'Ex-Starbucks barista picks under £100 Nespresso and Tassimo coffee machines'

From Tassimo, Nespesso and De'Longhi, former Starbucks barista Eve Rowlands shares three brilliant under £100 coffee machine deals to help kickstart your morning
For those who need (or want) a coffee in order to feel remotely awake in the morning, be it out of ritual, placebo effect or just for the taste, having an espresso machine at home can be a total game changer. Plus, it can also prove monumental for the old bank balance, especially if the norm is picking up a take-out latte on the way to work at an average cost of £3.60 each.
often, investing in a decent, well-built coffee machine costs hundreds of pounds and while the savings in the long run may be worth it, we can't all drop £500 on a kitchen gadget. Thankfully, there are a number of affordable options on the market that won't be too painful to snap up with many costing less than £100.
Now of course, they aren't quite as high tech as say the £549.99 Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine, which has all the bells and whistles an ex-coffee shop barista (me) would absolutely adore in their kitchen but the De'Longhi, Nespresso, and Tassimo sales are proving worthwhile.
But I have found three that do a pretty decent job of providing a good-tasting cup of coffee that's easy to make and could be mistaken for a take out flattie, and without half the hassle. Plus, they're all under £100. Taking into consideration ease of use, time efficiency and accessibility, my picks are below.
As a bit of self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur and home coffee making expert as an ex-Starbucks barista, I do have some good authority on the matter.
De'Longhi Manual Coffee Machine Stilosa - £99
As a firm fan of De'Longhi coffee machines (my beloved Dedica Style has lasted me over 5 years and is still going strong), I can attest that this Italian company knows a thing or two about making good espresso-crafting gadgets. While this Stilosa model is on the cheaper side (on sale for £99 currently down from £126.99), it has everything needed to make great tasting coffee, whilst looking the part.
Crafted with a 15 bar pressure, it 'creates a delicious espresso with a rich aroma' and requires ground coffee to work (giving it that authentic cafe-style vibe). It comes complete with a milk frother to help create silky smooth milk for lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites and it only has a few simple buttons to work.
Made from stainless steel, it's designed to last for a long time, plus it only requires the twist of the dial on the front of the machine to work, which is easy and fast. Just wait for the green light to signal and you're good to go. Measuring at 34.3D x 20.5W x 28.5H cm, it's a relatively compact option for smaller kitchens and spaces. A side lever also kickstarts the steam wand, which is pretty easy.
With a 4.4-star rating on Amazon, the coffee machine is a hit with people who are relatively new to brewing their own coffee at home.
One person raved: "I recently bought the De'Longhi Manual Coffee Machine Stilosa EC260.CR, and it has quickly become a staple in my morning routine. This 15-bar pressure espresso machine is perfect for those who love making coffee at home but don't want to spend a fortune on a high-end machine. The Stilosa EC260.CR has a sleek cream design that fits nicely in my kitchen. It's compact yet feels solid and well-made. Setting it up was straightforward, and I was brewing my first cup within minutes.
"The coffee quality is impressive for a machine in this price range. The 15 bar pressure ensures a good extraction, resulting in rich and flavourful espresso with a nice crema. The cappuccino system works well too, producing perfectly frothed milk for lattes and cappuccinos. I've also used ESE pods with this machine, and they work seamlessly, adding convenience when I'm in a rush." They added how they enjoyed the two-tier tray (perfect for different-size cups) and the auto shut-off. The only qualm? "The only minor downside is that the machine can be a bit noisy when brewing, but this is a small trade-off considering the quality of coffee it produces."
Tassimo's Finesse Friendly – Black & 'The Favourites' Coffee Bundle - £49.99
For a simpler approach to making a coffee in the morning - without half the mess that bean-to-cup machines have - a pod-style coffee machine is a great choice. Bosch's Tassimo Finesse Friendly machine has been reduced by 58% and instead of costing £119.74, it's down to £49.99.
Coming with five packs of T-DISC pods, the coffee machine has a one-touch operation to help create coffee for the whole family with just one press of a big button. Doesn't get much easier than that. Despite it looking relatively plain, the coffee it delivers (as the reviews depict) is not to be snuffed at.
The brand explains: "The FINESSE FRIENDLY is powered by our cutting-edge INTELLIBREW™ smart technology, which ensures that every cup is brewed to perfection. Specifically designed with a unique barcode system, this innovative coffee machine calibrates your drink for the ideal size and temperature, guaranteeing a consistently delightful experience. Craving a more robust flavour? The FINESSE FRIENDLY features our exclusive IntensityBoost function, allowing you to enjoy a stronger, more intense brew whenever you desire."
Basically, for those who love a good brew but don't have the patience to measure out coffee, tamp it and then filter it through, this is a great little machine that is compact and does the job well. Of course, there's no option to froth milk, but by snapping up a separate device, like this Lavazza Easy Frother, £69, it's easy to craft a delicious latte in minutes.
A keen Tassimo lover shared that this machine was the best model yet and said: "We have bought 3 Tassimo coffee machines and this one is the best. Drinks are hotter. The machine is sleeker."
With this nifty little package too, shoppers will get a number of different drinks options (with pods) that include Milka Hot Chocolate, L'OR Espresso Fortissimo, Costa Cappuccino, L'OR XL Intense and L'OR Latte Macchiato.
Get it here.
NESPRESSO Vertuo Pop - £79
Just like the Bosch machine, this Nespresso Vertuo is another one for those who want a quick and mess-free coffee experience. Requiring coffee pods to run - the only downside being it's only compatible with Nespresso Vertuo pods - this coffee machine (which is down from £99 on the Nespresso website) is a little more high tech as it can be used in conjunction with the brand's Nespresso app which shares alerts for when it needs cleaning/descaling as well as providing tips.
A compact size that looks sleek on any kitchen countertop, it's also been praised for being easy to clean and comes in an array of different colours - my personal favourite is the Mango yellow.
One recommended by our own Laura Mulley, the coffee machine has been hailed as the 'best' home gadget by her (after testing out three different models).
Here's what she said: " If you're a coffee connoisseur, you'll love the brews that the Vertuo makes; they are, in my opinion, far superior to the original machine. It's also handy to just have one button to press instead of selecting your size, and the machine slides the used pod back into the empties bucket in a very slick and satisfying way.
"I had previously tried the smaller Vertuo Pop (currently also hugely reduced) and I initially didn't see why the bigger device could be better, but little things like the adjustable cup tray and bigger compartment for used pods did actually make a difference.
"The biggest downside to the Vertuo machines is that you can only use Vertuo pods, which are currently only available through Nespresso. These are more expensive, and non-compostable – although I've bought this nifty little £12.99 device so I can recycle them at home."

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