De'Longhi vs Ninja espresso machines

Specs side by side

The figures below are the ones each listing states. Ninja sells the Luxe Premier in more than one colour; the specs are the same.

How much help each one gives

Ninja calls its system Barista Assist. The Luxe Premier uses an integrated scale, grind recommendations and auto presets to steer you towards a balanced shot. If a shot runs too fast or too slow, the machine suggests a grind change. That shortens the learning curve for people new to espresso, and it is the main reason buyers choose it.

De'Longhi's help is more physical. The Arte doses with sensors and tamps with a lever, so you do not need to learn tamping pressure. After that, you choose a temperature profile and press a button. There is less feedback about whether your grind is right, so you adjust by taste. Our espresso dose and ratio guide helps if you go that route.

Milk frothing

The Ninja's froth wand steams and whisks at the same time, with four presets: steamed milk, thin froth, thick froth and cold froth. You place the jug, choose a preset and walk away. That makes it one of the more hands-off milk systems on a manual-style machine, and the cold froth option is unusual.

The De'Longhi's MyLatte Art wand is manual but guided by its Flat and Foam settings. You still hold the jug and judge texture by eye and sound. If you want to learn proper steaming, our steam wand guide covers it.

Size and extras

The Ninja is wider at 35.5 cm against 27.5 cm and nearly twice as heavy at 16.3 kg. On a small worktop, that matters. In return, it brews filter coffee and cold brew as well as espresso, and comes with three baskets, a funnel, a cleaning kit and a water hardness test kit.

The De'Longhi is narrower and lighter, so it fits more kitchens and is easier to move for cleaning. It focuses on espresso and milk drinks. If you also drink mugs of filter coffee, the Ninja's extra modes may save you a second machine. Our espresso vs filter coffee maker article explains how the two styles differ.

See espresso machines for beginners →

Is a Ninja coffee machine worth it?

If you want guided espresso, hands-free milk and the option of filter coffee in one box, the Luxe Premier offers a lot of features for its class. The trade-offs are size and weight, and Ninja's espresso range is younger than De'Longhi's or Sage's, so there are fewer years of owner experience to draw on. If you mainly want straightforward espresso and lattes in a smaller footprint, the La Specialista Arte is the simpler choice.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ninja or De'Longhi better for beginners? Ninja gives more feedback through its scale and grind recommendations. De'Longhi removes tamping from the routine. Both are aimed at beginners.

Can the Ninja Luxe Premier make filter coffee? Yes. The listing describes it as an espresso, filter coffee and cold brew machine in one.

Which is quieter or smaller? The De'Longhi is narrower and much lighter. Neither listing gives noise figures, and all grinder machines are noisy while grinding.

How does the Ninja compare with Sage? We cover that in Sage Barista Express vs Ninja Luxe Cafe.