Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Series 3-in-1 Espresso, Coffee and Cold Brew Machine, ES601

I was very excited to receive this espresso machine. I’ve only had it for a little while, and so need some more time to really go through all the brewing options correctly, but as someone who wants to a) have a variety of coffee beverages and b) learn how to experiment with them at home, I think this is a great product to do so. It came in a big box but is not as overpowering on my countertop as I would’ve expected and still manages to look very compact, especially considering that it combines several products into one - not having a separate grinder and frother cluttered around this is a definite plus. The built-in scale is a bonus - I never actually used to weigh out my grounds, so I appreciate getting the benefit of the correct amount without having to do it ... MoreI was very excited to receive this espresso machine. I’ve only had it for a little while, and so need some more time to really go through all the brewing options correctly, but as someone who wants to a) have a variety of coffee beverages and b) learn how to experiment with them at home, I think this is a great product to do so. It came in a big box but is not as overpowering on my countertop as I would’ve expected and still manages to look very compact, especially considering that it combines several products into one - not having a separate grinder and frother cluttered around this is a definite plus. The built-in scale is a bonus - I never actually used to weigh out my grounds, so I appreciate getting the benefit of the correct amount without having to do it myself, and I did notice that it pours a more flavorful espresso that way (who knew?). I also like that this prevents me from messing up my drip coffee. I do like the milk frother and have been so happy to be able to make and add cold foam to my drinks. My husband does say the there’s more bubbles in the foam than there should be but I think that’s more to do with my learning curve with this machine than with the product itself, although I will see how it goes over time. I’m deducting a point because I’ve previously been using an espresso machine that had an attached drip coffee pot, which was a great alternative for when we needed to make a larger amount of coffee quickly. This only makes one cup of drip coffee at a time, which is great for not wasting coffee, but not a good option for entertaining or being efficient. I’ll need to get a separate drip coffee pot regardless. Also, while it does take most of the guesswork out like it says, I still find myself taking more time up front to figure everything out. I really, really appreciate all of the guides Ninja provided for this product however - it’s definitely more than other companies have provided and going through them has actually been helpful, it just takes up some time. I’ll update this review once I’m more comfortable with the machine and have gone through all of the settings and options fully.

Ninja Luxe Cafe guides me to making elevated coffee and espresso drinks. It looks complicated, but there are QR codes and videos to accompany the included printed material, and the displays also guide one along from grinding to brewing. The first step in setup is testing the water hardness with included test strips. Each time you fill the bean hopper (with a UV-protective cover), the machine likes to be calibrated for best results. The portafilters, dosing funnel, spring-assisted tamper, and cleaning brush all stow into designated places on the sides. One feature I especially like is that the frothing unit’s steam wand has a purge function that sends fresh steam through it to clean out any residual milk. That purged water collects in the base of the unit. There is a ... MoreNinja Luxe Cafe guides me to making elevated coffee and espresso drinks. It looks complicated, but there are QR codes and videos to accompany the included printed material, and the displays also guide one along from grinding to brewing. The first step in setup is testing the water hardness with included test strips. Each time you fill the bean hopper (with a UV-protective cover), the machine likes to be calibrated for best results. The portafilters, dosing funnel, spring-assisted tamper, and cleaning brush all stow into designated places on the sides. One feature I especially like is that the frothing unit’s steam wand has a purge function that sends fresh steam through it to clean out any residual milk. That purged water collects in the base of the unit. There is a little float button in the corner that pops up when the water in the base needs to be emptied. The machine will suggest which grind setting is best for the drink you want to make, and then you just rotate the grinder dial unto the setting matches the recommendation. The grinder weighs the portafilter and knows precisely how much coffee to grind for the drink you want. We have been enjoying both espresso drinks and rich classic drip coffees. The frothing unit can produce several types of velvety froth. Ninja has done its best to make the machine accessible for the average person. There are QR codes and stickers showing classic beverage instructions. Fabrication is excellent quality. Lots of stainless steel, and any plastics are of high quality. The water reservoir is thoughtfully designed, with volume markings, ergonomically designed hand grips that also serve as mounting notches, and a fairly high capacity so that you’re not having to refill it after just a couple of uses. It is also surprisingly easy to clean. I don’t have a knock box but have been using a plastic citrus peeler to dislodge the used ‘puck’ from the portafilter after each use. The machine looks good, feels good, and produces really lovely beverages. My aunt really looks forward to afternoon salted caramel cappuccino time!

[Rewarded Review] A machine for a premium coffee experience at home

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series 3-in-1 machine is a versatile addition to any coffee lover's kitchen. It seamlessly combines espresso, drip coffee, and cold brew functionalities, offering a wide range of brewing options from double shots to cold-pressed drinks. Due to the multi-step processes involved with this machine, it is best suited for the coffee connoisseur vs those who just want a quick cup of coffee or espresso to get their day started.FeaturesThis machine offers several wonderful features that add to its value as a coffee machine:- First among these is its ability to make a wide variety of coffee styles including 3 classic drip styles, 2 espresso styles, as well as 2 Cold brew styles (coffee and espresso).- Next, up are the combined Barista ... MoreThe Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series 3-in-1 machine is a versatile addition to any coffee lover's kitchen. It seamlessly combines espresso, drip coffee, and cold brew functionalities, offering a wide range of brewing options from double shots to cold-pressed drinks. Due to the multi-step processes involved with this machine, it is best suited for the coffee connoisseur vs those who just want a quick cup of coffee or espresso to get their day started.FeaturesThis machine offers several wonderful features that add to its value as a coffee machine:- First among these is its ability to make a wide variety of coffee styles including 3 classic drip styles, 2 espresso styles, as well as 2 Cold brew styles (coffee and espresso).- Next, up are the combined Barista Assist Technology, Integrated grinder, and weight-based dosing of the ground beans. These features work together to tailor the coffee drinks to your precise settings every time – from the grind size to the amount of coffee, as well as the temperature and pressure used in the brew that leads to high-quality drinks with balanced flavors.- Third would be the espresso features of this machine – the easy-to-follow instructions, combined with video support allow anyone to create Espresso drinks with ease. The included tamper device also allows the espresso pucks to contain evenly distributed and compact grounds to ensure an excellent cup of expresso – either in double or quad shot sizes.- Last, from my perspective would be the Cold Brew and Hands-free Frothing features. Cold Brewing allows one to create flavorful cold-pressed drinks including cold brew coffee and espresso to support espresso martinis! The hands-free frothing combines steaming and whisking at the same time to create the perfect microfoam. This feature has programs for frothing – steamed milk, thin froth, thick froth, and cold foam to suit multiple tastes.This coffee machine comes with several items to support its functions including:- The machine- The portafilter- Milk Jug- Double basket – for double shot espressos- Luxe Basket – for quad espressos and larger coffees- Assisted tamper (making great espresso plugs)- Funnel (captures the grinds)- Cleaning brush and disk, descaling powder, cleaning tablets, and Hard water testing kit.One excellent feature of this machine is that the regular-use accessories all have storage places on the machine – the funnel and tamper on the left side when facing the machine, and the baskets, cleaning disk, and brush in a compartment on the right side. The Portafilter is stored in its normal position without a basket.Overall, the Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series 3-in-1 machine is ideal for both beginners and experts, providing high-quality, customizable coffee experiences with ease. Its comprehensive feature set, user-friendly design, and accompanying documentation (guides, manuals, and videos) help to reduce the learning curve and allow one to make wonderful coffee drinks sooner rather than later.Pros:- Versatility: Offers 2 espresso styles, 3 drip coffee styles, and 2 cold brew styles with various cup sizes.- Barista Assist Technology: Simplifies the brewing process with customized grind size recommendations and active brew adjustments.- Integrated Grinder: The 25-setting conical burr grinder ensures fresh and precise grinding for all types of beans.- Hands-Free Frothing: The Dual Froth System creates perfectly textured microfoam for both hot and cold drinks.- Temperature Settings: Allows selection of three brewing temperatures suitable for different roasts.Neutrals:- Time Investment factor: The nature of this machine requires a bit more time and as such its use is more of an investment in one’s coffee experience. vs an “I need coffee” experience than you get with a fully automated coffee machine. Although one benefit of this machine vs a fully automated one is this machine forces one to clean out things between each brew.Cons:- Complexity: The extensive features may be overwhelming for beginners, although the included guides and online tutorials help mitigate this. The portafilter is tough to lock into place for brewing.- Milk Jug Cleaning: One concern expressed by my wife Is the need to remember to clean up the milk jug after the day’s use – so it does not get extra dirty by having dried froth/milk to clean later.

[Rewarded Review] Am I a real barista now?

I drink about 2 16oz cups of black coffee everyday. I went from drinking diner/donut shop coffee to instant to K-Cups to grinding my own fresh beans. This is my first experience with a more complex coffee brewing system.Setup was simple and the quick start guide was easy to follow. After washing and drying all the components that will come in contact with any liquid you will consume I was up and filtering out the first few batches. The Ninja Luxe Cafe appears to be well made with thoughtful compartments for the grinder funnel and tamper on one side and baskets and cleaning brush on the other side. It makes our coffee bar look more like a serious coffee station. The portafilter has a nice heft to it and makes it look like I know what I'm doing. The guided system is ... MoreI drink about 2 16oz cups of black coffee everyday. I went from drinking diner/donut shop coffee to instant to K-Cups to grinding my own fresh beans. This is my first experience with a more complex coffee brewing system.Setup was simple and the quick start guide was easy to follow. After washing and drying all the components that will come in contact with any liquid you will consume I was up and filtering out the first few batches. The Ninja Luxe Cafe appears to be well made with thoughtful compartments for the grinder funnel and tamper on one side and baskets and cleaning brush on the other side. It makes our coffee bar look more like a serious coffee station. The portafilter has a nice heft to it and makes it look like I know what I'm doing. The guided system is easy to use from grinding the right amount of beans in the integrated conical grinder to the appropriate weight for the right sized or type of drink to adjusting your preferred temperature. The Luxe Cafe makes it pretty easy albeit a bit time consuming. I also like that the water tank is removable for easier filling and cleaning. My last coffee maker had a non removable tank and was a pain in the rear to clean. Another note about cleaning; do yourself a favor and get a knock bucket to empty the portafilter basket. Having to wash the portafilter due to knocking it on the side of the kitchen trash can after every use to use it again right away got old after my second time having to do it.I prefer my coffee on a bit lighter side as I usually don't like anything in my coffee (other than bourbon on Friday evening) and noticed that this coffee maker does make a strong cup of coffee. I have not had it long and it took a me a few tries to get it dialed in to my liking. I am still playing around with the settings and have only made a few other drinks that I found via the Ninja website and the recipe guide. My wife definitely enjoyed the latte and espresso martini that I made. I also like the fact that I can fairly quickly make some cold brew coffee without watering it down too much by dumping hot coffee over ice or having to wait for hot coffee to cool down to get it cold. I am not big on frothed milk so a 8-10 cup carafe would've been something I preferred over the frother but I'm sure it'll definitely please some of my more snobb... I mean sophisticated coffee drinking friends.The Luxe Cafe makes it easy to brew up a variety of caffeinated concoctions and make it look like I am a coffee pro rather than a caveman with a pot. That being said I am still a coffee neanderthal and on my daily grind I need my black coffee ready to go when I come down to the kitchen still half asleep. While the Luxe Cafe automates a lot as far as settings, it is still largely a 1 cup at-a-time making manual machine that asks way more of me than my my 12 cup Ninja coffee maker with timer. It wont replace my daily driver, but it will be my lazy weekend/entertaining friends caffinator.

[Rewarded Review] Best super-automatic espresso & coffee maker

TL;DR - A great choice for the home coffee lover who wants a super-automatic, easy to use espresso and coffee maker in one device that's super easy to use and produces quality drinks. Just make sure you have sufficient counter height and width clearance to refill the top-loading bean hopper, remove the side-loading water tank and access the accessory storage on both sides of the machine.The Ninja Cafe Luxe premier is the latest kitchen appliance from Ninja for the coffee lover. It can create espresso and coffee drinks without all of the fuss and mess usually found in most home machines. It automatically grinds and doses the cofeee, and steams the milk and has several innovative and very useful design features that make this a great choice for the home coffee ... MoreTL;DR - A great choice for the home coffee lover who wants a super-automatic, easy to use espresso and coffee maker in one device that's super easy to use and produces quality drinks. Just make sure you have sufficient counter height and width clearance to refill the top-loading bean hopper, remove the side-loading water tank and access the accessory storage on both sides of the machine.The Ninja Cafe Luxe premier is the latest kitchen appliance from Ninja for the coffee lover. It can create espresso and coffee drinks without all of the fuss and mess usually found in most home machines. It automatically grinds and doses the cofeee, and steams the milk and has several innovative and very useful design features that make this a great choice for the home coffee enthusiast.After the initial setup process, I can make a double, single or quad espresso or up to an 18 oz. drip coffee in two (or three with steamed milk) button presses and a simple move-and-twist to lock in the portafilter into the machine. The Ninja will automatically grind, measure, weigh and dose the coffee into the portafilter. Then it's a simple tamping using the included spring loaded tamper, twist and lock the portafilter onto the brewhead and one button push to extract the shot. The Ninja's barista assist technology automatically monitors and adjusts the grind and brew based on the last three drinks made, to ensure you always get optimal, quality results.Clean up is simple as well. Detach the portafilter, tap the portafilter over the trash or bangbox (not included) to dispose the puck, rinse and air dry. They included thoughtful design features too, such as a built in storage for the tamper, dosing funnel and double and luxe portafilter baskets, cleaning brush and disc in the machine. The top of the machine also has a cup warming area and the water tank has a built in handle that makes it easy to remove and carry the tank to the sink to wash and refill.Ninja has an excellent online setup and support guide with videos that show you how to complete the setup and calibration of the machine, how to brew drinks and complete the periodic maintenance process common to all coffee and espresso machines (cleaning and descaling). The box includes everything you need except coffee!My only issues with the machine are the power cord is non-removable, doesn't have a flat plug design and the cord is somewhat short (approx. 3 feet). Also, the drip tray is one piece and can be tricky to remove and carry to the sink without spilling if it's full.

[Rewarded Review] Coffee shop grade beverages at HOME

Hats off to Ninja, my wife and I love coffee and have been reluctant to get a “manual” espresso maker for years! We have been spoiled by a De'Longhi Dinamica fully automatic coffee and espresso maker for quite some time. Immediately upon opening up the box you notice the quality of all the components from the tamper to the portafilter. The packaging was well thought out and organized to fit a ton of items in the smallest size box possible BUT it still seems larger than life once you unpack and set everything up. I noticed the weight on the shipping page stating 34lbs and that was accurate. The first time anyone who has never used an espresso machine before attempts to make their first coffee with this machine comments on the weight of the components. I also like the ... MoreHats off to Ninja, my wife and I love coffee and have been reluctant to get a “manual” espresso maker for years! We have been spoiled by a De'Longhi Dinamica fully automatic coffee and espresso maker for quite some time. Immediately upon opening up the box you notice the quality of all the components from the tamper to the portafilter. The packaging was well thought out and organized to fit a ton of items in the smallest size box possible BUT it still seems larger than life once you unpack and set everything up. I noticed the weight on the shipping page stating 34lbs and that was accurate. The first time anyone who has never used an espresso machine before attempts to make their first coffee with this machine comments on the weight of the components. I also like the fact Ninja offers replacement parts to add to the longevity of the machine in case anything needs replacing.Simple or easy is the theme here through our first couple of days with this incredible machine, from set up to brewing, including clean up. Ninja did a great job making this seem like a high end “luxe” option with their quality set up instructions and linked online videos. We had it up and running in less than 30 minutes establishing the coffee bean intelligent grinder settings based on the beans being used. Again, simple and easy! While not as easy as pushing power and selecting from a laundry list of drinks in our automatic one, this made it seem like you were a professional barista, from grinding to brewing to frothing. I now try to design the shapes of the frothed milk, something I never expected to want to do.We are actually enjoying breaking down the steps and shout out to Ninja for thinking of unique way to simplify the process of using a clip on funnel to the portafilter it eliminates 99% of the grounds mess by forcing all grounds into an area before tamping. I appreciate this design and it allows an expert level tamp without all the mess. From there you insert the loaded portafilter into the machine, your type of drink is already chosen from the easy to interact with front display and simply hit brew. The machine goes to work and out pours your super tasty caffeinated beverage. But, you aren’t done yet, next comes the frothing options which Ninja has combined the steam nozzle and frothier in one easy to use metal container with pre measured lines depending on which drink you choose.We have experimented with several dairy options from 1% or 2% milk, heavy cream and even half and half. All with sensational results from the convenience of your own home. The intelligent weight based dosing that is a result from the integrated conical burr grinder eliminates some of the potential extra tools necessary to brew quality coffee in your home.My wife made herself an over ice coffee with cold foam that included sea salt and caramel, it was fantastic. We will continue experimenting with different types of beans and frothed concoctions. We are also trying new types of brewed coffee because of the true 3-in-1 design paired with Ninja’s barista assist technology it takes all the guess work out of brewing an exceptional cup hot or cold coffee styles.Maintenance and clean up is also one of those negatives when it comes to owning an espresso maker and Ninja has designed several strategic storage areas into the main unit to make sure all your components are tucked away neatly when you wrap up brewing. Clean up also is a breeze with the removable drip tray that also breaks apart for a thorough cleaning. Even the coffee bean hopper is removable and can be wiped out when necessary.My only challenge since owning this machine is trying to limit the amount of coffee/caffeine consumed per day. Ninja hit one out of the park with this machine, it really does make it easy to brew coffee shop grade beverages at home.

[Rewarded Review] Good for the weekend, but won't replace daily brew

I average 2 16z cups of black coffee a day so I try not to make my coffee too strong. I used to use, instant coffee packs to Kurig K-Cups for a while but graduated to grinding fresh whole beans. I've never been much of an espresso person as I like to drink my coffee through the first few hours of my morning rather than sip rocket fuel in a tiny cup. Although, we often have guests who do like espresso if given the option. So a machine that will do both espresso and drip coffee would give me the ability to make both. The Ninja Lux Cafe also has the ability to drip iced coffee which is coming in handy of this hot summer. The first few cups of coffee I made with the Lux Cafe were a lot stronger than I am used to so it took some tries to get the brew dialed in to my ... MoreI average 2 16z cups of black coffee a day so I try not to make my coffee too strong. I used to use, instant coffee packs to Kurig K-Cups for a while but graduated to grinding fresh whole beans. I've never been much of an espresso person as I like to drink my coffee through the first few hours of my morning rather than sip rocket fuel in a tiny cup. Although, we often have guests who do like espresso if given the option. So a machine that will do both espresso and drip coffee would give me the ability to make both. The Ninja Lux Cafe also has the ability to drip iced coffee which is coming in handy of this hot summer. The first few cups of coffee I made with the Lux Cafe were a lot stronger than I am used to so it took some tries to get the brew dialed in to my liking but it is definitely coming along.The whole unit fits in my coffee/tea nook in our kitchen and has made it look like a true coffee bar. I like that it has a built in grinder that knows how much grinds to use based on the setting of what is being made. The tools such as grinder funnel and tamper have storage notches on the side of the machine and are easy to access. Additional storage for other parts on the opposite side for the drip cups and cleaning brush. The burr grinder isn't too loud and is fairly quick and the grinds look uniform. Everything seems to be constructed nicely and the portafilter has a nice heft to it.Settings are easy to use and there are a bunch of different brews that can be made (if you have the necessities for certain drinks) via the instructions on the Ninja website accessible via QR codes or just looking them up. I have not had the Lux Cafe long so I've only tried about 3 different drinks several times, but they have come out very well. I'm not much into frothed milk as I am a black drinker but I did make a latte that my wife said was good. The iced coffee martini was a hit with her too. I would've preferred an 8-10 cup carafe over the frother to be able to get rid of my standard coffee maker for my daily work brews. A knock box is something I purchased separately which is helpful to have to empty the portafilter without taking it to the kitchen garbage can and knocking it on the side it. I am not sure how i feel about the process of grinding 1 cup, tamping, dripping, emptying and redoing the whole process just to get another cup of joe. Definitely not what I am looking to do in the morning when I am getting ready for work trying to run out the door before the sky gets bright.This is the first time I am using a more complex coffee/espresso machine and have confirmed I am a simpleton coffee drinker. I enjoy black americano coffee both hot and iced. But my wife has been enjoying the different types of drinks that are available to us now. I will be experimenting with more types of drinks to offer guests and perhaps broaden my coffee horizons. It looks great in our coffee station nook but for now be my weekend brewer and my 12-cup Ninja Brewer will maintain it's position as my daily driver.

[Rewarded Review] Last espresso/coffee machine you’ll need!

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series 3-in-1 Espresso machine is it for me!This espresso machine does practically everything I need & everything I didn’t know I wanted. I’ll be honest when I go to a coffee shop I tend to order what I’m familiar with and typically don’t stray far from that. Now with the Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series 3-in-1 Espresso I can experiment and try practically any espresso/coffee drink I can imagine.I want to talk about build quality as this product looks modern and shines on my kitchen countertop. If you know Ninja products you can expect them to pretty much be of good to great quality. The front display has a buttons for you main functions which are straightforward. Examples are a button for grinding beans, brew temp, cup size and a dial to ... MoreThe Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series 3-in-1 Espresso machine is it for me!This espresso machine does practically everything I need & everything I didn’t know I wanted. I’ll be honest when I go to a coffee shop I tend to order what I’m familiar with and typically don’t stray far from that. Now with the Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series 3-in-1 Espresso I can experiment and try practically any espresso/coffee drink I can imagine.I want to talk about build quality as this product looks modern and shines on my kitchen countertop. If you know Ninja products you can expect them to pretty much be of good to great quality. The front display has a buttons for you main functions which are straightforward. Examples are a button for grinding beans, brew temp, cup size and a dial to choose type of espresso/coffee you are brewing as well as a button for milk type and dial to select froth type. Other than that there is a dial to choose grind size.Brewing a cup is super simple! Choose your type of drink and barista assisted technology will tell you your grind size, basket you’ll need to use and that’s about it.Included in the package you’ll find a portafilter, 2 baskets, a tamper, funnel, milk jug, cleaning brush and other maintenance supplies. A highlight for me is that all of these items can be stored in the machine itself. On the side of the machine is a door to store those items and on the opposite side the tamper and funnel attach to the sides, brilliant as I hate a cluttered countertop!An additional feature I wanted to mention was the milk jug. It seems to be made of stainless steel and has a magnetic whisk built into the bottom that produces great froth for your drinks that you don’t constantly have to keep an eye on.Overall I’d recommend this machine if you’re looking to purchase an espresso machine.

[Rewarded Review] Simple operation, nice looking, brews great coffee

My wife is quite the daily coffee connoisseur and I have struggled trying to find her an at-home coffee machine that not only brews good coffee, but can brew espresso (she loves her affogato) and cold brew (she also likes her iced coffees). I also do not know much about coffee and am by no means a barista, so finding a machine that I can operate and make coffee for my wife that she actually likes is important.With all that in mind, this machine has proved to be exactly what the caffeinated ordered! To begin, the machine looks great sitting in the kitchen and rivals the elegance and sophistication of other machines I have seen with significantly higher price tags. The stainless steel is nice and the machine feels very sturdy. There are a few plastic parts, but they ... MoreMy wife is quite the daily coffee connoisseur and I have struggled trying to find her an at-home coffee machine that not only brews good coffee, but can brew espresso (she loves her affogato) and cold brew (she also likes her iced coffees). I also do not know much about coffee and am by no means a barista, so finding a machine that I can operate and make coffee for my wife that she actually likes is important.With all that in mind, this machine has proved to be exactly what the caffeinated ordered! To begin, the machine looks great sitting in the kitchen and rivals the elegance and sophistication of other machines I have seen with significantly higher price tags. The stainless steel is nice and the machine feels very sturdy. There are a few plastic parts, but they are also very stout and well-made.Unboxing was relatively easy and I really appreciated having a "quick start" guide included within the box that made things very easy. (There is also a QR code available that can be scanned to watch tutorial videos that Ninja makes available as well.) There are testing strips included that determine the hardness of the water you are using (which is part of the machine's setup process) and there are descaling tablets and other accessories for maintenance. (Just be sure to have some roasted coffee beans ready to go when setting up the unit.)The unit itself is well designed with all accessories being stored on or within the unit. No searching for a missing item... Everything is right there.One of the great features of the machine is that it eliminates a lot of the guesswork regarding the coarseness of the grind. Whenever you switch beans, you run the machine through a calibration process and it suggests the best grind for you (from fine to coarse). Depending on the drink you are brewing (espresso versus traditional brew, for instance), the unit will suggest a different grind for your specific beans. Along those lines, the process of grinding, tamping, and brewing is actually very easy and, for a person that had no idea how to brew a pot of coffee, all it took was once or twice through the process for me to get it down. My wife is thrilled because I can now make her coffee in the morning.All these features would be worthless if the machine did not brew a good cup of coffee and I am pleased to say that my wife stated this machine brews the best coffee she has ever had at home (and the coffee is even better than some coffee shops that she frequents). Grinding your own beans makes a huge difference as the coffee brewed is very fresh (as opposed to tasting "stale"). The built-in frother also works well and is great for topping off homemade cappuccinos and other specialty coffee beverages. The unit also accommodates different size cups, including travel mugs.The frother cleans itself after it does its thing and the cleanup of the unit itself is relatively simple. (The bottom drawer that collects waste water/liquid and errant coffee grounds pulls out for easy cleanup.)While I have historically found machines like this to be very intimidating and complicated to use, this Ninja machine is extraordinarily versatile, easy to use, and (according to my wife) brews an outstanding cup of coffee (or espresso). This one unit replaced three different coffee-brewing devices that we had sitting around our kitchen and we have now stopped our search for the perfect coffee/espresso/cold brew/cappuccino/frother machine for the house. Whether you are a coffee novice or an aficionado, if you are looking to grind your own beans and make your own coffee (and specialty coffees), I would strongly recommend this machine.

[Rewarded Review] Unleash your inner barista

If you are a coffee aficionado, coffee connoisseur, or coffeeholic who enjoys all aspects of coffee, including different types of beans, roasts, brewing methods, and coffee drinks, then this is the coffee system for you. If you are a coffee wannabe who is a bit intimidated by grinding coffee beans, doesn’t quite understand the difference between iced coffee and cold brew, brewed coffee and espresso, and couldn’t distinguish a cappuccino from a latte or macchiato, this is also the machine for you!The Ninja Luxe Café is barista assist technology from start to finish. It is the ultimate guided experience that simplifies the process of creating café-quality drinks at home from grinding coffee beans to spooning cold foam over coffee.To start simply, you can make drip ... MoreIf you are a coffee aficionado, coffee connoisseur, or coffeeholic who enjoys all aspects of coffee, including different types of beans, roasts, brewing methods, and coffee drinks, then this is the coffee system for you. If you are a coffee wannabe who is a bit intimidated by grinding coffee beans, doesn’t quite understand the difference between iced coffee and cold brew, brewed coffee and espresso, and couldn’t distinguish a cappuccino from a latte or macchiato, this is also the machine for you!The Ninja Luxe Café is barista assist technology from start to finish. It is the ultimate guided experience that simplifies the process of creating café-quality drinks at home from grinding coffee beans to spooning cold foam over coffee.To start simply, you can make drip coffee (classic, rich or iced) and cold brew (cold pressed espresso or coffee) in the following amounts 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 ounces. The adjustable cup tray with 3 different levels and the removable central tray accommodates cups of different sizes.For the next level, try the espresso (double or quad shot). This no-guesswork process (set-up, grind, tamp, brew, froth) can easily be mastered by any newbie with the Quick Start Guide and Inspiration Guide booklet.How about adding grinding your own beans? Not sure how much? Let barista assist help with the 25 grind settings, grind size recommendations, weight-based dosing, and brew adjustments for temperature (dark vs light roasts) and pressure.No need to purchase separate items as the portafilter and built-in scale come with the system. So does the tamper to deliver the perfect puck for a high-quality shot and the milk jug for froth. The tamper and funnel store on the side of the machine while the brew baskets, brush and cleaning disc hide away in the built-in storage compartment.One of the first things you do after unpacking the unit and thoroughly cleaning all items is test your water hardiness with the test strip in the starter kit. Program that into your machine before you make your first cup. You also need to run a water flush. Periodically you will need to descale the machine and run a clean cycle with the enclosed cleaning disc. The starter kit comes with some descaling powder and 2 cleaning tablets. After those run out, you will need to purchase more.Ninja is notorious for its amazing recipe guides with clear step-by-step directions, ample illustrations and images, difficulty level, brew & froth time, QR codes for additional videos, recipes, and tips for cleaning & maintenance. Try a cold-pressed espresso martini or iced coffee with salted caramel cold foam.While I hate to clutter up my countertop, this stainless-steel unit is compact and attractive. Because I use it every day, it has earned a permanent spot next to the stove. If you think the price is high, just add up the round-trip mileage to coffee shops, time in the car and drive through, and cost of the fancy coffees you bought for a week. Then multiply that by 52. And that is just one year. The unit is portable enough that you can bring it on vacation or to other people’s houses. You will be the hit of the party as the after-dinner barista. If you put out a tip jar, the unit will pay for itself very quickly!