Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series Review: Espresso, Drip Coffee, and Cold Brew in One Machine

Why You'll Love It

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series is designed for people who enjoy experimenting with different coffee drinks, including iced coffee, but don't necessarily want to build a café-level setup at home. If your mornings alternate between a double espresso, an iced latte, and a full mug of drip coffee, this machine covers a lot of ground without requiring multiple appliances.

It also takes some of the intimidation out of espresso. Features like guided grind adjustments and weight-based dosing in the coffee machine help you get more consistent results, even if you're still learning the basics.

What Stands Out

What makes the Luxe Café Premier different is its versatility, allowing users to brew coffee, prepare espresso, and create cold foam effortlessly. It can prepare espresso, drip coffee, and rapid cold brew-style drinks from a single machine. That's a practical benefit for households where everyone's coffee preferences differ slightly.

The built-in scale and Barista Assist technology also stand out in the Ninja Luxe Café Premier coffee maker. Instead of guessing how much coffee to grind, the machine doses by weight and recommends grind adjustments based on previous brews, helping improve consistency over time.

Ease of Use

Despite its traditional portafilter, the Luxe Café Premier feels approachable, making it easy to make espresso. The interface walks you through the process, and automatic milk frothing reduces some of the trial and error involved in steaming milk for your café pro drinks.

More experienced home baristas may seek greater manual control, but many will appreciate the balance between convenience and engagement.

Performance

In daily use, the machine delivers reliable espresso and surprisingly good consistency shot after shot. Reviews frequently praise the grinder, built-in scale, and guided workflow for producing dependable results.

The drip coffee performs well for everyday drinking, while the rapid cold brew option provides a refreshing alternative without requiring overnight preparation.

Build Quality and Design

The stainless steel finish gives the machine a polished look without feeling overly flashy. Integrated storage compartments help keep accessories organized, which is genuinely useful if you have limited counter space.

It's not a compact machine, however, so you'll want to measure your available space before bringing it home.

Who It's Best For

- Great for brewing coffee and creating cold foam. Coffee drinkers who regularly switch between espresso, drip coffee, iced drinks, and milk-based beverages.
- Consider something else if: You want extensive manual control or prefer a dedicated espresso machine focused solely on traditional espresso preparation.

Things to Consider

- The grinder produces some noise during operation, which is common in machines like the Breville Barista Express and the Ninja Luxe Café Premier.
- Warm-up time is relatively quick thanks to its thermoblock system.
- The large water reservoir reduces refill frequency.
- Regular cleaning of the drip tray, milk system, and accessories is part of ownership.
- Its all-in-one design requires a moderate amount of counter space.

Espresso Store Take

If someone asked me whether I'd buy the Ninja Luxe Café Premier, I'd say it depends on what role coffee plays in your daily routine. If you enjoy variety and value convenience, it's easy to see the appeal.

The trade-off is that coffee purists may outgrow some of its guided features, especially if they prefer using a tamper for espresso rather than relying on Barista Assist. But for many households, the flexibility is exactly the point.

The Bottom Line

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series is a practical choice for coffee lovers who want more than just espresso. It combines thoughtful guidance, everyday versatility, and consistent performance in a way that feels approachable rather than overwhelming, thanks to its Barista Assist technology. It's not trying to be everything to everyone, but for the right person, it can simplify and elevate the home coffee routine.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Breville Barista Express

What makes the Breville Barista Express (BES870) stand out from other home espresso machines?

The Barista Express combines a built-in conical burr grinder, steam wand, and manual controls in a single unit, so you get a genuine espresso experience without needing separate equipment. Its grinder offers 16 settings with on-demand dosing, and the combination of low-pressure pre-infusion and PID temperature control helps produce more balanced, consistent shots.

Is the Breville Barista Express easy to use for beginners?

There's a learning curve, but it's manageable. New users typically spend the first couple of weeks dialing in grind settings, adjusting doses, and practicing milk steaming. The machine is forgiving enough for beginners while still offering enough control to keep things interesting as your skills improve.

How is the espresso quality and milk-steaming performance on the Barista Express?

Once dialed in, the Barista Express consistently produces rich espresso shots with good crema using fresh beans and a bit of practice. It's also praised for its milk-steaming capabilities, making it well-suited for cafe-style lattes and cappuccinos at home.

What should buyers know about the build quality and design of this machine?

The Barista Express has a stainless steel exterior that gives it a solid, polished look and fits comfortably in most kitchens. It measures roughly 16 inches tall and 13 inches wide and includes practical touches such as magnetic tamper storage and a removable water tank for easier daily use.

Who is the Breville Barista Express best suited for, and what are some downsides to consider?

It's ideal for coffee lovers who want to learn espresso-making at home and appreciate having a grinder and machine combined in one unit, especially for microfoam-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. However, those who already own a high-end grinder or want more extraction control may prefer a separate setup. Other considerations include some noise from the grinder and pump, the need for regular water tank refills, routine backflushing and group head cleaning, and a moderate counter-space footprint.