Ninja just dropped a new espresso machine, and it's even smarter than the Luxe Café
(Image credit: Ninja)
Ninja just added a new espresso machine to its Luxe Café coffee maker lineup.
The new Ninja Luxe Café Pro looks much the same as the original Luxe Café, but includes a new tamping mechanism. This removes all the hassle of dosing and tamping your espresso by hand, and instead uses an in-built tamping arm to evenly compress your grounds for perfect pucks, every time.
Retailing at $699 direct from Ninja, it's $150 more expensive than the Luxe Café Premier Series. Other new features include an XL milk frothing jug that will allow you to make two cappuccinos in one, and an extra-thick froth setting for luscious foam, totally hands-free. You may like Smarter than ever
(Image credit: Ninja)
Ninja changed the game when it dropped the Luxe Café Premier Series espresso machine last year, but an in-built tamping arm was the one feature I felt it was missing. It's a feature I love in my Breville Barista Express Impress, and it also features in De'Longhi's La Specialista range.
Although the machine's dosing funnel prevents mess, it won't eradicate it completely. So the addition of a lever that evenly compresses your coffee without any manual requirements will ensure that there are no scatterings of coffee grounds on your kitchen countertops.
Another major plus of in-built tamping capabilities is that it removes yet another variable that can get between your machine and the perfect espresso extraction.
Over or under-tamped pucks can throw off your machine, leading to a too-strong or under-developed shot of espresso if you don't use the perfect amount of pressure. So by integrating the tamping system to the inside of the machine, you can be confident that your tamping technique isn't responsible for any dodgy shots of coffee.
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(Image credit: Ninja)
I've yet to get hands-on with this machine, but from what I can see on Ninja's promotional materials, it doesn't seem quite a smart as Breville's Impress range. Those machines use the in-built tamping arm to provide feedback on the volume of coffee you've ground. They then either top up the portafilter or advise you to trim a little off the top before brewing. Ninja offers none of this feedback.
There's a reason for this omission, though. Ninja's machine uses a smart weight-based dosing system which weighs your coffee as it grinds. In theory, this means your coffee puck should always be at the right level. As I said though, I've yet to try this feature hands-on.
I'll be testing this machine as soon as I can get my hands on it, but this latest smart feature firmly cements the Ninja Luxe Café Pro as an ultra-smart, mess-free coffee making machine. If the hassle of hand-tamping your coffee has put you off buying until now, I'd recommend you invest sooner rather than later, considering that the original Ninja Luxe Café has barely been in stock since it launched last year. More from Tom's Guide
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In 25 seconds, it extracted around 50g of espresso, which is a little larger than the ideal 1:2 ratio. As you can see, the espresso shot is honey-colored, with a tiny dark 'heart' at the base of the glass. As I said above, the crema was quite thin, which impacted my ability to pour pretty latte art, but didn't massively affect the taste of the espresso. However, the espresso was still a little sour. Usually this means the shot is under-extracted, so I repeated with a different grinder (Comandante C40 MK4). This time, in 25 seconds the Stilosa pulled 38g of coffee. This was the best shot I pulled on the Stilosa. It was deliciously thick and creamy, with an airy crema and honey-colored body. There was no bitterness and a bright sourness (not from under-extraction). With a bit of experimentation and dedication, there's no reason why you can't be pulling consistently delicious shots on the Stilosa. However, I will admit that the Stilosa needs a little more expertise to get this level of quality than the Bambino Plus — that pulls perfect espresso with no effort required. The Stilosa has a remarkably powerful steam wand, but this is both an attractive feature and a little annoying. On the one hand, it's great to have such a powerful steam wand. On the other hand, it requires a little more babying than other steam wands I've used. One of the best compact machines for milk frothing is the Breville Bambino Plus, as it has an auto steam wand and a manual setting. I was able to get beautiful latte art with this machine. However, the Stilosa's steam wand can be a touch overzealous. I found that I needed full concentration during steaming, or my milk would be too aerated and foamy. If you prefer a foamy milk, then it might be a good thing. However, if you want microfoam (like what you'd get from a cafe), then you will need to practise with the machine to reach optimal texture. Here's a photo of some latte art. As you can see, the milk is a little frothy, and that's with my full concentration. Some of the best latte art I've ever done was with the Smeg Mini Pro (EMC02) machine — but that's $1,499, so of course it's going to be amazing. In terms of budget machines, your best bet is the aforementioned Breville Bambino Plus. But if $149 is your max? The Stilosa will still work a treat. In terms of price, there's very little comparison. The Stilosa is, undeniably, one of the cheapest espresso machines on the market. If you want proper espresso for very little money, then there's nothing else for you: the Stilosa is your machine. However, if the budget can stretch a little further, there are a few more options. The Breville Bambino Plus I've mentioned throughout is an excellent compact espresso machine — I can confidently say that's one of the best (if not the best) beginner-friendly espresso machines on the market. However, it is $499 (often on sale for $399), so I understand it's considerably pricier than the Stilosa. De'Longhi also makes the brand-new (as of June 2025) Dedica Duo, Dedica Arte, and the Dedica Maestro, $299, $299, and $499 respectively. The Duo can make cold brew, so if you're an iced beverage fanatic, it could be worth the extra spend. With the aforementioned fixes (buying a different group head, a milk jug, and tamper), there's nothing comparable at this price point. Considering its incredibly low price of $149, the De'Longhi Stilosa espresso machine performs exceptionally well. If you can get over its all-plastic construction and flimsy accessories (or replace them entirely), then there's nothing better at this price point. Sure, it requires some fiddling to get 'perfect' espresso, but isn't that true of anything? Once you've got the routine down pat, there's no reason why the Stilosa won't be brewing delicious creamy espresso and steaming microfoamed, soft milk. For beginners or those on super-restrictive budgets, I recommend the Stilosa wholeheartedly. If you want something just a touch above, then the Breville Bambino Plus is your best bet. However, for just $150? The De'Longhi Stilosa is a machine and a half.
