I'm a trained barista, and these are the top 3 budget-friendly coffee makers I recommend for cafe-quality drinks at home, from De'Longhi, Ninja and Philips

Takeout drinks have never been more expensive, so skip the coffee shop and brew your own at home

by · TechRadar

Features By Cat Ellis published 3 May 2026

(Image credit: Future)

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I'm TechRadar's resident coffee expert and trained barista, and I've put together a list of three affordable coffee makers to help you break your expensive takeout latte habit. I've personally tested each of these machines, and would happily recommend any one of them to my family and friends.

If you buy takeaway coffee regularly, you'll have noticed your caffeine habit becoming increasingly expensive. As Acorns Coffee Roastery notes, the price you pay at a coffee shop is influenced by factors including climate pressures and growing shipping costs, all of which filter down to your wallet.

Buying your own coffee maker is a smart choice, and if you pick the right model, it could save you a lot of cash in the long term . All the options here offer exceptional value for money and, if you regularly grab a latte on the way to work, will quickly pay for themselves.

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1. Philips Baristina

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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)

I test a lot of coffee machines, but the little Philips Baristina is my favorite of 2026 so far. It offers the convenience of a bean-to-cup machine with the easy cleanup of a manual espresso machine, and it isn't expensive either.

Bean-to-cup espresso machines are great for beginners — just tap a button and your favorite drink will be stood before you, ready to drink in just a couple of minutes — but they have two key drawbacks. The first is the price, which is usually several times that of a manual machine. The second is the amount of cleanup required between drinks and at the end of the day. Since all the grinding and brewing happens inside a typical bean-to-cup machine, you'll need to dedicate considerable time to cleaning stray coffee grounds and moisture to avoid mold and keep things fresh.

With the Baristina, neither are a problem. Not only is it the cheapest bean-to-cup machine I've used, it's also the easiest to clean because it uses a portafilter and basket just like a manual coffee maker. Just load the hopper with beans, fill the water tank, place the filter handle underneath, and slide it to the right. The Baristina will grind the perfect dose of coffee directly into the filter basket, tamp it down, then slide the handle to the left and begin brewing. It's an ingenious system — and when it's done, cleanup is just a matter of running a little hot water through the brew group, wiping out the filter basket, and emptying the drip tray. There's no need to remove panels or reach inside anything with a cloth.

Of course, that ease of use would mean nothing if the Baristina didn't brew good coffee, but it does that well, too, sustaining the steady temperature and pressure necessary for consistent results.

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