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

Split image of three cooling fans

The 4 best super-quiet fans to help you sleep comfortably this summer — tried and tested by experts

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Quiet and effective fans to help you avoid sweaty, sleepless nights — all tested and rated by our team of home-tech experts.

Split image of three home security cameras

Blink cameras are super cheap for Prime Day, but these 5 subscription-free alternatives are just as good — and deeply discounted too

By Cat Ellis Published

Blink security cameras are excellent, but their features are very limited without a subscription so take a good look at these great value alternatives.

Split image of Ninja coffee maker, Ninja air fryer, and Ninja ice cream maker

The 5 best Ninja appliances to upgrade your kitchen this summer — make perfect burgers, slushies, ice cream, and much more

By Cat Ellis Published

Ninja is one of the biggest names in food prep, and for good reason. Here's our pick of the very best to upgrade your kitchen this summer.

Split image of two Nespresso capsules inside coffee makers, and a Nespresso machine dispensing espresso

I'm a trained barista, and these are the top 5 Nespresso machines I'd recommend to anyone — all with Prime Day savings

By Cat Ellis Published

Making great espresso doesn't have to be a hassle — I've hand-picked my five top Nespresso machines, all of which are going cheap for Amazon Prime Day.

Split image of three different video doorbells

Ring doorbells are going cheap for Prime Day, but these 5 subscription-free alternatives could cost you less in the long run

By Cat Ellis Published

Get all the features you'd expect from a premium video doorbell, without having to pay a monthly fee.

Split image of two smart locks, and app interface for unlocking a third lock

The 3 top smart locks for easy installation and peace of mind, tested and trusted by home tech experts

By Cat Ellis Published

Smart home security doesn't have to be complicated — these top-rated locks are easy to install, simple to use, and will give you peace of mind.

Two coffee makers on marble kitchen counter with various coffee drinks, sugar cubes, and pastries

The Ninja Luxe Café Pro is on sale for Prime Day, but this five-star De'Longhi coffee maker is even better with 43% off

By Cat Ellis Published

We gave the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo a full five stars, and Amazon has knocked 43% off the price for Prime Day.

Split image of three home security cameras installed outdoors

The top 5 subscription-free home security cameras, tested and recommended by home tech experts

By Cat Ellis Published

These home security cameras will provide protection and peace of mind without tying you into an extra payment plan for storage and advanced features.

Split image of latte made using Breville coffee maker, Breville coffee maker dispensing espresso, and brew settings on Breville coffee maker

The top 3 Breville coffee makers I'm looking out for on Amazon Prime Day as a trained barista

By Cat Ellis Published

Whether you prefer espresso or drip coffee, there's a Breville coffee maker for you, and I'm expecting some deep Prime Day discounts.

Split image of two De'Longhi coffee makers, and an espresso using a third De'Longhi coffee maker

I'm a qualified barista, and these are the top 3 De'Longhi coffee makers I'll be looking for on Amazon Prime Day

By Cat Ellis Published

De'Longhi makes some of the best coffee machines around, and I'm expecting some deep discounts on them this Prime Day

Philips Baristina Latte coffee maker with coffee drinks on kitchen counter

I've never been so excited for a coffee maker — the Philips Baristina just got a huge upgrade with an integrated smart steam wand for perfectly foamed milk

By Cat Ellis Published

The new Philips Baristina Latte has a smart milk system that lets you pick the right texture at the turn of a dial, and works with both plant and dairy.

Ground coffee in portafilter, automatic espresso machine dispensing espresso, and caffe latte in glass cup

The best coffee maker 2026: espresso and filter made easy

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated Coffee makers you can rely on for consistently great results, whatever your preferred brew style.

Philips Baristina espresso machine

The Philips Baristina is one of the best coffee makers I've ever used, and it's half price at Amazon right now — who needs Prime Day?

By Cat Ellis Published

The Baristina makes brewing coffee with fresh beans as easy as using Nespresso pods, and you don't need to be a Prime subscriber to get this epic deal.

Collection of coffee-making accessories spread out on a marble countertop

Don't wait for Amazon Prime Day — I'm a trained barista and I've scouted out 15 great deals on coffee-making essentials you can grab right now, from $4

By Cat Ellis Published

Now's the time to restock your coffee corner with super cheap filter papers, cleaning solutions, barista towels, and much more.

Lavazza Tabli coffee maker with milk frother and pods

Want the convenience of a single-serve coffee maker without the waste? Lavazza's new all-coffee pucks could be exactly what you're looking for — with one small caveat

By Cat Ellis Published

The company's new compressed coffee tablets have no individual packaging, though bear in mind that the box is still wrapped in plastic film.

T3 Afar hair dryer folded, with card bundled and nozzle detached

This travel hair dryer is so good, I gave away my full-size one and never looked back

By Cat Ellis Published

Mini dryers aren't just for vacations — pick the right portable and you'll want to use it every day.

Split image of Ezviz peephole camera installed in door, and footage captured by the camera in the Ezviz app

I installed this brilliant peephole camera in 10 minutes, and it's a great subscription-free alternative to a video doorbell for renters and apartment-dwellers

By Cat Ellis Published

If you live in an apartment or rented house, this clever little camera gives you all the best features of a video doorbell without damaging your door.

KitchenAid KF4 espresso machine with coffee drinks on kitchen counter

The KitchenAid KF4 brews a beautifully balanced espresso thanks to its Intelligrind system, but its iced drink menu left me cold

By Cat Ellis Published

KitchenAid's latest fully automatic coffee maker is extra compact and makes an excellent espresso, though its 'iced' drinks leave something to be desired.

Aeropress manual coffee grinder

AeroPress has made the best manual coffee grinder I've ever used — and it's not even close

By Cat Ellis Published

This premium portable grinder doesn't just look great, it also grinds beautifully, however you prefer to make your coffee

KitchenAid KF4 espresso machine evaporating water from system

I test a lot of espresso machines, but the new KitchenAid KF4 has one of the smartest features I've ever seen — and it'll stop your coffee maker from getting gross

By Cat Ellis Published

Automatic coffee makers can get pretty gross, but KitchenAid's latest model can evaporate all the water inside to keep itself fresh.

Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Espresso Machine on kitchen counter

Ninja just gave you a good reason to upgrade your coffee maker, with a new compact version of the Ninja Luxe Café that's perfect for small kitchens

By Cat Ellis Published

The Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus is a semi-automatic espresso machine that offers almost all the same features as its full-size counterparts, for a lower price.

A collection of portable health and wellness devices in a hotel room in a tropical location

Look and feel amazing on vacation with these travel-friendly hair dryers, stylers, red-light devices and fans — picked by TechRadar's Homes Editor

By Cat Ellis Published

Look flawless, not frazzled on your summer vacation with my pick of the best beauty gadgets for travel.

Spot+Scrub Ai robot vacuum

'Elon Musk said he thinks humanoid robots will be in many homes in three years, and I agree with him.' I sat down with Jake Dyson to hear his predictions for AI and robotics in your home — and why you shouldn't throw out your stick vac just yet

By Cat Ellis Published

Dyson's Chief Engineer says robots will be in homes within the next three years — but you shouldn't throw out your stick vacuum just yet.

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool fan in woman's hand

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is the powerful personal fan you won't want to live without this summer — and it's surprisingly reasonably priced, too

By Cat Ellis Published

Editor's Choice

Wear it, hold it, or keep it on your desk — this stylish portable fan will keep you cool anywhere your summer takes you.

Coffee beans in hopper, latte macchiato, and person's hand using bean-to-cup coffee machine

The best bean-to-cup coffee maker 2026: quick and convenient espresso machines tested

By Cat Ellis Last updated

Updated We've tested the best bean-to-cup coffee makers to find the best options from De'Longhi, Breville, Ninja, Gaggia and more.

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