Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro Espresso Machine ES701

Overview

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro ES701 is a 4-in-1 espresso machine that makes real espresso, drip coffee, rapid cold brew, and hot water from one machine. It has a built-in conical burr grinder, an integrated tamper, and a system called Barista Assist that walks you through every step of making a drink. Tom's Guide had a certified barista test it and their verdict was: "I'd recommend it to almost everyone."

This is Ninja's top-of-the-line espresso machine. It sits above the ES601 Premier, adding an integrated metal tamper, a hot water outlet, a ristretto option, and LED under-lighting. It has 2,140 Amazon ratings at 4.4 stars, with reviewers consistently saying it's the best kitchen purchase they've made. One owner who previously used Jura machines (which cost several times more) said the Ninja matches them in quality.

CoffeeGeek rated the ES601 Premier at 88.5/100 and noted the Pro "is going to score even higher." The ES701 competes with the Breville Barista Express and the De'Longhi La Specialista, both of which are well-established espresso machines.

Key Features

Barista Assist is the feature that separates this from traditional espresso machines. It recommends the ideal grind size, weighs your dose with a built-in scale, and monitors pressure during extraction. If you switch from espresso to cold brew, it recalibrates everything automatically. For someone who has never pulled a shot of espresso, this removes most of the guesswork.

The 40mm stainless steel conical burr grinder has 25 settings. Tom's Guide's barista used settings 10-12 for espresso and 23-25 for drip. The grinder feeds directly into the portafilter, and the integrated tamper presses the puck with consistent pressure every time. No separate grinder, no separate tamper, no mess.

The 19-bar Italian pump pulls genuine espresso with proper crema. Three basket sizes are included: Luxe (40g), Double (18g), and Single (9g). You can choose seven drink sizes from 175ml to 530ml, three strength settings, and adjust temperature. The milk frother wand steams and froths for lattes and cappuccinos.

The 4-in-1 versatility is real. Espresso, drip coffee, rapid cold brew, and hot water for tea or cocoa all come from one machine. Multiple Amazon reviewers say this replaced two or three separate appliances and freed up counter space.

Performance

The espresso quality is legit. This isn't a pod machine or a pressurized basket pretending to be espresso. The non-pressurized baskets with a proper portafilter produce shots with real crema and body. One Amazon reviewer who has owned multiple espresso machines, including high-end Juras, said the Ninja pulls "a perfect espresso every time."

The on-screen instructions make the learning curve almost nonexistent. One Amazon reviewer said it took them three attempts to make a perfect latte, and the first one didn't count since you're supposed to discard it. Another said the BILT app walkthrough made setup simple even for a complete beginner.

Cold brew is a nice bonus. Most cold brew takes 12-24 hours. The Ninja does a rapid version in minutes. It's not identical to traditional cold brew, but Amazon reviewers say it's good and having it available on demand is convenient.

The milk frother wand is the weakest part. Several reviewers mention a learning curve with steam pressure and positioning. It works, but it's not as foolproof as the rest of the machine. If you make a lot of milk drinks, practice is required.

After 6 months of daily use, one Amazon reviewer said it "may be the best purchase we've made in years" and credits regular biweekly cleaning for keeping it running perfectly.

Build Quality & Design

The machine looks premium on the counter. Multiple reviewers mention the design as a selling point. The metal tamper lever feels solid. The LED under-lighting is a nice touch (the ES601 doesn't have it).

The footprint is large. This is a full espresso station, not a compact single-serve machine. Several reviewers recommend buying a rolling stand so you can slide it out to refill the rear-mounted water reservoir, which is the main design annoyance. You have to move or reach behind the machine to fill it.

Build quality is good for the price. The grinder, pump, and tamper all feel well-made. Ninja's reputation for durable kitchen appliances applies here. The limited-edition David Beckham collaboration version suggests Ninja sees this as a flagship product line.

Value for Money

The ES701 packs more features per dollar than any espresso machine in its class. The Breville Barista Express is similarly priced but lacks the integrated tamper, cold brew mode, and Barista Assist guidance. The De'Longhi La Specialista costs about the same and has good build quality but a steeper learning curve.

If you're spending more, Jura super-automatics handle everything including milk but cost several times as much. The Ninja gives you 80% of that experience for a fraction of the price.

The ES601 Premier costs less and makes the same espresso, but loses the tamper, hot water outlet, and ristretto mode. The tamper alone is worth the upgrade if you're making espresso daily, since consistent tamping is one of the biggest variables in shot quality.

Who Should Buy This

First-time espresso machine owners who want real espresso without the learning curve. Barista Assist turns a traditionally frustrating process into something you can master in three tries.

Households where different people drink different things. The 4-in-1 system means one person can have espresso while another makes drip coffee and a third does cold brew, all from the same machine.

Anyone who is tired of paying for daily coffee shop visits. The math works out fast when you're replacing multiple drinks per day.

Who Should Skip This

If you're a serious espresso hobbyist who wants full manual control over every variable (pre-infusion time, pressure profiling, PID temperature adjustment), a dedicated semi-auto like the Breville Dual Boiler or a Lelit gives you more control.

If counter space is tight, this machine is big. Measure before you buy.

If you only drink drip coffee, this is overkill. A simple pour-over setup or a drip machine will serve you better for less.