Does it make good coffee?

We must address the most important question: Does this machine make a good cup of coffee? First, let’s explore the types of coffee it can brew. While it may look like a standard home espresso machine, it actually functions as a 3-in-1 machine, capable of making espresso, filter, and cold brew. Pretty funky, right?

We must admit, this is pretty nifty, but does the coffee taste good? With thousands of reviews and a 4.5-star rating, it certainly speaks for itself! Customers have praised its brewing consistency and versatility, allowing you to enjoy a wide range of coffee options from the comfort of your own home.

However, of course, most of the flavour comes from the beans- luckily for you, we’ve got you covered!

What is the best coffee to use?

Like most espresso machines, a medium/darker roast style will be best suited for this machine. Even with the cold brew and filter setting, no paper filter or ice is inside, so they are still brewed with espresso-style technology.

To enjoy the best flavours, it’s important to use freshly roasted beans, and at Two Chimps, that’s what we give you! We roast our specialty beans at our carbon-neutral roastery just 2-3 days before they arrive at your doorstep. This means you’re getting some of the freshest brews available.

Starting with our bestselling coffee, our orange-labelled brew is a smooth, chocolatey coffee roasted medium/dark style, perfect with or without milk. Made for brewing devices like this, you are guaranteed a delicious cup every time!

If you want something a little bit sweeter, but still with that classic coffee profile, our green-labelled coffee is the one for you. With a milk chocolate base, a swirl of fruity sweetness makes this the perfect medium roasted coffee for your Ninja Luxe Café.

Shop orange labelled coffee

Shop green labelled coffee

Is the Ninja Luxe Café easy to use?

Like most Ninja products, this machine prioritises ease of use, practicality and speed. Many at-home coffee machines can be pretty daunting as they require you to adjust your grind size or the amount of coffee used to achieve the perfect extraction, which can be challenging if you are unsure how to do it.

Ninja has tackled this issue by recommending a specific grind size, and they measure the coffee by weight rather than by volume. They use a weighed portafilter to determine the amount of ground coffee. After brewing your first espresso, the machine records the time it took to extract and adjusts the recommended grind accordingly.

While it may take a few tries to perfect the grind size, you won’t be doing so blindly; the machine will guide you. However, you might still need to rely on your own palate and coffee knowledge to tailor the taste to your preference.

Another helpful feature is the tamp, which again acts on a spring technology to aid you in getting the perfect amount of pressure, which once again removes an issue for home brewers.

One of the most revolutionary features of this machine, especially compared to others in the same price range, is its hands-free dual froth system. This means you don’t have to froth the milk yourself; the machine does everything for you!

It even offers four settings, allowing you to adjust the froth according to your specific drink. This feature is a lifesaver for those who haven’t mastered the steaming wand.

Too good to be true?

This 3-in-1 machine looks great on the surface, but has it mastered all these brewing types? We have seen some of our techier coffee friends admit that the filter and cold brew settings are slightly lacking.

The cold brew setting, for example, will pull a shot that is more like room temperature rather than cold. It is fine if you add it to an ice-filled cup, but it then poses the question of whether it is any easier than using a device like the Hario Cold Brew Coffee Pot.

Secondly, the filter setting recommends a very coarse grind, resulting in actual chunks of coffee bean remaining. This affects the extraction process and ultimately leads to an unbalanced flavour. Additionally, there is no filter paper physically present in the machine, meaning the flavour will always differ from what you would get from a Chemex or V60.