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Convenience and quality don't always go hand-in-hand, particularly when it comes to coffee. That's why the Ninja Luxe Cafe, released earlier this year, had the coffee world buzzing (even more than the baseline jitters). The machine has a built-in grinder and steam wand and can make espresso, drip coffee, and even cold brew.
The fairly compact and reasonably priced package includes an intuitive display that walks users through the espresso process, automatically fine-tuning and recalibrating based on each brew. Its $499 price tag may not be cheap, but it's still a good deal more affordable than similar options that have built-in grinders. Is it too good to be true? We got our hands on the Ninja Luxe to find out. The quick answer — the Ninja Luxe delivers a foolproof espresso experience.
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Ninja Espresso Machine, Luxe Café Premier Series
Unboxing and Design
For starters, the Ninja Luxe has an impressive number of accessories, driving up the value proposition. The kit includes a custom milk frothing pitcher, a portafilter with two baskets, a weighted tamper, and a funnel to contain the grounds.
There's a compartment on the right side of the machine that stores the accessories, while the left side has slots for the funnel and tamper. That means that every component of the unit has a convenient spot on the machine.
The dock for the portafilter funnel and tamper
Jonathan Zavaleta for Rolling Stone
The pop-out drawer for the portafilter baskets
Jonathan Zavaleta for Rolling Stone
The box includes cleaning tablets and even water test strips, used to calibrate the water hardness setting on the machine. Its design impresses in the looks department, although it's not as sleek as Breville's machines or as classic as La Marzocco's home offerings.
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Brewing: Easy Process, Tasty Results
Making espresso is a game of trial and error involving fine-tuning and a fair amount of guesswork. For enthusiasts looking to be an at-home barista, the work is worth it. For casual coffee drinkers looking to cut back on their cafe habit, it might not be. The Ninja is for coffee drinkers in the latter camp, but that's not to say it compromises on quality.
After the first couple of attempts, using the machine becomes easy. The portafilter slots into a cradle under the grinder, which automatically grinds the correct amount of coffee by weight. The grinder also displays a suggested setting by what you're brewing and the coffee used.
Jonathan Zavaleta for Rolling Stone
Brewing espresso and frothing the milk is similarly easy, with a dial that switches between flat whites, cappuccinos, and lattes, and has two modes for dairy and plant-based milk. The unit features a progress bar, beeping once the coffee is ready.
The steam wand is particularly simple compared to traditional espresso machines; the pitcher sits on a dock while the wand works its magic, eliminating the need to hold the pitcher just know while steaming. Every part of the process — grinding, pulling shots, and steaming — is impressively quick. The machine is quiet, too, grinding beans considerably more quietly than my Baratza Encore.
A Couple Flaws
The 3-in-1 machine also makes drip coffee and cold brew. Because the drip is brewed using one of the mesh portafilter baskets, you won't get the smooth, clean cup of filter coffee. Likewise, the cold brew has a flavor and texture more akin to an iced Americano than the sweet, mild flavor of cold brew.
Brewing espresso is pain-free, but not totally seamless. The cradle that holds the portafilter when dispensing the grounds is occasionally finicky, sometimes failing to register that the portafilter is properly in place. Typically, a quick adjustment fixes this issue. There's also no mode for dispensing hot water, so there's no easy way to make an Americano or preheat your cups, though the drip setting essentially replaces Americanos.
While the drip and cold brew features aren't as smooth as a dedicated machine, the fact that the Luxe Cafe can brew more than just espresso is still a pretty big deal. And even if you're just using the espresso machine, the Ninja Luxe Cafe impresses.
Final Verdict
Overall, Ninja displayed impressive attention to detail when designing the Luxe Cafe. The clever storage compartments save space and keep everything within reach. The funnel that attaches to the portafilter makes the typically messy espresso experience surprisingly clean, and the cylindrical, spring-loaded tamper is a clever redesign of typical bell-shaped tampers.
Jonathan Zavaleta for Rolling Stone
Crucially, it delivers when brewing espresso. The grinder can brew fine and coarse coffee, automatically dispensing the right amount based on what you're brewing. The espresso is rich, with a satisfactory crema, and the steam wand automatically whips up foamy cappuccinos and silky smooth lattes. Drip and cold brew aren't as delicious, but given how much it does right at a modest price, the Ninja Luxe Cafe is a triumph for both convenience and quality.
