Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro ES701UK: Honest UK Review

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The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro ES701UK is the most talked-about coffee machine in the UK right now, and it keeps selling out for a reason. It's a 4-in-1 that handles espresso, lattes, drip coffee, and cold brew from a single unit with a built-in grinder and milk frother. At around £700, it sits in an interesting space — too expensive for casual coffee drinkers, but positioned as a do-everything machine for households that drink different styles.

The question isn't whether it works. It does. The question is whether it's right for *you*.

## What it actually does

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro combines four brewing methods into one machine:

Espresso: 19-bar pump extraction through a 58mm portafilter. The built-in conical burr grinder has 25 grind settings. You can pull shots as singles or doubles, with adjustable brew strength.

Lattes and cappuccinos: The milk frother handles hot and cold frothed milk. It's not manual steam — it's an automatic frother that produces decent (not exceptional) microfoam.

Drip coffee: SCA-certified drip brewing for when you just want a normal cup of coffee. Uses the same built-in grinder but with a coarser setting and different brew basket.

Cold brew: Fast cold brew in minutes rather than the usual 12-24 hour steep. The extraction method is different from traditional cold brew — more of a rapid cold extraction — but the result is smooth, low-acid, and genuinely enjoyable.

## What it does well

Versatility is the headline. No other machine at this price does all four styles competently. If your household includes an espresso drinker, a filter coffee person, and someone who wants iced lattes, this solves the problem of three machines on the counter.

The cold brew is surprisingly good. Ready in about 10 minutes versus 12-24 hours with traditional methods. The flavour is smooth and low in acidity. This alone sells the machine for some buyers.

Build quality is solid for Ninja. It feels substantial, the controls are intuitive, and the components are well-made. The water reservoir is easy to fill and the drip tray is generous. Ninja's UK warranty support is responsive if anything goes wrong.

It actually keeps selling out. Stock is inconsistent — Ninja releases in batches and it sells through quickly. This isn't manufactured scarcity; genuine demand is high. If you find it in stock, the window is often short.

## What it doesn't do well

The espresso is good, not great. Compared to a dedicated Gaggia Classic Pro with a separate grinder, the shots are noticeably less nuanced. The built-in grinder produces adequate but not exceptional grind consistency. The 25 settings sound like a lot until you realise dedicated grinders have 40-400.

The milk frother is automatic only. No steam wand means no manual control over milk texture. The microfoam is acceptable for lattes but won't produce latte art. If textured milk matters to you, a machine with a steam wand is the better path.

The built-in grinder is the bottleneck. Like all built-in grinder machines (including the Sage Barista Express), the grinder is the component that limits overall quality. A separate £200 grinder paired with a £500 machine will outperform this for espresso specifically.

It's large. The 4-in-1 design means a bigger footprint than most espresso machines. Measure your counter space before ordering.

## Who should buy it

Households that drink different styles. If one person wants espresso, another wants drip, and someone wants cold brew, the Ninja eliminates the need for multiple machines. The convenience value is real.

People who value versatility over perfection. If you want good coffee across multiple styles without becoming a home barista, this delivers. It won't win any espresso competitions, but it handles everything competently.

Cold brew lovers. The fast cold brew function is genuinely unique at this price. If cold brew is a regular part of your rotation, this feature alone adds significant value.

People upgrading from pod machines. If you're coming from Nespresso or Dolce Gusto and want real coffee without a steep learning curve, the Ninja bridges that gap well. Fresh beans, proper extraction, no capsule waste.

## Who should skip it

Espresso purists. If you're chasing the best possible espresso and willing to learn, a Gaggia Classic Pro plus a dedicated grinder will produce noticeably better shots for similar or less money.

People who want upgradeable setups. The built-in grinder and automatic frother can't be upgraded. With a semi-automatic machine, you can start with a budget grinder and upgrade later. The Ninja is what it is from day one.

**Small kitchen owners.** The footprint is significant. If counter space is tight, a compact machine like the Sage Bambino plus a hand grinder takes up far less room.

## How it compares

**vs Sage Barista Express (£549):** The Sage produces slightly better espresso with better grind adjustment. The Ninja adds drip coffee, cold brew, and an automatic frother. Choose Ninja for variety, Sage for espresso focus.

**vs De'Longhi Magnifica S (£350):** The Magnifica is a proper bean-to-cup that's more compact and cheaper. The Ninja adds drip coffee and cold brew. The Magnifica is better for espresso-focused households on a tighter budget.

vs separate machine + grinder (£500-700 total): A Gaggia Classic Pro plus a Baratza Encore ESP produces better espresso but only does espresso. No drip, no cold brew, two devices on the counter. Better for quality, worse for versatility.

## The verdict

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro is the best all-in-one coffee machine you can buy in the UK in 2026. It's not the best espresso machine, not the best drip brewer, and not the best cold brew maker — but it does all three (plus milk drinks) competently from a single machine for £700.

If versatility is your priority and you want one machine that handles everything, this is it. If espresso quality is your priority, spend the same money on a dedicated setup instead.

For the full range of espresso machines at every price point, see our best espresso machine UK guide. If you're specifically interested in bean-to-cup convenience, our best De'Longhi coffee machine guide covers the main alternative brand.

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