By: The Caffeinated Gear Team
After weeks of rigorous testing in our coffee lab, we can confidently say the Ninja Luxe Cafe isn’t just another coffee machine—it’s a genuine breakthrough in home brewing technology.
Want to skip straight to our detailed findings? Click here to jump to the main review section.
When we first heard about Ninja entering the speciality coffee market, our team of certified baristas was admittedly sceptical. Their previous machines hadn’t made it to British shores, and honestly, their specifications didn’t particularly catch our attention.
Initially, we brushed off the mounting requests to review the Ninja Luxe Cafe. Our immediate reaction was dismissive: “Just another kitchen appliance brand trying to compete with Sage’s espresso machines at a lower price point.”
But the requests kept flooding in. Our inbox was overflowing, and even our friends at Brickoven, who produce our video content in Manchester, were getting messages asking them to convince us to test it!
Intrigued by this unprecedented interest, we began our research. Our first stop was consulting our colleague Mark Prince from CoffeeGeek.com, whose expertise in espresso machines is unmatched in the industry.
We expected Mark’s assessment to confirm our initial scepticism—that this was simply another half-hearted attempt by a mainstream brand to capitalise on the speciality coffee trend without truly understanding what makes machines like Sage (Breville Worldwide) so successful.
We couldn’t have been more mistaken.
Mark’s preliminary review was surprisingly positive. While he noted that his testing was ongoing, his initial impressions were remarkably favourable.
This prompted us to source both the American and European versions for comprehensive testing. We imported the US model (requiring a step-down converter for our 220v system) and later acquired the EU version during its first European release. While this review incorporates our experience with both models, we’ve focused primarily on the EU/UK version.
For our readers across the Atlantic, you might want to check out our Ninja Luxe Cafe USA version review on CoffeeKev.com.
When the machine first arrived at our testing facility, we maintained our professional detachment. The aesthetics were exactly what we’d expect from Ninja—nothing particularly revolutionary.
But then we started pulling shots, and everything changed.
Purchase this machine. End of review.
We’re joking, of course—there’s much more to discuss.
However, for many potential buyers—particularly those who’ve never considered a traditional portafilter machine and might be weighing up pod systems or bean-to-cup alternatives—that simple recommendation might be sufficient.
If you’re seeking a machine that can transform whole beans into virtually any coffee drink you’d find at major coffee chains—from expertly pulled espresso to smooth filter coffee, refreshing cold brew, and perfectly textured hot or cold milk foam—this deserves your serious consideration.
For those who might find terms like “home barista hobby” puzzling, or who think precision coffee weighing is excessive—if your coffee standards are set by establishments like Starbucks and Costa—you’re likely to be thoroughly impressed by this machine.
This isn’t a criticism of major coffee chains; it’s simply a way to distinguish between mainstream coffee enthusiasts and those who’ve ventured deeper into speciality coffee territory.
For experienced home baristas or those planning to develop advanced coffee-making skills, this might not be your ideal match.
While it’s certainly capable of producing excellent coffee, there are other machines better suited to serious enthusiasts, for reasons we’ll explore in detail below.
If you fall into this category and want to explore more suitable options, please see our comprehensive guide:
After extensively testing the US version of the Ninja Luxe Cafe for our initial review, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the UK model.
As members of the Caffeinated Gear testing team, we were among the first in Britain to receive the new 220V version.
What we discovered has genuinely impressed us – the UK and European model comes with several significant improvements that coffee enthusiasts will appreciate.
The inclusion of a dedicated hot water button wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it’s brilliantly implemented.
Rather than using the steam wand, this version features a separate hot water spout.
Through our testing with an ETI thermapen 3, we’ve measured three distinct temperature settings:
Each setting dispenses approximately 210-230ml of water.
While the 80-second dispensing time (including 20 seconds of heating) might seem lengthy, it’s typically faster than boiling a kettle.
You can also customise the volume by stopping the flow manually.
The UK version now includes a single shot basket and dedicated single espresso setting.
While we typically prefer double shots in our testing, this addition makes perfect sense for a machine designed to cater to diverse brewing preferences.
Thanks to the new hot water feature, this version introduces a proper Americano setting with three strength options that adjust the water volume while maintaining consistent coffee dosing:
Using the double basket, each option consistently doses 18g of coffee, producing a 1:3.5 ratio shot (62-65g output).
While some debate whether hot water first makes this technically a long black, we’ve found the results excellent regardless of terminology.
For maximum control, we often prefer pulling a separate shot and adding hot water manually using the dedicated button.
Unlike the US model’s menu-based adjustment, the European version uses the strength button to modify espresso ratios:
Access the enhanced settings menu by holding the drink size button:
The strength button now offers three grinding duration options for filter coffee:
The machine intelligently adjusts dosing based on cup size to maintain consistency.
New volume options include:
For cold brew, these volumes are halved to accommodate ice.
Our testing reveals notably improved milk texturing compared to the US version.
The 220V pump appears more efficient, delivering more consistent results and faster performance than the 110V model with a step-down adapter.
We’ve achieved exceptional results with minimal effort.
A simple tip for perfect milk texture: transfer the milk to your favourite pitcher, tap to remove any large bubbles, and swirl gently to polish the microfoam.
The silky results speak for themselves – creating cafe-quality drinks requires little more than following the machine’s guidance.
After putting this remarkable coffee maker through its paces in our test kitchen, we’re genuinely impressed by its versatility. At a price point that won’t break the bank, this machine delivers an impressive array of coffee styles that would typically require multiple appliances.
Here’s what caught our attention – this single machine crafts:
But that’s just the beginning. The milk frothing capabilities include:
What does this mean for you? Simply put, you can recreate virtually any coffee shop beverage in your kitchen. No more costly daily coffee runs, and better yet, you have complete control over your ingredients.
The machine comes with what Ninja calls their “Inspiration Guide” – and frankly, we think they’re being modest about its value.
This guide isn’t just a simple manual – it’s a comprehensive coffee companion. Beyond covering the machine’s operation, it provides detailed instructions for each coffee style and includes creative drink recipes with precise measurements. Our team found it invaluable for mastering the machine’s capabilities.
“But surely there’s a catch – these drinks can’t all be good, right?”
That’s what we thought initially too. However, after extensive testing, we can confidently say this machine delivers impressive results across its entire range of functions. But before we dive deeper:
A Quick Note About Ninja vs Sage (known as Breville outside the UK)
We’ve noticed many comparing this machine to Sage models, particularly the Barista Express and Barista Touch Impress. While we understand the impulse to compare, it’s important to clarify something.
Sage/Breville has dominated the “hybrid” market for over a decade. They’ve masterfully bridged the gap between fully automatic bean-to-cup convenience and traditional espresso machine quality. The Barista Express’s enduring popularity speaks to this achievement.
However, claiming the Ninja Cafe Luxe is “better” than Sage machines misses the point entirely – we’ll explain why in detail below.
Quick clarification: Sage Appliances in Europe is known as Breville in America and Australia. The UK’s Breville is an entirely different company.
After weeks of rigorous testing in our speciality coffee lab, we’re genuinely impressed by the Ninja Luxe Cafe’s remarkable performance.
What truly sets this machine apart is its ability to produce café-quality drinks whilst being remarkably straightforward to use.
As coffee professionals, we’ve seen countless home baristas struggle with complex equipment.
The Ninja Luxe Cafe breaks this pattern completely.
Our entire testing team, from seasoned baristas to coffee enthusiasts, agrees that this machine strikes an exceptional balance between accessibility and quality.
Even complete beginners can pull consistently excellent shots – provided they’re using quality, freshly roasted beans, of course.
After weeks of rigorous testing in our coffee lab, we’ve discovered something extraordinary: the Ninja Cafe Luxe truly masters multiple brewing methods.
The price point of £500 initially made us sceptical – how could one machine excel at espresso, filter coffee, cold brew, and milk texturing?
Our extensive testing revealed some surprising results.
Our initial espresso tests yielded promising results, though we quickly learned the importance of proper machine calibration.
A crucial discovery: the machine’s learning algorithm requires 2-3 shots to optimise performance for each brewing method.
After consulting the manual, we found three adjustable ratio settings (1:2, 1:2.5, and 1:3), with 1:2.5 as the default setting – meaning 18g of coffee yields 45g of espresso.
Through multiple testing sessions using our house-roasted Chocolate Brownie Blend at grind setting 7 and maximum temperature, we achieved remarkably consistent results.
The espresso quality consistently reached what we’d consider professional “dial-in” standards – shots that would be perfectly acceptable in a speciality coffee shop setting.
Using our professional extraction testing equipment (DI Fluid R2), we confirmed extraction percentages consistently hitting 19-20%.
While a traditional machine with a high-end grinder might achieve 21-22% extraction with extensive fine-tuning, the Ninja’s automatic results surpass most pod machines and automatic brewers by a significant margin.
Some limitations worth noting: no aftermarket basket compatibility and potential challenges with lighter roasts due to grind size restrictions.
The machine doesn’t include a single shot basket, though the portafilter features a splitter for divided shots.
Our measurements showed impressive consistency:
The Luxe basket accommodates a 40g dose, delivering output based on your chosen ratio setting.
At a 1:2 ratio, you’ll get an impressive 80g shot – perfect for splitting between two milk-based drinks.
The 220V version includes a single shot basket, unlike its 110V counterpart.
The latest European model features dedicated Americano functionality.
You can either manually combine espresso with hot water or use the automated Americano button, which dispenses water before the espresso shot.
The strength button controls water volume:
While not traditional filter coffee (it uses a steel basket rather than paper), this brewing method impressed us during testing.
The resulting brew sits between filter coffee and French press in terms of character and body.
Key specifications:
The over-ice setting produces similar extraction levels at 10-15°C cooler.
The UK version offers three strength settings, adjusting dose size accordingly.
Despite initial scepticism about rapid cold brew production, our testing revealed impressive results.
Technical specifications:
This innovative feature produces espresso at lower temperatures:
Ideal for iced drinks when combined with the cold frother.
The Ninja Cafe Luxe effectively brings professional coffee shop capabilities into your kitchen.
It handles everything from traditional espresso drinks to contemporary speciality beverages, offering significant cost savings compared to regular coffee shop visits.
An interesting variation between models:
This machine excels at delivering consistent, high-quality drinks with minimal user intervention – perfect for coffee enthusiasts who prioritise convenience without sacrificing quality.
Let’s be crystal clear: if you’re seeking hassle-free, consistently excellent coffee without the need to tinker, the Ninja Luxe Cafe might be your perfect match.
Our team of coffee experts discovered that this very quality makes it less appealing for dedicated home baristas who enjoy the intricate process of crafting their perfect shot.
As coffee professionals, we recognise the desire to have complete manual control over espresso parameters – adjusting doses, swapping baskets, and fine-tuning pre-infusion settings. However, the Ninja Luxe takes a different approach entirely.
The machine operates with a fixed 18g dose for double shots, offering three volume presets through the menu (the standard setting delivers 45ml of espresso from 18g of ground coffee).
During our extensive testing, we found a clever workaround for those wanting more control over dosing: simply use the purge function by pressing and holding the start grind button. This could be particularly useful if you’re the household coffee enthusiast but need a machine that’s straightforward for everyone else.
While manual shot control isn’t a built-in feature, we discovered you can improvise by selecting a higher ratio setting than your target and stopping the shot manually when desired.
One significant limitation for serious coffee enthusiasts is the absence of a hot water function for cup preheating or crafting long blacks/Americanos. Perhaps more crucially for home baristas, the machine doesn’t readily accommodate aftermarket baskets.
Our technical assessment suggests there might be a potential modification possible, though we haven’t fully verified this approach.
The basket detection system relies on a black ring at the top of each basket, which the machine reads when you lock in the portafilter. Theoretically, transferring this ring to a 53mm competition basket might work, but we’d need to conduct more testing to confirm this.
The Ninja Cafe Luxe: Different, Not Superior to Sage Barista Express or Touch Impress
While we’re genuinely impressed with this machine’s capabilities, it’s crucial to understand that it’s not necessarily superior to Sage or Breville’s espresso machines – it’s simply different.
Our experience tells us that the Ninja Luxe might be better suited to your specific needs than a Sage or Breville machine, but this doesn’t automatically make it “better,” despite some emerging opinions we’ve observed in the coffee community.
Beyond Just Flavour
We’ve noticed numerous comments on our initial Luxe Cafe review video suggesting we should focus primarily on espresso taste comparison.
While taste is undeniably important, our extensive testing reveals that the decision between machines involves numerous crucial factors.
The comparison becomes complex when considering Sage’s diverse range of machines, and much depends on your personal preferences and expectations.
Take the common comparison between the Sage/Breville Barista Express and the Ninja Luxe Cafe. The key questions we ask our customers are:
Are you willing to invest time in learning and experimenting to potentially achieve superior results, understanding this might also lead to some less-than-perfect shots along the way?
Or do you prefer a straightforward, nearly foolproof approach that consistently delivers good results with minimal intervention?
For those seeking consistently reliable results without any fuss, our testing suggests the Ninja takes the lead.
The Sage Barista Touch Impress, which clearly influenced the Ninja Luxe Cafe’s design, offers superior build quality and a more refined user experience with its full-colour touch screen. However, it also comes with a significantly higher price tag.
When working with freshly roasted beans (those with a roast date rather than just a best-before date), we found the Ninja more accommodating than the Barista Express.
The machine provides precise grinding guidance based on your drink selection – a feature we particularly appreciate. In contrast, the Barista Express, being a traditional espresso machine with an integrated grinder, requires users to develop this knowledge themselves.
While the Ninja might not achieve absolute perfect extraction (though this is challenging even with manual machines), it consistently delivers good results.
The Barista Express could potentially achieve marginally better results, but this requires dedication to learning the craft and accepting some trial and error.
With the Barista Express’s traditional unassisted approach, achieving optimal extraction demands significant effort, and the learning process might involve some less-than-stellar results.
After extensive testing in our workshop, we’ve discovered a crucial distinction between the Ninja Luxe Cafe and premium options like Sage machines that goes far beyond surface appearances.
Many coffee enthusiasts focus on materials and aesthetics when comparing these machines, but our experience tells a different story.
The real dividing line between a proper coffee machine and a kitchen appliance comes down to long-term serviceability.
Kitchen appliances typically follow a replacement-based lifecycle – they work until they don’t.
This isn’t solely about build quality or components.
It’s fundamentally about parts availability and service infrastructure.
Consider this practical example: if you can’t source a basic component like a group gasket, you’re dealing with an appliance-grade machine.
In contrast, brands that maintain robust parts supplies and support both DIY repairs and professional servicing represent true machine-grade equipment.
The home barista community often categorises Sage as appliance-grade equipment.
We understand this perspective – they’re a global brand targeting mainstream consumers.
Their designs prioritise modern kitchen aesthetics over traditional espresso machine styling, offering better Partner Acceptance Factor and competitive pricing.
Compared to traditional manufacturers like Gaggia, Rancilio, Lelit, Rocket, ECM, and Profitec, Sage’s parts weren’t always readily available.
However, they’ve made significant improvements.
UK customers now have decent parts access through their out-of-warranty partner, Coffee Classics.
While this progress is welcome, pricing remains an issue.
Some parts are reasonably priced, but others seem inflated – £47.95 for an Ulka EP5 pump that typically costs £20 elsewhere.
Standard components can be sourced from various suppliers, but Sage-specific parts must come from authorised partners.
For reference, a thermojet (used in Bambino Plus, Barista Touch Impress, Barista Pro) costs around £70, a triac board £8, and a group gasket about £10.
A recent customer experience perfectly illustrates this distinction.
Their decade-old Barista Express stopped grinding – instead of replacing the machine, we connected them with Radu from espressorepairshop.co.uk.
The solution? A simple “gear main kit” costing £9, with repair completed within a week.
Contrast this with another customer’s experience with a pure appliance brand (one of those Sage lookalikes at a lower price point).
Their group gasket failed under warranty.
Despite being a standard £10 part that takes minutes to replace, they couldn’t source it anywhere in the UK.
The manufacturer’s response? Replace the entire machine – unless you’ve already removed the old gasket, which voids the warranty.
This wasteful approach typifies appliance brands lacking proper service infrastructure.
Ninja, however, shows promise in breaking this mould.
They offer easy access to external components through their US website at competitive prices – group gaskets, shower screens, milk jugs, frothing whisks, steam wands, water tanks, drip trays, portafilters, baskets, and tampers.
While these aren’t yet available on their UK site, we expect them soon.
This commitment to parts availability earns Ninja significant credibility for potential longevity.
However, questions remain about internal component availability and repair infrastructure.
Our suggestion to Ninja: create a comprehensive parts supply website with detailed diagrams.
This would enable both DIY repairs and professional servicing, especially crucial for Ninja-specific components.
This comparison deserves closer scrutiny.
It omits several Barista Express features like hot water dispensing, pressure gauge, and adjustable dose settings.
The chart appears on the Luxe Cafe Premier series 601 page but suggests features (assisted tamper, hot water button) that may only be available on different models.
We understand why they’ve chosen the Barista Express for comparison – it’s a global bestseller.
However, it’s not really a fair comparison.
The Barista Express is a traditional espresso machine with integrated grinding.
The Ninja Luxe serves as a comprehensive family coffee station, designed to replicate virtually any coffee shop beverage.
They target different users with different needs.
A more logical comparison emerges between these two assisted machines, though distinct differences remain.
Advantages of the Sage Touch Impress vs Ninja Cafe Luxe 601
The Touch Impress demonstrates superior build quality and materials, justifying its higher price point.
Its immersive touchscreen interface creates a more sophisticated user experience.
Additional features include multi-temperature hot water dispensing and the excellent Touch Impress tamping system.
Note that while current marketing materials suggest similar features for the Luxe Cafe, these appear exclusive to the unreleased 701 “Pro” model.
The Touch Impress also offers proven repairability beyond warranty, potentially offering better long-term value despite higher initial cost.
In terms of premium quality, interactive experience, and predicted longevity, the Touch Impress holds clear advantages.
The Ninja Luxe excels at performance for its price point, though we suspect internal parts availability may remain limited.
This suggests a typical appliance lifespan – reliable within warranty, with additional service time as a bonus.
This isn’t criticism – it’s standard for this price category and represents conscious design choices.
Advantages of the Ninja Luxe Cafe vs the Barista Touch Impress
The Luxe Cafe’s primary advantage lies in its approachable price point.
While the Touch Impress’s cost may deter many buyers, the Luxe Cafe’s £550 price tag, though not insignificant, offers remarkable value given its capabilities.
Long-term value depends on durability – a machine costing twice as much but lasting three times longer provides better value.
However, the Luxe Cafe’s versatility truly sets it apart.
It excels as a comprehensive home coffee station, replicating chain cafe beverages with impressive quality and customisation options.
While the Touch Impress focuses on espresso-based drinks and hot milk, the Luxe Cafe adds filter coffee, cold brew, cold pressed espresso, and both hot and cold milk foam.
Though the Touch Impress may hold a slight edge in espresso quality, the Luxe Cafe’s target market likely won’t notice.
Following its guided interface produces consistently impressive results that satisfy most palates.
Both machines offer excellent barista guidance, minimising the learning curve.
Ultimately, success lies in matching machine to user needs rather than declaring an absolute winner.
After weeks of rigorous testing in our coffee lab, we’ve compiled our most valuable insights for getting the absolute best from your Ninja Luxe Cafe. Our team of certified baristas and coffee experts has discovered some brilliant tricks that will transform your coffee experience.
Understanding espresso ratios is crucial for crafting the perfect shot. Through our extensive testing, we’ve found that the most common ratios are:
We suggest starting with the factory preset of 1:2.5 while you get familiar with your machine. When you’re ready to experiment, adjusting the ratio is straightforward.
Simply access the extra settings menu by holding the size button for 3 seconds. Turn the dial to setting h06 (the ratio setting) and choose your preferred ratio:
What we particularly love about the Ninja’s approach is how they’ve made ratio adjustment intuitive and clear in the interface. Many machines hide this crucial setting behind confusing volume controls, but Ninja puts it front and centre.
It’s worth noting that adjusting the volume always changes your ratio. This affects both extraction and flavour intensity. A higher ratio increases extraction but reduces texture and intensity. That’s why we don’t recommend focusing solely on ratio adjustment – you’ll sacrifice body and mouthfeel if you do.
The Ninja Luxe Cafe’s built-in dialling system is remarkably precise. Our testing has shown it consistently produces excellent results with minimal intervention.
When trying new beans, we recommend pulling 2-3 shots before making any adjustments. The machine’s learning algorithm analyses grind time, dose weight, and shot time to optimise your extraction.
If you do need to make manual adjustments, the key is identifying whether you’re dealing with under-extraction or over-extraction. Based on our extensive testing, under-extraction is more common with this machine, particularly if you’re using medium roast beans.
For beginners, identifying extraction issues can be tricky. While conventional wisdom suggests sourness indicates under-extraction and bitterness signals over-extraction, we’ve found this oversimplifies a complex topic.
The roast level of your beans provides helpful clues:
With integrated grinder machines like the Ninja, under-extraction is the most common issue unless you’re using very dark roasts. If something tastes off, start by increasing extraction through one of these methods:
Our testing with various coffee beans showed impressive results. Using our house blend, we started with default settings and followed the barista guidance. After minor tweaking (adjusting to 1:2 ratio and maximum brew temperature), we achieved a stellar 19.5% extraction – well within the sweet spot for exceptional espresso.
The Ninja’s grinder purge function (found on page 10 of the inspiration guide) is brilliant for switching between beans or brew methods. Here’s how to use it effectively:
We recommend using this feature when switching between significantly different grind sizes (like espresso to filter). For similar brew methods, like quad shot to double espresso, it’s not necessary.
Through our testing, we discovered a brilliant pre-heating hack. The machine begins heating as soon as you grind, reaching approximately 70°C/160°F at the shower screen.
For optimal first shots from a cold machine:
This technique ensures a properly heated group head, cup warmer, and brew path, significantly improving your first shot’s extraction. Our measurements confirm this doesn’t interfere with the machine’s learning system – we consistently achieved 18g doses and proper extraction percentages.
If you prefer not to waste beans, simply grind and wait 5 minutes before brewing.
For milk-based drinks, you can queue the steaming process:
For cold foam drinks, you can run the cold foam feature simultaneously with brewing since it uses the whisk rather than the heating system.
Based on our extensive testing, we recommend these key accessories for the Ninja Luxe Cafe:
These additions will enhance your experience and ensure you’re never caught without a critical component.
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