TL;DR
The Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier is a $599 semiautomatic that makes espresso, drip coffee and a quick cold brew while packing a built-in grinder and scale to help beginners. It delivers mostly solid shots and an excellent milk-steaming wand but shows occasional inconsistencies, some leaking, and a few missing features for coffee purists.
What happened
Wired’s review tested the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Series over roughly two months and found it to be a feature-rich, budget semiautomatic espresso machine that targets beginners who want shop-style drinks at home. The machine blends a stainless-steel portafilter with double and quad baskets (no single-shot basket), a nine-bar pressure system with stepped pre-infusion, and programmable espresso ratios. Its standout aids are a conical-burr grinder with 25 settings and a built-in scale that doses by weight; the interface also recommends grind adjustments based on the previous shot. The Luxe can brew 6–18 ounce drip coffee with Classic or Rich modes, produce a room-temperature cold brew in about 10 minutes, and steam milk via a manual wand with four presets including cold foam and a plant-based setting. Downsides observed include occasional leaking, a chipping plastic funnel, a drip tray that cannot hold two cups side-by-side, no hot-water spout, and an unfiltered water reservoir. Wired rated the machine 7/10 and noted it competes with higher-priced models like the Breville Barista Express.
Why it matters
- Combines grinder, scale and dosing recommendations to lower the learning curve for new espresso makers.
- Offers multiple brew modes (espresso, drip, cold brew) in a single countertop unit at a modest price point.
- Built-in milk steaming with presets and cold-foam support makes specialty drinks more accessible.
- Periodic shot inconsistency, leaks and some design compromises may disappoint consumers seeking pro-level reliability.
Key facts
- Retail price reported at $599 (availability at Amazon and Walmart).
- Wired gave the machine a 7/10 rating after around two months of testing.
- Semiautomatic design with a stainless-steel portafilter and two basket sizes: double and quad (no single-shot basket).
- Built-in conical-burr grinder with 25 settings and an integrated scale that doses coffee by weight.
- Nine-bar pressure system with a stepped, lower-pressure pre-infusion mode and preset espresso ratios (1:2, 1:2.5, 1:3).
- Drip coffee options brew 6–18 ounces with Classic or Rich profiles; a cold-brew cycle runs in about 10 minutes.
- Milk wand supports manual steaming and four programmed settings, including cold foam and a plant-based option.
- Removable hopper and rapid heat-up time; water reservoir does not include a filter.
- Reported issues: occasional leaking, plastic funnel corners chipping after months of use, and the drip tray/shelf cannot accommodate two cups side-by-side.
- No dedicated hot-water spout.
What to watch next
- Whether the occasional espresso inconsistencies persist with longer-term use and with different beans (not confirmed in the source).
- Long-term durability of the plastic funnel and other wear-prone parts after extended ownership (not confirmed in the source).
- If Ninja releases firmware or calibration updates that improve grind-size recommendations and shot consistency (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Portafilter: A handled basket that holds tamped coffee grounds and locks into the machine’s group head for brewing espresso.
- Pre-infusion: A short, lower-pressure wetting of the coffee puck before full pressure is applied; it helps extract more evenly.
- Conical-burr grinder: A type of grinder using cone-shaped burrs to crush beans evenly, producing a more consistent particle size than blade grinders.
- Dosing by weight: Measuring coffee grounds by their mass (via a scale) rather than by time or volume to improve consistency.
- Cold foam: Aerated milk or milk alternative prepared without heat, used to top iced beverages.
Reader FAQ
Is the Ninja Luxe Cafe fully automatic?
No. It’s a semiautomatic machine: you grind, tamp and insert the portafilter, though the grinder and scale automate dosing and recommend grind sizes.
Can it pull single shots?
Not confirmed in the source: the machine ships with double and quad baskets and the review states there is no single-shot basket.
Does it have a hot-water spout?
No, Wired noted the machine lacks a dedicated hot-water spout.
How long does the cold-brew cycle take?
About 10 minutes, per the review.
Does the water reservoir include a filter?
No; Wired reports the reservoir does not come with a filter.
TYLER SHANE GEAR JAN 7, 2026 9:54 AM Review: Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Series Espresso Machine This budget semiautomatic also offers drip coffee and cold brew—and some inconsistencies. COURTESY OF…
Sources
- Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Espresso Machine Review: Beginner’s Luck
- Ninja Luxe Cafe Espresso Machine
- Ninja Luxe™ Café Premier 3 in 1 Espresso Drip Coffee & …
- Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Review: Is it Worth It?
Related posts
- CES 2026 surprises: foldables, creaseless displays, Wi‑Fi 8 and legged robovacs
- Oura launches travel charging case for Ring 4 that delivers five full recharges
- Ikea expands Matter support to two Varmblixt lamps with color and white tuning