Whether you’re expecting your first baby or, like me, welcoming another little one, there’s plenty to think about before they arrive – from which pram you’ll buy to creating a safe sleep space. And then there are all the everyday practicalities of looking after a newborn, including, of course, how you’re going to feed them. If formula is the route for you, that means preparing for the seemingly endless cycle of making bottles.
From measuring the correct ratio of water and formula to getting the temperature just right, bottle preparation can be surprisingly time-consuming and stressful – particularly when you have a screaming, hungry newborn in your arms. I remember all too well those middle-of-the-night feeds when I’d be desperately trying to make a bottle as quickly as possible, wishing there was an easier way.
Enter: formula prep machines. Essentially, these are kitchen gadgets designed to simplify bottle preparation, dispensing the right amount of water – and, with some models, formula powder – before mixing it to create a bottle that’s immediately ready to feed. They promise to save time and take some of the faff out of feeding, but there is an important safety consideration. The NHS advises that “the water that comes out of the machine is at least 70C when combined with the formula”, to kill any harmful bacteria that may be present in powdered formula and recommends checking the temperature with a digital food thermometer.
Four years ago, I tested two of the biggest contenders in the market: Tommee Tippee and Baby Brezza – and it was Tommee Tippee’s prep machine that came out on top. Now, I’m putting both gadgets through their paces again – and there’s plenty to revisit. Tommee Tippee has completely redesigned its machine with the new perfect prep pro, which now dispenses formula powder as well as water, while the Baby Brezza formula pro advanced has also evolved. Both promise an almost hands-free way to make a bottle, taking care of measuring, mixing and dispensing at the touch of a button. So, does my previous winner still deserve its title, or has Baby Brezza finally overtaken it?
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Tommee Tippee perfect prep pro
Why we love it
- Automatic powder dispensing removes the need for manual scooping
- Straightforward to set up
- Integrated antibacterial water filter
- Companion app for setup and maintenance reminders
- Produces consistently smooth bottles
Take note
- Marginally slower than Baby Brezza
- Requires replacement filters
- Premium price
What is the Tommee Tippee perfect prep pro?
When I first tested Tommee Tippee's perfect prep day and night against the Baby Brezza four years ago, the biggest compromise was measuring the formula by hand before every feed. It wasn't difficult, but when you're running on very little sleep, every extra step feels like another obstacle between you and a hungry baby.
The new and updated perfect prep pro is Tommee Tippee's answer to that. Rather than simply refreshing the original machine, it's the biggest redesign the company has made since launching the perfect prep more than a decade ago. The headline new feature is automatic powder dispensing, meaning the machine stores formula in an airtight hopper and weighs out the correct amount for you before preparing the bottle.
Like previous perfect prep machines, it still follows Tommee Tippee's ‘hot shot’ process, dispensing a small amount of water at 70C before topping the bottle up with cooler filtered water to create a feed at body temperature. According to the brand, this helps kill any bacteria that may be present in powdered formula while ensuring the finished bottle is ready to feed straight away.
It prepares bottles from 4oz to 11oz, features a larger 2l water tank than previous models and connects to the Tommee Tippee app for setup guidance, maintenance reminders and troubleshooting.
As someone who's preparing for baby number two, this felt like a genuinely exciting update rather than just a cosmetic refresh. It promises to remove the only part of the original machine that ever felt slightly dated.
Design
Although the perfect prep pro is instantly recognisable as a Tommee Tippee machine, it looks considerably more modern than the older model I used previously.
The glossy finish, colour touchscreen and enclosed powder hopper give it a much more premium appearance and it looks less like a dedicated baby appliance and more like something you'd expect to find alongside a coffee machine.
It's still a fairly substantial appliance, so you'll want to dedicate permanent worktop space to it, but the taller design actually helps reduce its footprint.
The removable water tank is easy to access from the back, while the powder hopper sits neatly on top with a secure airtight lid that's simple to refill. I particularly liked that all the parts that need regular cleaning can be removed without feeling fiddly.
The adjustable bottle platform accommodates different bottle heights and felt sturdy throughout testing. The buttons are also a significant improvement over the older controls, responding quickly and displaying clear prompts that are easy to follow even during sleepy early-morning bottle prep.
Setup
Setting up the perfect prep pro took me around 25 minutes from opening the box to preparing the first bottle.
As with previous Tommee Tippee machines, the filter needs soaking before installation and the machine walks you through the entire setup process via the touchscreen. Once the filter is fitted, you simply fill the water tank with fresh water, allow the system to prime itself and complete an initial cleaning cycle before adding your formula to the hopper.
There’s one extra step with the pro that you didn’t get with the older perfect prep: you need to calibrate the machine to your chosen formula. The machine weighs the exact amount of powder needed for each feed size, so you select the bottle size you want to set up, weigh out the correct amount of powder according to your formula manufacturer’s instructions, and the pro stores this measurement for future feeds. You’ll need to repeat the process if you change formula brand or type, as the settings are specific to both the formula and feed size.
It might sound complicated but the machine guides you through every stage, so there's very little room for error. If you're buying your first bottle prep machine, it's reassuringly beginner-friendly and considerably less intimidating than it initially appears.
Having used the older perfect prep for so long, I was pleasantly surprised by how much more streamlined the process now feels.
How to use
This is where the perfect prep pro feels like a completely different machine to its predecessor. Instead of measuring out formula powder yourself, you simply choose your bottle size on the touchscreen and place an empty bottle on the adjustable stand. The machine automatically dispenses the correct amount of formula before adding the initial hot shot of water. I test the temperature of the hot shot to see how accurate it was and it varied between 83C to 100C every time.
After giving the bottle a quick swirl to dissolve the powder, you return it to the stand and the machine finishes the feed with cooler filtered water, producing a bottle that's ready to drink.
It still takes around a minute and a half to complete the whole process, making it quite a bit slower than the Baby Brezza, but in reality I rarely found myself wishing it was any quicker. It felt more important that the process was consistent and easy to follow every single time.
The touchscreen prompts make the machine almost impossible to misuse, which is particularly reassuring if grandparents or friends are preparing bottles.
Noise levels are low, too. There's a gentle pumping sound while it's dispensing water, but it never felt intrusive, even imagining those inevitable middle-of-the-night feeds I'll soon be doing again.
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Cleaning
Like every bottle prep machine, the perfect prep pro isn't maintenance-free, but Tommee Tippee has done a good job of making it as painless as possible.
The machine reminds you when it's time to clean or descale, and both processes are largely automated through the touchscreen menus. The removable powder hopper and bottle platform are straightforward to wash, while the water tank is easy to remove and refill.
The only ongoing cost worth factoring in is replacement filters, which Tommee Tippee recommends changing regularly depending on usage. They're not especially expensive individually, but it's worth remembering they'll become part of your annual running costs.
Overall, I found maintenance less involved than I'd expected and certainly no more demanding than the older perfect prep I'd previously lived with for a year.
Other models
Aside from the perfect prep pro, Tommee Tippee sells the perfect prep (£119.99, Tommeetippee.com), which is a more streamlined option that requires you to manually scoop and add formula powder to the bottle. It’s more affordable than the prep pro and takes up less countertop space, making it a great option if you don't mind measuring formula yourself.
Key specifications:
Buy now £199.99, Tommeetippee.com
Baby Brezza formula pro advanced
Why we love it
- Extremely fast bottle preparation
- Minimal hands-on involvement
- Large formula hopper
- Wide bottle compatibility
Take note
- More expensive
- Requires careful formula calibration
- Funnel needs frequent cleaning
What is the Baby Brezza formula pro advanced?
Unlike Tommee Tippee, Baby Brezza has always focused on complete automation. The formula pro advanced is designed to do almost everything for you, automatically measuring both powdered formula and water before mixing them together to create a warm bottle in as little as 15 seconds.
Rather than following a ‘hotshot’ method, the machine dispenses pre-measured powder and warmed water simultaneously, with settings tailored to different formula brands to ensure the correct ratio is used. So, while it is generally considered safe, it’s important to note that the machine does not heat water to the 70C recommended by UK health guidelines.
It prepares bottles from 2oz to 10oz, stores both water and formula inside the machine and aims to remove almost every manual step from bottle preparation.
While it isn't an entirely new concept, the formula pro advanced refines Baby Brezza's original formula pro with wider bottle compatibility, quieter operation and a simpler control panel.
Design
The formula pro advanced immediately feels like a premium appliance. Its narrow design takes up surprisingly little worktop space despite packing in both a water reservoir and generous powder hopper, and I liked the clean, minimalist appearance.
The digital controls are simple rather than flashy, with clearly labelled buttons for bottle size, temperature and dispensing options. The adjustable bottle stand slides into different positions to accommodate various bottle heights and remained stable throughout testing. Overall, it looks and feels every bit like a premium kitchen appliance rather than a piece of baby equipment.
Setup
Setup is relatively straightforward, although there are a few more components to assemble than with the Tommee Tippee. The measuring wheel, stirring wheel, powder container, funnel and drip tray all need to be fitted correctly before you can get started.
The most important step is selecting the correct formula setting. Baby Brezza maintains a database of compatible formulas, with a specific dispensing number for each brand, stage and type of formula. You’ll need to check the “formula settings finder” and make sure the number matches your particular formula before preparing a bottle. If you change formula, you’ll need to check the setting again. However, this is incredibly simple to do. All you need to do is visit the Baby Brezza website, scan the barcode on your formula tub and you will be instantly given the correct setting number to use.
Once that’s done, the rest of the setup is fairly simple. You fill the water tank with cooled boiled water, add your formula powder to the hopper and make sure the settings are saved. You can then run a test bottle to check everything is dispensing correctly. The machine lets you choose the feed volume in 30ml increments from 60ml to 300ml.
How to use
If speed is your priority, this is where Baby Brezza really shines.
Once the machine is set up, you select your bottle size and temperature (it warms water to either room temperature, body temperature, or warmer than body temperature). You then place your bottle beneath the dispenser and press start. Seconds later, the machine has dispensed the correct amount of powder and water, mixed them together and produced a bottle that's ready to feed.
Watching it work genuinely feels so impressive, and it's easy to understand why so many parents rave about it. On average, it took me just 13 seconds to make a bottle. The powder is stored in an airtight container, so there's no need to measure it out with a scoop for every feed, while the water tank means you can make bottles at the touch of a button. Compared with the Tommee Tippee, there are fewer manual steps, making it feel slightly more hands-off overall.
Cleaning
Cleaning is probably the area where the Baby Brezza asks the most from you. The mixing funnel needs cleaning frequently to prevent formula build-up, and while the task itself only takes a few minutes, it's something you'll need to stay on top of if you're making several bottles each day.
The powder hopper and water tank are both easy enough to remove and clean, while the machine also prompts you when deeper maintenance is required. It's not difficult to keep clean, but it definitely requires more regular attention than the Tommee Tippee.
Other models
The formula pro advanced is an evolution of Baby Brezza's original formula pro rather than a complete redesign. The newer version offers improved compatibility with more formulas and bottle brands, quieter operation, updated controls and a redesigned bottle platform.
Compared with the original formula pro, the advanced feels more polished and easier to live with, but the core idea remains the same: a fully automated bottle-making machine designed to save parents as much time and effort as possible.
Key specifications:
Buy now £249.99, Babybrezza.co.uk
What is the best formula prep machine?
At a glance:
When I tested these brands several years ago, Tommee Tippee came out on top because it offered the best balance of convenience, reliability and value. I wasn't convinced that would still be the case once Baby Brezza had years to refine its machine and Tommee Tippee had completely redesigned its own. And, after spending time with both, I actually think the gap has narrowed dramatically.
Baby Brezza is still the fastest bottle prep machine I've ever used, and if speed is your number one priority, it’s difficult to argue against it. Producing a warm bottle in around 13 seconds is genuinely impressive, particularly during middle-of-the-night feeds. But for me, the Tommee Tippee perfect prep pro is the better all-rounder.
The new automatic powder dispensing removes the biggest weakness of the original machine, while the intuitive interface and simpler day-to-day maintenance make it the machine I'd happily leave on my kitchen worktop and use every single day. Plus, personally, I find the ‘hotshot’ preparation process reassuring in terms of safety. It may not be the quickest, but it's the one I found easiest to trust, easiest to live with and the one I'd recommend to most new parents.
How I tested prep machines
I tested the Tommee Tippee perfect prep pro and Baby Brezza formula advanced pro side by side, using the same powdered formula and bottles with both machines to ensure the comparison was as fair as possible. I assessed each machine across the following criteria, considering not just how well they worked, but how practical they would be for parents using them day and night.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
IndyBest’s assistant editor, Sarah Jones has years of experience rigorously testing a wide range of pregnancy products from the best maternity pyjamas to the best stretch mark creams. She first tested the Tommee Tippee and Baby Brezza prep machines four years ago, when she was preparing bottles for her first child. Now pregnant with her second baby, Sarah is putting both machines through their paces again to see how they compare today, what has changed since her original testing and whether her previous verdict still stands. Having used formula prep machines as a new parent, she knows what matters beyond the specifications, from how quickly and accurately each machine prepares a bottle to how easy it is to set up, clean and maintain when you're dealing with frequent feeds and little sleep.
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