the Ninja website, the AutoBarista Pro (which I’m currently testing out) has proved very popular with both fans of this ever-expanding kitchen brand and coffee lovers alike. And I expect this best bean-to-cup coffee machine in these new shades won’t be around for long before they sell out either. Here’s a look at the new colours: Midnight Blue, Oat Milk, Mocha and Vista Green.

I really like all of these colourways and think they are preferable to the standard stainless steel version, which is the one I currently have in my kitchen for testing. I find that the metal is prone to holding onto marks and fingerprints, and is more difficult to match into an existing kitchen colour scheme.

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I’m not just looking into a crystal ball when I predict these shades will be popular, either. One of the colours, Mocha, is already sold out. It’s a super delicate neutral shade that would look lovely in a black or white kitchen, so it’s no surprise it’s already been snapped up.

New ninja coffee machine colours

Ninja’s new coffee machine in stainless steel and green.

(Image credit: Ninja)

If I was choosing, I wouldn’t be able to resist this machine in Vista Green as I’ve always loved the idea of a coffee machine in an eye-catching colour. I have long pined after the De’Longhi Rivelia, which is one of the best coffee machines out there, in Jade Green. It’s an exclusive shade that you can buy directly from De’Longhi’s website for £699.99.

With these new shades, Ninja has really gone all out to colour drench the entire machine, with even the all-important milk jug and bean hopper covers available in the pastel shade of your choice. This is something we’ve seen with other Ninja colour releases recently too, including with David Beckham’s special Cotswolds-inspired machine.

Unboxing the Ninja AutoBarista Pro Coffee Machine

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of performance, I’ve been nothing but impressed with the AutoBarista so far. The choice to keep the automatic milk frothing jug over a system that uses tubes and internal systems is a good one for me and means I have the chance to practice my latte art. The hands-free nature of the coffee making process for black drinks has been a huge help for me on busy mornings too.

My full review of this ultra-capable machine is coming very soon but in the meantime I’d seriously recommend you check out the new range of colours available if you’ve been waiting to make a coffee investment for your kitchen!