My First Look at Ninja’s Luxe™ Café Mini Espresso Machine Completely Changed How I Feel About Coffee – And It Fits in Any Kitchen
This compact espresso machine has been designed to deliver café-style coffee without taking over your countertop
I'll admit, I never cared much for coffee. Until a few years ago, I could barely tolerate the smell, so I didn't think an espresso machine would become one of my favourite new kitchen appliances.
Living with a tiny kitchen meant my coffee-loving partner relied on a kettle and a moka pot for years. However, the arrival of the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine finally lets us upgrade without sacrificing precious counter space, and my first impressions have certainly been lasting ones.
This isn't a full review (I'm still putting it through its paces), but after spending a few days with the machine, I think it might be a contender for one of the best espresso machines out there. Here's what has stood out so far.
The Mini model is 30% smaller than its predecessor, but delivers the same café-quality coffee at the touch of a button. It will even froth your milk for you − it's a true gem for small kitchens, and you can get 10% if you sign up to the newsletter for the first time.
Having rarely tried to make espresso at home, when it first came to testing a full espresso machine, I was hesitant. They look complicated, and like too much work for the first thing in the morning.
However, the Ninja Luxe™ Café Mini really lives up to its claim of removing the guesswork from making coffee at home, whether you want espresso, drip, or over ice.
The machine comes with everything you need besides beans and water to get started, including a water hardness test kit, which allows you to program your appliance for custom descaling and cleaning warnings.
From there, it weighs your portafilter, decides the best grind size, grinds, and brews for you. The AutoFroth steamer wand even foams milk to the perfect thickness for everything from lattes to cappuccinos without manual intervention. It felt more like playing with a very well-crafted toy than work, so much so that I get excited making coffee for others, and am even tempted to try some myself (although I may be adding some syrups for that).
At 30% smaller than its predecessor, the Ninja Lixe Cafe Pro we reviewed last year, it has found an easy home on my counter. It tucks neatly into a corner of my small kitchen without getting in the way of my everyday organization and prep work. I am usually reluctant to give up space to appliances, given how little of it there is, but this has proven to be a worthy addition.
I simply cannot wait to show it off to friends and guests.
What Else to Shop
From beautifully hand-crafted coffee cups to stunning syrup bottles, these hand-picked coffee station essentials are perfect for elevating your home coffee routine to a café-quality ritual.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
This set of four hand-glazed stoneware mugs are dishwasher and microwave-safe. They are handcrafted in Portugal.
These handcrafted espresso cups are made from decaled, hand-painted, and glazed 100% stoneware. They are dishwasher and microwave safe for convenience, too.
These matching glass bottles come with precision pumps for easy and consistent dispensing in retro style. They also come with labels to fully personalize your setup.
Nothing ruins your brew like stale coffee. This coffee canister features a patented inner plunger lid with a two-way valve that forces excess oxygen out of the canister and locks out humidity, preserving freshness for longer when storing coffee beans.
Your water quality can impact the taste of your brew. This Espresso Machine mineral packet can be added to the water, and is specially engineered to protect your espresso machine’s boiler while delivering exceptional espresso shots with rich crema, balanced acidity, and enhanced sweetness.
This tiered countertop organizer is a great way to keep your morning coffee essentials organized, using vertical storage to save space while creating a visual display.
Not sure which setting is best for you? We have broken down the key differences between espresso and drip coffee to help you find the best brew.
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