Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus review: 60 grind settings, a built-in scale and filter coffee in a compact espresso machine
The Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus Automatic Espresso Machine squeezes a 60-setting grinder, a built-in scale, an assisted tamper and a strong steam wand into a body about 10 inches deep. It pulls full-bodied espresso and even brews filter coffee, but it drops the cold drinks of the bigger Luxe Café machines and its 44-ounce tank empties fast.
Michael Reynolds
Hands-on review
Hands-on testing, research, specs
4 weeks
22 minutes
Jargon helpNew to espresso? Tap any dotted term to see what it means.
In this review
Yes, if you want real espresso with a little hands-on involvement in a small kitchen. The Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus makes full-bodied shots with very little guesswork, its 60 grind settings move easily between espresso, coffee crema and filter coffee, and its steam wand is strong enough for proper manual microfoam. The trade-offs are no cold brew or cold foam, a small water tank, a single-spout portafilter and automatic frothing that isn't always consistent.
Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus at a glance
Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus pros and cons
- Full-bodied espresso with guided grind and dose
- 60 grind settings for espresso, crema and filter coffee
- Strong steam wand for real manual microfoam
- No cold brew, cold-press or cold foam
- Small 44 oz water tank
- Automatic frothing can be inconsistent
Who should buy the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus?
- Small kitchens and apartments
- Beginners who want to learn real espresso
- People who also drink filter coffee
- Iced coffee and cold foam fans
- Busy households making many drinks
- Anyone who splits shots into two cups
First impressions of the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus
The Mini Plus is the first Luxe Café that actually fits in my kitchen.
At about 10 inches deep, it tucked between the toaster and the wall, under a low cabinet, with room to spare.
Lifting it out of the box, I noticed the recessed handholds on the sides.
It's a small detail, but it makes the machine easy to move when you clean the counter.
The next thing I noticed was the grind knob.
It's chunky and ridged, with clear clicks between settings, and there are 60 of them.
That turned out to be one of the best things about the machine.
My first double espresso from the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus came out dense and chocolatey, with a thick crema.
The machine had recommended the grind, weighed the dose and helped me tamp it.
I had a good shot without knowing anything about the beans.
The one thing that surprised me less pleasantly was the tank.
After four drinks and a couple of flushes, it was nearly empty.
At about 10 inches deep, the Mini Plus fits where larger espresso machines won't.
What surprised me most
The filter coffee.
I didn't expect an espresso machine this small to make a convincing mug of black coffee.
It blooms the coffee, pauses and then brews, and the result tastes like a clean filter coffee rather than a long espresso.
What the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus actually is
The Mini Plus is a semi-automatic espresso machine with a built-in grinder, scale and steam wand.
You grind into the portafilter, tamp with the assisted tamper, lock it in and press brew.
The machine recommends a grind size, weighs the dose and controls the shot.
For milk, the steam wand can froth automatically in the included jug, or you can steam by hand.
It's the compact member of Ninja's Luxe Café family.
To get the size down, Ninja removed the spinning frother used in the bigger machines, and with it the cold drinks.
The brew styles
| Brew style | How it's made | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Fine grind, double basket, about 1:2 | Straight shots and milk drinks |
| Long espresso | Same dose, more water | Bigger, lighter cup |
| Coffee crema | Coarser grind, longer brew | A full, rich mug |
| Filter coffee | Very coarse grind, bloom, then brew | Clean black coffee |
| Milk froth | Automatic or manual | Cappuccinos and lattes |
What's missing
There's no cold brew, no cold-press espresso and no cold-frothed milk.
If you mostly drink hot coffee, you won't miss them.
If you love iced drinks with cold foam, you will.
Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus design and setup
The Mini Plus measures about 10.2 × 12.2 × 13.4 inches (depth, width, height) and weighs about 19 pounds.
Build
The sides and back are mostly plastic, which keeps the weight down.
The drip tray, steam wand and brewing parts are metal.
It doesn't feel as premium as the larger Luxe Café machines, but it feels solid enough.
Accessory storage
The tamper and funnel live on top of the machine.
A small fold-out area with a rubber surface holds accessories so they don't vibrate around while grinding.
It's clever, but on a compact machine the workspace gets crowded once the milk jug is out too.
Our tip: Keep the milk jug to one side until you've finished tamping, so the fold-out accessory area has room to close.
First-time setup
Setup took about 15 minutes, including the water filter, a hardness test and a few flushes.
Check which baskets came in your box.
Depending on the package, you might get a single and a double, or a double and a larger Luxe basket.
The tamper and funnel store on top of the machine.
60 grind settings and Barista Assist
The grinder is the Mini Plus's standout feature.
There are 60 settings, which gives you plenty of room between espresso and filter coffee.
For each brew style, the machine recommends a starting grind.
You turn the ridged knob to match, and the clicks make it easy to land exactly where you want.
Bars show relative coarseness on the 60-step scale. Lower numbers are finer.
Finer without jamming
When you move toward a finer setting, the grinder turns its burrs as you adjust.
That stops grounds jamming between the burrs.
Moving coarser doesn't need it.
It means switching from coffee crema back to espresso is quick and safe.
Our tip: Turn the grind knob only when the machine prompts you or the grinder is turning, so the burrs don't jam on a finer setting.
The built-in scale and tamping
Before grinding, the Mini Plus asks you to confirm which basket you're using.
For a double, it grinds and weighs about 17 to 18 grams.
That's a proper double espresso dose, and it means you don't need a separate scale for the coffee.
Distribution and tamping
I sometimes stirred the grounds with a needle tool to break up clumps before tamping.
It's optional, but it gave me slightly more even shots.
The assisted tamper is spring-loaded, so it applies consistent pressure every time.
You can tamp with the funnel still on.
The single-spout portafilter
The portafilter has one spout instead of two.
It gives a neat, concentrated stream into the cup, but you can't split a double between two cups.
Why the guidance matters
Most espresso machines leave the hardest parts to you: choosing a grind, dosing the right amount of coffee and tamping evenly.
Get any one of those wrong and the shot suffers.
The Mini Plus guides all three.
It suggests a grind for the drink, weighs the dose as it grinds and gives you a tamper that presses evenly every time.
You still learn what each step does, but you don't have to get it right by feel.
That's why my first shot was good, and why my shots stayed consistent for four weeks.
Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus espresso performance
The highest strength setting aims for a classic 1:2 ratio.
From 17 to 18 grams of coffee, my doubles produced about 36 to 40 grams of espresso.
That's very close to a textbook double.
Espresso weight in the cup, measured on a separate scale. Higher strength means a shorter, more concentrated shot.
How it tasted
With fresh medium-dark beans, the espresso had a full, round body, thick crema✕CremaThe golden-brown foam on top of an espresso. It forms when pressure pushes gases and oils out of freshly ground coffee. and flavors of milk chocolate and nougat.
The machine heated up in about 30 to 35 seconds and brewed with fewer pauses than I expected.
It's also fairly quiet while brewing.
My ratings on a 10-point scale for body, crema and flavor.
Bean freshness made a big difference.
Fresh beans gave me café-quality shots, while older supermarket beans tasted flat no matter what I did.
| What you taste or see | Likely cause | First change |
|---|---|---|
| Sour, thin, fast | Grind too coarse | Go two or three steps finer |
| Bitter, slow | Grind too fine | Go two or three steps coarser |
| Uneven or spurting | Clumpy grounds | Stir the grounds before tamping |
| Flat taste, little crema | Stale beans | Use beans within a few weeks of roasting |
Coffee crema and long espresso
Coffee crema is my favorite thing about the Mini Plus after the espresso.
You turn the grind coarser, to around 17, choose coffee crema and press brew.
At medium strength, it made about 5 to 6 ounces of rich, full-bodied coffee with a layer of crema.
It's not espresso with water added.
It's brewed long through the portafilter, so it has more body than drip coffee and more volume than espresso.
The machine hit its target quantities accurately, which wasn't always the case on older Ninja machines.
My ratings on a 10-point scale for flavor and balance in a mug.
Filter coffee
Filter mode turns the Mini Plus into a small drip machine.
The recommended grind is very coarse, around 45 to 50.
The machine wets the coffee for a short bloom, pauses while the grounds release gas, then brews the rest.
It took about a minute.
The cup had no crema and a lighter body, exactly like a good filter coffee.
For someone who wants a plain black coffee, it saves buying a second appliance.
Our tip: Rinse the basket between filter coffee and espresso, because leftover coarse grounds can upset the next shot.
Milk: automatic and manual frothing
The Mini Plus has a large stainless steel steam wand with a four-hole tip and a non-stick finish.
For automatic frothing, the jug sits against a shaped holder that lines it up with the wand.
You choose dairy or plant milk and low, medium or high froth.
Automatic frothing
Automatic frothing was convenient but inconsistent.
Sometimes the milk came out glossy and well mixed.
Other times, I got liquid milk underneath with a separate layer of foam on top.
It reached about 140 to 150°F and took around 90 seconds.
Manual steaming
Manual steaming was much better.
Take the jug off the holder, switch to steam and hold the tip just under the surface for a few seconds, then lower it to spin the milk.
The wand is strong enough to create a proper whirlpool, and I got glossy microfoam✕MicrofoamMilk foam with bubbles so small you can't see them. It feels silky and blends into the coffee instead of sitting on top like froth. good enough for simple latte art.
My ratings on a 10-point scale for texture, consistency and temperature.
Milk tips from four weeks
Start with cold milk straight from the fridge, because it gives you more time to build foam.
Fill the jug only to the inside line, so there's room for the milk to expand and spin.
Whole milk made the richest cappuccinos, and 2% made the silkiest flat whites.
For plant milk, barista-style versions foamed far better than regular cartons.
If automatic frothing leaves liquid milk under the foam, swirl the jug firmly for a few seconds before pouring to mix them back together.
Our tip: Wipe the steam wand with a damp cloth straight after every use, because even a non-stick wand gets crusty if milk dries on it.
The single-spout portafilter gives a neat, concentrated stream.
Temperature settings and drink heat
The Mini Plus has three brew temperature settings.
I used the highest for dark roasts and the middle setting for medium roasts, which brought out more sweetness.
Espresso measured around 68 to 71°C in a warmed cup.
Automatic froth reached 140 to 150°F, or about 60 to 66°C.
With manual steaming, I stopped at around 60°C, when the jug got too hot to hold for more than a second.
Probe readings straight after brewing or steaming.
Our tip: Preheat your cup with a short shot of hot water, because a small espresso loses heat fast in a cold cup.
Water use and the small tank
The 44-ounce tank is the Mini Plus's biggest practical limit.
Ninja machines flush water through the system to keep it clean, and that adds up.
With two of us making five or six drinks a day, I refilled it daily, sometimes twice.
Rough numbers from a 1.3 L tank, allowing for flushing water. Actual numbers depend on cup size.
If the machine sits under a cabinet, put it where you can slide the tank out easily.
Cleaning and maintaining the Mini Plus
Daily cleaning is simple.
Wipe and purge the steam wand after every use.
Knock out the puck, rinse the basket and wipe the group.
Empty the drip tray.
Several parts are dishwasher-safe, including the funnel, water tank, bean hopper and drip tray parts.
| When | Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| After milk | Wipe and purge the wand | Stops milk drying on the tip |
| After each shot | Knock out the puck, rinse the basket | Keeps the next shot clean |
| Daily | Empty the drip tray, wash the jug | Prevents odors |
| Weekly | Wash dishwasher-safe parts, brush the grinder area | Removes oils and fines |
| When prompted | Descale | Keeps scale under control |
My estimate of hands-on cleaning time per day.
What daily use is really like
A double espresso took about two minutes from grinding to sipping, including tamping.
A cappuccino with manual steaming took about three.
That's slower than a fully automatic machine, but faster and easier than a traditional manual setup.
From pressing grind to a finished drink.
A typical morning
Grind and tamp a double, lock it in and brew.
Steam milk while the shot runs.
Pour, wipe the wand, knock out the puck.
Refill the tank before bed.
The ridged grind knob clicks clearly between its 60 settings.
A typical day with the Mini Plus
By week three, the routine was second nature.
At 7:00, a double espresso at the highest strength.
At 7:15, a manually steamed flat white for my partner.
Mid-morning, a coffee crema in a big mug.
After lunch, a filter coffee for a guest who doesn't like espresso.
Before bed, a tank refill and a quick wipe of the drip tray.
| Time | Drink | Key setting |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 | Double espresso | Grind about 10, strength 3 |
| 7:15 | Flat white | Manual steaming, 2% milk |
| 10:30 | Coffee crema | Grind about 17, medium strength |
| 13:00 | Filter coffee | Grind about 45–50 |
| 22:00 | Tank refill | Ready for morning |
Moving between those four drinks meant turning the grind knob several times a day.
With 60 clear settings and burrs that turn as you go finer, it never felt like a chore.
Small details that make a difference
The Mini Plus checks your work.
If you forget the funnel or try to brew without the portafilter locked in, it tells you.
It warns you when the tank is empty or the hopper is out of beans.
The recessed handholds make it easy to lift.
The ridged grind knob is easy to turn with wet hands.
And the progress bar shows how far along each brew is.
| Detail | Why it helped |
|---|---|
| Missing-part warnings | No wasted coffee |
| Empty tank and hopper alerts | No half-made drinks |
| Recessed handholds | Easy to move for cleaning |
| Ridged, clicky grind knob | Precise, easy adjustments |
| Progress bar | Know how long to wait |
Our tip: Fill the tank every night before bed, so the morning's first coffee never stops halfway through.
How the Mini Plus fits different households
The small-kitchen espresso lover
This is who the Mini Plus is for.
Real espresso, guided grind and dose, and a strong steam wand, in a body about 10 inches deep.
The beginner
Barista Assist and the scale take the guesswork out, and the 60 grind settings give you room to learn.
The filter coffee drinker
Filter mode means one machine covers espresso lovers and black coffee drinkers.
The iced coffee fan
No cold brew and no cold foam make this the wrong pick.
| Household | How well it fits | Main reason |
|---|---|---|
| Small kitchen, espresso lover | Excellent | Compact, guided, strong wand |
| Beginner | Very good | Grind and dose guidance |
| Filter coffee drinker | Very good | Real filter mode |
| Iced coffee fan | Poor | No cold drinks |
| Busy household | Fair | Small tank, manual steps |
My four weeks with the Mini Plus, week by week
Week one was about learning the workflow.
Confirm the basket, set the recommended grind, grind, tamp with the funnel on, lock in and brew.
By the end of the week, it took me under two minutes.
Week two was about dialing in espresso and trying coffee crema.
I went two steps finer than the recommended espresso grind for my medium-dark beans, and coffee crema became my mid-morning mug.
Week three was about milk.
Automatic frothing was handy, but manual steaming won me over once I got the hang of it.
Week four was about the routine, filter coffee and cleaning, including a full descale.
| Week | What I focused on | Main change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Workflow and first shots | Followed the recommended grinds |
| 2 | Espresso and coffee crema | Fine-tuned espresso by two steps |
| 3 | Milk | Switched to manual steaming |
| 4 | Filter coffee and routine | Filter mode for mugs, nightly tank refill |
Beans, water and milk
Fresh beans make the biggest difference on this machine.
Medium and medium-dark roasts were best for espresso and coffee crema.
Medium roasts were best for filter coffee.
| Bean type | Espresso | Coffee crema | Filter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium-dark blend | Excellent | Very good | Good |
| Medium roast | Very good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Light roast | Good, grind finer | Good | Very good |
| Old supermarket beans | Poor | Fair | Fair |
Use fresh water and the included filter, and set your water hardness during setup.
Common mistakes to avoid
The Mini Plus is easy to live with, but a few habits hold it back.
| Mistake | What happens | Better habit |
|---|---|---|
| Skipping the basket confirmation | Wrong dose | Confirm the basket every time |
| Using stale beans | Flat, weak shots | Use fresh beans |
| Relying only on automatic froth | Separated milk | Learn manual steaming |
| Forgetting the small tank | Machine stops mid-drink | Refill before bed |
| Moving to a finer grind with the grinder off | Burrs can jam | Adjust when prompted |
What I would change
A bigger tank, a dual-spout portafilter option and more consistent automatic frothing.
Is the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus worth the money?
The Mini Plus is a lot of espresso machine for its size.
It brews properly good espresso, a rich coffee crema and real filter coffee, with guidance that makes it hard to go wrong.
The question is whether you need its small size.
If you have room for a bigger Luxe Café, compare them carefully, because the larger machines add cold drinks, a bigger tank and an automatic frother that spins the milk.
If space is tight, the Mini Plus gives up surprisingly little.
Ask yourself three questions before you buy.
Is counter space limited?
Do you mostly drink hot coffee?
Are you happy to grind, tamp and lock in a portafilter?
If the answers are yes, the Mini Plus is easy to recommend.
Living with it long term
The Mini Plus is simple to maintain.
Dishwasher-safe parts, a non-stick wand and a straightforward descaling routine cover the regular jobs.
Running costs are water filters, cleaning tablets and descaler.
The habit that matters most is wiping and purging the wand after every milk drink.
Who should look elsewhere
If you love iced lattes with cold foam, the larger Luxe Café machines are a better match.
If several people make drinks all day, the small tank will be a constant chore.
If you want to press one button and walk away, a fully automatic machine will suit you better.
And if you like to split a double shot between two cups, the single-spout portafilter will get in the way.
Real espresso, coffee crema and filter coffee from a compact machine.
Mini Plus or a bigger Luxe Café?
The biggest decision is whether to go compact or full size.
| Feature | Luxe Café Mini Plus | Larger Luxe Café machines |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | About 30% smaller | Larger |
| Grind settings | 60 | Fewer on earlier models |
| Cold brew and cold-press | No | Yes on most models |
| Cold-frothed milk | No | Yes, with a spinning frother |
| Automatic frother | Steam wand with jug holder | Spinning whisk system |
| Water tank | About 44 oz | Larger |
| Portafilter | Single spout | Varies |
If space isn't a problem and you like cold drinks, a full-size model is the more complete machine.
If counter space is tight and you mostly drink hot coffee, the Mini Plus keeps nearly everything that matters, and its 60 grind settings are actually better for dialing in.
How it compares with other espresso setups
The Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus stands out for its size, grind range and guidance.
| Feature | Luxe Café Mini Plus | Larger guided espresso machine | Fully automatic machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Compact | Larger | Usually larger |
| Grind settings | 60 | Fewer, often 25 | Automatic |
| Built-in scale | Yes | Often | Rarely |
| Cold drinks | No | Often | Sometimes |
| Filter coffee | Yes | Sometimes | Rarely |
| Milk | Auto or manual wand | Auto frother, often with whisk | One touch |
| Water tank | About 44 oz | Often larger | Often 60–80 oz |
| You mostly drink | Is it a fit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Excellent | Guided grind and dose |
| Cappuccinos and flat whites | Very good | Strong wand for manual microfoam |
| Coffee crema | Excellent | Rich, full mug |
| Filter coffee | Very good | Bloom and brew mode |
| Iced drinks with cold foam | Poor | No cold functions |
The full package: grinder, portafilter, steam wand and compact body.
Other Ninja machines I tested
For cold drinks and a spinning frother, see my Ninja Luxe Café Premier review.
The Ninja Luxe Café Pro adds more drinks and a hot water outlet.
If you'd rather go fully automatic, see the Ninja AutoBarista.
Which one is right for you: is the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus your match?
4 quick questionsNinja Luxe Café Mini Plus specifications
From manufacturer data and my own testing.
How I tested and scored the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus
For four weeks, I used the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus as my everyday machine for espresso, long espresso, coffee crema, filter coffee, cappuccinos, flat whites and lattes.
I worked through the grind range with three beans, used the built-in scale and assisted tamper, tried distributing the grounds by hand, and compared automatic and manual milk frothing with whole, 2% and barista oat milk.
I weighed espresso yields on a separate scale, measured milk temperatures with a probe, timed heat-up and frothing, tracked how fast the tank emptied and followed the cleaning routine.
Michael and a second HouseholdMe tester shared the machine and wrote the notes together. We then checked our notes against Ninja's specifications and owner documentation.
- Espresso (8.7): body, crema, flavor and how well the guided grind and dose hit their targets.
- Milk drinks (7.9): automatic froth consistency, manual steam power and milk temperature.
- Ease of use (8.4): grind recommendations, scale, tamper, controls and the compact workspace.
- Cleaning (8.3): wand care, dishwasher-safe parts, portafilter and flushing.
The overall score of 8.3 is an editorial rating that reflects those four areas.
More Ninja coffee machine reviews
We tested each Ninja coffee machine for four weeks. If this model isn't the perfect fit, one of these may be.
Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: A 53 mm brew group, 17-gram doubles, two swappable hoppers and real drip coffee.
Ninja AutoBarista review: Self-calibrating espresso, real drip coffee and cold brew from one fully automatic machine.
Ninja Luxe Café Premier review: A guided espresso machine that makes great shots and cold foam, but weak big coffees.
Ninja Luxe Café Pro review: Hands-free tamping, a better steam wand and real hot water, but it’s thirsty.
Ninja Luxe Café Signature review: The Premier with a better wand, single shots and extra-thick foam.
Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus FAQ
Is the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus worth it?
Yes, if you want real espresso with guidance in a small kitchen and mostly drink hot coffee. If cold brew, iced foam or a big tank matters, a larger Luxe Café machine is a better fit.
How many grind settings does the Mini Plus have?
60, which makes it easy to move between espresso, coffee crema and filter coffee.
Does the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus have a built-in scale?
Yes. It weighs the dose as it grinds, with a double around 17 to 18 grams.
Can the Mini Plus make cold brew?
No. Cold brew, cold-press espresso and cold-frothed milk are not available on this compact model.
Does it make filter coffee?
Yes. It has a filter coffee mode with a bloom stage and a much coarser grind.
What is coffee crema?
A longer, fuller coffee brewed through the portafilter with a coarser grind, around 5 to 6 ounces at medium strength.
Can I steam milk manually?
Yes. Take the jug off its automatic position, switch to steam and control the wand yourself. The wand is strong enough for proper microfoam.
How hot does the automatic froth get?
About 140 to 150°F in my testing, and a full froth took around 90 seconds.
How big is the water tank?
About 44 ounces, or 1.3 liters, so expect frequent refills.
Can I split a double shot into two cups?
Not easily. The portafilter has a single spout.
How long does it take to heat up?
About 30 to 35 seconds from cold in my testing.
Is the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus good for beginners?
Yes. It recommends the grind, weighs the dose and helps you tamp, so beginners get good espresso quickly while still learning the basics.
Can I use oat milk in the Mini Plus?
Yes. Choose the plant setting for automatic frothing, or steam it manually. Barista-style oat milk worked best.
Which parts are dishwasher-safe?
The funnel, water tank, bean hopper and drip tray parts are dishwasher-safe. Wipe the steam wand by hand.
Kitchen & coffee tester
Michael spent six years as a line cook in restaurants in Chicago and New York, and he has tested kitchen appliances for HouseholdMe since 2018, from air fryers to coffee makers. He holds an SCA certificate in barista skills and used the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus as his everyday coffee machine for four weeks for this review, writing up the testing notes together with a second HouseholdMe tester.
- Four weeks of hands-on testing of the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus
- Ninja product specifications and owner documentation
- General espresso brewing and maintenance guidance