Opal Pod Coffee Machine

Most pod machines are built around Nespresso's own capsules, and pods from smaller speciality roasters come off worst. The Opal was designed the other way round: silicon brew chamber, higher pressure, three temperature settings and shot weight you set yourself, all aimed at getting the best coffee out of the pods.

It came out of a collaboration with Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, who runs Colonna over in Bath and has won the UK barista championship three times.

About £145.