'Tiny brewers that pack a punch' — I test kitchen appliances for a living, and these are my top 3 compact coffee makers for small spaces | Tech Radar

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'Tiny brewers that pack a punch' — I test kitchen appliances for a living, and these are my top 3 compact coffee makers for small spaces

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Want a coffee maker, but not sure whether you have the space? Worry not, there are lots of great quality options that can brew exceptional espresso, and only take up a tiny sliver of space on your kitchen counter. I test new coffee makers every month here at Tech Radar, and here I've put together a roundup of the three best tiny brewers that pack a punch.

I've included something for everyone, whatever your level of brewing experience: a manual coffee maker if you want to hone your barista skills, a fully automatic option that does all the work for you, from bean to cup, and a capsule machine for those times when you just want a coffee right away, with no fuss.

These compact coffee makers are all very reasonably priced as well, and prove that you don't have to splash out serious cash to make great-tasting espresso.

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This tiny De'Longhi espresso maker has pride of place in my kitchen — here's why

The Philips Baristina is the most compact and affordable bean-to-cup coffee maker I've tested, but it doesn't skimp on quality. Stylish and well made, it proves that big flavor comes in small packages, and is particularly good choice for anyone thinking of making the switch from coffee pods to whole beans.

It uses what Philips calls a "one-swipe" system. Push the portafilter handle into place, choose your drink (espresso or lungo, the latter of which has twice as much water) and the Baristina will measure, grind, tamp, and then extract it for you. It's incredibly easy, and practically mess-free. When the Baristina is done, just remove the portafilter handle, tap out the puck of used coffee, and give the filter basket a clean.

It's easy to love this little coffee maker, and it worked perfectly during my tests. The only real downside is that, unlike pricier espresso machines, it doesn't let you adjust the grind size. That means you can't adjust the extraction rate, so if your coffee tastes over- or under-extracted, you'll just have to try a different coffee bean until you find one that works.

There's no steam wand here either, but if you're fond of a latte you can pick up the Baristina bundled with a standalone milk frother. Overall, it's an excellent compact coffee maker that's affordable, makes consistently great coffee, and is a total breeze to use. Highly recommended.

Another of my favorite compact coffee makers, the De'Longhi Dedica Duo is the right machine if you're willing to try honing your own barista skills, and want a manual espresso machine rather than an automatic one.

The Dedica Duo is super affordable, with a list price of $299.95 / £279.99, and you can often find it even cheaper if you shop around (you'll find all today's best prices listed below). Most espresso machines in this price bracket are quite poorly made and deliver inconsistent results, but De'Longhi has a reputation to maintain, and the little Dedica Duo is just as solid and reliable as any of the company's premium coffee makers.

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This tiny De'Longhi espresso maker has pride of place in my kitchen — here's why

All the components are high quality, and unlike most compact espresso machines, the Dedica Duo can achieve and maintain the steady pressure necessary to extract your coffee properly and consistently. It has an excellent steam wand too, and although the machine's boiler is small, it generates enough steam to create perfect microfoam with dairy or plant-based milk.

The 'Duo' part of the name refers to the ability to make cold-extracted espresso, and the little Dedica does this extremely well too. Cold extraction takes longer than hot because the flavor compounds in coffee don't dissolve as readily in cool water, but the results are worth the (brief) wait — smooth and well-rounded. I loved using this cute compact coffee maker, and I think you will too.

If you're looking for a compact capsule coffee maker, Nespresso might be the first name that comes to mind, but it's not your only option. Lavazza also makes some excellent pod-based brewers, and its collaboration with the Italian appliance gurus at Smeg is my favorite.

Not only does it looks great (naturally for anything bearing the Smeg brand), it makes delicious espresso quickly, easily, and remarkably quietly. Just drop in the pod, wait a few seconds while the machine pierces it about 22 times (I counted) and forces hot water through, then enjoy.

This Smeg collab uses Lavazza's own A Modo Mio capsules. These come in a variety of types and roasts, but you won't find any added flavors or powdered milk here; all the capsules are roasted, ground coffee and nothing else. That's just fine with me — I find that flavored coffee pods often taste a little strange — and these capsules are very reasonably priced. They're compostable too, though you'll have to take them to a special drop-off point. If you want something you can compost at home, scroll back up to the Philips Baristina, which takes whole beans.

Like the Baristina, the Smeg/Lavazza machine only prepares espresso — there's no steam wand or milk system, so if you want a cappuccino then you'll need a separate milk frother. The Smeg Mini Milk Frother, which I tested last year, would be ideal, and comes in the same colors as the Lavazza machine, so you can pick one that matches.

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Cat is Tech Radar's Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. 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 or pick up a new espresso machine, she's the right person to help.

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Key Takeaways

• 'Tiny brewers that pack a punch' — I test kitchen appliances for a living, and these are my top 3 compact coffee makers for small spaces

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• Want a coffee maker, but not sure whether you have the space

• I've included something for everyone, whatever your level of brewing experience: a manual coffee maker if you want to hone your barista skills, a fully automatic option that does all the work for you, from bean to cup, and a capsule machine for those times when you just want a coffee right away, with no fuss

• These compact coffee makers are all very reasonably priced as well, and prove that you don't have to splash out serious cash to make great-tasting espresso