There are few appliance brands as instantly recognisable as Smeg. With their bold 50s-inspired curves, glossy finishes and rainbow colour of options, these gadgets have become style icons for the modern kitchen – appealing to anyone who wants their space to be both chic and practical.
Smeg began its days as a perhaps not-so-glamorous metalworks manufacturer in 1948, before deciding to create its own range of upmarket appliances in 1956.
It started with larger products like gas cookers, washing machines, fridge-freezers and dishwashers, then eventually moved onto making small kitchen gadgets like kettles, toasters, coffee machines, stand mixers, juicers and more.
What sets Smeg apart is its commitment to turning everyday appliances into fashion pieces. Every gadget is designed to catch your eye – whether it’s a pastel blue fridge, a glossy red espresso machine or sleek cream blender, the variety of looks on offer means you can coordinate your kitchen with matching products, or choose a statement item to add a pop of colour.
But looks aren’t everything, and since Smeg’s appliances are among the most expensive on the market, you might be asking: are they actually any good, or do they only offer style over substance?
At Good Food, we’ve put a selection of the brand’s products through their paces in our Test Kitchen, examining not just their design but also their performance, practicality and value for money.
Further below, you’ll find our honest reviews of its stand-out gadgets, from blenders to coffee machines, milk frothers and sparkling water makers – to help you decide if Smeg is the right fit for your kitchen.
Jump to:
- Why is Smeg so expensive?
- Is there a Smeg Black Friday sale this year?
- Are Smeg kettles worth it?
- Are Smeg toasters worth it?
- Best Smeg kitchen appliances we’ve tested
- The verdict: Are Smeg appliances worth it?
Why is Smeg so expensive?
Over the last few decades, Smeg has cultivated a reputation for being a high-end, heritage brand associated with quality and good looks, and it’s this that ramps up the price of its products.
Essentially, you’re not just buying a kettle or a toaster when you buy a Smeg appliance, you’re paying for a statement item from an iconic brand that will transform your space. Its gadgets are seen as being premium, well made and built to last, and people are willing to invest more money in something that doesn’t just do its job, but also looks good too.
The materials that Smeg uses also contribute to the cost, and most of its products use durable metal and stainless-steel finishes. On top of that, with a Smeg appliance you often get extra features that you might not find on more basic products.
Is there a Smeg Black Friday sale this year?
There is a Smeg Black Friday sale for 2025, and right now you can save up to £300 across a range of kitchen appliances – including coffee machines, coffee grinders, toasters, kettles and more. The Smeg Black Friday sale is expected to end on Tuesday 2 December, so you don’t have too long to make the most of the savings.
The best offers we’ve seen so far include £300 off the Smeg BCC13 bean-to-cup coffee machine (was £799.95, now £499.95) and £130 off the Smeg CGF01 grinder (was £219.95, now £89.95).
There’s also deals on bundles, like the Breakfast Set Bundle, which includes the Smeg kettle and toaster – simply add both items to your basket and a £50 discount will be applied.
You can save on Smeg appliances with other retailers, too, including Amazon, John Lewis & Partners, Very and Currys.
Are Smeg kettles worth it?
Arguably one of the most iconic products in its small appliances range, Smeg kettles are expensive but undoubtedly stylish. We’ve only tested the KLF04 variable temperature kettle, but a more basic model (the KLF03 kettle) is available from £149.95 if you don’t need the variable temperature settings.
The KLF04 comes in a range of shades – the one we tested was a strawberry ice cream colour, which contrasted nicely with the silver handle, spout and base.
It’s relatively speedy, taking around 2 minutes, 15 seconds to boil a litre of water, and poured smoothly in test. The handle is notably comfortable, though the kettle is quite heavy to lift.
We also liked the variable temperature settings (50C-100C), which will come in useful if you drink herbal teas – the temperature goes up in increments of 10C, though there’s also a 95C option.
There are lights along the base that show you the kettle’s progress, too, plus a handy keep-warm function, and when it’s reached the desired temperature it plays a brief little tune.
In all, we rated the Smeg KLF04 kettle 4/5 stars and do think it’s worth the investment – but only if you make the most of the extra features, like the variable temperature settings. Read our full Smeg kettle review.
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Are Smeg toasters worth it?
Like the Smeg kettle, the brand’s iconic toaster also comes in a range of colours, which means you can easily match it with your kitchen’s existing colour scheme. It’s heavy and gets quite hot but we liked its generous, extra-wide slots, which can hold taller slices of bread horizontally, as well as bagels and thicker artisan slices.
There are 11 browning setting to choose from, which are positioned on both sides of the toaster (with large numbers that you can read easily), so you can use each side independently. You can also buy a sandwich rack for making toasties and a bun-warmer attachment.
Extra functions include reheat, defrost and a bagel setting, the latter of which works by placing the slices back-to-back in the slots inside of facing inwards. Toasting was speedy and even, too, particularly on thicker slices of bread.
In summary, we’d recommend the Smeg toaster and awarded it 4/5 in test – but like the kettle, it’s only worth the price if you foresee yourself using all, if not most, of the functions. Read our full Smeg toaster review.
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Best Smeg kitchen appliances we’ve tested
Smeg HMF01 hand mixer
Available from Amazon (£135), Smeg (£149.95), Boots (£149.99)
Star rating: 5/5
This Smeg hand mixer is both stylish and efficient, with a comfortable grip, nine speed settings and a choice of colourways. It also has a backlit digital screen that displays the mixing time, and in test it handled everything from whipping cream to kneading bread dough with ease.
The attachments are dishwasher-safe and release easily from the unit, and a handy cotton storage bag is included, too. Perhaps the only downside is that it’s more expensive than other hand mixers, but if you want a gadget that looks distinctive and offers speed, control and quality, the HMF01 is hard to beat. Read more in our guide to the best hand mixers.
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Smeg soda maker
Available from Smeg (£149.95), Healf (£149.95), Currys (£149.95)
New for 2025, Smeg’s sparkling water maker is the most attractive soda machine we’ve ever tested. Available in four shades (black, blue, green and white), it has an aluminium and stainless-steel build with a matte finish and a water bottle that’s made from 50 per cent recycled materials.
We loved that we could customise the level of fizz with a simple twist of the dial, and our carbonated water retained its bubbles impressively well.
Again, it’s one of the most expensive of those we’ve tested and a gas canister isn’t provided, which bumps up the overall price. Overall, though, it’s a reliable and stylish pick that looks great on the countertop. Read more in our guide to the best sparkling water makers.
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Smeg kitchen scales
Available from Amazon (£119), Smeg (£129.95)
Star rating: 4.5/5
Most kitchen scales sit hidden away in storage when they’re not in use, but this attractive set definitely deserves to be on display. Sporting the brand’s iconic 50s’ aesthetic, they have a polished stainless-steel base and bowl with a matte exterior – available in green, black or white.
As well as a USB-powered rechargeable battery, they have a removable 1.8-litre bowl that can go in the dishwasher and the LED screen is brightly backlit with options for grams, millilitres, fluid ounces, pounds and ounces. They can measure from 1g to 5kg, and in test we found them accurate and quick to respond.
As well as the high price tag, they’re also quite large so better suited to kitchens with wider or deeper countertops. If you have the space and budget, this set is worth the investment. Read more in our guide to the best kitchen scales.
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Smeg ECF02 espresso machine
Available from Amazon (£318.85), John Lewis & Partners (£359.10), Smeg (£399.95)
Star rating: 4.5/5
An upgrade of the original ECF01 espresso machine, this slimline coffee maker is simple to use and packed with advanced features for coffee aficionados.
Sold in eight colours, it offers four drink options and includes a scoop for loading in your coffee grounds. The build quality is excellent, too, and it came packaged in recycled materials – a big plus for sustainability.
We found the set-up straightforward, though the steam wand for frothing milk is a little slow to heat up and a milk jug isn’t included. It produces great espresso though – dark and rich with silky crema.
As espresso machines go it’s at the premium end, and is probably best suited to those who want a simple coffee maker that looks good on the worktop. Read our full guide to the best espresso machines.
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Smeg BLC02 High-Performance Blender
Available from Amazon (£474.95), Smeg (£499.95)
Star rating: 4.5/5
We loved testing this unique-looking blender, which is a real stand-out piece – combining Smeg’s classic retro looks with modern features. It offers nine speed settings, four presets (smoothie, green smoothie, frozen dessert and ice crush), as well as single-serve and family-serve modes.
It produced impressively smooth results, handling everything from silky smoothies to crushed ice with ease. The 1.5-litre jug is robust and well-made, and the included accessories – a vacuum pump, tamper, spatula and cleaning brush – add to its versatility.
The downsides for us were that it’s quite noisy, heavy and the packaging contained a lot of plastic. But if you want a statement blender that stands out on the countertop, it delivers on both style and performance. Read more in our guide to the best blenders.
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Smeg EGF03 espresso machine
Available from Amazon (£565), Currys (£566.97), John Lewis & Partners (£567), Very (£599), AO (£599), Smeg (£599.95)
Star rating: 4.5/5
If you’re after a bold, glossy machine that allows you to experience the fun of grinding and tamping own your fresh coffee every morning, the EGF03 is a great pick. This model is packed with premium features, including a relatively quiet built-in burr grinder that’s efficient and easy to adjust, too.
The robust 58mm portafilter and stainless-steel milk jug add to the premium feel, and in test the machine produced sweet, strong espresso topped with silky crema. We also found the steam wand easy to manoeuvre when frothing milk.
Versus other premium coffee machines, the EGF03 is actually pretty mid-range in terms of cost. It’s also a good choice for both beginners and experienced baristas, combining style, quality and convenience. Read more in our guide to the best bean-to-cup coffee machines.
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Smeg BCC13 bean-to-cup coffee machine
Available from Smeg (£649.95), AO (£799)
Star rating: 4.5/5
If you’d rather have your coffee machine do all the work for you, the BCC13 is a better pick versus the model above. It has a brushed aluminium finish, smooth rounded edges and choice of four pastel shades, and as fully automatic bean-to-cup models go, it’s probably one of the best looking machines we’ve ever tested.
It’s minimalist in its design, offering 10 drink options and automatic milk frothing, plus a height-adjustable outlet that can accommodate a range of cup sizes.
In test, the BCC13 produced quality espresso, though the milk texture was a little thin compared to manual steaming. If you want a hands-off, stylish machine with a more compact footprint and reliable results, this is the gadget for you. Read more in our guide to the best coffee machines.
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Smeg 34-litre combi microwave oven MOE34CXIUK
Available from Boots (£329), AO (£329), Smeg (£469)
Star rating: 4.5/5
Smeg’s 34-litre combi microwave stands out for its sleek, stainless-steel design and generous capacity – making it a stylish and practical choice for larger households. It has a simple interface, but behind it are 10 programmes and 40 settings, including shortcuts for melting butter and chocolate and a handy 30-second time increase button.
We found it both powerful and quiet, and its auto-defrost function is fierce but effective. No surprises here – it is expensive versus other microwaves, but if you value style and can see yourself making use of all the settings, it’s a strong contender. Read more in our guide to the best microwaves.
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Smeg milk frother
Available from John Lewis & Partners (£161.10), AO (£179), Smeg (£179.95)
Star rating: 4.5/5
With a 250ml capacity for frothing and 500ml for cold milk, this elegant-looking milk frother offers a range of settings for different coffee styles and hot chocolate. It produced frothy, creamy results at an ideal drinking temperature during our test, and we thought the build quality was excellent, too.
If you’re after a showpiece for your kitchen counter, this gadget is a worthwhile investment, but you can probably get as good a performance from other less expensive models – so really, what you’re paying for here is the design. Read more in our guide to the best milk frothers.
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Smeg drip filter coffee machine
Available from Amazon (£174.94), John Lewis & Partners (£179.10), Smeg (£199.95), Lavazza (£199.95), Currys (£199.99)
Star rating: 4/5
This drip coffee maker is a great pick for anyone prioritising looks over functionality, though that’s not to say this machine doesn’t have its merits. Its digital display has adjustable intensity levels and you can tweak the settings depending on the water hardness.
There are buttons for different volumes of coffee (one for four cups and another for a whole jug). The 1.4-litre glass carafe is lightweight and pours easily, and the machine also has a hot plate, which keeps coffee warm for up to 40 minutes.
In test, the results were fine but more bitter than we’d like – even when the intensity was reduced to the lowest level – which suggests the water running through the coffee grounds was too hot. It’s an impressive machine overall, but perhaps offers more style over substance. Read more in our guide to the best filter coffee machines.
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Smeg COF01CRUK 10-in-1 countertop oven
Available from Amazon (£799), Smeg (£849.95)
Star rating: 4/5
If you need extra capacity or the convenience of a countertop cooker, this multifunctional gadget can replace both an oven and an air fryer. Offering 10 functions and 33 automatic programmes, including grilling, air frying and steaming, it also comes with accessories like metal racks and a recipe booklet.
In test, it performed well with steam-cooked salmon and air-fried chicken, though chips were a little uneven and took longer than expected. It takes up a lot of worktop space, but for those after a versatile, high-capacity appliance with classic Smeg styling, it’s a good option. Read our guide to the best ovens.
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The verdict: Are Smeg appliances worth it?
In a nutshell, Smeg appliances are worth it if design and good looks are important to you – but they’re not always the top-performing versus other models out there. That’s not to say they aren’t good, but you can get more (if not equal) value from less expensive options.
While more affordable appliances might produce better results, though, they might not be the best looking – and does anyone really want a big, bulky eyesore on their worktop? The key is to consider your space and budget while shopping around, read reviews and and weigh up all the factors before you buy.
Ultimately, if you don’t mind paying extra for design and quality, a Smeg appliance could be a worthwhile choice.
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Best coffee grinders
Best espresso machines
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Best milk frothers
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Best juicers
Best kitchen scales
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