Best coffee machine for a morning espresso: for busy mums, starting from just £30

The Tassimo by Bosch Suny 'Special Edition' TAS3102GB Coffee Machine may be compact, but it is also stylish. Great on any worktop, the Tassimo Suny has an auto-clean and space-saving functionality that we love. With one easy button operation, it's a great choice for a quick on-the-go hot drink and busy mums needing a quick fix - from coffee to hot chocolate. You can personalise the drink to fit your tastes - from temperature to volume, which can helpfully be stored in the machine's memory function.

Our top pick is the Tassimo - as customers love the speed, quality, and taste of the coffee it makes. One customer commented that it feels modern and stylish for any kitchen, regardless of size. Not only that, but it feels well-made, is easy to use, and heats up fast for fabulous drinks. They add that cleaning is easy, too. Sighing with relief right now. Offering great value for the price, the Tassimo is said to be worth it for a reliable and affordable appliance. But, opinions are mixed on the size. Plus, it only takes Tassimo pods - but rest assured, there's a wide variety of drinks to try.

Compatible with a variety of Dolce Gusto and Alcafé pods, the DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Infinissima Pod Coffee Machine is a great pick for creating budget-friendly coffees at home. Not only is it easy to use and clean, but it also comes with a high-pressure system, so your creamy coffee-shop-quality coffee will be ready in no time. Simply slide your chosen pod, and you're set in one easy manoeuvre - a win for busy parents. Thanks to the adjustable drip tray, it can accommodate various cup sizes. Winner.

From over 6,000 reviews on Amazon UK, this DeLonghi model has earned a 4.4/5 star rating. Customers like the value, appearance, and ease of use. They mention that it's worth the purchase and can make two mugs without a refill. One customer says that it's "very easy to use," and thanks to the visible water tank, it's super easy to fill. Customers agree that it looks great on their countertop. However, customers have found this number to be a little noisy, so it may not be best for open-plan living.

Always on the go? The Salter EK2732 Digital Coffee Maker with a To Go Travel Mug is a great choice - providing you with the answer to your coffee problems. It's perfect for the school run. Ready in three to four minutes, this stylish pick prepares a tasty cup of coffee thanks to its compatibility with ground coffee and coffee pads. Fancy. This way, you'll be saving on pricey pods. With an LCD display, you can set a 24-hour timer for your morning. Not only is this coffee machine well-priced, but it's easy to use and no hassle.

With an average star rating of 4.3/5 from over 2,000 reviews, customers like this pick for its ease of use. Customers comment that the hot plate keeps coffee hot and it's great value for money. Though small, it'll fit any small kitchen (stylish, too) and is capable of producing a nice brew. Not only is it quick, but it's quiet. That said, some complain about leakage.

Fill this Breville VCF155 Iced Coffee Machine with water, scoop in your favourite ground coffee, and pour your brew over ice. It's really that simple. With a flick of a switch, you can have iced lattes and frappes on demand. Thanks to its insulated 625 ml tumbler with lid and straw, this machine is perfect for enjoying coffee shop-standard iced beverages. Add your favourite milk and even a syrup - get creative.

Tried and Tested by Closer writer, Piper Huxley:

All in all, this is a straightforward appliance. It comes with an easy-to-follow process that feels rather too good to be true. It’s safe to say that I feel like a barista when I heap a scoop of ground coffee into the appliance for my morning fix. If anything, the manual felt redundant, and I managed to work out the method myself. As for functionality, this appliance is average.

It doesn’t make anything else, but it offers the space for milk, sugars, and syrups to be added to your cup – just as you’d order it at your local coffee shop. For example, I mix in a drop of oat milk and – occasionally – agave syrup if I need a hit of natural sweetness. However, I can foresee even more experimentation from you coffee connoisseurs out there - why not try frothing your milk or adding some whipped cream and chai latte powder to make some sort of chai frappe hybrid?

Ahead of the game when it comes to sustainability, Lavazza has a range of compostable A Modo Mio Eco Caps, which are affordable, too. If you're keen on a quick caffeine hit, this is affordable and compact. The Lavazza A Modo Mio Tiny Eco is an espresso machine for convenience (it's not super-sized). Simply pop in the pod and press a button; it's as easy as that. Remember that it makes espressos and edible espresso, so latte lovers should invest in a milk frother for special coffee cups.

The Swan Retro Pump Machine lets you enjoy café-quality coffee at home with ease and style. Equipped with a professional spoon and coffee presser, this machine ensures your brews meet high standards. It can prepare one or two cups together, perfect for sharing with friends. Whether you prefer an ordinary cup of coffee or something frothy, the milk frother delivers creamy froth in no time. Fabulous. With 15 bars of pressure, this espresso machine is always ready to use and guarantees the best taste. It's ideal for coffee lovers who want convenience and quality.

Tried and Tested by Closer:

Our tester had previously only used pod coffee machines, so this espresso machine was quite a different experience. The machine itself looks gorgeous, but it took quite a while to set up, and all the settings, buttons and dials took some getting used to. The espresso coffee does have an authentic coffee shop taste, however, it takes time to perfect, and you have to remember to manually stop the pump to cut the flow of coffee, otherwise, you'll end up with a watered-down, bitter espresso.

Our tester enjoyed using the milk steamer to make cappuccinos and lattes, but the drinks did take considerably longer to make than usual. There was also more cleaning up to do after use, such as washing the filters, steam jugs and pumps. This machine is ideal for those who enjoy the process of making coffee and want to take their time with it, but maybe should be avoided by those who want to grab their coffee in a hurry.

Using innovative technology, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus offers a premium experience. It reads each barcode to adjust the brewing settings automatically, meaning you're guaranteed the perfect cup every time. For barista-style brews at home during the morning rush, take advantage of Nespresso's Vertuo Pods for over 30 choices, with five different cup sizes, too. For every coffee craving, consider the Vertuo Plus. It's sleek and comes with plenty of options for your morning cup. Iconic.

Tried and Tested by Closer:

The sleek and stylish design looks good and is simple to set up. It creates great coffee and the brightly coloured coffee pods are available in different strengths. There are iced coffee options, too, which our tester’s daughter loved. It’s easy to use - you simply press a button and then click the lever at the front which raises the top for you to add the capsule.

The coffee was ready quickly, at a great temperature, with a rich, frothy top, and this was even before adding any milk. The removable water tank is easy to refill, and there is a compartment that can store used capsules. The only tiny downfall is that it doesn’t really give off a coffee brewing smell, but other than that, this is a brilliant machine.

An energy-efficient, versatile coffee machine that offers a personalised brewing experience, the Tassimo MyWay 2 uses BRITA MAXTRA+ filtration to enhance flavour and prevent limescale build-up. Not only does the machine allow you to customise the size and intensity of your drink, but it also stores profiles for easy access - perfect for those hectic mornings. Thanks to the intelligent barcode tech, the machine guarantees you get that perfect cup - adjusting water, time and temperature. With a removable water tank, too, it auto-cleans between drinks. Fabulously quick.

Tried and Tested by Closer:

You can create a variety of hot drinks with this machine. It is a little bulky, but it comes fitted with a clever integrated BRITA MAXTRA+ water filter, which helps prevent limescale build-up. The drinks are made with two pods – the flavour pod and the milk pod. The milk goes first, followed by the flavour, but our tester found that the order didn’t affect the overall taste.

The drinks come out at the perfect temperature with a light foamy top. Arguably, the best thing about Tassimo is there are so many pods to choose from. Our tester was a particular fan of the Cadbury hot chocolate and Costa Coffee lattes.