Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro Series ES701UK Review: Any type of coffee

Introduction

After impressing with the versatility of its first manual espresso machine, we now have the top-of-the-range Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro Series ES701UK.

Not just nicer looking than its little brother, this coffee machine adds a wider range of drinks and an integrated tamp handle that makes it even easier to use.

Able to handle everything from cold brew and filter coffee to espresso and ristretto, this coffee machine is for those who want the most flexibility and the broadest range of drinks. Its only slight issue is that its espresso shots are a little on the hot side.

Design and features

• Integrated grinder
• Barista Assist tech
• Makes a huge range of drinks

The top-of-the-line coffee machine, the Ninja Luxe Café Pro Series, builds on what the Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series did, both in terms of drinks on offer and in looks. As you might expect from a machine with ‘Pro’ in the name, this coffee machine is more attractive than the model below.

There’s more stainless steel on display, the buttons are slightly nicer, and the black strip at the top extends down further. There’s no two ways about it, the Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro Series just looks better.

It’s not just about looks, it’s about functionality, too. While the Premier Series uses a separate tamper, the Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro Series has an integrated tamper, with a handle on the side.

As the clever sticker says (again, Ninja puts helpful information all over the product, so you don’t necessarily need the manual), a couple of firm tamps with this handle is all you need.

A 250g hopper sits on top of the machine, able to hold a full bag of roasted coffee beans.

For easy cleaning, the hopper can be removed to get access to the burr grinder underneath for maintenance and cleaning.

Rather than just an espresso machine with an integrated grinder, the Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro Series is built to deliver a broader range of drinks than normal, and a wider range of options than even the Premier series.

To that end, there are three single-wall filters available: single and double filters for regular espresso, and the extra-large luxe filter for cold brew and filter coffee.

Neatly, these filters and the cleaning disc and brush can all be stored in the compartment at the side of the coffee machine. That really does help keep everything neat.

Before you start, you need to fill the water container and add the filter. Annoyingly, the 2-litre water tank doesn’t have a handle on it, so it’s a little fiddly to lift up and out, not to mention getting back into place.

It’s the wide range of drink options that really sets this machine apart, with a choice of ristretto, espresso, lungo, americano and cold-pressed espresso (ristretto and lungo are not available on the Premier).

You can also make classic (filter style), rich, over ice and cold brew coffee, which are the same options as for the Premier.

Getting the right grind can be difficult with regular coffee machines and grinders, and I’ve often used up lots of beans getting the perfect shot. With Ninja’s Barista Assist, this job is made easier.

For each type of drink, the Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro Series recommends a specific grind setting. The machine then detects the filter used and grinds exactly the right amount of beans.

After a drink has been poured, Barista Assist monitors the flow and pour time and recommends fresh settings. It took me three shots of espresso with a new bag of beans to get excellent results, and the third shot was only a minor tweak over the second one. That’s really good, and cuts down on wastage.

Each drink poured causes the coffee machine to recalculate, which makes it easy to get the correct grind as the beans age or you refill with different beans.

Some drinks, such as filter coffee or cold brew, require a coarser grind. As with the Premier series, the Pro occasionally engages the grinder during a big adjust to prevent damage; with a regular grinder, you can only really adjust them while they’re running, which can cause considerable waste when moving from a fine grind to a coarse one (or vice versa).

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Premiere Series simplifies drink preparation by automatically pouring the correct beverage based on the selected program and detected filter. It determines whether to make a single or double espresso, or add hot water for an Americano, with the option to dispense hot water separately. Drink sizes range from S to XL (175ml–530ml) in various increments, so choose a mug that matches. The adjustable mug stand accommodates mugs up to 20cm tall, allowing for large travel cups under the spout.

Coffee is poured using different methods for each drink. For example, espresso is poured directly, while classic coffee uses the Luxe filter with intermittent pouring to mimic a filter machine’s results.

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Premiere Series features built-in milk frothing with both a steam wand and a jug containing a whisk, offering options for steamed milk, thin or thick froth, and cold froth.

The jug is marked for different drinks — cortado, cappuccino, and latte — and accommodates plant or dairy milk.

After use, the wand purges itself into the drip tray and only needs wiping. Overall, this machine operates much like a manual coffee maker but adds conveniences found in bean-to-cup models.

Coffee quality

• Excellent espresso
• Slightly too hot
• Brilliant filter coffee

I started off making espresso using my home-roasted Fairtrade Peruvian beans. I found that the coffee poured nicely, with that molten honey look to it that you should get.

It did take three shots to get the perfect espresso, as you can see from the first and third shots below, the final shot has a thicker, darker, oilier crema than the first one.

I found that the espresso was too hot: over 80°C with the default setting, and still 73°C with the temperature turned down. That last result isn’t too bad, but espresso should be closer to 65°C, so that it’s pretty much drinkable straight after pouring.

I have no complaints about the taste: rich and full-bodied, with the beans’ pronounced acidity coming through. I’ve found specialist espresso machines, such as the De’Longhi La Specialista Opera make slightly better espresso, although with less range in overall drinks.

Next, I made filter coffee, this time using some Indonesian beans. These are monsooned to replicate the ageing process that inadvertently took place in the hulls of wooden ships. These beans have a full-bodied, earthy flavour with a hint of sweetness that works brilliantly as a filter coffee.

I’d say that the result here is as good as you’d get from a ‘proper’ filter coffee machine. It’s brilliant to have this flexibility.

Cold brew is made using cold water, so ice should be added to the glass before you start. The result is smoother than hot coffee poured over ice and pretty good; proper cold brew is better, but it takes days to make, compared to minutes here.

Milk frothing

• Adjustable frothing
• Plant-based option

Milk frothing is entirely automatic, with a choice of foam levels and an option for cold froth.

I found that I had to get the right level of milk to achieve the right froth for the type of drink I wanted. After going for a flat white, and pouring a double espresso, I got a nice finish to the drink, with nice microfoam and a smooth texture to it.

The same is true when using plant-based milk and the frothing option: I got better results here than when I tried to froth plant milk manually.

Maintenance

• Easy maintenance
• Simple descaling

Following coffee preparation, the shower head should be wiped with a damp cloth, as should the steam wand. The jug requires hand washing, while the drip tray should be regularly removed and cleaned; both a floating indicator and on-screen alerts notify when the tray needs to be emptied.

Additionally, the descaling programme is to be initiated as recommended, based on the water hardness setting, and the coffee system should be cleaned using a tablet and the designated cleaning disc when instructed by the machine.

Should you buy it?

FAQs