This De’Longhi coffee machine is now under £30

Paying under £30 for a machine with 15 bars of pressure means more of your budget can go on trying different capsules, and Amazon has marked this price as a limited-time deal, so now is the moment to grab it.

Those capsules cover espressos, frothy lattes, smooth Americanos and hot chocolate, with Starbucks by Nescafé Dolce Gusto pods in the mix, and each one is sealed with aluminium foil to protect the freshly ground coffee inside.

Pulling the best from each capsule falls to the 15-bar pump, which produces espressos with a rich, velvety crema like the ones served at a bar. Manual controls let you adjust the temperature and shot length with a few gestures.

The same hands-on approach extends to the lever on top, which you push one way for a steaming hot drink and the other for an icy cold one, so summer iced coffees come from the same machine as winter lattes.

Such a capable setup still fits into a compact body that sits comfortably on a crowded worktop, with a 0.8-litre water tank, and the Piccolo XS switches itself off one minute after your last coffee for greater energy efficiency.

Used pods have an easy route out too, as the Podback service offers free recycling through kerbside collection in select areas, drop-off points or retailers, so the Piccolo XS fits neatly into an eco-minded kitchen.