I Review Coffee Machines for a Living – The Ninja Luxe Café Pro Is the Only One I Want in My Home, and I'd Jump on the $150 Discount Tonight

As a trained chef, I'm a harsh critic when it comes to coffee. I'm obsessive with flavor and texture – and my partner trained as a barista, so our combined standards are impossibly high.

With my days in the professional kitchen behind me, I now make a living by testing kitchen appliances, including the best coffee makers. I’ve tested everything from quiet KitchenAids and automatic De’Longhis to swish drip coffee makers and chic Bialettis. It's rare for me to get very excited by a product anymore, but the Ninja Luxe Café Pro Espresso Maker, discounted by $150 at SharkNinja, changed that. It's the only coffee maker I want in my home.

From cold brew to flat whites, lattes to espresso martinis, it makes the best caffeine I’ve ever brewed at home. All that to say, it's the only one making my Christmas list this year, and once you read my full review below, you'll see exactly why.

Specifications

First Impressions

I know when an appliance is actually luxe, because it makes me immediately want to rip out my dated kitchen and upgrade it with polished countertops and backsplashes to match.

The Ninja Luxe Café Pro Espresso Maker is ultra-professional and high-tech. It's like the Ferrari of coffee machines; mechanical and functional, but with enticing lit-up buttons and dials that get you excited to take it for a test drive. Each part is satisfyingly robust and enjoyable to use, from the vacuum-sealed bean compartment that slots satisfyingly into place to the weighted dials that you twist to select your brew.

The only criticism I made in my notes is that the Ninja Luxe Café Pro is quite large and heavy. I struggled to lift it onto my counter, and once it was situated, I didn't want to move it again.

What's it Like to Use?

At first, I was a little perplexed by all the whizzy dials and options on the Ninja Luxe Café Pro Espresso Maker. But after a few minutes watching SharkNinja’s tutorial videos –and a quick play with the interface – it all clicked. By the end of my first week of testing, I could run it in my sleep.

You start by filling the water tank at the back. I actually take a shortcut by filling the milk-frothing pitcher with water and tipping it straight in – a bit easier than wrestling with the tank itself. Then, load the bean hopper with your coffee of choice (I’m loyal to Illy's Arabica Selections Brasile WholeBeans, available at Amazon).

Choose your shot size – I stick to a single, because a double has me bouncing off the walls – then pop the filter basket into the portafilter. Slot it into the grinder on the left, and the machine will predict the best grind size for your beans. It takes a couple of rounds to dial in, but I’ve learned that size 14 is the sweet spot for my Illy blend. There’s also a built-in scale that measures out the correct amount of coffee grounds.

From here, it’s seamless. Hit Grind, tamp using the built-in lever, then lock the portafilter into the brew head. Pick your drink – espresso, americano, ristretto, cold brew, and the list goes on – and voilà. The Ninja Luxe pours a perfectly balanced shot straight into your cup.

For a latte or flat white, you'll want to use the milk frother. With other machines I've tested, you need to manually steam the milk, getting your angles and timing right to create the perfect texture.

The Ninja Pro Luxe has an automatic steaming function, so you can sit back and relax. There are also multiple preset textures to choose from: Steamed Milk, Thin Foam, Thick Foam, Extra-Thick Foam, and Cold Foam.

Taste Test

When I say you have options with the Ninja Luxe Café Pro, I mean it. When I first got the machine into my kitchen, I didn't even realize there was a whole range of filter settings. You can choose between Classic, Rich, or Over Ice, and the drink sizes range from 175ml to 530ml.

For me, where the Ninja truly shines is in the espresso itself. The shot is rich, full-bodied, bold, smooth, and always at the perfect temperature.

The espresso serves as the perfect base for a variety of your favorite café-style drinks. I experimented with lattes, flat whites, and cappuccinos, following the clever milk measurements and recipe card attached to the side of the machine. Each drink turned out consistently smooth, with the espresso flavor shining through beautifully. Honestly, I’ve stopped visiting my local café – because I can make even better coffee at home.

But that’s not all – the Ninja Luxe Café Pro can also make cold brew. The process was impressively quick, though my first batch came out just slightly warm, enough to melt the ice cubes in my iced coffee glass. Undeterred, I tried something a little more adventurous: espresso martinis (strictly off the clock!). They turned out beautifully, and I even served them to dinner party guests, who raved about the balance and flavor. (Apologies for the lack of photos – I was swept up in the hosting whirlwind!)

Cleaning, Storage & Maintenance

My biggest peeve when testing the best espresso machines is always the clean-up. For a while, I switched to using an Aeropress Original (from Walmart) at home because I was sick of cleaning appliances at work – the simple tube on the Aeropress just needs a rinse in the sink.

Thankfully, while testing the Ninja Luxe Café Pro, clean-up was effortless – so much so that I’d happily keep it in my kitchen permanently. A quick wipe of the steam wand after use is all it takes – no dismantling parts, no struggling with a straw cleaner, no fuss. The machine even has an auto-purge setting that prevents milk build-up and residue, keeping it ready for your next brew.

The only other regular maintenance is the drip tray. It can get a bit grubby, but the trays slide out easily and can be fully disassembled for a thorough clean. I’d also recommend draining it after each use – you’d be surprised how fast the water collects. Keep an eye on the rising orange buoy in the tray; it’s your not-so-subtle warning that a mini 'tsunami' might be brewing!

How Does it Compare?

For coffee lovers who enjoy a more hands-on experience, the best espresso machines from the likes of Breville and De’Longhi will offer greater control. With their traditional portafilters, steam wands, and temperature-controlled boilers, you can fine-tune your grind, tamp, and milk texture, which is satisfying if you know how or are happy to clamber up that steep learning curve (practice makes perfect).

What sets the Ninja Luxe Café Pro apart for me is that it bridges technicality with ease. You still engage in the process – grinding beans, tamping, frothing milk– but without the risk of a bad shot every time. It's really fun and gives you the sense of craft without the potential angst of a fully manual machine.

And compared with other automated machines, I found the Ninja less fiddly and more affordable (well under $1,000). I’ve tested some of the most luxurious machines on the market (like the Jura J8, for example), but the Ninja remains my go-to for its ease and price.

Should You Buy It?

In my opinion, this is a coffee maker that’s truly worth its salt. For the price, you get an impressive amount of fun and functionality. The only people I wouldn’t recommend this to are baristas who want complete hands-on control, or those who are very tech-averse – if mindful, simple brewing is your goal, one of the best Moka pots will suit you better, but you'll obviously sacrifice versatility.

For café-goers looking to save money on takeout and recreate that barista taste at home, you really can’t go wrong. The Ninja Luxe grinds fresh beans, automatically adjusts grind size, and pulls professional-level shots for dreamy lattes, rich Americanos, and so much more. I loved testing this intelligent, highly automated machine – and I’ll be genuinely gutted to send it back to Ninja. Goodbye, espresso martinis!

How We Test Espresso Makers

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At Homes & Gardens, we’ve developed a barista-approved process for testing the best coffee makers. Our tests are standardized across each machine, so that we can compare all of the products against each other, without bias. If we think a machine is good enough, it’ll go onto our best espresso machine, best French press, or our highly acclaimed best non-toxic coffee maker list.

If you're keen to see behind the scenes, you can read more on our dedicated page: How we test coffee makers.

At Homes & Gardens, we’ve developed a barista-approved process for testing the best coffee makers.

Our tests are standardized across each machine, so we can compare all of the products against each other without bias. If we think a machine is good enough, it’ll go onto our best espresso machine, best French press, or our highly acclaimed best non-toxic coffee maker list.

If you're keen to see behind the scenes, you can read our dedicated page: how we test coffee makers.