Espresso machine offering 'coffee shop quality at home' has £160 off in limited time deal

If you're a coffee fanatic, you face a gauntlet of options whilst bringing cafe-quality brews to your own kitchen. Pod-based machines are fantastic, but if you're after something more specific and controlled, a proper espresso machine is the way to go.

They don't come cheap, of course, but right now you can take advantage of a fantastic deal on the . Currently marked down to £298.99 from £461.99, this 2.8L machine comes with a bean grinder and milk steamer, and has an elegant stainless steel finish. It will cover practically any kind of coffee you want, from espressos through to lattes, and its simple, intuitive design is a breeze to use.

ensures a well-regulated and stable water temperature and flow, ensuring great-tasting coffee every time. The bean grinder has 30 separate fineness settings, with one-touch operation meaning its never been easier to get the consistency you want. It's also got a measured shot button for producing the right amount of water without any intervention on your part, as well as a manual override if you'd rather be in control.

with the cheapest being the Bijou at £112.99 and the dearest being the fully-featured Barista Signature at £499.99. If you're wondering what the £500 outlay gets you, it's largely the same as the Barista Max, but with additional heating, cleaning and grinding features to provide more utility and less mess.

From over 1,000 Amazon reviews, currently has an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, with customers pleased with its utility, form factor and ease of use. "This is honestly the best low-end coffee machine you can buy," said one five-star review. They added: "The steam wand is ready to use within around 5 minutes and when you are skilled enough can produce delicious frothy micro-foam-filled steamed milk for your milk-based coffees."

"What can I say. Fabulous coffee when ever you want," said another happy customer. "It is a fab machine. Have not used the cafetières since I bought it." Another added: "I bought this as a gift for my husband and he absolutely loves it. He is now the new barista in our home. We literally will rather have coffee at home than to go out for one. Great value for money."

However, some users have noted that the grounds can make a mess. "It's very messy to grind beans into a crucible, but there is never a clean way except with a sealed deicated coffee grinder," said one review. The Barista Signature model's static technology is the way to go if you're concerned about keeping on top of grounds.

Others have said it can leave a little to be desired when it comes to temperature. "The heat is the main complaint, you need to preheat your mugs or the coffee will be lukewarm at best," said one customer, although they added: "Luckily you can do this with the steam wand so it's fine."

If you're looking to spend less, this from Currys and also comes with a built-in steamer. On the other end of the spectrum, there's the for £1,390 from Pro Espresso, jammed with enough features that you might consider opening your own coffee shop with it.