Did you know you can cook bread with steam?
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As the previous machine had carked it several months ago, we were in desperate need of new machine for the office. So, you can imagine how excited we were to receive a brand-new Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine.
This coffee machine is an ambitious attempt to simplify café-style coffee at home while packing in as many features as possible. It sits somewhere between a beginner-friendly appliance and a semi-serious enthusiast machine, and that dual identity shapes both its strengths and its compromises.
At its core, this is not just an espresso machine. It is a multi-purpose system that can produce espresso, filter coffee and cold brew from a single unit. That flexibility is one of its biggest selling points, especially for households where preferences vary. Instead of juggling multiple appliances, the Ninja brings everything into one footprint, which feels practical even if it does take up a fair bit of bench space. One thing I am yet to try is making an espresso martini, perhaps something I’ll leave for a Friday afternoon.
Using the machine is where it becomes clear who it is designed for. Ninja’s Barista Assist system guides you through the process, recommending grind sizes and adjusting brewing settings automatically. For newcomers, this removes much of the intimidation that usually comes with espresso making. You are not expected to understand extraction theory or dial in shots manually. It is closer to a guided experience than a traditional hands-on setup.
The built-in conical burr grinder with multiple settings is another highlight. It grinds fresh beans directly into the portafilter, and combined with the assisted tamping system, it creates a fairly consistent workflow. The machine also includes a hands-free milk frothing system that can handle both dairy and plant-based milk, producing microfoam with minimal effort.
In terms of performance, the results are generally strong rather than exceptional. Espresso quality is good enough for most people, with decent crema and balanced flavour, though it may not satisfy purists who are used to high-end manual machines.
Currently priced at $648 at JB Hi-Fi, where the Ninja really stands out is value. It delivers a wide feature set at a price that undercuts many competitors offering similar functionality. Independent testing has scored it highly for usability and overall value, even if build quality and long-term durability are not quite at premium levels.
There are some drawbacks worth noting. The machine is pretty large, so it might dominate smaller kitchens. There is also a learning curve despite the guided features, particularly if you want to get the best results rather than simply acceptable ones. I still haven’t figured out how to change it to the latte setting. The time it takes for espresso extraction as well as frothing milk also took longer than expected. However, the fact that milk frothing is hands-free means I can go and check my emails while I’m waiting.
Overall, the Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine is best described as a convenience-focused all-rounder. It is ideal for people who want café-style drinks at home without committing to the complexity of a traditional espresso setup. It is less suited to coffee enthusiasts chasing precision and full control, but for most households it strikes a very appealing balance between ease of use, versatility and price.
