The Ultimate Guide for Coffee Lovers

The coffee lovers’ guide to espresso machines

One of life's little luxuries, a visit to the coffee shop, is a real treat for some. But if you get into the habit, it can be a costly experience, and some of the designer machines out there make it hard to justify the cost of making your own at home.

Engineered for the perfect brew without the big brand price tag, our compact, budget-friendly Espresso Coffee Machines have all the features you need to experience luxury coffee at home, but at an affordable, everyday price; backed by the Lakeland quality (and a reassuring 3-year guarantee) you know you can rely on.

Making sense of the jargon: An A-Z guide of coffee making

Before you start looking at machines, it’s helpful to know what all their features and parts actually do...

Bar pressure

For espresso machines, as well as looking for wattage (like you would for a kettle), look for bar pressure. It controls how efficiently the water is pushed through the coffee – the more pressure applied, the more flavour will be extracted. Around 10 bar is sufficient for espresso, but we’ve designed our Espresso Machines to deliver 15-bar pressure – the optimum level to achieve a rich flavour and beautifully smooth layer of crema.

Burr grinder

A grinder prepares fresh whole coffee beans into ground coffee so it’s ready to be dispensed into the portafilter to make an espresso. Unlike traditional mills, which chop beans unevenly, a burr grinder crushes your coffee into thousands of uniformly sized grains to preserve the flavour. 

You can either buy machines that have a built-in grinder which prepare the exact amount you need fresh for every cup, or you can buy stand-alone grinders. We’ve a small, but perfectly curated ,selection of burr grinders which all work fantastically well, but our favourite is the Lakeland Rechargeable Coffee Grinder.

Crema

The sign of a perfectly made espresso, crema is the distinguishing thick golden froth, created when tiny air bubbles trap the fine, flavourful coffee oils and aromas extracted from ground beans.

Espresso

A small, strong and intense single shot of coffee. The base from which all other coffees are created from.

Portafilter

This is the handle-shaped device that holds the ground coffee and a filter on some espresso machines. Hot water flows through the grounds and into your cup to make an espresso. It is also called a group handle.

 

 

Steamed milk or ‘micro foam’

Cold milk that is heated and frothed with the steam arm of a coffee machine. It’s what gives café-style coffees like cappuccinos their smooth, creamy texture and glossy finish.

Steam wand

Also known as a “steam arm”, it’s used to heat and froth milk which can be used as the basis for virtually all coffee creations like lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos. If you hone your pouring skills you can also create wonderful examples of latte art!

 

And you don’t necessarily need an espresso machine with a steam wand to enjoy frothed milk; our Milk and Hot Chocolate Frother will do the job just as well, along with making silky smooth hot chocolates for when you fancy a sweet treat.

 

Tamp

Simply put, ‘tamp’ refers to the pressure used to pack ground coffee into the filter so that water passes through at the correct speed. Too much ‘tamping’ and the coffee will be packed too tightly – water can take too long to pass through and there’s a risk of over-extraction which can result in a bitter, burnt taste. If the grains are too loose, water passes through too quickly and coffee will be watery and lack flavour.

Thermoblock

Refers to a type of heating unit which heats water to the correct temperature for coffee. Unlike tea, where you use boiling water, scalding coffee will ruin the flavour – the optimum is around 85-92°C.

Water tank

It’s important to consider the tank – how much water will it hold? How easy is it to refill? Water should be freshly drawn every time and a removable tank will make this easy as it can be taken straight to the tap.

Picking the right coffee machine

Enjoying a rich cappuccino is one of life’s little treats, and it’s never been easier to create your own at home with a barista-style espresso machine. But the quest to unlock the mystery behind the perfect crema can often lead to forking out for a designer-label machine that has too many options and features that you’ll never use.

Combining our expert brewing experience and clever price know-how, our Espresso Coffee machines have been designed to do just one thing but do it really well: make a seriously good coffee at a seriously low price, all backed by the Lakeland quality you know you can rely on.

We’ve kept things simple by only building them with features you’ll actually use, and none that you won’t. Want one that’ll make the perfect brew every morning with freshly ground beans exactly how you like them? We’ve got it. Just after a simple machine for whenever you feel like making a cup? We’ve got you covered. Here’s our guide to our three new machines:

Why choose: The Lakeland Barista Deluxe Bean-to-Cup Espresso Machine

• Barista-style professional all-in-one coffee machine with built-in grinder and steam wand
• 15-bar pressure pump for café-style crema
• Integrated burr grinder with 30 grind settings
• Steam arm for silky milk frothing
• Easy to use control buttons for single or double shots
• Intelligent temperature control to avoid scalding your coffee
• 2.8 litre water tank
• Includes portafilter, single and double filters, tamper, 350 ml stainless steel milk jug, bean hopper and cleaning brushes
• Approx dimensions: 33cm W. x 30cm D. x 42cm H.
• Perfect for: Those that appreciate a fine cup of coffee morning, noon and night that’s been prepared to their exacting standards.

Why our customers love it:

“We have a much more expensive espresso machine at work… I’ve been so impressed by how much this one offers for a fraction of the price. Everything feels intuitive, and I actually prefer its simplicity to the more expensive machine.” Lakeland Customer Review

Why choose: The Lakeland Barista Espresso Machine

• Easy to use espresso coffee machine with built-in steam wand
• Good Housekeeping Institute approved (2026)
• 15-bar pressure for café-style crema
• Steam arm for silky milk frothing
• Easy to use control buttons for single or double shots
• 1.5L water tank and drip tray
• Includes portafilter, single and double cup filter, ESE pod filter, measuring scoop with tamper and cleaning brushes
• Approx dimensions: 20cm W. x 27.5 D. x 30cm H.
• Perfect for: Those that love their daily cup of coffee, without the fuss.

Why The Good Housekeeping Institute love it:

“Quick, consistent and straightforward to use, the Lakeland Barista Express combines a fast preheat time with intuitive controls and an effective steam wand, making it easy to prepare everyday coffees topped with smooth, stable milk foam.”

Why our customers love it:

“I have been really pleased with this machine. It has been well made to ensure coffee making is simple and quick… Most importantly the coffee tasted great and was nice and hot.” Lakeland Customer Review

Why choose: The Lakeland Espresso Machine

• Compact espresso machine with in-built steam wand
• 15-bar pressure for café-style crema
• Steam arm for silky milk frothing
• Easy to use control buttons for single or double shots
• 1.4L water tank and drip tray
• Includes portafilter, single and double cup filter and ESE pod filter, measuring scoop with tamper and cleaning brushes
• Approx dimensions: 13cm W. x 41cm D. x 30cm H.
• Perfect for: Those that love a brew on a slow Saturday morning to start the weekend.

Why our customers love it:

“The design is very sleek and stylish, and I particularly like how compact it is — it takes up minimal space on the worktop without compromising on functionality… The machine makes a lovely coffee with a really good layer of crema, giving it that 'coffee-shop' quality.” Lakeland Customer Review

A gift that will last longer than the season

A gift they’ll use - and thank you for - every day, there is simply no better present than an Espresso Machine for a lover of real coffee. Gifting a loved one their own coffee machine will mean they can enjoy their favourite brew every day, and save on expensive takeaway coffees at the same time. Boasting all the same features and quality you’ll find in the designer brands, but at a much lower price, our Espresso Machines make it possible to give them their perfect gift. It’s something they’ll really want, but might not necessarily buy for themselves, without breaking the bank.

Gifts for coffee lovers

We’ve a whole host of gift ideas to choose from, from gadgets they’ll use every day, to finishing touches that will make every cup feel that little bit more special. Here are our top picks:

The Foamie Rechargeable Milk Frother £11.99

A take-anywhere little gadget for coffees and hot chocolates with a foamy finish, without needing a fancy steam-powered machine.

Lakeland Rechargeable Coffee Grinder £19.99

Ensuring freshly ground coffee for every cup, this pocket-sized grinder is a must-have accessory for anyone who appreciates a good coffee

3-Piece Glass Cafetiere Gift Set £24.99

A gift that’s sure to be used everyday and will elevate their coffee drinking experience. Includes a 600ml French press and two 250ml double-walled glass cups to keep drinks warmer for longer.