The Ninja Luxe Café Pro (model ES701) is a semi-automatic espresso machine that also makes drip coffee, cold brew and hot water, with a grinder, a scale and a lever tamper built in. Ninja sells it for $749.99 on its US store.
What is the Ninja Luxe Café Pro ES701?
It is the top of Ninja's Luxe Café line. Ninja calls it a 4-in-1: an espresso machine, a drip coffee maker, a rapid cold brew maker and an independent hot water system. Barista Assist Technology recommends the grind, weighs the dose and adjusts the brew, as on the rest of the range. What the Pro adds is an integrated tamper you work with a lever, a hot water outlet, and the Dual Froth System Pro with an insulated steam wand, five presets and an XL milk jug.
Ninja Luxe Café Pro ES701 specs
| Model | ES701 (also ES701WH Oat Milk, ES701BKBK Onyx) |
|---|---|
| Price | $749.99 on sharkninja.com |
| Machine type | Semi-automatic, built-in grinder, scale and lever tamper |
| Grinder | Conical burr, 25 settings |
| Drinks | Espresso, drip coffee, cold brew, hot water |
| Milk | Dual Froth System Pro, 5 presets: steamed, thin, thick, extra-thick, cold foam |
| Power | 1650 W, 120 V |
| Size | 15.51 x 15 x 19.33 in, 31.66 lb |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
Ninja does not publish the water tank size, bean hopper capacity or pump pressure for the Pro, so none of those is stated here.
The lever tamper and the grinder
On the smaller Luxe Café machines you press the puck with a separate assisted tamper. On the Pro the tamper is built into the machine and worked by a lever, which Ninja describes as easy, mess-free tamping. The conical burr grinder has 25 settings from espresso to drip, and the scale doses by weight for each drink, so grind, dose and tamp are all guided before the shot starts.
Frothing for two with the Dual Froth System Pro
The Pro's frother combines steaming and whisking, and its five presets go further than the rest of the range: steamed milk, thin froth, thick froth, extra-thick froth and cold foam. The XL milk jug froths enough for two drinks at once, and the steam wand is insulated so it is easier to wipe clean.
Ninja Luxe Café Pro vs Ninja Luxe Café Premier
The Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601 costs $599.99, $150 less. It shares the 25 setting grinder, the scale, drip coffee and cold brew, and froths hands-free with four presets. The Pro adds the lever tamper in place of a separate assisted tamper, a hot water system, the extra-thick froth preset and the XL jug for two drinks. If you make one milk drink at a time and do not need hot water, the Premier covers most of what the Pro does.
Ninja Luxe Café Pro vs Breville Barista Express Impress
The Breville Barista Express Impress BES876 costs $799.95 and also guides the tamp, with its Impress Puck System, and grinds with 25 settings. Breville publishes a 2 liter tank, a pressure gauge and a 54 mm portafilter, and its milk is steamed by hand. The Ninja doses by weight, froths hands-free, and adds drip, cold brew and hot water, for $50 less.
What comes in the box with the Ninja Luxe Café Pro
The Pro ships with a portafilter and three baskets, single, double and Luxe, so it covers a single shot as well as the double and quad shots the range is built around. The XL milk jug is in the box, along with a cleaning brush, a cleaning disc, descaling powder, cleaning tablets and a hard water testing kit for setting the descale schedule. There is no separate tamper because the tamper is built into the machine.
Drip coffee, cold brew and hot water on the Pro
The Pro's drip side brews a regular coffee from the same beans as the espresso, and its rapid cold brew makes iced coffee without an overnight steep. The independent hot water system is the part the rest of the Luxe Café range lacks: hot water for an americano, a tea or warming a cup comes from its own outlet rather than through the coffee path. For a household that drinks a bit of everything, that is the reason to choose the Pro over the Premier.
Is the Ninja Luxe Café Pro ES701 worth it?
It is the most complete machine in Ninja's semi-automatic range, and the only one with a built-in lever tamper and hot water. It is also big at 19.33 inches tall and 31.66 lb, and Ninja publishes no tank, hopper or pump figures. Nobody on this site has tested it, so taste and durability are not claimed. See how it ranks among the espresso machines.
Who should buy the Ninja Luxe Café Pro (and who should not)
It suits a household that drinks espresso, filter coffee and iced drinks, often makes two milk drinks at once, and has the counter space and the height under the cabinets. It is a poor fit for a small kitchen, or for someone who wants published specs like the tank size to compare.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Ninja Luxe Café Pro ES701 cost?
Ninja's US store lists it at $749.99.
What is the difference between the Ninja Luxe Café Pro and Premier?
The Pro adds a lever-operated integrated tamper, an independent hot water system, a fifth froth preset for extra-thick foam and an XL jug that froths for two drinks.
Does the Ninja Luxe Café Pro make cold brew?
Yes. It brews espresso, drip coffee, rapid cold brew and hot water.
How many grind settings does the ES701 have?
Its conical burr grinder has 25 settings, from espresso to drip.
How big is the Ninja Luxe Café Pro?
Ninja lists 15.51 x 15 x 19.33 inches and 31.66 lb.
What colors does the ES701 come in?
Ninja's page shows Stainless Steel, Oat Milk and Onyx.
