Articles by Cat Ellis, Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, and worked on print magazines including PC Plus, Official Windows Magazine, and PC Format before moving online. She's also a Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) certified barista, so whether you want to upgrade your smart lights or pick up a new espresso machine, she's the right person to help.

Articles by: Cat Ellis

Mostly blue image shown on TV with Philips Hue Play Light Bars beside it

Philips Hue Play Light Bar review: a fun and flexible addition to your home theater setup

By Cat Ellis published 18 January 25

Got a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box? This compact light will add a new dimension to your movies and games, wherever you put it.

Philips Somneo wake-up light on blue background

The best wake-up lights 2025: sunrise alarms tested by experts

By Cat Ellis last updated 17 January 25

Updated Rise and shine with a natural-looking gradual sunrise and soft audio effects.

A living room kitted out with Philips Hue Smart Lights in various lamps

Got Philips Hue lights? A free software update could turn them into motion sensors

By Cat Ellis published 17 January 25

Occupation detection with no extra hardware required.

Split image showing Nest Secure smoke alarm on the left, and person using smartphone to unlock Aqara smart lock on the right

The Google Home app is getting a big update, and it's good news for your security

By Cat Ellis published 16 January 25

Nest Protect and improved support for Matter-compatible smart locks incoming.

KitchenAid KF6 espresso machine in Porcelain White

KitchenAid just gave you a new reason to upgrade your espresso machine

By Cat Ellis published 15 January 25

All the company's espresso makers are now available in smart Porcelain White.

Smeg Mini Pro Espresso Coffee Machine with milk pitcher

Smeg Mini Pro Espresso Coffee Machine review: a beautiful manual coffee maker that lets you call the shots, but at a price

By Cat Ellis published 13 January 25

Smeg's latest espresso machine gives you a taste of the barista experience at home, if your wallet can take the hit.

Forget AI, there's only one thing I want from Philips Hue this year

By Cat Ellis published 13 January 25

An assistant that can design custom mood lighting sounds fun, but it's not my top priority.

kitchenaid stand mixer in color of the year

I took a pie-making course, and it changed everything I thought I knew about pastry

By Cat Ellis published 12 January 25

Four key baking lessons I took home (along with a heap of delicious pies).

Three coffee makers demonstrated at CES 2025

5 hot coffee innovations from CES – from condensing espresso machines to super-fast cold brew

By Cat Ellis published 11 January 25

The best new tech we've seen at CES 2025 coming to your kitchen counter soon.

CES 2025 live: all the latest news from the world's biggest tech show

By Mark Wilson last updated 10 January 25

CES 2025 is now well underway and we're live at the show – here's all of the latest tech news.

Nanoleaf's Ambilight alternative is now even easier to install – no more corner brackets

By Cat Ellis published 8 January 25

CES 2025 Nanoleaf 4D V2 comes with a lightweight, bendy light strip, and supports wider screens.

KaraPod coffee machine with cup of coffee and glass of water suspended beside it

This coffee machine brews espresso using water condensed from the air in your home

By Cat Ellis published 7 January 25

CES 2025 It's an interesting idea – just don't think too much about where that water might have come from.

This AI air fryer turns your grandma's old recipes into smart cooking programs

By Cat Ellis published 7 January 25

CES 2025 Scan your favorite recipes from your cookbooks and let the Dreo ChefMaker 2 handle the tricky conversions.

Woman using Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential installed on wall

Ecobee's new smart thermostat could save you money on heating – and it's half the price of the latest Google Nest

By Cat Ellis published 7 January 25

CES 2025 The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential helps you schedule heating and cooling, and spot opportunities to cut energy consumption.

Screen grab of AI assistant in Philips Hue app

The Philips Hue app is getting a big upgrade this year, with a new generative AI assistant

By Cat Ellis published 7 January 25

CES 2025 Details are scant so far, but Signify claims it's the start of "a new era in smart lighting".

SwitchBot Lock Ultra retrofitted on two different types of door lock

Switchbot's new renter-friendly smart lock can be retrofitted onto almost any door – even yours

By Cat Ellis published 6 January 25

CES 2025 With 16 unlocking options, including Apple HomeKit support.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro mounted on exterior wall

Ring is giving two of its best security cameras a free video-quality upgrade this week

By Cat Ellis published 6 January 25

CES 2025 The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro is one of two cameras getting a 2K upgrade

Yukai Engineering's Nékojita FuFu robot cat clipped onto the side of a steaming coffee cup

This adorable little robot cat will stop you burning your tongue on hot coffee

By Cat Ellis published 6 January 25

CES 2025 From the company that brought you last year's finger-nibbling Amagami Ham Ham.

Runners racing in Paris Marathon with Eiffel Tower in the background and badge at top left reading "Get fit for '25"

I'm running the Paris Marathon this year - here are three pieces of tech I'm using to cross the finish line

By Cat Ellis published 4 January 25

You don't need the latest watch or the most expensive shoes to train for a marathon PB - just the right ones.

If your Google Nest smart speaker has been giving you the silent treatment, there's now a fix

By Cat Ellis published 3 January 25

Some users found that their devices stopped responding to voice commands between Christmas and New Year's Day.

The year 2025 spelled out in coffee beans

The future of coffee - 3 hot trends brewing in 2025

By Cat Ellis published 31 December 24

An expert coffee roaster gives his insights into sustainability, capsules for connoisseurs, and home espresso machines.

Person's hand wiping front of coffee maker with cloth

Got a new coffee maker for Christmas? Here's how to love and cherish it, and make it last forever (almost)

By Cat Ellis published 25 December 24

With the right care, your coffee machine will keep on working just like the day you unwrapped it.

Woman sitting beside Christmas tree holding cup of coffee

5 absolutely last minute gifts for coffee lovers

By Cat Ellis published 23 December 24

Truly thoughtful ideas for the keen bean in your life, whatever your budget.

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker on counter with cup of coffee and small plant

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker review: drip coffee just got a whole lot smarter

By Cat Ellis published 22 December 24

This digital drip coffee machine delivers exceptional results, but it doesn't keep the beautifully brewed coffee hot for long.

Samsung smart refrigerator, washing machine, tumble dryer, and oven with screens

Do your oven and fridge really need AI? Samsung thinks so, and plans to add screens to them too

By Cat Ellis published 18 December 24

Samsung is debuting four new AI-enhanced appliances at the CES show in January.

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