Product · Ninja
Ninja Luxe Café Mini: guided espresso and filter
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The Ninja Luxe Café Mini (ES351UK) is for a smaller kitchen where someone wants both espresso and filter coffee with plenty of help. It is an Amazon exclusive 2-in-1 that packs a burr grinder, a precision scale and a hands-free steam wand into a compact body, with Barista Assist Technology recommending grind settings and monitoring the brew.
- Tamping help
- Assisted tamper
- Milk
- Hands-free steam wand
- Heat-up
- Not stated
- Baskets
- Single and double
- Grinder
- Built in, burr
In its favour
- Barista Assist auto-calibrates grind recommendations and monitors brewing.
- The hands-free steam wand makes microfoam with dairy or plant milk.
- It switches between espresso and filter coffee.
Good to know
- The 1.3 L water tank needs regular refilling.
- The number of grind settings is not stated.
Our take
Espresso and filter
You can switch between espresso-based drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos, and filter coffee. Three strengths and three temperatures are available. Unlike the larger Luxe Premier, cold brew is not mentioned.
Having both in one machine suits a couple where one person drinks flat whites and the other prefers a mug of filter, without two appliances on the counter.
Barista Assist and the scale
Barista Assist auto-calibrates grind recommendations and monitors brewing, according to Ninja. Combined with the built-in scale and an assisted tamper in the box, it reduces guesswork for beginners. Ninja does not say how many grind steps the burr grinder offers.
Hands-free milk
The integrated hands-free steam wand creates microfoam with dairy or plant-based milk. A stainless steel milk jug is included. The wand is wipe clean, and removable parts are top-rack dishwasher safe. The listing does not specify milk presets.
Without stated presets, the wand is best seen as a convenience for standard hot milk drinks rather than a tool for cold foam.
Capacity and size
The water reservoir holds 1.3 litres and the bean hopper 250 g. The machine is 25.6 cm deep, 31 cm wide and 34.1 cm high and weighs 8.8 kg, much lighter and shallower than the Luxe Premier. Ninja offers a 2 year guarantee on registration. Heat-up time is not given.
In the box are a portafilter and funnel, plus single and double baskets.
Against the Luxe Premier and Barista Express Impress
The Ninja Luxe Premier adds cold brew, 25 stated grind settings, four froth presets including cold, and a 2 litre tank, but weighs 17 kg. The Sage Barista Express Impress offers intelligent dosing and assisted tamping with 25 settings and a manual wand. The Café Mini is the compact, guided option.
Verdict
Buy the Ninja Luxe Café Mini if you want espresso and filter from a small machine with grind guidance, a scale and hands-free milk. If cold brew and cold froth matter, the Ninja Luxe Premier is the bigger choice, and if you would like to learn manual steaming, the Sage Barista Express Impress is worth a look.
Compared with alternatives in: Best espresso machines for beginners, Best espresso machines with automatic milk texturing, Best espresso machines with a built-in grinder
Amazon listing title: Ninja Luxe Café Mini 2-in-1 Espresso and Filter Coffee Machine ES351UK