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Ninja's sellout Luxe Café coffee maker now comes in two modern new colors

Ninja's sellout Luxe Café coffee maker now comes in two modern new colors

Tom's Guide21-05-2025
The Ninja Luxe Café is one of the best coffee makers available right now. And we're not the only ones that think that, considering it sold out for months after its initial release.
So, it really comes as no surprise that Ninja has now released two entirely new colors to make buying it (if you haven't already) even more tempting.
Introducing Gunmetal Gray and Trace Blue, joining the existing Stainless Steel model for the exact same price of $599. At time of writing, Trace Blue is out of stock on the Ninja site, but Gunmetal Gray is available to buy.
The Ninja Luxe Café is the best beginner-friendly espresso machine we've ever tested and we gave it an epic four-and-a-half stars. It's an excellent investment that makes a variety of drinks, from lattes to cold brew to regular drip. And this sleek and stylish design just got a little more interesting with the coffee maker now available in Gunmetal Gray and Trace Blue for $599.
This marks another excellent release around the Ninja Luxe Café with the upgraded model, Ninja Luxe Café Pro, launching in early May.
I held off buying Ninja's Luxe Café, but the new Pro model persuaded me with its in-built tamping arm that makes mess-free espresso a guarantee. Although now I really wish it was available in one of these two new colors!
The Ninja Luxe Café is a great-looking coffee maker with its attractive stainless steel exterior paired with black accents and a sleek digital screen.
It's pretty unique for a coffee maker, favouring simplicity and streamline technology over complicated dials and settings.
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But, these new colorways are something a bit different, opting for matte rather than the shine of the original stainless steel. The benefit here being that they won't smudge as easily, and we can't complain about that.
I love these new colors. I find Gunmetal Gray isn't too far a step away from the original, but it's definitely a stylish step up. To be bold though, I'd go for the Trace Blue because it offers something a little different from the rest.
In fact, if I had my way, I'd love to see the likes of Breville's brass accent range or even KitchenAid's Color of the Year make an appearance one day.
For now, I'd settle for the two new colorways making their way to the Ninja Luxe Café Pro model as they're currently only available on the Premier Series. I'm sure given time and some idea of how successful they are, they'll do just that.
On the topic of bold kitchen colors, there's certainly a trend emerging to have a bit more fun when it comes to your interior design palette, and I'm seriously relieved to see a step away from silver.
For coffee makers in particular, there's the Fellow Aiden in Matte White or the Moccamaster's new calming Ocean colorway as just two shining examples of what's possible in a world of color and coffee.
Ninja is no stranger to color though. In fact, Ninja recently dropped a pink model of its popular Ninja Crispi air fryer, alongside Mint and Periwinkle.
Clearly colorful kitchen appliances are on the rise and Ninja's wholeheartedly jumping on the trend. And I for one certainly wouldn't turn away a Periwinkle Ninja Luxe Café.
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Aussie company's big call amid tariff chaos

Australian coffee machine manufacturer Breville has confirmed it will move more of its production away from China to Mexico, Indonesia and other zones in a stark example of Donald Trump's power to reorganise world trade. The ASX-listed $5bn manufacturer confirmed the dramatic change in its latest results for the 2025 financial year, crediting the threat from the US President's new tariff regime for its decision to pursue and extend a 'manufacturing diversification program'. Mr Trump has slapped harsh new tariffs on goods imported into the US from China to correct what he sees as unfair trade practices. Breville CEO Jim Clayton told the market on Wednesday morning that manufacturing locations were emerging in Mexico and Southeast Asia to 'complement China'. The company manufactures kitchen appliances in China and its largest market is the US, leaving it vulnerable to tariff shocks. A tariff is a tax placed on imports and for manufacturers, it raises the price of their goods for their consumer base. Despite the move into Mexico and Indonesia, the company said in its guidance for the next financial year that it would remain exposed to tariff uncertainty and the taxes would likely hit the business. 'Diversification of manufacturing for 120-volt product is progressing well. However, the tariffs impacting these new locations are becoming clearer, but remain subject to change,' the company said. 'Based on the current fact set, the group will face a significant input cost increase in 2026 and 2027 for US-based sales. 'In the face of this challenge, we are actively pursuing cost mitigants including (free on-board) reductions, diversified sourcing locations, distribution channel adjustments and taking price where appropriate.' The US has also put hefty tariffs on Mexico and Indonesia of 25 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. Breville said it was 'too early to predict' how global trade would develop in the next 12 to 18 months, but there would 'undoubtedly' be higher input costs for US products coupled with 'potential second- and third-order effects globally'. The company said its diversification push would extend into 2026 and 2027. Breville reported healthy profits for 2025, which it credited to a 'tactical pull forward of US inventory' to avoid Mr Trump April tariff announcement. Revenues lifted 10.9 per cent to hit $1.7bn, while net profits after tax jumped 14.6 per cent to $135.9m. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation also lifted 10.8 per cent to $271.9m. Shareholders will receive a dividend of 37c per share for the year, the company said. Shares in the company tumbled 4.2 per cent in morning trade to $35.09 a share, wiping out some $217m from its market value. The business held $105.7m in cash as of June 30. Alongside coffee machines, Breville also produces juicers, blenders, ovens, air purifiers and microwaves. Sign in to access your portfolio

I tried Cuisinart's new frozen treat maker. It's the perfect small-space alternative to the Ninja Creami
I tried Cuisinart's new frozen treat maker. It's the perfect small-space alternative to the Ninja Creami

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I tried Cuisinart's new frozen treat maker. It's the perfect small-space alternative to the Ninja Creami

If you enjoy dessert content like I do, then you know the Ninja Creami has been dominating social media the past few years. Not only does the countertop frozen treat maker regularly pop up on my TikTok For You page but plenty of my colleagues rave about both the original appliance and its newer iterations, like the soft-serve Ninja Swirl by Creami. Upon reading their glowing reviews, I was tempted to get my own Creami. The only issue was, I wasn't willing to sacrifice all that counter space for an appliance I probably wouldn't use every day. I'd resigned myself to passively consuming ice cream maker content (without the actual ice cream) until Cuisinart launched its own ice cream maker this summer: the FastFreeze. When I saw the device's compact 'wand' design, I felt seen. Finally, I could make my own customized frozen treats at home without having to worry about where I'd store yet another bulky appliance. For the past three weeks, I have been using it to whip up ice cream, sorbets, slushies and milkshakes. Now that I've emerged from my sugar-filled stupor, it's time to tell you what I think about the release. Cuisinart FastFreeze Ice Cream Maker The Cuisinart FastFreeze is a quick, easy-to-use and space-saving ice cream maker that creates the perfect-sized half-pint servings. The device comes in a standard white, though if you want to jazz it up, QVC has eight exclusive colors like Jade, Amethyst and Daffodil, all of which are on sale for $20 off. It's fast and easy to use The FastFreeze couldn't be easier to use. It comes with a manual that explains all five presets, which are located right under the manual power button at the top of the wand. There's a setting for each type of treat the device can make (ice cream, sorbets, slushies and milkshakes), as well as one for mix-ins (think nuts, candy and cookie dough). 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Essentially, you place ingredients in the three included half-pint (and dishwasher-safe) dessert cups, freeze the cups for at least 24 hours and then use the device to blend the frozen mixtures. This obviously requires anticipating what desserts and flavors you'll want in advance, but I liked being able to create the mixtures and forget about them until I found myself craving something sweet within the next couple of days. And honestly, you could get away with freezing mixtures for less time, like 12 or even eight hours. The serving size is perfect Whereas the Ninja Creami uses pint-sized containers (or 24-ounce containers for the Creami XL Deluxe), the Cuisinart FastFreeze's containers are half pints. Unless I'm really indulging, I rarely eat a full pint of ice cream at once, but a half-pint is perfect for one sitting. 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Up first, I was most excited to make my own mango ice cream. I love mango-based desserts, but most ice creams taste artificial or way too syrupy and not creamy enough. As a result, one of the first mixtures I made included mango chunks, a splash of cream, milk and a tablespoon of sugar. The final product was perfectly creamy and not too sweet — exactly what I've always wanted from mango ice cream. I also made a banana and protein powder ice cream, using the 'mix-in' preset to add mini Reese's peanut butter cups after the first mix. As for the other presets, the slushy and sorbet settings work fine, though I personally am not a fan of either type of treat. To make milkshakes, you just mix store-bought ice cream and milk, plus any other add-ins you want, so that one doesn't have to be frozen in advance. Truth be told, I found myself using the 'ice cream' preset most of the time because I found the results to be the tastiest. (Pro tip: I recommend using a teaspoon of Jell-O powder for creamier results and adding graham crackers as a mix-in for texture.) Prev Next It has a small footprint I was actually surprised by how small the Cuisinart FastFreeze is, even when fully assembled. The widest part of this countertop device measures a little over 4 inches wide, and it's not even as bulky as my bullet-style Ninja blender. During testing, I've been storing the FastFreeze on a 2-foot-long shelf in my kitchen, and I can still fit both my blender and mini juicer on the same shelf. In short, this item is delightfully compact and the perfect size for my tiny galley kitchen. The initial results were too icy Of course ice cream is icy, but most of the time, my creations had way too many ice crystals after the first mix. When I'd try a bite, the texture was borderline powdery. I easily fixed this by adding a splash of milk and mixing again, but I kind of wish the results were perfect the first time around. 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My sugar intake increased drastically, but at least I had a valid excuse ('It's for work!'). Going forward, I probably won't use Cuisinart FastFreeze as frequently because, realistically, I only eat ice cream at home once or twice a month. Even still, I'm not upset because I can stow away the compact device in my kitchen cart so my counters stay clear. I think if I owned a larger frozen dessert maker like the Ninja Creami, I'd feel obligated to use it all the time because of how much space it takes up. But I don't feel that way with the FastFreeze. Despite the minor hiccups I encountered using this product, I'd say it functions very well overall. It's fast, the presets work as intended and you can literally make any flavor of ice cream — and other frozen desserts — you might want. What is the difference between the Cuisinart FastFreeze and the Ninja Creami? What is the difference between the Cuisinart FastFreeze and the Ninja Creami? The Ninja Creami and Cuisinart FastFreeze work similarly in that you have to freeze your dessert mixes for at least 24 hours (though you can get away with freezing them for a shorter period of time) before blending them. But while the Creami is a larger, stationary appliance that mixes on its own, the compact FastFreeze requires you to press down on the wand as it powers the mixing assembly's blades to blend the ingredients. Additionally, the Creami has more presets than the FastFreeze. Depending on the model, it can make treats like gelato and Italian ice in addition to your standard ice creams and sorbets. How much ice cream does the Cuisinart FastFreeze make? How much ice cream does the Cuisinart FastFreeze make? The FastFreeze makes half a pint of ice cream in one go, and it comes with three dessert cups. How long does the Cuisinart FastFreeze take to make ice cream? How long does the Cuisinart FastFreeze take to make ice cream? Cuisinart claims that the FastFreeze takes three minutes to make ice cream. Although the mixing time depends on the ingredients in your mixture and whether you add mix-ins later, I found it to work faster in most cases, blending my creations in under a minute. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, associate home and gifts editor Nikol Slatinska tested the Cuisinart FastFreeze over the course of three weeks to see if it's worth buying.

Smart Oven Wars: Breville, June And Chef IQ Battle For Your Countertop
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The American countertop is the new battleground for a range of tech-driven, multi-function mini ovens competing for your all-in-one cooking needs. getty Call it the counter-offensive. Since the pandemic cooking boom left home chefs enamored with countertop gear, the appetite has shifted to smarter machines that can replace a fleet of gadgets—air fryer, toaster, dehydrator, slow cooker, even that sous-vide thingamabob—without swallowing up half the kitchen. Factor in rising grocery prices and an Ozempic-era shift toward smaller portions, and the countertop smart oven has become the inevitable 'it' appliance. I've written about the Breville Smart Oven Air craze (it roasts! it toasts! it dehydrates blood oranges for your Negronis!) and marveled at the endless TikTok fever around the June Oven's internal camera and hovering touchscreen. Ninja's version jams together ten turbo modes capable of handling everything from frozen bagels to Detroit-style pizza. In other words, we are very far from the pop-up toaster. With its new iQ MiniOven, Chef iQ enters a crowded market of countertop ovens looking to replace a host of cooking gadgets—from air fryers to dehydrators. Chef iQ So when a friend redid his kitchen this summer and started talking about a new counter revolutionary, I perked up. You might say the Chefman iQ MiniOven is the Spinal Tap of the group—its functions 'go to eleven.' Take a breath: it bakes, roasts, air fries, dehydrates, toasts, slow cooks, broils, air broils, reheats, warms and proofs. And to make sure you use all eleven, the product ships with a ceramic-coated baking tray, a ceramic-coated egg tray and a few elegant sliding racks to help it serve all those needs without looking like a Swiss Army knife left out on the counter. Ralph Newhouse is CEO at Chef iQ and Chefman, a company best known for its 5-in-1 air fryers and electric kettles. We connected about the brand's step-up to mini ovens and why small is so big right now. Here's part of that conversation: David Hochman: What would you say to a skeptical home cook who's loyal to their toaster oven or full-size range and sees this as 'just another device'? Ralph Newhouse: Speed is the first thing. The iQ MiniOven cooks up to 40% faster than conventional countertop ovens. It also takes up less space while still offering comparable capacity, and preheats significantly faster than traditional built-in ovens and ranges. That means less waiting and more cooking. Plus, it's way more energy-efficient than using a full-size oven. What makes a smart oven smart? It's all about the apps. Hochman: Why do you think this category of smart countertop ovens is booming right now? Is it tech, culture, or something else? Newhouse: We've discovered that consumers are craving smarter, easier ways to cook. They want smart devices that take the guesswork out of cooking, and that requires intelligent algorithms and real-time firmware updates. From the home chef's perspective, it's as easy as 'Press. Cook. Perfect.'... every time. People really love the oven's intelligent presets. You can visually select a doneness level and the iQ MiniOven handles the rest to get your desired results. Take eggs, for example: whether you want them over-easy or as a fluffy omelette, you just hit a preset button and the oven nails it every time. Unlike older appliances, smart devices like these keep getting better. Because we're able to update the firmware, we're constantly rolling out new presets for things like pancakes, smash burgers and muffin tops right to your oven. With features like remote cooking via smartphone and perfect eggs at the touch of a button, it's safe to say we've come a long way from the pop-up toaster Chef IQ Hochman: How does the iQ MiniOven compare to competitors like the Breville Smart Oven Air or the June Oven? What makes this different? Newhouse: Call me biased but we truly believe the iQ MiniOven stands head and shoulders above the rest. Part of that is its smart integration with our existing products, including the IQ Sense, the number one wireless thermometer in the country. I also think it's the most stylish oven and is perfectly sized without the bulk. Compared to the competitors, it's more compact, and, I believe, more intuitive. On the hardware side, the iQ MiniOven is packed with premium touches, like a soft-close door, a glide-out rack that makes grabbing hot food a breeze, and beautiful natural LED lighting that adjusts as your food cooks. It also has the largest edge-to-edge viewing window in the category, which means there are no bulky borders blocking your view. There's a remote preheat feature, which lets you start the oven in certain modes from your phone; and it sends out live activity updates and smart notifications, like when it's time to flip your food or when it's ready to serve. It's also got voice prompts you can hear across the kitchen—although, you can turn those off if you prefer. We also are unmatched in terms of value. The high-end hardware is manufactured at a lower cost, allowing us to under-price June and stay competitive with Breville while offering more than both. Smart ovens hook you in with convenience and hidden features Hochman: What's one feature of the iQ MiniOven that people don't immediately notice, but once they do, they're hooked? Newhouse: One of my favorites is the history tab. It makes it so easy to recreate something you cooked last week – just tap and see what you roasted or baked. But if I had to pick a standout feature, it's the intelligent presets. You can pop in steak, fish, poultry, whatever you're cooking and just select the food type. That's it. The oven handles the rest and delivers perfect results every time, without that guesswork or stress. Hochman: The pandemic led to a wave of countertop cooking gadgets. Some stuck, some didn't. What happened to the Instant Pot moment? Newhouse: Well, I know the folks behind it pretty well, and I could go deep on this. But in short: the product required effort. It wasn't exactly plug-and-play and that intimidated a lot of users. The brand also didn't move fast enough on innovation to keep the early momentum going. The truth is, ovens have staying power. They feel more permanent in the kitchen and work with a much broader range of foods, which makes them more versatile and valuable over time. Hochman: Last question. What's the most satisfying thing for YOU to cook in the iQ MiniOven? Newhouse: For me? It's eggs, hands down. Crack a few eggs, tap the preset 'over easy,' and watch the iQ MiniOven work its magic. There's no flipping. You just get these flawlessly cooked eggs every time. It's the kind of moment that makes you appreciate just how smart this oven really is. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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