Ninja Luxe Cafe Review (2025): 9 Things You Should Know Before Buying

The Ninja Luxe Cafe is one of the hottest new espresso machines in 2025. Whether you’re a coffee beginner or someone who wants café-style drinks at home, this machine offers a lot of premium features without the overwhelming complexity. In this full guide, you’ll learn about its portafilter size, compatible coffee beans, cold brew setup, and whether it’s worth the hype. We’ll also explore how it stacks up against the popular Breville Barista Express. Let’s dive in.

What Is the Ninja Luxe Café?

The Ninja Luxe Café is a 3-in-1 espresso, drip, and cold brew coffee maker launched in June 2024. This all-in-one machine is designed to simplify high-quality brewing at home. It includes an integrated grinder with 25 grind settings, a smart scale for weight-based dosing, and a feature called Barista Assist to help automate shot pulling without losing quality.

Unlike many entry-level machines, the Luxe Café offers impressive versatility. You can go from a single espresso to an iced cold brew in minutes. From personal use, I found the learning curve much shorter than expected. It’s ideal for people who want a semi-manual feel but don’t want to guess their grind or shot time.

At launch, the Ninja Luxe Café retailed around $499–$599. That’s cheaper than Breville’s mid-range machines but still premium enough to expect quality. TechRadar called it

“the best balance of performance and automation for beginners.”

Ninja Luxe Café Portafilter Size Explained

The most common question from new owners is, “What portafilter size does the Ninja Luxe Café use?” The answer is 53 mm. Some users say it’s actually closer to 53.3 mm, which matters if you’re upgrading to a bottomless portafilter.

From a Reddit thread in the Ninja Espresso Enthusiasts group, one user said:

“I got a 53.3mm bottomless from Etsy, and it fits snugly. But thicker ones wouldn’t lock into place.”

If you’re planning to upgrade, go for a 53.3 mm bottomless portafilter with thin ears. These usually cost around $35 on Etsy or Amazon. I tested one myself and found it made a huge difference in improving my shot quality by showing any channeling during extraction.

Bottomless portafilters are great for training your tamp technique and visual feedback. If you care about crema and clarity, it’s a must-have upgrade.

Can You Use Ground Coffee in the Ninja Luxe Café?

Yes, you can use ground coffee with the Ninja Luxe Café, but there are trade-offs. The machine includes a coffee funnel that allows you to bypass the built-in grinder and add pre-ground coffee directly into the portafilter.

This option is helpful when you’re in a rush or don’t want to make noise. But by doing this, you lose the benefits of Barista Assist, which relies on the internal scale and grind settings to dose correctly.

From personal use, I noticed a difference in shot consistency when I skipped the built-in grinder. Pre-ground coffee often lacks the freshness needed for espresso. If you’re using ground coffee, go with high-quality brands and grind size made for espresso. Otherwise, the machine won’t extract properly.

In short, yes you can use ground coffee—but fresh beans work far better with this system.

Also Read Best Coffee Maker in 2025 (Tested & Reviewed)

Best Coffee Beans for Ninja Luxe Café in 2025

Choosing the right beans can make or break your home espresso game. The Ninja Luxe Café performs best with medium or medium-dark roast beans designed for espresso machines. With its 25 grind settings and weight-based dosing, the machine adapts well to a wide variety of beans—but some stand out.

Here are three personal favorites:

• Partners Coffee Bedford Espresso – Sweet, chocolatey, and complex. Costs about $21. Ideal for those who want smooth but flavorful espresso shots.
• Lavazza Gran Crema – Widely available, affordable (~$25), and produces a rich crema. A great starting point for beginners.
• Downeast Coffee Supreme Crema – Balanced blend for both espresso and milk drinks. Less fruity, more nutty tones.

These beans match well with the machine’s internal grinder and produce solid shots with minimal tweaking. Avoid overly oily dark roasts, as they can clog the burrs over time.

How to Make Cold Brew with the Ninja Luxe Café

Cold brew lovers will appreciate that the Ninja Luxe Café includes a special “Cold Brew” mode. This isn’t your typical overnight steep—this is a quick cold brew feature that extracts concentrated coffee using a slower flow and cool water.

To make cold brew:

1. Use a medium-coarse grind setting.
2. Fill the water tank with cold, filtered water.
3. Add 20–24g of coffee into the portafilter.
4. Select the “Cold Brew” option on the digital screen.
5. Let the machine complete the cycle (about 5 minutes).

The result is a bold, smooth concentrate that you can dilute with ice, milk, or water. I like adding vanilla syrup and oat milk for a DIY iced latte. Reviews on Reddit and TikTok call it “shockingly smooth and strong.”

This feature alone makes the machine worth considering if you like cold coffee year-round.

Ninja Luxe Café Single Basket vs Double Basket

The Ninja Luxe Café comes with two main baskets: a standard double-shot basket and a pressurized “Luxe” basket. Surprisingly, many users ask if a single basket is included—and the answer depends on your location. The U.S. version doesn’t ship with a single basket by default, but the European variant does.

From my own testing, the double basket works well for most espresso recipes, especially when dosing between 17–20g. If you’re someone who enjoys traditional single espresso shots (~8–10g), you might feel limited. In that case, I’d suggest buying a third-party 53mm single basket online. These usually cost between $10–$15.

One tip: the pressurized Luxe basket helps with crema for beginners, especially if you’re using inconsistent grind sizes. However, if you’re dialing in freshly ground beans with the built-in grinder, the non-pressurized basket gives better flavor clarity.

So, in short—yes, you can get a single basket for the Ninja Luxe Café, but you’ll need to buy it separately if you’re in the U.S.

Ninja Luxe Café Manual Mode & Barista Assist Explained

At first glance, the Ninja Luxe Café may seem fully automatic, but it actually strikes a smart balance between manual control and automation. The key feature here is Barista Assist. This is Ninja’s smart technology that guides your shot with built-in scaling, flow detection, and digital prompts.

From a usability perspective, you still tamp and lock in the portafilter manually. But instead of guessing the grind size or dose, Barista Assist calibrates for you. It weighs your coffee in real time and suggests grind adjustments via the LED screen.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how manual it really is:

• Grind: 25 settings, adjustable dial
• Dose: Weight-based with live tracking
• Pre-infusion and extraction: Fully guided
• Milk frothing: Manual steam wand with temp indicator

Personally, I liked how it gives you just enough control to feel like a barista without needing years of espresso knowledge. The tactile tamp, steam wand, and portafilter prep still feel hands-on. But the digital assist removes the guesswork that usually frustrates beginners.

Ninja Luxe Café vs Breville Barista Express: Which One to Buy?

This is one of the most searched comparisons in the espresso machine space: Ninja Luxe Café vs Breville Barista Express. Both machines target beginners and enthusiasts who want real espresso at home. But they take different approaches.

Breville Barista Express is more manual. It gives you control but expects more skill. You tamp, dial in grind manually, and judge shot time by eye. It’s excellent for people who want to learn espresso the traditional way.

Ninja Luxe Café is designed to remove friction from that learning curve. With Barista Assist, a built-in scale, and automatic brew suggestions, it teaches you as you go. It’s more forgiving, faster to use, and arguably better for someone who just wants great coffee without trial-and-error.

Price Comparison (2025):

• Ninja Luxe Café – Around $499 to $599
• Breville Barista Express – Around $699 to $749

My Take: If you want more control and plan to grow your barista skills, go Breville. If you want speed, consistency, and great espresso with fewer headaches, the Ninja Luxe Café wins on convenience and value.

Ninja Luxe Café Cyber Monday & Deals (2025)

If you’re thinking about buying the Ninja Luxe Café, keep an eye on Cyber Monday 2025. Based on past trends, major retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Target are expected to run 10–20% discounts on Ninja appliances.

In 2024, the Luxe Café launched around $599. But during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it dropped to $479 at Best Buy with free accessories. This year, expect similar or better deals, especially with newer models like the Luxe Pro now available.

To get the best price:

• Set up a deal alert on CamelCamelCamel or Honey
• Bookmark product pages at Amazon and Best Buy
• Look out for bundle deals (grinder brush, knock box, portafilter upgrade)

Tip: If you want to buy sooner, refurbished models sometimes go as low as $399 on Ninja’s official site.

Recommended Accessories for the Ninja Luxe Café

Accessories can really upgrade your experience with the Ninja Luxe Café. Here are some of the best extras I’ve tested or seen recommended by users:

• Bottomless Portafilter (53mm or 53.3mm) – For better espresso training and shot visibility. ~ $35 on Etsy.
• Precision Single Basket – For single shots and lighter doses. ~ $12–$15 online.
• Knock Box – Helps with quick puck removal. I use a small one from Cremaware (~$20).
• Espresso Scale with Timer – Essential if you want to get serious. Go for one with a 0.1g resolution.
• Milk Frothing Pitcher (12 oz) – Ninja’s wand works better with a curved spout pitcher for latte art.

From my experience, these small upgrades make a huge difference. The bottomless portafilter, in particular, helped me improve extraction quality fast. If you’re on a budget, start with that and a good scale.

Final Verdict: Is the Ninja Luxe Café Worth It in 2025?

So, is the Ninja Luxe Café worth your money in 2025? In my opinion—absolutely, especially if you’re just starting your espresso journey or want café-style coffee at home without spending hours learning technique.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons after using it daily for over a month:

Pros:

• Built-in grinder and scale make dosing super easy
• Barista Assist takes the guesswork out of espresso brewing
• Cold brew mode is quick and tastes smooth
• Manual steam wand gives full control for milk frothing
• Sleek design fits easily on small countertops

Cons:

• No default single-shot basket in U.S. version
• Doesn’t have pressure gauge like Breville Barista Express
• Some accessories need to be bought separately (bottomless portafilter, knock box, etc.)

For users who want consistent quality with room to learn and grow, it hits the sweet spot. Beginners can pull decent espresso on day one, and intermediate users can tweak grind, dose, and milk texture without limitations. It’s not as open-ended as Breville, but it’s way more beginner-friendly.

If your budget is under $600 and you want cold brew, espresso, and drip in one machine—this is your best bet for 2025.

FAQs About the Ninja Luxe Café

What’s the difference between Ninja Luxe Café and Ninja DualBrew Pro?

The Ninja Luxe Café is an espresso-first machine with pressure brewing and Barista Assist. The DualBrew Pro is more focused on drip coffee and pod compatibility (like K-Cups), not espresso.

Does the Ninja Luxe Café come with a milk frother?

Yes. It has a manual steam wand that performs well once you learn how to stretch milk properly. It doesn’t auto-froth like a Nespresso, but it gives you more control for cappuccinos and lattes.

Can it brew regular coffee?

Yes. The Luxe Café has a dedicated drip coffee mode. It brews 6 oz up to a full carafe. So if you’re switching between espresso shots and regular mugs, it handles both easily.

How long does it take to make a shot?

From bean to cup, it takes about 1.5 to 2 minutes. That includes grinding, tamping, heating, and extraction. The cold brew mode takes around 5 minutes.

Is the machine hard to clean?

Not at all. The portafilter, drip tray, and water tank are easy to remove. The internal grinder can be cleaned with a brush every week or two. I recommend backflushing with a cleaning disc once a month.

Where can I buy the Ninja Luxe Café?

It’s available at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Ninja’s official website. Look out for Cyber Monday deals or bundle offers that include extra baskets or accessories.

Got more questions? Drop them in the comments and I’ll update this section with fresh answers!