I consider myself something of a coffee savant. You can’t need coffee like Lorelai Gilmore and drink four to five cups a day without becoming a connoisseur. When I was in college, I bought coffee almost daily at the on-campus cafe. Whenever I travel, finding the best coffee house in that city is always my absolute top priority. Needless to say, I’ve had my fair share of coffee shop experiences — but now I prefer to drink coffee at home. 

The main reason for this change is the L’Or Barista coffee and espresso system, which is currently free when you order $79 worth of coffee capsules. L’Or is running several other promotions on its coffee systems, so take advantage before these deals disappear this week. Plus, you can grab the L’Or system and frother bundle for $50 off in all colors. 

I bought my mom this system for Christmas and we’ve both become L’Or evangelists. With this deal, it’s not a bad time to gift your caffeine-loving mom or dad (or yourself — I won’t judge) my all-time favorite coffee and espresso system.   

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

Why I love my L’Or Barista

Every morning, I wake up giddy to make my coffee. The Onyx Espresso capsules are my consistent go-to when I make my favorite salted maple iced lattes, which are perfect for warm, summer mornings, but I’m also a huge fan of the iced coffee capsules. Since I’ve perfected my morning caffeine routine with the L’Or Barista, I no longer feel any need to buy coffee out. In fact, I prefer making my coffee and espresso drinks at home since I can use my machine to tailor them to my mood on that given morning. 

I also love how quickly the machine heats up — a flat 25 seconds to be exact. Nothing feels worse than waiting and waiting for a coffee machine to turn on, heat up and brew up a batch of java. Mere minutes can feel like an eternity when I’m exhausted and desperate for the energy that first cup of caffeine brings me. 

What comes with the system?

The L’Or Barista is a single-serve machine that uses high-pressure brewing to make both coffee and espresso beverages at home. The system can brew six different sizes of hot or iced coffee, as well as espresso. 

The sleek machine, which is compact enough to fit on a kitchen counter, is a highlight, but the capsules are also an exciting treat. Since you’ll need to spend $79 or more for a free system, you can opt to taste a variety of capsule flavors. I’ve tried the caramel, hazelnut and Le Tigre coffee capsules and numerous espresso options — it’s genuinely hard to pick a favorite. 

Why this makes a great gift

At its discounted price tag (usually $199), the L’Or Barista would be a great gift for any coffee connoisseur in your life. In fact, my mom tried mine, became obsessed, and would subtly bring it up until I finally bought her one this past Christmas. The current sale would provide the perfect opportunity to get some key Father’s Day or graduation shopping done (wink, wink).

Basically, this system comes with everything you need for a complete at home barista experience, while taking any hassle out of the process. 

For more tips to feel like a master barista, explore our roundup of the best espresso machines. You should also read how to make great lattes at home on the cheap.