Regular cleaning is crucial for optimal flavour and machine longevity. Clean the steam wand after each use to prevent milk residue. Rinse the removable parts, like the portafilter and drip tray daily.

Descale the machine every one to three months. Most manufacturers will usually recommend a descaling solution that you can run through your machine. Remember that the frequency of descaling will depend on the hardness of water in your area.

If your machine includes a water filter, ensure that it is changed regularly. If not, we recommend filtering your water with a filter jug.

With so many models on the market, it can be hard to tell which type of coffee machine is best for you. Here are a few of the most important things to bear in mind as you shop:

• Range of recipes: Some machines are only programmed to make espresso, while others produce a range of coffees from flat whites to cappuccinos.
• Capacity: The larger the water tank, the less regularly you’ll have to fill it, though the machine might be harder to store in small kitchens.
• Water filtration: High-end machines should have a built-in water filter to remove unwanted minerals for a cleaner taste.
• Pressure: A pressure gauge is important for manual machines as it monitors the boiler and brewing pressures, helping you achieve the ideal extraction. Somewhere around nine bars should extract flavourful coffee in less than a minute.
• Special features: As freshly ground beans are vital for the best results, an integrated grinder is really useful and means you won’t need to buy a separate coffee mill. A controllable steam wand is essential to create the tiny microbubbles needed for great textured milk.
• Budget: Consider both how much you are willing to spend and how much you could save on your morning coffee from a coffee shop. As a general rule, pod coffee makers are cheapest and high-tech bean-to-cups are the most expensive.

“A conventional coffee maker, or filter machine, is one of the simplest ways to freshly brew coffee,” says Silvana Franco. “To use it, fill the reservoir with cold water to match the required number of cups. Next, place a paper or mesh filter into the brew basket, and add ground coffee, typically using two tablespoons per cup of water as a guideline. The machine heats the water, which then slowly drips over the grounds, with the resulting coffee collected in a jug or carafe below. Most models can brew between one and ten cups at a time and the coffee can be kept warm on a hot plate or in an insulated jug.”