The Tassimo Finesse Friendly from Bosch is a compact capsule-based coffee maker that's an affordable alternative to similar machines from Nespresso and Keurig. It works in much the same way as its rivals, accepting proprietary capsules, piercing them, and forcing hot water through to brew your drink.
Unlike some other small coffee makers, it can also brew milky drinks such as lattes if you use separate pods for the milk and the coffee, with impressive results. The downside is that these capsules (known as T-Pods) can be quite expensive, particularly for drinks with two components.
The Finesse Friendly is very simple to use and clean, with a blank disc stored in a slot at the bottom that enables a quick rinsing cycle between drinks. Its water tank is east to remove as well, though its small capacity (just 23.7oz / 700ml) means you'll be making frequent trips to the sink if you're making more than one or two drinks at a time.
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It's a well-built and likeable little coffee maker, but if you enjoy lattes regularly, you might want to consider learning to use a compact espresso machine with a manual steam wand instead. Although the initial cost will be higher, you could save money in the long run by using fresh milk for your regular brews rather than capsules. Take a look at my roundup of the best espresso machines for options at various price points.
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: specifications
Name
Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly
Type
Capsule coffee maker
Dimensions (W x H x D)
6.2 x 10.4 x 14.2 inches / 15.7 x 26.5 x 36cm
Weight
6.2lbs / 2.8kg
Water tank capacity
23.7oz / 700ml
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: price and availability
List price £89.99 (about $120 / AU$180), but often discounted
Widely available in Europe, but not in the US or Australia
T-Pod capsules can be quite expensive, depending on type
The Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly is one of the most affordable capsule coffee makers machines I’ve ever tested. It has a list price of £89.99 (about $120 / AU$180), but is frequently discounted to £49.99 (about $70 / AU$100). That’s even less than the entry-level Nespresso Vertuo Pop. You’ll find all today’s best prices below.
The downside is that although it’s widely available in the UK and continental Europe, it’s not currently sold in the US or Australia.
Although the Finesse Friendly is cheap, Tassimo capsules (known as T-Pods) can be quite pricey particularly if you prefer drinks with milk, which require two pods each. They are widely available online and from supermarkets, and include varieties from brands including Cadbury’s, Costa, Kenco, Jacobs, and L’OR.
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Prices vary widely depending on your chosen drink. For example, a pack of Costa Caramel Latte T-Pods, for example, contains enough capsules to make just eight drinks, and has a list price of £7.25 (about $10 / AU$15). Pods containing just coffee are much more affordable. At the time of writing, a bundle containing 80 Kenco Pure Colombian capsules is £21.38 (about $30 / AU$40).
Value score: 3.5/5
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: design
Compact and lightweight
Easy to clean and maintain
Water tank holds only 23.7oz / 700ml
The Tassimo Finesse Friendly is an exceptionally light and compact coffee maker, which is ideal for small kitchens and easy to tuck away in a cupboard when not in use. Its body is made using 60% recycled plastic, and is available in four colors: black, white, cream, and red. The black version I tested had a tendency to accumulate fingerprints, particularly on the matt-finish sides, but they were easily cleaned off with a damp cloth.
Its drip tray is removable for cleaning, and can be repositioned closer to the dispenser to accommodate espresso cups without splashing.
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It has a single control button, which uses colors and blinks to indicate the machine’s current status. A red light means the machine needs attention, and usually signals that the water tank is running low.
The tank is attached to the back of the machine, and is easy to remove; just angle it slightly and pull upwards. It has a maximum capacity of just 700ml / 23.7oz, so you’ll need to refill it after making two full-size drinks.
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Cleaning the Finesse Friendly is straightforward. Just remove the orange maintenance disc from the slot at the bottom of the machine, place it in the capsule holder with the barcode facing down, close the lid, and hit the brew button just as you would when preparing a drink.
The machine will rinse itself with a cupful of hot water, leaving it clean and ready to use next time. It’s also worth wiping the outside of the dispenser clean if you’ve made a drink with milk, as this has a tendency to splutter.
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The Finesse Friendly has no water filter, but is easy to de-scale when indicated by the red status light. Just fill the water tank to the line marked ‘calc’, add two descaling tablets (not provided with the machine but available online), insert the cleaning disc, place a cup under the dispenser and hold the start button for about five seconds.
Design score: 4/5
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: performance
The Tassimo Finesse Friendly is extremely simple to use. Just fill the water tank to the maximum line, pull the top of the machine upwards to open it, and place your drink capsule in the opening face-down. Push the lid closed and the light on the control button will light up orange, indicating that the Finesse Friendly is ready to start brewing.
After your drink has finished dispensing, wait until the light stops blinking orange before removing the used capsule.
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I tested the Finesse Friendly with a couple of different capsules: Tassimo Cinnamon Roll Latte (which Bosch provided with the review machine), and Jacobs Latte Macchiato (which I bought myself). Each variety came with two boxes of pods: one containing the coffee, and the other filled with long-life milk.
Although a latte macchiato is usually my coffee of choice, the cinnamon roll pods were the clear winner. Although it was definitely sweet, the drink had a more mellow flavor than many other coffee pods I’ve tried. In fact, it was so good I ended up buying a second pack.
The tiny Finesse Friendly did a particularly good job of steaming milk, producing a long-lasting layer of creamy foam. During my tests the machine had a tendency to sputter a little, and emitted quite a lot of steam once it had finished dispensing, but this had dissipated by the time the orange light stopped blinking.
In the UK, you can recycle used T-Pod capsules through Podback (a scheme that also accepts used Nespresso, L'OR and Dolce Gusto pods). You'll receive a Podback bag when you receive an order of T-Pods, and you can order more through the Podback website.
You can drop off your Podback bags in most big supermarkets, or take loose capsules to a recycling center with a Podback bin. Find your nearest drop-off point.
Performance score: 5/5
Should you buy the Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly
Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
The machine itself is very affordable, but pods for milk-based drinks can be expensive.
3.5/5
Design
Compact and light, made using 60% recycled plastic, but water tank is very small.
4/5
Performance
Heats quickly, foams milk well, and dispenses consistently tasty coffee. Easy to clean and maintain.
5/5
Buy it if
You want a coffee maker that's easy to use
Brewing coffee doesn't get much easier than this. Just add water and a pod, wait a minute, and you'll have a perfectly brewed drink every time.
You want more than just coffee
The Finesse Friendly also makes excellent hot chocolate, and there are plenty of T-Pod capsules available from brands including Cadbury's.
Don't buy it if
You drink several lattes daily
T-Pods for milky drinks can be quite expensive. They're delicious, but you'll go through a pack of capsules very quickly unless you keep them as a special treat.
You want to make drinks for a crowd
The Tassimo Finesse Friendly's small water tank will need refilling after every couple of drinks unless you're brewing short drinks like espresso.
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: also consider
If the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly isn't the right coffee maker for you, here are two alternatives to consider.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop
This is another compact pod-based coffee maker with an affordable price tag. The upgraded Pop+ has an extra large water tank, which will be useful if you want to brew drinks for a larger group, and even premium Vertuo pods work out a little cheaper than the most expensive T-Pods.
This capsule coffee maker accepts Nespresso Original capsules. Nestlé no longer owns the patent to these, so they're widely available from a huge range of coffee producers, from big chains to small independent roasters.
I used the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly in my own kitchen for three weeks, making an average of two coffees per day. I used tap water, and used the maintenance disc with the rinse program the clean the machine between each drink.
I used Tassimo Cinnamon Roll Latte and Jacobs Latte Macchiato capsules, and used the milk capsule for each drink first before dispensing the coffee through the foam. I compared the results to those from my own Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine.
ZTE has introduced a new tablet in Europe, specifically in the Polish market for now - but it might spread to other countries as well soon. Meet the ZTE Pad X1102N.
It comes with an 11-inch 1920x1200 LCD touchscreen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front camera, and a 7,670 mAh battery with support for 21W wired charging. That battery size is anything but impressive today when mainstream smartphones regularly push above that capacity.
Anyway, the Pad X1102N is powered by the Unisoc T8100 SoC, paired with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It has 5G support, four...
With the Honor Magic 8 Lite, the battery is undoubtedly the star of the show. It has the same massive 7,500 mAh capacity as the Oppo Find X9 Pro, but when combined with its lower-end energy-efficient chip, it lasts even longer. I'm not exaggerating when I say that four days on a single charge is quite easy to achieve with this phone.
The Magic 8 Lite's construction has been significantly upgraded this year, too. It now carries the highest possible IP rating, so dust and water will pose no threat, while a shock-resistant frame and reinforced tempered glass should keep it fairly safe from drops.
The phone's display is another highlight, and it ticks all the most important boxes. It's bright, has a speedy 120Hz refresh rate, supports PWM dimming, and has slim symmetrical bezels all the way around.
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Unfortunately, the Magic 8 Lite's performance isn't quite so impressive. You'll see the occasional stutter when you're going about your daily business, and you'll need to use very low graphics settings to get a playable experience in modern games.
The cameras, too, left me wanting more. Honor hasn't upgraded the camera hardware on its Magic Lite series for the last few generations, and while the main sensor on this latest model is quite good, the ultra-wide is pretty terrible.
The software won't be to everyone's taste (and it's not fully up to date), but it has some genuinely useful features, as well as some neat AI tricks that are often reserved for pricier flagship phones. I found it very easy to live with.
So, whether the Magic 8 Lite is right for you will all depend on your priorities. As a photographer and a gamer, I didn't have the greatest time with Magic 8 Lite, but not everyone is like me. Battery life is the number one concern for many users, and that's one area where the Magic 8 Lite will definitely not disappoint.
Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Price and availability
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£399 for the 512GB model
Launched in Europe on December 8, 2025
Not available in the US
The Honor Magic 8 Lite launched internationally on December 8, 2025. It's now available to order in most regions across Europe, including the UK, but as usual for Honor products, it's not launching in the US.
At the time of writing, I only have pricing for the 8GB/512GB model, which costs £399 in the UK. The previous model, the Magic 7 Lite, started with an MSRP of £399 for the 256GB model, so this is a welcome price drop.
Of course, there are plenty of other great phones around this price (the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Google Pixel 9a, for instance). However, the Magic 8 Lite manages to stand out by offering the biggest battery of the bunch, as well as capacious storage and an IP69K rating.
Value score: 4 / 5
Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Specs
Here's a look at the Honor Magic 8 Lite's key specs:
Honor Magic 8 Lite
Dimensions
161.9 x 76.1 x 7.76mm
Weight
189g
OS
MagicOS 9, based on Android 15
Display
6.79-inch OLED, 120Hz
Resolution
2640 x 1200 pixels
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4
RAM
8GB
Storage
256GB / 512GB
Battery
7500mAh
Rear cameras
108MP (f/1.75) main, 5MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide
Front camera
16MP (f/2.45)
Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Design
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Plastic frame with 6-layer drop-resistant structure
Forest Green, Midnight Black, and Reddish Brown options
IP68/IP69K dust and water-resistant
With the Magic 8 Lite, Honor has done away with the curved edges we saw on the last few generations, instead opting for a boxy design with flat siderails, which is bang on trend. While I appreciated how slim the curved edges made the Magic 7 Lite feel, the newer model feels more premium and modern.
The phone is available in three different colors: Midnight Black, Reddish Brown, and Forest Green. I have the latter in for review, and it looks lovely. The rear panel has a velvety matte feel, and the color shifts slightly when the light hits it. It's not a fingerprint magnet, either, which is often a problem with matte-finish phones.
The cameras are arranged in a centrally placed halo, just like on the previous generation, and the design reminds me of the Huawei Mate-series flagships. Love it or hate it, there's no denying it stands out from the crowd.
One of the big upgrades this year is the new IP68/69K rating for dust and water resistance. This means the phone is effectively immune to dust ingress and can withstand dunks in fresh water, as well as blasts from jets of hot water. So, if you can't resist scrolling while you take a shower, this is one of the few phones that will survive the ordeal.
The drop resistance has also been cranked up a notch. Honor reckons it'll survive drops from up to 2.5m heights, thanks to a new 6-layer drop-resistant structure that incorporates non-Newtonian fluid.
The phone still has a plastic frame, but it doesn't seem to be holding it back in terms of durability. The tempered glass coating on the screen has also been toughened; it now has a 31% deeper tempering depth to help with scratch and crack resistance.
Design score: 4 / 5
Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Display
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6.79-inch 120Hz OLED display
3840Hz PWM dimming
6,000-nit peak brightness
The Honor Magic 8 Lite now has a fully flat screen, rather than curved edges, and I much prefer it. Not only does this mean you avoid unwanted reflections and accidental edge touches, but it's also easier to find a quality screen protector.
The bezels are slimmer, too, and they're symmetrical on all sides, which gives the phone a more premium look. The pill-shaped selfie cutout is also gone, and you now get a more typical circular punch hole.
The screen is also brighter than before, able to reach a whopping 6,000 nits at peak brightness. I certainly never had any trouble seeing the display out in the sunlight.
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It's an OLED panel, and as you might expect, it delivers the deep, inky blacks and vibrant colors that the technology is known for. A 120Hz refresh rate keeps things looking smooth as you swipe around, too.
If you're concerned about eye strain, you'll be pleased to learn that the Honor Magic 8 Lite supports 3,840Hz high-frequency PWM dimming. This will help your eyes feel fresher when using the phone at low brightness levels.
Another neat feature is Honor's AI Heavy Rain Touch/Glove Touch tech. This ensures that the touchscreen continues working when others might fail, for example, when there's water on the screen. It's very useful in the British wintertime.
Display score: 4 / 5
Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Cameras
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108MP main (f/1.75)
5MP ultra-wide (f/2.2)
16MP selfie camera (f/2.45)
The Honor Magic 8 Lite has two rear cameras: a 108MP main and a 5MP ultra-wide. Around the front, there's a 16MP punch hole selfie camera.
This is the exact same hardware that we saw on the Magic 7 Lite and Magic 6 Lite before that. Neither of those phones impressed me with their photographic abilities, so my expectations were on the ground when coming to test the Magic 8 Lite.
Indeed, the ultra-wide is as bad as you might expect. You can get passable results in perfect lighting, but there's only so much you can do with such a low-resolution sensor. In low light, you should avoid it entirely.
The main camera, on the other hand, is quite decent. Just don't let the 108MP specification fool you into thinking you'll get exceptionally detailed shots. It spits out 12MP JPEGs by default, and you'll need a bright sunny day if you want to use the full resolution, as the pixels are quite tiny.
I had hoped that this high-resolution sensor would allow for big digital crops without much of a loss in quality, but that's not the case. You can see the quality degrade quite significantly at 3x zoom, and it gets worse as you approach the maximum of 10x.
Still, in the right conditions, you can get some great shots with the Magic 8 Lite. Honor's processing is a little punchy and contrasty for my tastes, but you are given plenty of controls to adjust the way your images look.
The selfie camera is fine, but wholly unremarkable. It's on par with most budget-focused handsets, and it gets the job done, but it doesn't have the edge that Instagram addicts will be looking for.
I found that portrait mode cutouts weren't the most reliable, often chopping off bits of hair. Plus, there's less control than I'm accustomed to. There's no way to change the blur level on the selfie camera, for instance; it's just on or off.
For video shooting, you can capture at up to 4K 30fps on the main camera, while the other two lenses top out at 1080p. Video stabilization isn't the most impressive, and the lack of consistency across lenses means that budding content creators will be left wanting more.
Cameras score: 3 / 5
Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Camera samples
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Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Performance
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset
8GB RAM
256GB / 512GB storage
The Honor Magic 8 Lite is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 SoC. It's a healthy upgrade compared to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 that was (strangely) present in both the Magic 6 Lite and 7 Lite.
Still, this is a budget-focused chipset, so you should temper your expectations when it comes to performance. It's paired with 8GB of RAM, which should be sufficient for some multitasking, and either 256GB or 512GB of storage.
In normal day-to-day use, when scrolling social media and responding to emails and WhatsApp messages, the phone feels quick enough. At times, though, you can feel the difference between this and a flagship device. You can expect to see the occasional stutter in the system animations, and sometimes things will take a split second longer to load. Honestly, though, it's very easy to live with.
However, when you boot up a demanding game, that performance gap widens significantly. In fairness, the Magic 8 Lite was still able to play Wuthering Waves, which is well known as one of the most challenging Android titles, but I had to stick to the lowest preset to get playable framerates, and I still saw the odd performance dip.
So, this phone is not a good choice for keen gamers, but if you're more into Candy Crush or retro titles, you might find this level of performance to be all you need.
Performance score: 3 / 5
Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Software
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Magic OS 9, based on Android 15
Plenty of AI features
6 years of updates and security patches (in EU regions)
The Magic 8 Lite runs Magic OS 9, which is the same software you'll find on Honor's 2025 flagships like the Magic 7 Pro and Magic V5. That said, we've already seen Magic OS 10 begin to roll out to these handsets, so it's a little strange that the Lite model is launching one step behind. Hopefully, the upgrade will materialize before too long.
Honor promises six years of OS upgrades and security patches for the Magic 8 Lite in the EU, so it will definitely get the new OS, but how soon it will arrive remains to be seen. Regardless, it's a very decent update policy at this price point; it doesn't match the seven years that you get with Honor's flagship phones, but it outdoes a lot of the similarly priced competition. It should be noted, though, that outside of the EU, this phone only gets two years of updates.
Magic OS continues to be a divisive Android skin. It's heavily stylized, and it changes a lot of the core fundamentals, so Android purists probably won't love it. Personally, though, I quite enjoy it. I think it looks nice, and it adds some genuinely useful features.
Honor's Magic Portal interface on the Magic 8 Lite (Image credit: Future)
Honor's Magic Portal is probably the most unique offering. It allows you to drag text and images from one app to another, and I find myself using it quite frequently. I was pleased to see that Honor's "Knuckle to Portal" gesture is now supported on the Lite model, too, as it was missing when I reviewed the previous model.
In terms of functionality, there's a lot of overlap between Magic Portal and Google's Circle to Search, which is also supported on this phone. That said, having more than one way to accomplish a task is rarely a bad thing, because if one service isn't behaving the way you'd like, you can try the other.
You also get loads of AI-powered image editing tools on the Magic 8 Lite, like an object eraser, reflection removal, outpainting, background removal, and more. Again, a lot of these features are built into Google Photos, too, but if you use both platforms, you can see which one does a better job.
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Magic Pill on the Magic 8 Lite (Image credit: Future)
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Magic Pill on the Magic 8 Lite (Image credit: Future)
I'm a big fan of Honor's Magic Pill feature, which is functionally almost identical to Apple's Dynamic Island. It's nothing particularly new, but it means you have quick access to things like media controls and timers, no matter which app is running in the foreground.
The aggressive power-saving measures that the OS applies by default are less impressive. If you want timely notifications, you might find that you need to go into the settings and tweak things. I often found I wasn't getting notifications from my video doorbell, for example.
Software score: 3 / 5
Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Battery
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7,500mAh silicon-carbon battery
66W wired charging
No charger included
Without a doubt, one of the most appealing aspects of the Magic 8 Lite is its insane battery life. The 7,500mAh silicon-carbon cell is up there with the largest batteries available today (tied with the Oppo Find X9 Pro and RedMagic 11 Pro). The difference here is that it's paired with a less powerful and more energy-efficient chipset, which results in the best battery life of any phone I have tested to date.
When I was working in the office, and not playing too many games or taking a lot of photos, I found I was only using around 25% of the Magic 8 Lite's battery per day. I managed to make the phone last for four days on a single charge, and it wasn't particularly challenging to do so.
Of course, battery life varies wildly depending on how you use your phone, but even the heaviest of users should be able to achieve two days on a charge without any difficulty. So, if you're always forgetting to charge your phone, the Magic 8 Lite could be an absolute game-changer.
What's more, despite having a massive battery, the phone also doesn't take too long to charge. It supports up to 66W speeds using an official Honor charger, but sadly, you don't get one included in the box.
With the right charger, you can expect around a 50% charge in just half an hour, while a full charge will take just over an hour. Not too shabby.
As ever, I would have loved to see wireless charging support, especially since the feature seems to be making its way to more mid-rangers, but there's none of that here.
Battery score: 5 / 5
Should you buy the Honor Magic 8 Lite?
Honor Magic 8 Lite scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
It's slightly cheaper than the previous generation and has very competitive specs.
4 / 5
Design
The Magic 8 Lite looks a lot more premium than its predecessor, and it's a lot more durable, too.
4 / 5
Display
Slimmer bezels, higher brightness, and PWM dimming make this display a winner.
4 / 5
Cameras
The 108MP main camera can take some decent shots, but the ultra-wide is pretty awful.
3 / 5
Performance
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is adequate for daily use, but it's nothing too special.
3 / 5
Software
There are some great features, but it's already a generation behind, and the power-saving features can be annoying.
3 / 5
Battery
Simply put, this is the longest-lasting phone I've tested to date.
5 / 5
Buy it if...
You hate charging your phone
If you're always walking around with 1% left in the tank, the Honor Magic 8 Lite could be the phone for you. You can easily go for three days on a single charge, and with light use, you might even be able to make it last four.
You need something durable
An IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, along with a shock-resistant frame and thickened tempered glass, makes for a very hard-wearing phone. This device should be able to withstand some abuse.
Don't buy it if...
You want blazing-fast performance
While I found the performance to be adequate for basic tasks, you can definitely tell this isn't the speediest device around. Gamers should steer clear.
You want the best cameras
With the Magic 8 Lite, you only really get one good camera; the ultra-wide and selfie snappers are wholly unimpressive. If photography is your priority, there are better options to consider.
Honor Magic 7 Pro review: Also consider
The Honor Magic 8 Lite is a battery life champion with great durability, but there are plenty of other great options around the same price. Here are a couple of competitors that are worth looking at:
Samsung Galaxy A56
Samsung's mid-range favorite offers a more premium build, using more aluminum and glass than plastic. It also has a superior ultra-wide camera, but the battery is much smaller, and the charging isn't as quick.
Google's Pixel 9a is powered by the Tensor G4 chip, which is a massive step up from the Magic 8 Lite's Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 in terms of performance. The cameras are more impressive, too. However, yet again, Honor reigns supreme when it comes to battery life and charging speed.
I put my SIM card into the Honor Magic 8 Lite and used it as my main phone for just over a week. I used it exactly as I would use any other phone, taking lots of photos, gaming, messaging, working, streaming video, and navigating with Google Maps and Waze.
I also compared the experience of playing graphically challenging games like Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero to my experience on other Android mid-rangers like the Nothing Phone (3a) and Samsung Galaxy A56. I also ran multiple benchmarks on the handset, including 3DMark, GFXbench, and Geekbench.
I assessed the battery performance based on my real-world usage, and charging times were measured using an official Honor 100W wall adapter and cable.
Mere hours ago a mega leak brought us the specs, official images, and prices for the upcoming global Redmi Note 15 family - that is, the 5G models. But the Redmi leak bonanza continues today with the Redmi Note 15 4G, which has been listed by one German retailer despite the brand not announcing it yet.
As per the listing in question, the Redmi Note 15 4G will set you back €199.90, and you can have it in Black, Forest Green, and Glacier Blue colorways. So what do you get for that amount of money?
Redmi Note 15 4G official images
The phone comes with a 6.77-inch AMOLED screen...
The Lavazza Assoluta is a fully automatic espresso machine with an interesting selling point: when you scan the barcode on a pack of Lavazza beans using the smartphone app, the machine automatically optimizes its own brew settings to deliver optimally extracted, well-balanced coffee.
I was somewhat skeptical about how well this would work, particularly since the Assoluta only has two grind sizes (most machines have 15 or more. In practice, however, it does seem to work well. I tested two very different types of Lavazza coffee, and both times the machine extracted a shot of espresso in 30 seconds, which is pretty much ideal.
The downside is that brewing coffee using your own beans will be hit-and-miss (as Lavazza itself warns), so this isn't a machine for anyone who wants to delve into the world of speciality coffee from independent roasters.
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The Assoluta also has an unusual milk-frothing system, consisting of a large glass cup with a lid containing a steam wand and motorized whisk. Fill the mug with milk to the appropriate measuring line, push it under the coffee dispenser, choose a drink, and two minutes later you'll have a latte or cappuccino topped with rich, creamy foam. It works very well, but the lid can't be used with your regular cups. If there's more than one coffee-drinker at home, you might want to pick up another Lavazza cup so you can both enjoy a drink at the same time.
The Assoluta is advertised for £699.95 (about $920 / AU$1,400), but that price drops to £349.95 (about $460 / AU$700) when you also subscribe to Lavazza's coffee delivery service. Since the machine is specifically designed to work with Lavazza's branded coffee, this is a good option for regular coffee-drinkers.
Lavazza Assoluta: specifications
Name
Lavazza Assoluta
Type
Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine
Dimensions (W x H x D)
8.7 x 14 x 17.1 inches / 22 x 35.8 x 43.5cm
Weight
22lbs / 10kg
Water reservoir capacity
1.6 quarts / 1.5 liters
Milk frother
Yes (in cup lid)
Bars of pressure
Not stated
User profiles
n/a
Lavazza Assoluta: price and availability
Available now in Europe
Australian release expected in early 2026
Not expected to launch in the US
Half price with a Lavazza coffee subscription plan
The Lavazza Assoluta is only available in Europe at the time of writing (November 2025), but is expected to arrive in Australia in early 2026. Lavazza currently has no plan to release the machine in the US.
The Assoluta has a list price of £699.95 (about $920 / AU$1,400) when bought alone, or £349.95 (about $460 / AU$700) when you also sign up to Lavazza’s coffee subscription service.
The subscription price is very reasonable, and cheaper than anything in my roundup of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines, but Lavazza’s website doesn’t actually seem to let you buy the machine alone at full price. I’ve enquired about this with Lavazza, and will update this review when I have more information.
Value score: 4.5/5
Lavazza Assoluta: design
Attractive and solidly made
Easy to clean and maintain
Fold-out tray for espresso cups
Glass cup has milk frother in lid
The Lavazza Assoluta is a large, but good-looking automatic espresso machine with a bronze-colored plastic case and bright LED control panel.
When the Lavazza Assoluta is switched on, a light on top illuminates to show its current status (ready to brew, brewing, connecting to Wi-Fi, or requiring attention). Turning the top of the bean hopper left or right will adjust the "aroma", changing the dosage of coffee for a stronger or milder drink.
Turn the dial on top of the machine a few degrees to adjust the "aroma" (or dosage) (Image credit: Future)
The bean hopper has a control for adjusting the grind size, but there are only two settings: fine and coarse. The finer you grind your beans, the longer it takes for water to pass through. Most espresso machines offer at least 15 settings so you can get exactly the right extraction time for your particular beans, so the fact that this machine offers only two is surprising.
The water tank is solidly made with a sturdy handle, but it’s worth bearing in mind that it lifts out of the back vertically, so you’ll need plenty of space above the machine. If you place the Assoluta under a cabinet, be prepared to slide it out whenever it’s time for a refill.
The left-hand side of the machine has a large panel that provides easy access to the Assoluta’s brewing group for cleaning, and the drip tray pulls out to reveal the dump box for used coffee grounds. The machine won’t warn you when this needs emptying; personally, I recommend doing this at the end of each day, cleaning the box and drip tray, and leaving them out overnight so everything has a chance to dry out.
The Assoluta has a small flip-down drip tray for espresso cups (Image credit: Future)
The Assoluta has a small fold-out tray to hold an espresso cup, but if you want to make a milky drink then you’ll need to use the large Lavazza Trasparenza Collection mug supplied in the box.
Unlike most automatic espresso machines, which dispense foamed milk from a carafe, the Assoluta requires you to fill your mug with milk, then place a special lid on top. This lid contains a steam wand and electric whisk, which foam the milk for your lattes and cappuccinos before the Assoluta pours a shot of espresso on top.
The milk-frothing system works well, but can only be used with Lavazza's own large glass coffee cup (Image credit: Future)
I’ve never seen a system quite like it before, and although it works (read on for more details), it means you can’t use your favorite mugs with the machine, and all your milky drinks will end up being quite large. The cup has minimum and maximum fill lines to indicate how much milk to add.
The fact that the machine only comes with a single mug also means that you’ll be drinking your lattes alone unless you purchase a second Trasparenza cup for $22.70 / £15 (about AU$30).
Design score: 3.5/5
Lavazza Assoluta: performance
Before using the Assoluta for the first time, you’ll need to install the Piacere Lavazza app on your phone, and connect it via Bluetooth. Many of the best espresso machines I’ve tested have their own apps, but these are usually pretty limited. They might allow you to update your machine’s firmware and view its instruction manual, but that’s usually it.
The Piacere Lavazza app is different. Once set up, give it permission to access your phone’s camera, scan the barcode on your bag of Lavazza espresso beans, and it will transmit the optimal brew settings to the Assoluta. The machine will then configure itself accordingly, selecting the ideal dosage and brew temperature. The only thing it can’t adjust itself is grind size, so you’ll need to do that by turning the dial inside the bean hopper as instructed.
Scan the barcode on your coffee with the Piacere Lavazza app to configure the machine (Image credit: Future)
As mentioned above, the Assoluta has just two grind sizes, so I was a bit skeptical about how well it would be able to cope with different bean types. After all, dialling in a coffee grinder is often one of the trickiest parts of making a well-extracted espresso, with even small adjustments making a big difference. However, when I tried it out with different Lavazza beans, I was pleasantly surprised.
The machine I tested came with a pack of Lavazza Espresso Barista Gran Crema coffee beans, and I bought an extra pack of Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico to see how well it coped with both types. The Barista Gran Crema is made using a blend of light roasted arabica and robusta beans, while the Italiano Classico is 100% arabica and more similar to the coffee I usually choose at home.
Brewing a double-shot of espresso took 30 seconds with both Lavazza blends I tested (Image credit: Future)
I timed how long it took the Assoluta to extract a shot of espresso, and in both cases it took exactly 30 seconds from the moment the pump started, which is pretty much ideal. Although it was lightly roasted, I found that the robusta beans in the Barista Gran Crema gave the coffee a slightly more bitter, traditionally Italian flavor, while the Italiano Classico (which required the finer grind size) was fruitier and sweeter.
I’d have liked to try Lavazza’s whole range with the Assoluta if my budget allowed, but I was impressed at how well the machine dealt with these two very different coffees. The downside is that results with your own coffee are likely to be hit-and-miss. You might find that one of the two grind sizes works reasonably well, but if not, you’re going to be left with a disappointing shot of espresso - and Lavazza does warn you that this might happen. You can’t use your own grinder either, because unlike some bean-to-cup coffee makers, the Assoluta doesn’t have a chute for pre-ground coffee.
The milk-foaming system works particularly well with full-fat dairy milk (Image credit: Future)
During my tests, the Assoluta’s unusual milk-frothing system worked best with full-fat dairy milk, and I attained the best results using the thick foam setting. You're instructed to place the lid on the cup so that its steam spout is opposite the handle. The lid never looks like it’s sitting completely flush with the rim of the cup, but in practice this doesn’t seem to matter; I never had any trouble with milk splashing out, even when using the maximum recommended quantity.
It will take about two minutes to foam your milk, after which the machine will pour your coffee through the top and bleep to let you know your drink is ready. Removing the whisk and steam pipe from the cup disturbs the foam and makes the top of your drink look a little untidy, but that’s a very minor quibble. Despite the long steaming time, the milk isn’t overheated, and the Assoluta creates consistently creamy, sweet-tasting foam.
Image 1 of 2
Creating custom drinks in the Lavazza app is much easier than using a tiny touchscreen (Image credit: Future)
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You'll find various hot drink recipes in the Lavazza app, which will help you make them using the Assoluta (Image credit: Future)
Steaming and whisking the milk directly in the cup is unusual, but it means that you’re not limited to making coffee with the Assoluta – you can also use it to prepare hot chocolate following the instructions provided in the app, which is packed with recipes. They’re well worth perusing, and work in a similar way to the Cookidoo app for the Thermomix all-in-one cooker, taking you through preparation of your preferred drink step-by-step.
You can also use the app to create custom drink recipes from scratch, adjusting the coffee volume, temperature, aroma (coffee dosage), and milk thickness. The machine itself offers quite a small menu of presets, but the app makes it easy to tinker with brewing options, walking you through the process one step at a time.
Worried you might be overdoing the caffeine? The Lavazza app keeps track of how much you're drinking (Image credit: Future)
If you're concerned that you might be drinking too much caffeine, the app even keeps track of your consumption over the past day, week, month, and year, with a breakdown of the type of coffee you tend to drink most often. It's a nice extra feature (and potentially eye-opening).
Performance: 4/5
Should you buy the Lavazza Assoluta?
Lavazza Assoluta score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
Very affordable if you also subscribe to Lavazza's coffee subscription service, but not available in the US.
4.5/5
Design
Good-looking and easy to clean, but milk can only be frothed using Lavazza's large lidded mug, plus the grinder has just two settings.
3.5/4
Performance
Brews consistently good coffee with Lavazza's own beans, and customizing drinks using the app is a breeze. You may not be able to achieve good results with other beans. Foamed milk is thick and creamy.
4/5
Buy it if
You like long, milky drinks
You can only prepare lattes and cappuccinos using the Trasparenza Collection Lavazza Mug, which is pretty huge. Great if you want to be able to wrap your hands around a big, warm drink for cozy nights in.
You want simplicity, but don't like pods
If you like the idea of using fresh coffee beans, but don't want the hassle of setting up a coffee machine perfectly to use them, the Assoluta does the calculations for you.
You want to make more than coffee
The Lavazza Assoluta's unusual milk-frothing system is ideal for making hot chocolate drinks, or making milky drinks infused with syrup.
Don't buy it if
You love experimenting with speciality coffees
The Assoluta is designed to be used with Lavazza's own espresso beans, and although you can use your own, the machine only has two grind sizes, so you have very little control when dialling it in.
You're attached to your own coffee cups
The Lavazza Assoluta's milk-frothing system only works with the large glass mug supplied with the machine.
Lavazza Assoluta: also consider
If you're not completely sold on the Lavazza Assoluta, here are two other espresso machines to think about:
Ninja Prestige DualBrew System
This machine gives you both, with a full-size filter coffee maker, a Nespresso machine, and a pull-out milk frother. It's extremely convenient, and particularly handy if you're bleary-eyed and sluggish in the morning.
An excellent little bean-to-cup espresso machine for small households, and particularly easy to keep clean and fresh. It brews hot and cold, and offers an impressive menu of 20 different coffee drinks.
I tested the Assoluta with the Lavazza Espresso Barista Gran Crema beans that came packaged with it, as well as Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico beans, which I bought myself. I made sure that all the beans in the hopper were finished before changing beans, to prevent mixing.
I installed the Piacere Lavazza app on my phone, and used it to choose the correct brewing profile for each type of coffee, then timed how long it took the Assoluta to brew a shot of espresso with each one.
(Image credit: Future)
I tested the milk frother with both plant-based and dairy milk, and used both regular and thick milk texture settings. I also tried different drink recipes from the Piacere Lavazza app, and used it to make custom beverages.
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Quality gaming audio doesn’t have to cost the earth; something that Nacon’s RIG brand has proven time and again with some of the best PS5 headsets around. Now, its RIG R5 Spear Pro HS wired gaming headset has landed around the top end of the budget spectrum, and yes, it’s also a winner.
I’m usually wary of cheapish gaming headsets as there’s usually always at least one glaring weakness, even if other aspects impress. However, the R5 Spear Pro is a fantastic all-rounder, providing great build quality, a high level of comfort thanks to its plush ear cups, and superb audio for both gaming and listening to music.
I guess the one big ‘weakness’ here is that the R5 Spear Pro is a wired-only gaming headset, an advantage the aptly named SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless would have over it, for example. That means you won’t be going wireless via 2.4GHz or Bluetooth. But the silver lining here is that the headset will work with any platform, device, or controller that has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The R5 Spear Pro is advertised as a PlayStation-facing headset, compatible with PS5 and PS4, while also supporting the brand’s Tempest 3D audio profile. However, you can expect it to work just fine on Xbox Series X, Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and others, given its simple wired connection.
I really have very little to complain about here, so expect a review on the shorter side. Some on-board features would’ve been nice, like mic muting or EQ switching, but what’s here is impressive for the price.
(Image credit: Future)
RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: Price and availability
List price: $69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99)
Available now in the UK and Europe; US release on November 1
Comparable in price to the Epos H3 and Corsair HS50
The RIG R5 Spear Pro HS gaming headset is having a bit of a staggered release right now. It’s available in the UK and Europe now, but US folks will have to wait until November 1. It retails for $69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99), and can be bought from Nacon’s website or regional stores.
It’s a pretty fair price tag for what you’re getting here, finding itself between the retail prices of the Epos H3 - our pick for the best wired gaming headset - and another budget banger in the Corsair HS50. Though at this price and sound quality, RIG might just knock Epos’s long-conquering headset off its throne.
RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: specs
Price
$69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99)
Weight
0.74lbs / 0.34kg
Drivers
40mm graphene
Compatibility
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC
Connection type
Wired (3.5mm)
(Image credit: Future)
RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: design and features
Out of the box, the R5 Spear Pro presents a seriously no-frills package. You’re getting the headset itself and a pair of PlayStation-branded mod plates for the ear cups’ exterior. More on those soon.
The headset doesn’t draw much attention to itself with a largely matte black finish. The RIG logo is emblazoned on top of the headband and mod plates, but it’s an otherwise low-key aesthetic. Which, hey, we definitely expect at this price point.
The headset, like other RIG products, is made from sturdy plastic that’s strongly resistant to wear and tear. RIG headsets are always impressively durable, and it’s a similar story here. It’s incredibly comfortable, too, with plush material for the headband and earcups resting nicely on your head without irritating over longer gaming sessions.
The headset naturally features a mic attached to the left earcup. It’s unfortunately not detachable, meaning you probably won’t be leaving the house with it, but it’s impressively flexible and easy to shape into a position that feels right for you.
The centerpiece of the R5 Spear Pro’s design, though, is its bespoke magnetic mod plates, which attach to the headset’s ear cups. As mentioned, the box contains a pair with the PlayStation logo slapped onto them, but you can buy other official designs separately. That includes one specifically designed for the EVO fighting game tournament.
RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: performance
The R5 Spear Pro simply provides brilliant, crisp audio for the price. When I got to testing by plugging it into my DualSense Wireless Controller for a Ghost of Yoteiplay session, I was immediately struck by the impressively layered audio that picked up on everything from the swaying breeze to distant clashes of swords.
Directional audio is brilliantly accurate, too, with audio flitting between left and right channels in an impressively immersive manner. The absorbing soundtrack of Tetris Effect Connected really came alive here, its audio-reactive gameplay really playing to the R5 Spear Pro HS’s strengths. Its 40mm graphene drivers, overall, provide pristine audio with little distortion even at higher volumes. I’d have preferred its bass register to be a little stronger, but it’s by no means underwhelming here.
Microphone quality is also solid. Not quite as impressive as with the RIG 900 Max HS’s crystal clear quality, but this one still more than gets the job done. It certainly works best on consoles, this flip-to-mute mic, as on my Windows PC I did have to wrestle a bit to get it to recognize the mic. However, using it while connected to a controller on PC solved that issue for me in the short term.
As mentioned, there isn’t much in terms of on-board functionality. The cable does have a volume slider, though it’s honestly a little stiff, and I ended up preferring using software settings on console and PC to adjust the headset’s audio.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS?
Buy it if...
You want exceptional audio quality for less It’s hard to find sound quality this good at this price point. While not the absolute cheapest budget-friendly headset out there, I feel the R5 Spear Pro HS comes in at a very reasonable price given its fantastic audio and strong build quality.
You play on a variety of platforms Whether you’re on PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch consoles or PC, the R5 Spear Pro HS is an impressively versatile gaming headset, delivering stellar audio quality across all major platforms.
Don't buy it if...
You prefer having on-board buttons and features Aside from its volume slider, there are no quick shortcuts or buttons on the headset itself. It doesn’t need many, to be fair, but it means you won’t have access to desirable features on other headsets like EQ profiles.
You want better customization With no compatible companion software, the R5 Spear Pro HS is very much a case of ‘what you hear is what you get.’ Not a terrible thing in and of itself, as you can always rely on Dolby Atmos or Tempest 3D, but those after a more customizable audio experience won’t find it here.
RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: Also consider
Here are a couple more gaming headsets that come highly recommended if you’re not keen on the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS.
RIG R5 Spear Pro HS
Turtle Beach Atlas 200
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless
Price
$69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99)
$59.99 / £49.99 (around AU$79)
$109.99 / £99.99 / AU$109.99
Weight
0.74lbs / 0.34kg
0.62lbs / 0.28kg
0.57lbs / 0.27kg
Drivers
40mm graphene
50mm Nanoclear
40mm Neodymium
Compatibility
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC
PC, Xbox Series X (Xbox version only), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Connection type
Wired (3.5mm)
Wired (3.5mm)
Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (USB-C receiver)
Turtle Beach Atlas 200 A real budget powerhouse, once again providing shockingly good audio for the price. Throw in a comfy fit and a crystal clear mic, and this one just may tempt you away from the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS for good reason.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless One for consideration if you’re looking for wireless options instead, but want to keep costs down. The Arctis Nova 3X Wireless is a brilliant, cost-effective gaming headset that’s multiplatform-capable and has a lightweight build that remains comfortable for hours on end.
Tested across PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
Compared to other RIG headsets like the RIG 900 Max HS
I tested the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS for two weeks for this review. While I mostly played games with the headset, I also used it for work purposes, as well as casually listening to music in my spare time.
I used the headset across all major platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X Digital Edition, Nintendo Switch 2, and my gaming PC. For this review, I played titles including Ghost of Yotei, Final Fantasy 14 Online, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Tetris Effect Connected, PUBG Battlegrounds, and Tekken 8.
During testing, I went back and forth between the R5 Spear Pro HS and the pricier wireless offering, RIG 900 Max HS. I found audio quality to be largely identical across both products, though, as you might expect, build quality is better on the more expensive product, which also feels more durable thanks to its metallic, flexible headband and better materials used overall. Still, the R5 Spear Pro HS isn’t far off.
The Smeg ECF03 is a stylish espresso machine that’s a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the Smeg ECF02. The key difference is a new cold-extraction feature, which takes around two minutes to produce smooth, sweet-tasting espresso that makes an ideal base for an iced americano, cappuccino, or cocktail.
Another important upgrade is the addition of a pressure gauge that helps you see if your espresso shot is properly extracted before it’s finished pouring. It’s surprising that this doesn’t show the exact pressure in bars, but it’s nevertheless a useful guide.
When you want to brew traditional hot espresso, the machine heats quickly, and its pump produces consistent pressure, so you get reliably well-extracted coffee once you’ve dialled in the grinder correctly. During my tests, the pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which isn’t as quiet as the noise-shielded BCC13, but it isn’t excessive.
Like all Smeg’s coffee machines, the ECF03 is controlled via a small set of buttons labelled with icons, which illuminate in different colors to show the machine’s status. Solid white means the machine is ready to brew hot, solid blue means it’s ready for cold-brewing. Flashing or orange lights mean the machine is either still heating or requires maintenance. You'll need to keep the manual handy for reference when you first start using it, but you'll soon learn what the different combinations signify.
(Image credit: Future)
The Smeg ECF03 is easy to maintain, and unlike most home espresso machines, it comes with a blank disc for backwashing the grouphead and water circuit. This makes it easy to clear out coffee oils and residue that might affect the taste of your drinks.
Overall, the ECF03 is an absolute pleasure to use, and during my testing, I found it difficult to fault. The only real drawback is the price, but it is justified by the quality and style. There’s a chance you can get a deal if you wait for the Black Friday sales, or if you’re not likely to use the cold-brew function, you could opt for the ECF02 instead.
Smeg ECF03: specifications
Name
Smeg ECF03
Type
Manual espresso machine
Dimensions (H x W x D)
14.3 x 8.1 x 11.6 inches / 36.4 x 20.5 x 29.5cm
Weight
24lb 11oz / 11.2kg
Water tank capacity
1.5qt / 1.4l
Steam wand
Yes, manual
Max pressure
15 bar
User profiles
1
Smeg ECF03: price and availability
Only available in Europe at the time of writing (October 2025)
Smeg ECF02, which lacks cold brew mode, costs considerably less
At the time of writing, the Smeg ECF03 is only available in Europe. It launched in the UK in September 2025 at a list price of £499.96. That works out at about $670 / AU$1,000, but official release dates and prices for the US and Australia have yet to be announced.
For comparison, the Smeg ECF02, which lacks a cold-brew function, has a list price of $600 / £399.95 / AU$699, but can sometimes be found at a significant discount. In the UK, for example, it's currently reduced to £299.95 in Smeg’s online store.
You’ll find today’s best deals on both machines below, with prices updated daily.
Value score: 4.5/5
Smeg ECF03: design
Chic 1950s-inspired design
Well-made, solid-feeling accessories
Cleverly concealed storage compartment
The ECF03 is part of Smeg’s line of 1950s-inspired appliances, with smooth curved lines, stainless steel accents, and a choice of glossy retro colors: pastel blue, cream (shown here), white, and black. It’s a new sibling for the Smeg ECF02, with the biggest difference being the ECF03's ability to brew cold-extracted espresso as well as hot.
It also has a slightly different shape, with convex sides rather than concave, and a gauge on the front that helps you see if you’ve achieved the optimum pressure for extracting a shot (a feature I always appreciate).
(Image credit: Future)
You’ll find a power switch on the left-hand side of the ECF03’s case, and its functions are controlled with a set of four buttons on the stainless steel top (for single shot, double shot, steam, and switching between hot and cold brewing).
The 58mm portafilter feels reassuringly solid in the hand, weighing about 240z / 676g with a basket fitted, and the tamper is a hefty 16z / 448g. This weight doesn’t just make it satisfying to use, it also helps you apply even pressure to produce an evenly compressed puck without fissures, resulting in more consistently extracted coffee.
(Image credit: Future)
Like all other Smeg espresso machines I’ve tested, the ECF03 comes with four filter baskets, including pressurized and single-walled options for single and double shots. Pressurized (double-walled) baskets are more forgiving if your technique isn’t quite perfect, producing reliably thick crema, while the single-walled baskets give you finer control over extraction.
The steam wand pivots out from the machine, with a good range of movement and an angle that’s ideal for creating a ‘whirlpool’ in your milk pitcher. It has a cool-touch silicone handle and is operated using a stainless steel knob on the machine’s right-hand side. Pull it towards you for steam, and push it away for hot water.
(Image credit: Future)
Pull out the drip tray and you’ll find a handy storage compartment, which holds the filter baskets you use less frequently, a stiff-bristled cleaning brush, a needle tool for clearing the steam wand if it becomes blocked, and a blank disc that you can place in the portafilter handle to backwash the machine using a cleaning tablet. That last item is a particularly nice addition that’s used daily in a commercial setting, but rarely included with home espresso machines.
The only item notable by its absence is a milk pitcher, which is a little surprising for an espresso machine in this price bracket.
Design score: 5/5
Smeg ECF03: performance
Brews consistently good hot and cold espresso
Pressure gauge is useful, though the lack of numbers is surprising
Easy to clean and care for
I found the ECF03 a joy to use, whether brewing hot or cold, and Smeg’s usual attention to detail and build quality are evident right from the start.
The machine’s water tank is robust, with a built-in handle that makes it easy and comfortable to carry. You’re given a water hardness testing strip so you can pick the correct water hardness setting to use (‘hard water’ is the default). Although no water filter is provided, compatible filters are available to buy from Smeg’s website, and they easily twist into place in the bottom of the tank.
(Image credit: Future)
The 58mm portafilter seems identical to the one supplied with the ECF02, which is fine with me; it’s excellent. The tamper, however, is a big upgrade. The base model ECF02 came with a plastic measuring scoop with a tamper on the end. It was fit for purpose, but its light weight meant it could be tricky to apply consistent pressure each time you used it. The ECF03’s tamper is much weightier, which gives it a more premium feeling and makes it easier to create a consistently well-formed puck.
As you’d expect from a premium home espresso machine, the ECF03 is an excellent performer. Once you’ve got your grinder dialled in, you can be confident that your shots will be perfectly extracted time after time. (If you’re in need of a grinder, the Smeg CGF03 matches the ECF03 in style and choice of colors.)
(Image credit: Future)
The ECF03’s pressure gauge is a particularly useful feature, letting you see whether your espresso is likely to be extracted properly before it’s finished pouring. However, it’s not labelled with the exact pressure in bars; instead, you just aim for the needle to be positioned in the black section marked on the dial. It’s a bit of a strange choice; there are markers around the edge of the dial, but no indication of what measurements they represent.
During brewing, the ECF03’s pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which is roughly equivalent to a vacuum cleaner. It’s noticeably noisier than the fully automatic Smeg BCC13, which has sound shielding and is QuietMark certified, but isn’t excessively loud and is about average for a manual espresso machine.
(Image credit: Future)
Most of the buttons on the machine’s top are labelled with icons, except for the one that switches between hot and cold brewing modes. When the machine is primed and ready to brew hot, the double-shot, single-shot, and steam buttons are all illuminated white. In cold-brewing mode, the first two are blue instead.
Cold-brewing is quick, taking around two minutes to extract a shot. Part of this time is taken up with an extended pre-infusion, which gives the ground coffee extra time to bloom. After that, the ECF03 will send pulses of cold water through the puck (in groups of three) until the shot is ready.
(Image credit: Future)
The result is a mellow-tasting and well-rounded drink that you can enjoy by itself or as the base of an iced americano. If you prefer chilled lattes or cappuccinos, take a look at the Smeg Mini Milk Frother, which matches the style of the ECF03 and can produce thick or thin cold foam.
Holding down one of the coffee-brewing buttons will let you customize its properties. If the buttons illuminate in orange or start to flash, it’s a sign that there’s a fault, or (more likely) it’s time for some routine maintenance.
(Image credit: Future)
The ECF03 is a piece of cake to clean and care for. You can keep the case and exterior of the milk wand looking pristine by wiping with a damp cloth. Purge the wand with a blast of steam after each use, and you’ll be unlikely to need the needle-like cleaning tool.
As I mentioned above, the inclusion of a blank disc is excellent when it’s time to give the machine’s grouphead and circuit a thorough clean to remove old coffee residue. To use it, insert the single-walled single-shot basket and place the disc in the bottom. Smeg doesn’t sell its own cleaning tablets, but you can use any detergent tabs recommended for home coffee machines. Press and hold the single and double shot buttons to pulse water through the machine, then empty the drip tray and repeat the process. For descaling, the company recommends its own-brand Anti-Kalk liquid.
(Image credit: Future)
The drip tray’s cup holder seems to resist scratches well (unlike some, which are easily scuffed by ceramic mugs), and the tray is nice and deep, so you’re unlikely to spill anything during emptying.
I’ve tested a lot of hot- and cold-brew espresso machines this year, but the Smeg ECF03 is easily one of the most refined. It’s a pleasure to use, looks great, and is extremely consistent. If your budget will stretch to it, you won’t be disappointed.
Performance score: 5/5
Should you buy the Smeg ECF03
Smeg ECF03 score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
A premium espresso machine with a price tag to match, though it's justified by the design and build quality.
4.5/5
Design
Smeg's signature '50s style looks as chic as ever, and there are some significant upgrades from the ECF02.
5/5
Performance
Generates consistent pressure for reliably well-extracted hot and cold drinks, and is a piece of cake to clean and care for.
5/5
Buy it if
You want a showpiece for your kitchen
Smeg’s '50s-style appliances are real lookers, and the ECF03 is no exception. It’s a guaranteed conversation-starter when you have guests.View Deal
You have a generous budget
Smeg’s signature style comes at a price. Hot- and cold-brew espresso machines are available for less if you’re not particular about looks.View Deal
Don't buy it if
You’re not into cold brew
The Smeg ECF02 is an equally good-looking machine that heats fast and delivers consistent pressure, but costs considerably less.View Deal
Smeg ECF03: also consider
Smeg ECF02
If you don't care for cold brew, the ECF02 is an equally chic and more affordable alternative. You don't get the handy pressure gauge, though, and the base model has a less sturdy tamper than the ECF03.
If you like the sound of the ECF03 but want an espresso machine that will handle all the hard work for you, the BCC13 is a beautifully designed super-automatic machine that would look perfect on your kitchen counter.
I used the Smeg ECF03 for two weeks in place of my usual Gaggia Classic espresso machine. I used it on the hard water setting, with fresh single-origin Honduran Swiss water decaf beans from a local coffee roaster, ground using my Sage Precision burr grinder.
I used the steam wand with full-fat dairy milk and barista oat milk, both of which were freshly bought and chilled.
I followed the directions in the instruction manual to set up and maintain the machine, and brewed a mix of single and double shots using both filter baskets, and used both the hot- and cold-brew options.
