For me, a day doesn’t truly begin without a robust cup of coffee. I prefer it black, potent, with a splash of cold water. If I’m treating myself to take-out, I’ll indulge in a seasonal special – yes, I’m that person ordering gingerbread lattes in December.
At home, my trusty L’or Barista Sublime (£65), compatible with Nespresso pods, has served me well for years, as did the Nespresso Pixie machine (£134.99) before it. Both are excellent for whipping up espressos and Americanos, but neither came with an optional milk frother. So, when kitchenware brand Ninja announced their new coffee machine, I was intrigued.
Ninja is already a household name in kitchen tech, boasting popular products like air fryers,blenders, ice cream makers, knife sets, and even pans. Naturally, I was eager to test out the new Ninja Luxe Cafe and elevate my coffee experience.
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And I wasn’t the only one. Upon its launch, the gadget had 50,000 shoppers eagerly joining the waitlist within the first 24 hours, reports the Mirror. The Ninja Luxe Cafe arrived in a substantial 17kg box, causing me to worry that I’d miscalculated the kitchen space and would have to pass it on to another team member. Fortunately, with dimensions of H:37.2 x W:33.6 x L: 34.4cm, it fit perfectly into the designated spot.
The Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine is available from their website and contains: Portafilter & 3 baskets (Single, Double & Luxe), Tamper, Funnel, Froth Jug with Integrated Whisk, Built-in Grinder, Cleaning Brush, Starter Kit, Cleaning Kit, Recipe Guide.
£549.99
NinjaUpon unboxing, the setup instructions are straightforward to follow. You have the option of scanning a QR code that leads you to a tutorial video or following a traditional set of written instructions.
I ended up using a combination of both methods. From testing the water PH to calibrating the machine to my chosen whole beans, the setup process was simple, albeit slightly time-consuming.
Calibration for a new batch of beans requires a few grind cycles to allow the machine to adjust accordingly. The conical burr grinder dispenses the right quantity of freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter and offers 25 grind settings.
It’s certainly worth the effort as the Luxe Cafe then recommends an optimal grind size for your chosen beverage. Ninja claims that the Luxe Cafe is the ultimate coffee machine, enabling users to craft barista-quality coffee at home regardless of their expertise level. As such, I initially relied heavily on its automatic settings.
After filling the portafilter with the appropriate amount of coffee (single, double, or the larger luxe size), tamping it down, and running the machine to extract your shot of coffee, you can choose to either add hot water from the machine or steam some milk to create a latte, flat white, or cappuccino (or any other frothy creation you desire). The machine features several automated frothing settings for both standard and plant-based milks.
However, I’ve discovered that I actually prefer operating the steamer manually.
So far, my coffee-making journey has seen me experiment with flat whites (with some success), cappuccinos (a lot of success), and lattes (successful, but latte art remains elusive) using a variety of milks including semi-skimmed, oat, almond, and soya. Despite my personal preference for black coffee, I’ve found great joy in crafting oat milk lattes for my boyfriend, even venturing into the realm of flavoured lattes with the addition of vanilla syrup.
The machine has also significantly elevated my hot chocolate and mocha creations. Adding powder to the milk before steaming it into a creamy froth results in an indulgently smooth and rich hot chocolate.
For those who prefer cold brew coffee but still crave that frothy texture, the machine caters to this need with suitable settings.
In addition to being virtually fool-proof, complete with a plethora of easy-to-follow recipes in a handy booklet for inspiration, all removable parts are dishwasher-friendly, making maintenance a breeze. While I haven’t yet utilised the descaling cycle, the instructions make it seem straightforward enough.
One aspect of the Luxe Cafe machine that particularly impresses me is the thoughtful storage solutions for all its accessories – the portafilter baskets neatly stow away in a swing-out drawer, while the tamper and grinding funnel attach conveniently to the side of the machine. It’s evident that considerable thought has been invested in the overall design of this machine.
One aspect of the machine that I found challenging was changing the portafilter baskets. It certainly requires a certain technique, and while I’ve now mastered it, initially, I mistakenly thought the double basket was jammed when in reality, I just needed to apply more force.
Priced at £549, this is definitely an investment rather than an impulsive purchase; however, since its arrival in our home, we’ve noticed a decrease in our coffee expenditure. With my previous pod machines, I could easily consume three packets a week, costing around £8 in pods.
With the Luxe Cafe, we’ve discovered that a 270g packet of whole beans (£3-£6 depending on the offer) lasts us a week. I’ve also found myself preferring to brew my own ‘speciality’ coffee and use my ‘to-go’ mug instead of visiting a coffee shop, resulting in additional savings.
If you’re interested in a machine with similar features but without the automated frother, consider the Sage Barista Express Bean to Cup coffee machine. It offers similar functionality for an RRP of £659, although currently, shoppers can snag one for £529.99 at Lakeland.