The very best affordable coffee machines for starting the day the right way

If the idea of measuring and tamping your coffee grounds every time you fancy a brew sounds like a bit of a faff, you're better off sticking with a pod machine. This was our pick of the bunch when it came to getting maximum flavour from every capsule, and it also proved a dab hand at handling speciality pods too.

It looks great, is easy to use and gives you the ability to change the brewing temperature to suit different drinks too, which we enjoyed. There's no adjustable cup stand, and the coffee-making process slowed considerably when we tried to brew a third espresso on the trot, but those were the only complaints we could muster.

That's right, this is the first coffee machine to boast built-in Alexa, so if you fancy pumping out some tunes and shopping on Amazon while making your coffee, this one's for you. It'll even tell you if it's going to rain or shine (probably the former, let's face it, but keep the faith).

It lights up in neon as it heats up, adding even more techy fun, and our tester found it easy to program their coffee preferences. It poured bang-on shots to boot.

Kitchen appliances can be a bit snore in colour, so we like that this neat little lad comes in pastel blue and jolly red, as well as the ubiquitous black and white. It's also compact enough to fit into the most, ahem, 'bijou' of kitchens, so if you've not got acres of counter space, snap him up in the sale.

Programming custom drinks volumes is a breeze and the espresso stand folds up when life calls for a bigger cup of joe. Sure, it takes nearly a minute to heat up, but it pours good coffee at a bargain price, so waiting's no biggie.

If patience is a virtue you very much don't possess when it comes to making your morning coffee, you need this super speedy whizkid in your life. Our tester was sipping their shot a rapid 41 seconds after powering it up, and they found it as simple as it possibly could be to use.

Just one word of warning, because alas, nothing this reasonably priced is perfect: you can't adjust the two drinks sizes, and the double espresso preset pours nearly 50ml more volume than it says it will. So, be thirsty before you press that button.

This Smeg machine's retro design casts back to the '50s… and we love it. You'll need a sizeable space on your kitchen counter to house it though, as the body is particularly deep.

If you prefer a darker roast, the Lavazza pods give a great ashy flavour, and the machine has the ability to pull multiple shots at once, making it a solid option if you often find yourself hosting guests. It also comes with a few eco pods to try, which is a nice touch, and means you can get brewing straight away.

Unless you've got a flourishing career as a "transponster", the idea of splashing thousands of pounds on a coffee machine is enough to raise an eyebrow or two. Fortunately, this Beko model delivers great drinks for less than £100. Granted, you don't get all the fancy features a four-figure investment might buy you, but it still makes technically great espressos.

The drinks were quick to pour, heated to the correct temperature and boasted a thick robust crema (the lighter, frothy, flavourful layer on the top of an espresso). Frothing milk was a doddle too, thanks to the steam wand, though it did drip a bit after use.

While you may not want to copy Gunther's signature bleached hair any time soon, you can still feel like a barista with this sleek Breville model.

It looks like a miniature version of a coffee shop model and had our tester waxing lyrical about its "perfect" espressos. The steam wand was also adept when it came to frothing milk and non-dairy equivalents, so there's plenty for latte and cappuccino fans to enjoy.

It's a bit noisy, and you sometimes have to hold it down when removing the portafilter as the machine itself is so light, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a better espresso machine for this price when it comes to looks and taste.

If deciding between an espresso and pod machine has left you more torn than Ross at the altar then never fear, because this versatile appliance can do it all. It moonlights as a pod machine, taking both Nespresso and ESE capsules, but can also operate as an espresso machine, drawing shots from grounds.

It froths milk well too, though the stiff steam wand is a tad awkward and required a good degree of pivoting before we found a comfortable position for our cup.

As with the Lattissima, the De'Longhi Dedica packs a flavoursome punch despite its compact design. It can craft drinks from ground coffee or turn Easy Serving Espresso (ESE) pods into tasty shots, if you're short on time. It can also fill two cups simultaneously, making it a great option for couples.

The Dedica steams milk well, though you can't do this at the same time as pulling an espresso shot, making the process take a little bit longer. But, if you're willing to wait, you'll be rewarded with a delicious milky brew.

This metallic machine may look like a spare part for a Porsche, but under the hood there are some snazzy features. It can take coffee grounds and ESE pods, is refreshingly easy to use and even has a cup-warming area – sure to be appreciated this winter.

The spout dripped considerably after we used it, and we would've liked a thicker crema on our espressos, but it's well-built with solid milk-steaming abilities.

A fresh coffee can be a godsend on a groggy Monday morning, but you don't want to be waiting around for ages while it brews. We had no such problems with this Krups machine, which took just over a minute to heat up before delighting our testers with technically perfect espressos.

The steam wand was a little stubby and could've had more pressure, so steaming milk was a bit tricky. But when we found a good position, it was able to create the velvety texture we wanted. The Opio also went above and beyond with smart additional features like a storage compartment under the lid.

Purist (read as fussy) coffee drinkers step forward. This affordable bean-to-cup coffee machine features an incredible 19 different grind settings, so you can get your brew just right. While the steaming wand means you can create your own flat whites, lattes or cappuccinos too. Lovely.

However, changing the volume of coffee was a bit of a faff, and the milk frother was a little erratic, with sporadic bursts of steam. But you'll also be relieved to know that thanks to the auto-rinse function, keeping it clean is a doddle. All in all, an excellent value machine.

Invite your friends round. No, not for a brew – just to stand back and take a look at this thing of beauty. Worthy of a coffee shop counter, there's an integrated grinder with over 30 settings, and useful features such as a compartment under the drip tray for storing accessories. And it's quick to heat up and brew too.

If you like your cuppas milky, you're also in luck. The steam wand proved agile, giving milk a velvety, smooth texture. There's even a useful guide to help you get it right. However, the grinder was a little trickier, with the dosage proving inaccurate and the pre-set espresso volume a little high.

Changing the brew temperature was a little difficult too. Yes it's pricier, but this high performer is still our top bean-to-cup machine.

Not great first thing in the morning? Same. Luckily this bean-to-cup beauty has a memory function, allowing you to save your favourite brews. There's a built-in grinder – or you can use grounds, no big deal – adjustable coffee strength, a steam wand for frothing your milk, and seven pre-programmed drinks, including an espresso.

All-in-all it's an affordable gadget for bean-to-cup purists, though you can expect your milk bill to go up a tad. As the wand is a little short, you’ll have to use a little more milk than you really need to get it all nice and frothy.