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Your tried-and-tested ticket to the perfect at-home brew.

Going to a café is great – any fictitious member of the Friends ensemble will tell you that, given that the six of them practically propped up Central Perk for a decade. But, sometimes, you just want to kick back with a cuppa at home. The solution: it's high time you bought a coffee machine.

These at-home marvels can deliver delicious espressos, cappuccinos and more at the touch of a button or two. Could it BE any easier? There is a slight snag, though. With so many options on the market nowadays, finding the right one for you (at the right price) can be a handful.

Luckily, Digital Spy has cut through the noise and tested some of the top, best affordable coffee machines on the market to bring you our pick of the best value options money can buy.

We focused our testing on three of the most popular types of at-home coffee machine: bean-to-cup, pod and espresso. Each one has pros and cons, and finding the right type for you will depend on your beverage of choice, budget, knowledge, time constraints and personal preferences.

Here's a quick overview of each machine's strengths and weaknesses.

Bean-to-cup: As the name suggests, these machines can turn coffee beans into a steaming cup of espresso faster than you can say 'Miss Chanandler Bong' (well, almost anyway).

Their greatest strength is the fact that they have an in-built grinder for reducing beans to coffee grounds. They're also surprisingly simple to use, and will carry out most elements of the brewing process autonomously; grinding, extracting and pouring. You'll have plenty of control over variables such as drink size, coffee strength and extraction time, too, so you can adjust each one to make your perfect drink.

Pod: These machines are the kings of convenience, perfect for whipping up a quick ad break cuppa. They make single-serve drinks from a predetermined quantity of coffee grounds, sealed in a pod.

All you have to do is place a pod in the designated slot and shut the lid of the machine, piercing the capsule. Press go and water will be pushed through the coffee grounds, extracting the flavour. An espresso is made from the resulting mixture in a matter of minutes.

You won’t have too much control over your coffee, but if it's ease and convenience you're after, look no further.

Espresso: If you know your ristretto from your lungo, this is the machine for you. You'll need skill and knowledge to get the most out of an espresso machine, but the personalised results are well worth the extra effort.

Similarly to pod machines, they draw flavour from coffee grounds. However, this time around they're loose, so you'll need to measure the correct amount out then tamp them down with the appropriate pressure to make your ideal bev. This process takes a little longer than pod machines, but gives you a more authentic coffee-making experience.

Most also come with a steam wand, a handy tool if you favour milk-based drinks or fancy perfecting your latte art.

Much like Ross, Rachel and co, our dedicated tester made their way through hundreds of coffees. But, instead of just having a quick catch-up, we set out to find which machines gave the best results.

The top models provided consistency and efficiency, able to deliver different drinks with the desired flavour profile time and time again. If they had an automatic milk frother or steam wand, we also made sure these were able to create the sought-after, velvety texture that cappuccinos depend on with both milk and dairy-free alternatives.

Unless you've got a flourishing career as a "transponster", the idea of splashing thousands of pounds on a coffee machine is enough to raise an eyebrow or two. Fortunately, this Beko model delivers great drinks for less than £100. Granted, you don't get all the fancy features a four-figure investment might buy you, but it still makes technically great espressos.

The drinks were quick to pour, heated to the correct temperature and boasted a thick robust crema (the lighter, frothy, flavourful layer on the top of an espresso). Frothing milk was a doddle too, thanks to the steam wand, though it did drip a bit after use.

Key specifications Type: Espresso Cup capacity: 2 Water tank capacity: 1.4 litres Pressure: 15 bars Milk frother: Yes - steam wand Milk jug included: No

If the idea of measuring and tamping your coffee grounds every time you want a cup of Joe sounds like a bit of a faff, you're better off sticking with a pod machine. This was our pick of the bunch when it came to getting maximum flavour from every capsule, and it also proved a dab hand at handling speciality pods too.

It looks great, is easy to use and gives you the ability to change the brewing temperature to suit different drinks too, which we enjoyed. There's no adjustable cup stand, and the coffee-making process slowed considerably when we tried to brew a third espresso on the trot, but those were the only complaints we could muster.

Key specifications Type: Pod Water tank capacity: 0.8 litres Milk frother: No Pod type: Nespresso Programmes: Espresso, lungo (double espresso)

Purist (read as fussy) coffee drinkers step forward. This affordable bean-to-cup coffee machine features an incredible 19 different grind settings, so you can get your brew just right. While the steaming wand means you can create your own flat whites, lattes or cappuccinos too. Lovely.

However, changing the volume of coffee was a bit of a faff, and the milk frother was a little erratic, with sporadic bursts of steam. But you'll also be relieved to know that thanks to the auto-rinse function, keeping it clean is a doddle. All in all, an excellent value machine.

Key specifications Type: Bean-to-cup Water tank capacity: 1.6 litres Milk frother: Yes – steam wand Pressure: 19 bars Programmes: -

While you may not want to copy Gunther's signature bleached hair any time soon, you can still feel like a barista with this sleek Breville model. It looks like a miniature version of a coffee shop model and had our tester waxing lyrical about its "perfect" espressos. The steam wand was also adept when it came to frothing milk and non-dairy equivalents, so there's plenty for latte and cappuccino fans to enjoy.

It's a bit noisy, and you sometimes have to hold it down when removing the portafilter as the machine itself is so light, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a better espresso machine for this price when it comes to looks and taste.

Key specifications Type: Espresso Cup capacity: 1 Water tank capacity: 2 litres Pressure: 15 bars Milk frother: Yes - steam wand Milk jug included: Yes

Sadly, we don't all rent expansive, cut-price two-bed New York apartments from our grandparents. So, if your kitchen is on the smaller side, this pod machine is great for sliding into a tight space on the counter. It extracted consistently tasty espressos and, despite its compact design, still comes complete with an automatic milk frother.

This feature let us down a bit, struggling to create the correct consistency for milky drinks, so we'd recommend this one for coffee purists who prefer to stick to espressos.

Key specifications Type: Pod Water tank capacity: 1 litre Milk frother: Yes - automatic frother Pod type: The Original Nespresso pods Programmes: Espresso, large espresso, cappuccino, macchiato

Invite your friends round. No, not for a brew – just to stand back and take a look at this thing of beauty. Worthy of a coffee shop counter, there's an integrated grinder with over 30 settings, and useful features such as a compartment under the drip tray for storing accessories. And it's quick to heat up and brew too.

If you like your cuppas milky, you're also in luck. The steam wand proved agile, giving milk a velvety, smooth texture. There's even a useful guide to help you get it right. However, the grinder was a little trickier, with the dosage proving inaccurate and the pre-set espresso volume a little high. Changing the brew temperature was a little difficult too. Yes it's pricier, but this high performer is still our top bean-to-cup machine.

Key specifications Type: Bean-to-cup Water tank capacity: 2.9 litres Milk frother: Yes – steam wand Pressure: 15 bars Programmes: -

This Smeg machine's retro design casts back to the '50s… and we love it. You'll need a sizable space on your kitchen counter to house it though, as the body is particularly deep.

If you prefer a darker roast, the Lavazza pods give a great ashy flavour, and the machine has the ability to pull multiple shots at once, making it a solid option if you often find yourself hosting guests. It also comes with a few eco pods to try, which is a nice touch, and means you can get brewing straight away.

Key specifications Type: Pod Water tank capacity: 0.9 litres Milk frother: No - optional extra Pod type: Lavazza A Modo Mio espresso pods Programmes: Espresso and lungo (double espresso)

As with the Lattissima, the De'Longhi Dedica packs a flavoursome punch despite its compact design. It can craft drinks from ground coffee or turn Easy Serving Espresso (ESE) pods into tasty shots, if you're short on time. It can also fill two cups simultaneously, making it a great option for couples.

The Dedica steams milk well, though you can't do this at the same time as pulling an espresso shot, making the process take a little bit longer. But, if you're willing to wait, you'll be rewarded with a delicious milky brew.

Key specifications Type: Espresso Cup capacity: 2 Water tank capacity: 1.1 litres Pressure: 15 bars Milk frother: Yes - steam wand Milk jug included: No

Not great first thing in the morning? Same. Luckily this bean-to-cup beauty has a memory function, allowing you to save your favourite brews. There's a built-in grinder – or you can use grounds, no big deal – adjustable coffee strength, a steam wand for frothing your milk, and seven pre-programmed drinks, including an espresso.

All-in-all it's an affordable gadget for bean-to-cup purists, though you can expect your milk bill to go up a tad. As the wand is a little short, you’ll have to use a little more milk than you really need to get it all nice and frothy.

Key specifications Type: Bean-to-cup and ground coffee Water tank capacity: 1.8 litres Milk frother: Yes – steam wand Pressure: 15 bars Programmes: Americano, cappuccino, espresso

It's no secret that we love a bit of innovation here at Digital Spy, but there's also a lot to be said for simplicity when it comes to tech, and that's exactly what you get with this coffee machine. While you won't have much control over variables in your drink, the machine is simple enough to use, will give you a consistent brew, and has a durable feel.

There is no base under the spout, so you can easily fit a reusable coffee cup, and the product itself is built from 54% recycled plastic, earning it a couple of eco ticks from us.

Key specifications Type: Pod Water tank capacity: 1.1 litres Milk frother: Yes Pod type: Nespresso Vertuo Programmes: Espresso, lungo (double espresso)

This metallic machine may look like a spare part for a Porsche, but under the hood there are some snazzy features. It can take coffee grounds and ESE pods, is refreshingly easy to use and even has a cup-warming area – sure to be appreciated when winter rolls around.

The spout dripped considerably after we used it, and we would've liked a thicker crema on our espressos, but it's well-built with solid milk-steaming abilities.

Key specifications Type: Espresso Cup capacity: 2 Water tank capacity: 1.4 litres Pressure: 15 bars Milk frother: Yes - steam wand Milk jug included: No

If deciding between an espresso and pod machine has left you more torn than Ross at the altar then never fear, because this versatile appliance can do it all. It moonlights as a pod machine, taking both Nespresso and ESE capsules, but can also operate as an espresso machine, drawing shots from grounds.

It froths milk well too, though the stiff steam wand is a tad awkward and required a good degree of pivoting before we found a comfortable position for our cup.

Key specifications Type: Espresso/pod Cup capacity: 2 Water tank capacity: 1.5 litres Pressure (bar): 19 Milk frother: Yes - steam wand Milk jug included: No

A fresh coffee can be a godsend on a groggy Monday morning, but you don't want to be waiting around for ages while it brews. We had no such problems with this Krups machine, which took just over a minute to heat up before delighting our testers with technically perfect espressos.

The steam wand was a little stubby and could've had more pressure, so steaming milk was a bit tricky. But when we found a good position, it was able to create the velvety texture we wanted. The Opio also went above and beyond with smart additional features like a storage compartment under the lid.

Key specifications Type: Espresso Cup capacity: 2 Water tank capacity: 1.5 litres Pressure: 15 bars Milk frother: Yes - steam wand Milk jug included: No

If you love sweet things, then you may want to consider the My Way 2, which gives you a huge range of drinks to choose from including hot chocolate and flavoured lattes. It's also the cheapest option on our list, which automatically earns it a few extra brownie points.

It took a while to extract an espresso, and it vibrated on the counter while brewing, drawing a couple of complaints from our testers. But, overall, this is a robust and straightforward machine sure to please those with a sweet tooth.

Key specifications Type: Pod Water tank capacity: 1.3 litres Milk frother: No Pod type: Tassimo Programmes: Espresso, tea, latte, cappuccino, hot chocolate