Ninja already dominates kitchen technology with popular air fryers, blenders, ice cream makers, knife sets, and even pans, so I was thrilled to try the new Ninja Luxe Cafe when it was released. Since then it's been in and out of stock like a yo-yo and now it's back - just in time for Christmas.

The Ninja Luxe Cafe is not discounted in the brand's early Black Friday offering, remaining £549.99, so if you were hoping to bag a bargain you may be better looking at the Sage Barista Express Bean to Cup coffee machine. It has similar functionality for an RRP of £659, although shoppers can currently get one for £499.95 at Lakeland.

As someone who likes to start the day with a good cup of coffee the Ninja Luxe Cafe has seen me ditch buying takeout coffee. When the machine was launched, shoppers were so excited by the gadget that 50,000 of them signed up for the waitlist within 24 hours - and after using it for a month I can see why.

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Read more: I tested Ninja's new coffee machine and ditched buying takeout coffee

Prior to being sent the machine to review, I'd had the L'or Barista Sublime, which uses Nespresso pods and before that, I had a Nespresso Pixie machine. Both of these were great for making espresso and Americanos, but I didn't have the optional milk frother with either of them leaving my options for drinks limited.

At £549.99, it's definitely a considered purchase rather than something to buy on a whim, but, since having it in our household, we are spending less on coffee. I could easily go through three packets a week with my old pod machines, costing around £8 in pods.

With the Luxe Cafe, we've found a 270g packet of whole beans (£3-£6 depending on what's on offer) lasts a week. I've also noticed I've preferred to make my own 'speciality' coffee and use my 'to-go' mug instead of heading to a coffee shop, so I'll have saved money there too.

To read my full thoughts on the Ninja Luxe Cafe head to my review here. But here's a quick summary of what I like about the machine and why I've stopped spending on take out coffee since using it.

Setting up the Ninja Luxe Cafe
Everything arrives neatly packed with plenty of instructions to follow (
Image:
Staff)

I found the instructions for setting it up easy to follow. There's a QR code to scan, linking you to a video to watch, or a traditional set of instructions. From testing the water PH to calibrating the machine to the whole beans I'd chosen, setting up was straightforward but slightly time-consuming.

Right amount of coffee in the right grind

The conical burr grinder delivers the right amount of freshly ground coffee directly into the portafilter and has 25 grind settings. Calibration takes a few grind cycles but the Luxe Cafe then suggests a good grind size for whatever drink you are making at the time. This means that whatever beans you like or have to hand you'll get the best from them.

What's included with your Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine
  • Portafilter & 3 baskets (Single, Double & Luxe)
  • Tamper
  • Funnel
  • Froth Jug with Integrated Whisk
  • Built-in Grinder
  • Cleaning Brush
  • Starter Kit
  • Cleaning Kit
  • Recipe Guide.

Choice of automatic or manual settings

The automatic settings allow me to make barista-style coffee at home. After running the machine to produce your shot of coffee, users can then decide to either add hot water from the machine or steam some milk to create a latte, flat white, or cappuccino (or any other frothy concoction you fancy). The machine has a number of automated frothing settings for both standard milk and plant milk. However, I've found I actually prefer using the steamer manually.

Different settings for dairy or plant milk
As you can see the machine suggests grind size depending on what drink you are making (
Image:
Staff)

I've tried flat whites, cappuccinos, and lattes using semi-skimmed milk, oat milk, almond milk, and soya milk. While black coffee will always be my preference, I've enjoyed creating lattes with oat milk for my boyfriend and have even purchased some syrup to try vanilla lattes.

The machine has also allowed me to up my hot chocolate and mocha game. Adding powder to the milk before steaming it into a velvety froth creates a luxuriously smooth and rich hot chocolate. If you're someone who enjoys cold brew coffee and still want froth the machine even has settings suitable for that.

Thought out design

I like how seamlessly all the accessories are stored. The portafilter baskets tuck neatly in a swing-out draw while the tamper and grinding funnel attach to the side of the machine. It's clear thought has gone into the overall design of the Luxe Cafe.

However the thing I least like about the machine is changing the portafilter baskets. There is definitely a knack. While I've now cracked it anyone with poor grip may struggle.