It's no surprise that, as a group of pretty busy journalists, our shopping team can often be found with a coffee in hand - especially with Black Friday in our midst. And with sales and reductions dropping left, right and centre, some of our team have taken this opportunity to make use of this bargain-bagging time period and treat themselves to a brand new coffee machine.
Swapping out their usual take out latte for an at-home brew (that is just as good) is a money-saving hack that is made even jammier when you snap up a bargain on a coffee machine from Amazon to Currys to John Lewis.
Now, with our jobs quite literally being to scour the internet for the best deals on such items this Black Friday week, we thought we'd share just a few of the best deals we've spotted - and have taken full advantage of - that are ideal for the coffee lovers amongst us. If you're itching to buy now you can follow these links - De'Longhi Dedica Style, Breville Barista Max, Lavazza by Smeg, Philips L'OR, Ninja Luxe Cafe, and Melitta Filter machine.
READ MORE: Our tech experts pick the best Black Friday deals from Sky, EE and Virgin
READ MORE: I'm a fashion writer and these are my top picks from Roman's winter sale
Whether it's a coffee machine we already know and love, it's one we've been eyeing up for ages and finally took the plunge to add to our kitchen collection with a couple hundred quid knocked off, or even a tool to help you make your ideal brew. Here are a few recommendations on coffee machines our caffeine-fuelled experts are loving this Black Friday.
Eve's top pick: De'Longhi's Dedica Style, Traditional Pump Espresso Machine
Image:
Eve Rowlands)Get it here.
I've been known to wax lyrical about my beloved De'Longhi coffee machine to anyone who will listen (or read) and I have good reason to. Having lasted me about six years - and still going strong - this espresso machine, is easy to use and can make a long black, Americano, latte, flat white or cappucino. It is the ideal machine for anyone who loves a good, simple coffee.
Usually costing £229.99, the De'Longhi Dedica Style Traditional Pump Espresso Machine has been reduced on Amazon to just £149.99 - discounted by 35%. Why I love it is because it doesn't have countless buttons to create the perfect cup of Joe, nor does it grind your beans for you (I buy mine pre-ground); it has three buttons. One for a single espresso shot, one for a double espresso shot and one to prepare the steam wand (so you can whip up the frothiest or smoothest steamed milk).
If you're not used to frothing milk the barista way (with a wand), perfecting the silkiest, smoothest milk might take a few tries, but once you've nailed it, you're on track to crafted a delicious homemade latte in minutes that rivals your nearest Starbucks (or independent alternative) - and without the queue.
Coming with a coffee tamper (to ensure an evenly distributed espresso), the machine is built with a high 15 BAR pressure and thermoblock technology, which ensures the water remains at the optimum temperature to brew your ideal espresso. It has a built in water tank that's removable and holds enough liquid to make at least three mugs without the need to refill. Plus, it's a breeze to clean.
Harriet's favourite machine: Breville Barista Max
Get it at Currys or Amazon for a cheaper £299 this Black Friday
In the words of my partner I am a 'coffee fiend' - there's not a day working from home that I don't go without my mulitple cups and by 11am each day I've usually already had about three. Last year I was sent this cafe-style machine to review and I haven't looked back and have since ditched (given away) my Nespresso Vertuo pod machine.
This cappuccino, latte and espresso making machine usually costs £461 - a high price down to features likes its coffee bean grinder - but it's been reduced in the Black Friday sales to £299 - a £162 saving. There is everything you could need to make a professional barista coffee (hence the name) from the comfort of your own home...and ditch the £4.50 each cup takeaway fees too.
A tap-to-go bean grinder - you place the group handle on the lever to fill, tamp, and place under the thermocoil. With a 15 BAR pressure it keeps the temperature 'just right' to drink straight away without giving your coffee a sharp burning taste.
On the back of the model is the 2.8litre water tank which is fairly simple to take off and refil when needed. After using this for a year my one and only gripe is how tricky it can be to clean (not the inside of the machine that's easy with its self-cleaning function) but the outside stainless steel material.
Tiffany's coffee machine wish list: Lavazza A Modo Mio SMEG
I've been eyeing for a SMEG appliance for years, while mostly it's the retro 50s nostalgia that I really like, it's also the quality promise just like this Lavazza A Modo Mio SMEG coffee machine. Available in classic black and white colours, shoppers can also get limited hues like cream, beige or red - the craftsmanship of SMEG and Lavazza deliver the taste of Italy through this simple-to-use coffee pod machine.
Originally priced at £249, you can now get it at £1 - all you have to do is to complete with a Lavazza capsule subscription and set up a delivery frequency (for a minimum of eight deliveries). You will be paying £57.90, that's £1 for the Lavazza A Modo Mio SMEG machine and £56.90 for 160 coffee capsules. Alternatively, you can buy the machine at 40% off and pay £149.
I love how I could make espresso and lungo at the press of a button. It also has a small footprint that doesn't take up much space at the kitchen counter. I will definitely be getting this and testing it against my Philips LatteGo bean-to-cup machine.
Nisha's coffee machine favourite: Versuni PHILIPS L'OR Barista Sublime
Image:
Amazon)The Versuni PHILIPS L'OR Barista Sublime Coffee Machine comes with a milk frother so you can enjoy store-bought drinks in the comfort of your own home. Luckily, it is currently on sale for Black Friday. You can buy it for £45 on Amazon, down from £109.99 - an impressive saving of £64.99. It's on sale at Argos for the same price, and at Currys for £49.99.
It gives you the option to make a double espresso or two singles at the same time and is also designed to work with double and single espresso capsules and with Nespresso. It comes in a stylish black colour with white and gold accents. I was surprised at how quickly it arrived and how easy it was to put together. The model comes with a black cup that attaches to the base of the machine and is used to froth the milk. And then there’s a sieve tray that you pop into the base, which is used for excess water.
At first, I was a bit apprehensive about using it because it looks so sleek that I thought it’d be complicated to use. However, I got the hang of it pretty easily. The coffee tastes like it’s from a coffee shop - it’s blended to perfection and the warm forthy milk adds a luxurious smooth taste. This is a good purchase for your first coffee machine, as it is easy to use and relatively affordable.
Ruth's favourite machine - that's not reduced
Image:
Staff)As someone who likes to start the day with a good cup of coffee, the Ninja Luxe Cafe has seen me ditch my habit of buying takeout coffee. Instead, I've been clutching my Yeti Rambler Tumbler filled with my own coffee creations.
Picking the Ninja Luxe Cafe is a tad cheeky on my part, as it's not reduced. It only launched earlier this year and remains a hefty £549.99. If you want something similar and wish to bag a bargain, you may be better off looking at the Sage Barista Express Bean to Cup coffee machine, shoppers can currently get one for £499.95 instead of £659 at Lakeland thanks to Black Friday sales.
With the Luxe Cafe, I've found a 270g packet of whole beans (£3-£6 depending on what's on offer) last a week. My older machines all used pods and buying those would soon add up. The functionality of the machine is really good with pretty much every coffee preference covered, right down to types of milk.
Plus, the grinder delivers the right amount of freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter. This means that whatever beans you like or have to hand, you'll get the best from them.
Since first trying the machine back in September, I've yet to have a bad cup of coffee from it. This is certainly a considered purchase, but if you love a good cup and want both manual and automated functionality, it's a great machine.
Narin's all-time favourite: Melitta Filter Coffee Machine
Image:
Narin Flanders)Who says you need a fancy milk frothing, coffee tamping and grinding machine to make an excellent brew? It's certainly not a necessity, as my most-used Melitta filter coffee machine and thermal jug machine proves - which basically gives you freshly brewed (and most importantly hot) coffee on tap through the day.
The smaller model I have is currently out of stock, although Amazon has reduced it's bigger 1.25 litre sibling to £99, down from its original £124.99 for Black Friday season. What's more, if you want an ever cheaper offer models from the likes of Swan have been reduced to just £22.99 and have great reviews - to the extent I'm seriously considering one as a gift for a family member who shall remain anonymous.
This compact gadget was bought as a gift for my husband last Black Friday as it ditched the need for him to stand in a cold kitchen and wait for the coffee to brew each morning. The Melitta has a timer so you can set it up the night before, put your filter in, add coffee, pour water in the reservoir and set a time for it to brew in the morning.
Literally waking up to the smell of fresh coffee in the morning remains, a year on, something that brings great joy. While it might not be the most glamorous looking deal we talk this Black Friday, or even one with the biggest discount, for me it's going to be a tough one to beat.
English (US) ·