Cat Ellis

Cat Ellis

Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor, covering smart home tech, kitchen appliances, vacuums, haircare and more. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, having worked on print magazines including PC Plus and PC Format, and is a Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) certified barista. Whether you want to invest in some smart lights, find your ideal hair styler, or pick the espresso machine of your dreams, she's the right person to help.

Articles by: Cat Ellis

Person removing drawer of vegetables from Ninja Crispi Dual Zone Air Fryer

The Ninja Crispi air fryer is now twice as good, with a DualZone model that can cook two different foods at once

By Cat Ellis Published

Choose two different cooking settings, and sync the two zones so your whole meal is ready at the same time.

Split image of IKEA Dubbelkisel driver on pink background, and IKEA spotlights in wardrobe full of clothes

IKEA just launched a Matter-enabled driver that makes your integrated cabinet lights part of your smart home

By Cat Ellis Published

The Dubbelkisel lighting driver connects IKEA's integrated lights to the Dirigera smart home hub, and is Matter-enabled to give you even more options.

The Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp shines a multicoloured aurora effect onto a slanted ceiling.

The best smart lights in 2026: smart lighting for every home

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated We've tested the best smart light bulbs and light panels from all the big brands including Philips Hue and Nanoleaf.

Philips 2300 Series espresso machine on white table against pink wall

As a trained barista, this $200-off Philips espresso machine is my top pick at Amazon’s Labor Day sale

By Cat Ellis Published

The Philips LatteGo 2300 Series makes preparing perfect coffee a piece of cake, with a particularly clever and hygienic milk frothing system.

Philips Hue smart light

What's next for Philips Hue? Executive Marco Merolla says AI will change 'the way you can enjoy the system and create beautiful things'

By Cat Ellis Published

Accessibility isn't just about price — it's about compatibility, and opening up new options to users.

WinBot W2 Omni cleaning window

This little robot window-cleaner is the best labor-saving device I've ever used, and it's going cheap at Amazon right now

By Cat Ellis Published

There's an Ecovacs Winbot for every home, and they get even filthy windows sparkling with no effort on your part.

Govee Sky Ceiling Light installed in room

Govee takes on Philips with smart ceiling light looks just like a skylight, and shifts colors depending on the time, weather — and even your mood

By Cat Ellis Published

Philips wowed us with its realistic skylight earlier this year, but how does Govee's version compare?

Breville the Juice Fountain cold juicer

The best juicer: tested for juice yield, smoothness, and ease of use

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated Our expert team have juiced buckets of produce to bring you this list of the very best centrifugal and cold press juicers around.

Philips Hue smart light

‘You can really unleash a lot of creativity’: Philips Hue founder George Yianni explains why its AI upgrades will be genuinely useful and 'a bit of a game changer'

By Cat Ellis Published

The brand's founder and CTO explains why artificial intelligence and home lighting are a perfect fit, and what he's most excited about next.

Philips Hue smart light

No HDMI needed — Philips Hue's new camera-based Screen Sync system works with any source, including your TV's native streaming apps

By Cat Ellis Published

Philips Hue Play Screen Sync lets you synchronize your smart lights with content from any source, including your smart TV's native streaming apps.

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Split image showing woman controlling smart lights with her phone and pendant lights illuminated blue

Philips Hue bulbs are going cheap at Amazon right now — and I'm using these rare discounts to finally finish my living-room setup

By Cat Ellis Published

It's the right time to stock up on Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulbs, and there are huge saving on outdoor lights too.

Air fryer with drawer open showing cooked fries, and close-up of fries and chicken nuggets in air fryer

The best small air fryers 2026: our favourite space-saving air fryers

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated Top-rated compact air fryers that are perfect when you're cooking for one or two people.

Split image of three home security cameras

The best home security cameras: indoor, outdoor and subscription-free cams

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated We've tested masses of security cameras in our own homes to bring you this guide to the very best.

People's hands adjusting Hive Thermostat (left) and Google Nest Learning Thermostat, which are number four and number one in our guide respectively

The best smart thermostat 2026: the easy way to make your heating more efficient

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated We've tested the best smart thermostats from top brands to find the smartest ways to heat and cool your home.

Split image showing mug of milk foam, milk in electric milk frother, and a latte with a heart on top

Want delicious lattes the easy way? I'm a certified barista, and these are the top 3 milk frothers I recommend for perfect results every time

By Cat Ellis Published

Whether you prefer dairy or plant-based milk, an electric milk frother is your shortcut to perfect cappuccinos and lattes.

Woman holding red Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan

From styling your hair to drying your socks — 5 ways to use your portable fan in between heatwaves

By Cat Ellis Published

Don't toss your fan in a drawer when the temperature eventually starts to drop a little — it can do so much more than just keep you cool.

Split image of coffee beans in hopper, coffee maker dispensing espresso, and control panel on espresso machine showing options for cold brew, espresso, and steam

I'm a certified barista, and these are my 3 favorite small coffee machines that deliver delicious espresso without dominating your kitchen

By Cat Ellis Published

I test over a dozen coffee makers every year, and these are the 3 best compact models I recommend for cafe-quality espresso every time.

Split image of fries cooked in air fryer, front view of Ninja air fryer, and steak being cooked in air fryer with heat probe

The best air fryers 2026: from cooking for one to feeding a crowd

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated From crispy chips to roast chicken, we've cooked with every air fryer in this guide to help you find the right one for your kitchen.

Sliced cucumber in food processor, food processor containing berries, and grated carrot in food processor

The best food processors 2026: 6 tried and tested machines for easier food prep

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated We've tested the best food processors for every kind of cook, whether you need a compact model for quick prep or a powerful all-rounder for more demanding jobs.

Lavazza Jolie Evo coffee maker on kitchen counter with espresso cups and saucers

Lavazza's A Modo Mio Jolie Evo is the tiniest coffee machine I've ever tested, and brews a delicious espresso — but there's one sustainability catch you should know about

By Cat Ellis Published

Recommended

Lavazza's A Modo Mio Jolie Evo is a super compact espresso machine, and very reasonably priced, but its plastic capsules are harder to recycle than I'd like.

Panasonic bread and ice cream maker with selection of ice creams and bread

Panasonic's new gadget is a bread maker that also churns ice cream — I went hands-on with the wild two-in-one appliance, and the results were seriously tasty

By Cat Ellis Published

I've tested a lot of multi-function kitchen appliances, but never one as strange as this — so how well does it actually work?

A man pours foamed milk into a double espresso.

Your daily coffee is over 90% water, and tap water could be ruining your best beans — experts explain how to choose the right filter to unlock the full flavor

By Cat Ellis Published

I spoke to water-quality experts to find out what I should look for when choosing a water filter to upgrade my coffee-making experience.

Nespresso Verto capsules, machine dispensing espresso into cup, and Nespresso Original capsule in machine

The best Nespresso machines 2026: capsule coffee makers worth your kitchen counter

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated Nespresso Original and Vertuo machines tested and recommended by an SCA-certified barista.

Split image of three Dyson products

"We’re not hiding how things work, we’re expressing it" — I sat down with Jake Dyson to talk radical product design, and why your favorite vacuum and hair dryer look like nothing else on the planet

By Cat Ellis Published

I spoke to Chief Engineer Jake Dyson about the company's unique designs, and why it's not afraid to break the mold

Split image of Dreo fan in reviewer's home and promotional image of Meaco air conditioner in bedroom

9 tips to get more from your fan or air conditioner — air quality experts on how to keep your whole home cool without spiking your energy bill

By Cat Ellis Published

Interview I asked three air-quality experts how to optimize your fan and portable AC this summer to keep your home cooler without spiking your energy bill.

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