Smart kitchen upgrades that will make your life easier AND look chic - from the first non-ugly air fryer to a blissfully quiet coffee machine

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The invisible hob

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First came concealed fridges. Then handleless cabinetry. Now, invisible cooking hobs are pushing seamless kitchen design even further.

Novy’s Undercover invisible induction hob (below) is cleverly concealed beneath the worktop, heating only when a magnetic pan is placed on top, while the rest of the counter stays cool and usable as a work surface. The hob has nine heat levels that can be controlled via a wireless remote. Naturally. As well as a timer, which automatically shuts off the hob after a set time, protecting your dinner from burning to a crisp.

Undercover kitchen hob, from £4,199 for a three-zone model, Novy.com

As with most innovations, there are a few practicalities to consider. For a start, the worktop can’t have any additional cut-outs on the same surface as the invisible hob. So, if you are planning to incorporate an inset sink into the same stretch of countertop, this is not for you. Secondly, the worktop must also be supplied by Novy to ensure compatibility, with surface prices starting from £420 per square metre.

The good news for those with this kind of budget is that there are more than 40 finishes to choose from, allowing you to tailor the look to your kitchen. What’s more, there is no need for additional surface protectors (from £4,199 for a three-zone model, novy.com).

Another innovation worth considering is the induction Air Plus hob by Siemens.

It is larger in size, comes equipped with an integrated extractor and has a durable surface the manufacturers describe as ‘diamond hard’ (£1,899, siemens-home.bsh-group.com). Bargain hunters should also check devinedistribution.co.uk, where brand-new appliances, including those by Siemens, are regularly discounted by up to 70 per cent.

For those short on space and money, Ikea’s handy Tillreda portable induction hob sits on the countertop and can be stored away in a cupboard after use to free up space (£45, ikea.com).

The quiet coffee machine

Tired of those shrill beeps from your coffee machine and the loud whirring from your milk frother? The KF3 bean-to-cup automatic coffee machine from KitchenAid (below) may be the answer. Alongside a surprisingly muted milk frother (it’s Quiet Mark approved), it has a responsive touchscreen that lets you personalise everything from strength to size, plus a dedicated iced coffee and iced espresso setting for when a latte feels too basic (£749, kitchenaid.co.uk).

If you are not ready to splash out on a bean-to-cup machine for your morning brew, the Tassimo by Bosch pod coffee machine offers a happy middle ground. It operates with a gentle whirr, can make more than 50 different drinks and comes with an intensity boost function that lets you brew a stronger cup for an extra kick (£80, argos.co.uk).

The bio tap

For years, modern kitchen taps have been serving up boiling, filtered and even sparkling water at the touch of a button. Now comes biometric fingerprint technology. Leading the charge is the latest boiling-water tap by Vellamo, which adds an extra layer of safety as well as convenience.

In this kitchen, designed by Blake London, an integrated wine fridge is concealed within a marble island. For similar, try gaggenau.com

The biometric feature only enables certain people to access boiling water through fingerprint recognition, which is ideal for keeping little hands safe. It also enables you to make a hot drink in seconds rather than having to wait for the kettle to boil (from £439.99, Vellamo Biometric, tapwarehouse.com).

Another kitchen game-changer is the latest pull-out spray tap from Hansgrohe. As well as making rinsing vegetables and washing large roasting tins much easier, it’s kinder on your water bill, too. While the average kitchen tap uses around 9.5 litres per minute, these models deliver the same everyday tasks using around just 5 litres. Better for the planet, and your wallet (£519.50. hansgrohe.co.uk).

The wi-fi fridge

Meet the fridge-freezer that does more than keep your groceries cold. Samsung’s Family Hub combines smart cooling with a family organiser, entertainment system and shopping assistant. Its built-in touchscreen and wi-fi connectivity enable you to view what’s inside remotely via the SmartThings app, so there’s no more wondering if you are out of milk while you’re at the supermarket. It can also manage shopping lists, display family calendars and stream music while you cook. Think of it as part fridge-freezer, part PA (from £1,899, samsung.com).

The wine climate cabinet

If your wine knowledge begins and ends with ‘red’ or ‘white’, Gaggenau’s latest wine cabinet has you covered. Its new sommelier sensor technology uses infrared sensors to identify the type of wine inside and automatically adjusts the temperature to its ideal serving conditions as well as signalling, via an illuminated display, when it’s ready to pour. Pair it with the smartphone app and you can even keep tabs on your collection from the sofa (from £5,500, gaggenau.com).

The stylish air fryer

Air fryer and cooker, £199.95, smeguk.com. Arriving in September

The days of a hulking black box taking up half your worktop are, thankfully, over. In its place comes Smeg’s first slimline air fryer (above), launching in September for £199.95 (smeguk.com). Despite its pared-back footprint, it boasts a generous 7.3-litre capacity – plenty of room to roast a whole chicken or tackle a batch of crispy potatoes. It also features

For those after maximum versatility, Ninja’s Double Stack XL is another clever space-saving option. Instead of spreading outwards, its two stacked cooking drawers give you the capacity of a large dual-drawer air fryer while taking up less counter space (£199, sharkninja.co.uk).