Ditch the daily coffee run: 5 barista-approved coffee machines with early Black Friday discounts
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Erin Bashford is a senior reviews writer at Tom’s Guide. She has a Master’s in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of East Anglia and 7 years of experience reviewing music and events for various publications. She has edited publications such as Outline Magazine’s Guide to Norwich, and she has written for a number of music magazines and websites such as Clash Magazine, Outline Magazine and Dork Magazine. She has a strong interest in audio gear and the music world. As an ex-barista, Erin is passionate about coffee tech. She also loves finding the best cooking hacks and kitchen appliances, including her beloved Instant Pot. In her spare time, you can find her reading, practising yoga, hiking, writing fantasy novels, or stressing over NYT Games.
Ninja, Nespresso, and Casabrews have treated us this year: Black Friday 2026 has seemingly come early! Five of my favorite coffee makers are already discounted ahead of the Thanksgiving sales event.
I've found the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+, Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus, Ninja Fresh Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker, Casabrews 3700 Essential, and the Kismile 8-Cup Coffee Maker all discounted ahead of the main event. I've reviewed all but one of these models (the Kismile) and I can wholeheartedly say they won't disappoint you — especially not at these discounts.
The Casabrews espresso machine? Sub- $100. Yep, an espresso machine for less than three figures. Although it's not the number one best espresso machine , it's definitely up there as one of the best budgets. I'm a tough cookie when it comes to reviewing coffee machines, but I awarded the Casabrews four stars. Here's my cheat code to getting barista coffee at home, for even less than you thought.
The Ninja Fresh Brew 12-Cup coffee maker is one of the cheapest ways to get reliably delicious, fresh coffee at home. We've got this in the Tom's Guide NYC office and it's a favorite. This affordable coffee machine has a programmable brew time, so you can fill it with coffee and water before bed and wake up to fresh coffee every morning. View Deal
The Casabrews 3700 Essential is the cheapest espresso machine I've ever recommended. Although it's just $98 right now, it makes surprisingly delicious espresso and can steam milk perfectly with a little practice. And at just 5 inches wide, it's one of the smallest espresso machines on the market. View Deal
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ with the Aeroccino 3 is just $129 right now, a huge $50 off. You get the Nespresso coffee machine and a milk frother in one for stress-free coffee-making. Vertuo pods are a little different from standard Nespresso pods, coming in full-cup or espresso volumes rather than just espresso-sized drinks. View Deal
Not only is the Kismile 8-Cup Coffee Maker a pour-over, cold brew maker and drip machine in one, but it's also SCA-accredited. This means it meets a series of temperature, timing, and ratio criteria for a reliably delicious cup of coffee. Other brands like Moccamaster and Bonavita have this accreditation, too. View Deal
The Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus is such a fun espresso/coffee machine. It makes espresso easily and also has a drip coffee function. This model has a little extra feature, too — it has automatic milk frothing for perfect foam every time, with zero input from you. View Deal
Of the five machines I've recommended above, two are espresso machines, one is a pod machine, and two are drip machines.
However, one of those machines can do it all: espresso, drip, and milk. The Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus can brew true pressurized espresso, easy drip coffee, and steam milk to perfection. This is the best option if you like all types of coffee, have a lot of space, or just like experimenting. When I reviewed it, I loved how easy it was to use, even for total beginners — and I ended up convincing my coffee beginner sister to get one! Now she sends me photos of her coffee concoctions, and I'm basically a proud mom.
Another espresso machine on this list is the Casabrews 3700 Essential. This is a super cheap model, ideal for complete beginners, gifts, or if you're not sure if you really want to get into nerdy coffee just quite yet. Even though it's ridiculously cheap, it still makes a great brew. I'm a hard-to-please coffee snob, and I awarded it four stars. The only major drawback is that it's a little flimsy and doesn't feel like it'll last for more than a couple of years.
Next, we have the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+. This is a pod machine, so it makes espresso-like drinks without you needing to buy coffee, a grinder, and actually pull the shots yourself. Unlike standard Nespresso machines, the Vertuo line has different pod types. You can get standard 40ml espresso pods, but some are full-cup 10-ounce amounts. Just make sure you know what kind of drinks you want before you buy and read the box! I'm a huge Nespresso defender . When I actually tasted a Nespresso drink, I was extremely pleasantly surprised — and promptly ate my words.
Drip machines make a completely different type of coffee, with zero pressure involved. While espresso is extracted for a short amount of time at a huge amount of pressure, drip machines are, well, drip . You just grind the coffee and pour water over the top, which trickles through the filter and into a carafe. It's coffee in its purest form.
As for drips, the Ninja makes drip coffee in minutes, can keep warm for up to four hours, and even has a delayed brew start, so you can prep your coffee the night before and wake up to a hot pot of Joe.
Last, but certainly not least, the Kismile 8-Cup Coffee Maker. This machine is just as easy to use as the Ninja — it is a drip machine after all — but this one has a few coffee-snob-approved features. Firstly, it's accredited by the Specialty Coffee Association, which means it meets extremely high temperature and brewing standards, and can make both cold brew and has adjustable flow rate so you can make pour-over-like drip.
In short: espresso machines are better if you want the bold, punchy flavor of espresso or like milk drinks, and drip machines are easier if you want to make one pot of coffee in the morning and drink it throughout the day.