The Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus AutoFroth (model ES351) is a compact semi-automatic espresso machine with a grinder, a scale and an automatic steam wand that froths milk on its own. Ninja lists it at $499.99 on its US store.
What is the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus AutoFroth?
Ninja describes it as the only compact espresso and coffee machine with a built-in grinder, scale and hands-free frothing. It is the Luxe Café Mini with the milk automated: the same small 2-in-1 body that brews espresso and drip coffee, and a temperature-controlled steam wand that textures the milk without you holding the jug.
Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus AutoFroth ES351 specs
| Model | ES351 (ES351GN, Vista Green) |
|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 list on sharkninja.com |
| Machine type | Semi-automatic, built-in grinder, scale and assisted tamper |
| Drinks | Espresso; drip coffee classic, rich or over ice |
| Milk | Automatic steam wand, 3 presets: steamed, thin, thick |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
Ninja's page for this model gives no water tank size, bean hopper capacity, weight, dimensions or pump pressure, so none of those is stated here.
How the AutoFroth steam wand works
You pour milk into the jug, choose steamed, thin or thick, and the temperature-controlled wand does the rest. Ninja says it works with any dairy or plant-based milk. That makes it the simplest way into Ninja's range for someone who drinks lattes and cappuccinos but has no interest in learning to steam by hand.
Grinding, dosing and drip coffee on the ES351
The integrated conical burr grinder sets the grind size, the built-in scale weighs the grounds, and Barista Assist Technology adjusts temperature and pressure for each brew. You tamp with the assisted tamper and lock in the portafilter. On the drip side it brews classic, rich or over ice, so the same machine covers a morning mug and an afternoon latte.
Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus vs Ninja Luxe Café Mini
The Ninja Luxe Café Mini ES301 is the same compact machine with a manual steam wand, listed at $449.99. Everything else Ninja describes, the grinder, the scale and the drip styles, is shared. Pay the extra $50 for the Mini Plus if hands-free milk matters; keep it if you like steaming by hand.
Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus vs Ninja Luxe Café Premier
The Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601 is the full-size step up at $599.99. It adds cold brew and cold-pressed espresso, a fourth froth preset for cold foam, and drip sizes from 6 to 18 oz. If you drink iced coffee with cold foam, the Premier is built for it. If you want hot espresso drinks in less space, the Mini Plus covers that for $100 less.
What comes in the box with the ES351
The Mini Plus ships with a portafilter, a double basket and a Luxe basket, an assisted tamper, a dosing funnel and the milk jug the AutoFroth wand works with. Cleaning is covered by a brush, a cleaning disc, cleaning tablets and descale solution. With the grinder and scale built in, there is nothing else to buy before the first latte apart from beans and milk.
Drip coffee and iced coffee on the Mini Plus
Like the Mini, the Mini Plus is a 2-in-1. Alongside espresso it brews drip coffee three ways: classic for an everyday mug, rich for a bolder cup, and over ice for iced coffee. The over ice style and the hands-free frother make it a reasonable iced latte machine too, even without the cold foam preset the larger Premier adds.
Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus colors
Ninja's own page shows the ES351GN in Vista Green. On Amazon US the Mini Plus is listed in Stainless and in an Amazon exclusive Bone and Champagne finish, so the color you can buy depends on where you shop.
Is the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus AutoFroth worth it?
It is the cheapest way into Ninja's range with hands-free milk, and it keeps the grinder and scale that make the range easy for beginners. Against that, Ninja publishes very little hard data for it, and there is no cold brew or cold foam. Nobody on this site has tested it, so taste and durability are not claimed. Compare it with the other espresso machines.
Who should buy the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus (and who should not)
It suits a small kitchen that runs on lattes and cappuccinos and wants them without any barista skills. It is a poor fit if you want cold brew or cold foam, or want to compare tank and hopper sizes before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Plus AutoFroth cost?
Ninja lists it at $499.99 on its US store, and on 2026-10-31 it was reduced to $449.99.
Does the Mini Plus froth milk by itself?
Yes. Its automatic, temperature-controlled steam wand froths milk hands-free with three presets: steamed, thin and thick.
What is the difference between the Ninja Luxe Café Mini and the Mini Plus?
The Mini Plus froths milk automatically; the Mini has a manual steam wand. Both have the grinder, the scale and drip coffee.
Can the Mini Plus make cold foam or cold brew?
Ninja lists three hot presets for the Mini Plus and no cold brew. The Luxe Café Premier adds both.
Does the ES351 have a grinder?
Yes, an integrated conical burr grinder, plus a built-in scale that weighs each dose.
Does the Ninja Mini Plus AutoFroth work with oat milk?
Yes. Ninja says the automatic steam wand turns any dairy or plant-based milk into microfoam, so oat, almond and soy milk all work with the three presets.
What comes in the box with the Mini Plus AutoFroth?
A portafilter, a double basket and a Luxe basket, an assisted tamper, a dosing funnel, a milk jug, a cleaning brush, a cleaning disc, cleaning tablets and descale solution.
