Ninja · Reviewed by Coffee Kev · Published 2026-06-25
Based on a review by Coffee Kev (accessed 2026-06-25).
Based on this review alone: buy it if you care about quiet operation, allowing conversation over it — just accept automated grind size assistance is inconsistent, leading to choked shots or fast extractions.
The reviewer concludes that the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus is an "interesting little machine" that can produce "perfectly drinkable espresso for milk drinks" once dialed in. While the automatic frother produces chunky foam unsuitable for latte art, the manual steam wand is quick and effective. The reviewer also expresses a preference for its compact and "cute" design.
This is a mini-review of the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus espresso machine, focusing on the reviewer's initial impressions and unboxing. The reviewer tests various aspects including espresso shot pulling, grind settings, dosing consistency, milk frothing (both automatic and manual), and overall design.
The Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus shows promise as a compact and user-friendly espresso machine, particularly for milk-based drinks and Americanos. Its automatic dosing is remarkably consistent, dispensing between 18.6g and 18.9g, and the manual steam wand heats milk quickly with good texture. However, the machine's automated grind size suggestions are inconsistent, leading to both choked shots and fast extractions. If you prioritize convenient, drinkable espresso for mixed beverages and appreciate a compact design, this machine is a good contender. If precise, fine-tuned espresso extraction for black coffee is your goal, its guided adjustments may prove frustrating.
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hands_on_demopositivet=00:30–00:40
The reviewer demonstrates that the machine automatically detects whether a single or double shot basket is inserted into the portafilter, displaying recognition for both.
reviewer_claimpositivet=00:45–00:48
The reviewer notes that the machine operates quietly enough that he can talk over it without having to shout, indicating a low noise level.
hands_on_demopositivet=00:54–00:58
The reviewer shows that his BrewKulture Thirmister scales fit perfectly on the machine's drip tray, allowing for precise measurements during brewing.
measurement_testneutralt=01:21–01:25
The first espresso shot pulled by the machine yielded 38ml of espresso, which the reviewer found encouraging.
measurement_testpositivet=01:50–02:13
The reviewer measured consistent doses of ground coffee, with the machine producing around 19g and later 18.9g, indicating reliability in dosing.
hands_on_demonegativet=02:30–02:37
Following the machine's recommendation to grind at setting 10 resulted in the machine choking, meaning virtually no espresso came out due to the grind being too fine.
measurement_testnegativet=02:54–02:59
After adjusting the grind size, a shot was pulled in approximately 12 seconds from the first drips, which the reviewer considered too fast, aiming for around 17 seconds.
measurement_testmixedt=03:04–03:09
A shot yielded 37g of espresso from 18.5g of coffee, which is close to a 1:2 ratio, but the reviewer noted that the shot was still on the fast side, indicating grind inconsistency or flow issues.
measurement_testpositivet=03:40–03:46
After further dialing in, a shot pulled in 17 seconds and yielded 37g of espresso from 18.8g of coffee, which the reviewer classified as a "pretty good" brew time.
reviewer_claimpositivet=03:52–03:57
The reviewer noted that the espresso was "very hot," estimating its temperature to be in the low 80s Celsius.
expert_opinionpositivet=04:12–04:19
The reviewer states that the espresso taste is fine for milk drinks, Americanos, and similar beverages, describing it as a "perfectly drinkable espresso."
visual_inspectionnegativet=04:47–04:59
The automatic milk frother produces "pretty thick foam" that the reviewer describes as "chunky" and unsuitable for latte art, explicitly stating, "There's no way this is uh going to be latte art."
comparisonpositivet=05:25–05:30
The reviewer notes that the manual steam wand is "pretty quick," even suggesting it's quicker than the Ninja Dual Brew Pro, another Ninja model.
hands_on_demopositivet=05:33–05:39
Using the manual steam wand for the first time, the reviewer achieves a "pretty good texture" for milk and makes a "nice flat white."
reviewer_claimpositivet=06:08–06:26
The reviewer states he likes the look of the machine, finding it "cute" and preferring its less imposing aesthetic over the Ninja Dual Brew Pro.
The reviewer observed that the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus is quiet during operation, allowing him to talk over it without needing to raise his voice. This suggests a relatively low noise level for an espresso machine.
During initial testing, the reviewer measured consistent doses of ground coffee, with measurements around 19g and 18.9g. This indicates reliable consistency in the machine's dosing mechanism.
While the machine's automatic grind size recommendations proved inconsistent, leading to issues like choking or overly fast shots, the reviewer was able to manually dial it in to produce a hot (low 80s Celsius) espresso with a good brew time of 17 seconds. The resulting espresso is described as "perfectly drinkable" and suitable for milk drinks or Americanos, rather than highly nuanced espresso connoisseurship.
The automatic milk frother on the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus produces thick, chunky foam that the reviewer explicitly states is not suitable for latte art. Users seeking to create latte art would likely need to rely on the manual steam wand instead.
The reviewer found the manual steam wand to be quite quick, potentially even faster than the Ninja Dual Brew Pro. It was capable of producing a "pretty good texture" of milk, which allowed him to make a "nice flat white" on his first attempt.
The reviewer expresses a strong liking for the aesthetic of the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus, describing it as "cute" and finding its less imposing size preferable to other Ninja Dual Brew Pro models. This suggests a compact and visually appealing design.
85/100 source quality
Coffee Kev provides a mini-review of the new Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus, sharing his first thoughts after unboxing and initial testing. He covers features like its 60 grind settings, quiet operation, and automatic portafilter basket detection. He performs several espresso shots, noting consistent dosing but challenges with the machine's automatic grind size recommendations. The review also details the performance of both the automatic and manual milk frothing capabilities, concluding that manual steaming is superior for texture. Overall, he finds it to be an "interesting little machine" with a pleasing design.
Full transcript is not redistributed here to respect the original creator’s rights.
This page converts Coffee Kev's review of the Ninja Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini Plus into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.