#espresso-machine — Public Fediverse posts

What Is Barley Coffee, and Why Italians Swear by It

Key Takeaways Barley coffee, or caffè d’orzo, is a naturally caffeine-free Italian beverage made by roasting and brewing barley grains to create a drink that looks and tastes similar to espresso. With earthy, nutty, and s…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Italianfood #caffèd’orzo #coffeebeans #Espressomachine #Italia #Italian #ItalianFood #italiano #italy
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2475950/what-is-barley-coffee-and-why-italians-swear-by-it/

What Is Barley Coffee, and Why Italians Swear by It https://www.diningandcooking.com/2475950/what-is-barley-coffee-and-why-italians-swear-by-it/ #CaffèD’orzo #CoffeeBeans #EspressoMachine #Italia #Italian #ItalianFood #italiano #italy

Winter weekends are for lattes. :neocat_cofe:

#coffee #espresso #LatteArt #EspressoMachine #OdysseyArgos #OdysseyEspresso

All my parts came back from powder coating! I’m hoping I can have my custom espresso machine built by Thanksgiving! :neocat_cofe: :parrot_dad:

#OdysseyArgos #espresso #EspressoMachine #coffee

Point what you want!
(Don’t trust the Internet and the oligarchs)

Paper Thing Chart 673 - 676

By Meister Jeder, Dadaist, Hüter des Kunstfriedens von 1961 und Realistiker 9/25
#dada #Nature #Color #Art #AIart #PicturePanel #Thing #animals #Bildtafel #Dinge #Espressomaschine #EspressoMachine #Espresso #Kaffee #Coffee #Italien #doppio

Going Analog: Temperature Surfing and Pressure Profiling a Gaggia Classic

There’s something wonderfully unhurried about making espresso on a Gaggia Classic. No touchscreen, no digital timers, no automated pressure curves, just a few switches, a boiler, a vibrating pump, and your own rhythm. It’s a machine that doesn’t offer convenience so much as opportunity.

But with that analog charm comes a learning curve. Why was yesterday’s shot bright and balanced, and today’s is flat and dull? The answer, most days, lives in temperature and pressure, and your ability to guide both by feel.

This guide walks through two essential techniques that unlock the Classic’s full potential: temperature surfing, to hit your ideal brew temp without a PID, and a clever bit of manual pressure profiling using the steam valve to mimic a lever machine’s declining pressure curve. It’s easier than it sounds, and a rewarding way to make this machine feel like your own.

I should note these techniques are also applicable to the ultra budget Gaggia Espresso (we even show it in some photos later!), the Rancilio Silvia, and even higher end machines like the Profitec Go; pretty much any single boiler machine that allows pass-through the steam wand.

I’ve owned a Classic for a long time now, and this article is inspired by my own experiments.

Part 1: Temperature Surfing : Learning the Boiler’s Rhythm

The Gaggia Classic uses a thermostat to control its single boiler, which means the water inside is constantly drifting between too hot and not quite hot enough. Brewing at random risks pulling a shot during one of those extremes.

Temperature surfing is how you learn to ride that wave and brew in the sweet spot – around 92 to 95°C – depending on what you’re aiming for in the cup.

Step-by-Step: Temperature Surfing

1. Heat your machine fully (20 minutes minimum). Lock the portafilter in during warm-up to keep metal temps stable.
2. Purge about 60 ml of water through the brew head. This drop in water level triggers the heating element and drops the internal temp.
3. Watch the brew-ready light. When it clicks off, that’s your signal the boiler’s just hit its upper limit.
4. Start a timer. Now comes the surf.
   • Hotter shot (for darker roasts)? Wait 10–15 seconds.
   • Brighter acidity (for light roasts)? Wait 20–30 seconds for a slight cool-down.
5. Pull the shot at your chosen wait time.

A simple notebook or even a Notes app entry helps here. Jot down your wait times, beans, and how each shot tasted. You’ll find your rhythm faster than you think. And you don’t even need a thermometer to make this magic happen, just your tastebuds.

Part 2: Pressure Profiling – The Lever Hack

Most people assume the Classic’s pump is either on or off. But it turns out, there’s a bit of gray in that binary: the steam wand knob.

If you crack the steam valve while the pump is running, you can bleed off brew pressure in the grouphead, actively. And if you do that intentionally during a shot? You’ve just created a manual pressure profile: no modifications, no electronics, just a twist of the wrist.

This simple trick lets you emulate the declining pressure curve found in spring lever machines. Those machines start extraction strong, then gently taper pressure off toward the end of the shot. The result? Smoother finishes, richer sweetness, and less harshness from overextraction.

There is a price: water usage and potential temperature issues. You use a lot of water for this technique, and if you go aggressive with it, the machine’s boiler may not be able to keep up with the temperatures you want. Saying that, it’s not necessarily a bad thing – declining temperatures later in the shot pull can help deliver better espresso (but that’s a topic for another article).

Here’s how you do it.

Step-by-Step: Manual Pressure Profiling

1. Prepare your puck. Dose, level, and tamp as usual.
2. Start with the steam valve open slightly. When you flip on the brew switch, water exits both the group and the wand. Keep a jug under the steam wand to collect the water coming out. This keeps pressure low (~2–3 bar), gently saturating the puck for a soft pre-infusion.
3. After 5–7 seconds, close the valve. Pressure builds to full (around 9 bar) and true extraction begins.
4. At around 20–25 seconds, begin reopening the valve. Slowly. This eases the pressure off gradually, mimicking that classic lever ramp-down.
5. End the shot when you’ve reached your desired volume or taste target.

You’ll hear the pump pitch shift as you bleed off pressure, and the flow from the grouphead will slow and thicken rather than gush and blond. It’s espresso by feel, and it’s deeply satisfying. On CoffeeGeek, there’s also a more detailed guide for this very action.

A Word on OPV Valves

Most modern North American Gaggia Classics ship with a 9-bar OPV (overpressure valve), which helps keep pump pressure within a manageable range. If your machine is older, or comes from the EU, it might still have the factory 12–15 bar spring.

If that’s you, it’s worth looking into an OPV spring replacement. You’ll find dozens of tutorials online, and it’s a relatively easy mod. Lowering pressure gives you more room to play with profiling and improves extraction with lighter roasts.

Maintenance, Briefly

A clean machine makes all the subtleties of temperature and pressure show up more clearly in the cup. Make sure you’re keeping your machine clean and happy to get the most out of these techniques.

• Backflush daily with water, and weekly with espresso machine cleaning detergent.
• Clean the grouphead gasket and screen daily if you use the machine often.
• Descale every few months if your water isn’t filtered or softened.

Beyond the Basics: Making Your Espresso Machine Truly Yours

The Gaggia Classic and machines in this class aren’t just an entry point into espresso, it’s a companion for growth. The more time you spend with it, the more you realize how alive this little machine can feel in your hands. With a bit of patience, it stops being a simple appliance and becomes an instrument you learn to play.

Temperature surfing helps you find the sweet spot for every roast, turning what could feel like guesswork into a kind of conversation between you and the coffee. Meanwhile, pressure profiling opens the door to exploring a wider range of beans than you might expect. A delicate washed Ethiopian, a syrupy Brazilian natural, or even an experimental anaerobic: all of them respond differently when you control not just if the water flows, but how it flows. Gentle preinfusion, steady body-building pressure, and a graceful ramp-down can reveal flavors that might otherwise stay hidden.

These techniques aren’t just “workarounds.” They’re small rituals that bring you closer to the shot in front of you. You’ll notice more clarity, more sweetness, and far less of the harshness that sometimes sneaks in with a flat, one-pressure-fits-all approach. Over time, you’ll build an intuition for what a coffee needs and the confidence to give it just that.

So take your time, experiment, and let yourself enjoy the process as much as the result. I’d love to hear how these approaches work for you! Share your experiences in the comments below. Your story might be just what someone else needs to try something new with their own Classic.

#espressoMachine #gaggia #pressureProfiling #temperatureSurfing

Alright, had my first day at the new job. I think I'm gonna like it here. Fun people, I like the work, and I love the atmosphere.

I'm now at Odyssey Espresso as an assembly technician. So I'll be helping build their espresso machines.

It's a fun change of pace to be working with a physical product and getting to work with my hands. Plus I've always wanted to better understand the inner-workings of espresso machines more than just in theory. And it's great to be working in coffee again! ☕

#espresso #coffee #OdysseyEspresso #Argos #EspressoMachine

Upgrading An Old Espresso Machine https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/upgrading-an-old-espresso-machine/ #espressomachine #RaspberryPiPico #RepairHacks

Upgrading An Old Espresso Machine - The Francis! Francis! X1 espresso machine in its assembled state. (Credit: Samuel ... - https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/upgrading-an-old-espresso-machine/ #espressomachine #raspberrypipico #repairhacks

Frankenflair 58: Manual Roots, Advanced Brew - The user interface of things we deal with often makes or breaks our enjoyment of u... - https://hackaday.com/2025/04/19/frankenflair-58-manual-roots-advanced-brew/ #coffeemakerhack #espressomachine #coffeemachine #toolhacks #pcb #pid

Frankenflair 58: Manual Roots, Advanced Brew https://hackaday.com/2025/04/19/frankenflair-58-manual-roots-advanced-brew/ #coffeemakerhack #espressomachine #coffeemachine #ToolHacks #pcb #pid

Our Bambino Plus decided it was cleaning day (perfect day for it!), which happens after pulling 200 shots. We do 6 shots a day. Based on a $6 latte (3 shots each), I’m estimating that we would have spent $400 by now. It’s already almost paid for itself in two months! #BambinoPlus #EspressoMachine

Hey Canadians. The Bambino Plus from Breville just dropped to $500 ($150 off the MSRP) for the next few days, if you're in the market for this machine.

(that's just $350USD!). Fantastic price for an amazing machine.

#Canada #Breville #espressomachine

https://amzn.to/3URuQNB

Here's the grouphead controler. Prior to the modification, that surface was plain, and you were forced to control the espresso machine using the tablet that is out of focus in the image.

(Yes, it is a Decent Espresso DE1.)

#espresso #EspressoMachine

(For context, see the parent post.)

I've cleaned my machine and I made espresso.

I've also changed the stock grouphead with a grouphead controller. Yes, I did buy the upgrade in 2020, and never installed it until today.

I'm wiped.

I also need to relearn how to make espresso. 😬

#cancer #CancerSurvivor #espresso #EspressoMachine #milestone

(For context, see the parent post.)

So far, so good. I've removed some home automation hardware from the machine to simplify things.

The tablet that controls the machine powered and upgraded. I've managed to connect it to the machine. I've performed a firmware and software upgrade, and ran a flush.

The next step is to clean the machine.

👍

#cancer #CancerSurvivor #espresso #EspressoMachine #milestone

There’s an espresso machine that’s a bit of an insider’s secret—one that many people don’t know about. In many ways, it is the secret machine in Breville’s extensive espresso brewing lineup. It’s the Breville Model #BES840XL, also known as the Breville Infuser.

Breville doesn’t market the Infuser much. It’s not pushed on vendors as a SKU to carry. You rarely see it on department store shelves. In fact, this past year, Breville even removed it from their main USA website, and transitioned the machine to an Amazon only SKU.

This borders on being a true espresso tragedy, considering its features, build quality, and price. In my opinion, the Breville Infuser could be the best machine in Breville’s lineup, with everything – including price – taken into account.

That’s a pretty big boast, I know. I hope to explain this fully below. But I also have another reason for this coverage of the Breville Infuser, and it’s time sensitive. You see, the Infuser, for as long as I’ve been aware of the machine, has never really gone on sale. At best, you could snag one for $50 off. 

Well, something’s changed. If you are an Amazon Prime member, right now (and right through Amazon’s October Prime Event this 2024), the Infuser is just $350, in both the Brushed Steel version, and the Black Sesame variant. That’s $220 off the normal price, and makes it one of the best deals in espresso machines today.

Update October 8: This is one of those “snooze and you lose” deals, as the $350 unit is sold out, and the only Infusers currently on Amazon are via 3rd party sellers who are selling for between $510 and $575. The Infuser was supposed to be a Prime Days exclusive price, but leaked early. It may come back at this price over the next few days, so keep checking.

The World’s Best-Selling Espresso Machine

For over a decade, the Breville Barista Express has reigned as the most popular espresso machine on the planet. Breville keeps its sales numbers pretty secret, but I can tell you that in some years, they sold 30 Barista Express machines for every single Rancilio Silvia sold.

There are several reasons why the Barista Express is such a hit. The built-in grinder is definitely a big draw for many people, but there’s a lot more to it than just that. It has a sleek, modern design, heats up quickly, and features a PID system that offers six brewing temperatures. It also has a hot water spout, switches to steam fast (especially for a thermoblock machine), and provides strong steam power with a capable wand. Plus, the drip tray is deep, and the cup warmer actually works. There’s so much more to love about this machine, and I go into all the details in our full review.

In short, the Barista Express is the best-selling machine because it offers top-notch features and build quality at an affordable price.

If there’s one area where the Barista Express falls a bit short, it’s the grinder. While it’s not terrible, advancements in espresso grinders over the past five years have left it a bit outdated. The timer system, in particular, feels clunky compared to modern grinders with precise 0.1-second timers or built-in scales. The Barista Express’s “timer” dial jumps by several seconds, making it tough to fine-tune your espresso. Breville suggests using their Razor tool to adjust the coffee dose, but that leads to waste.

So what if you could have the Barista Express, the machine with all that excellent functionality and ability on the espresso brewing side of things, but without the built in grinder? A Barista Express you could pair up with your own, much more capable espresso-primary grinder?

Well, that’s exactly what the Breville Infuser is!

Some History on the Infuser

The Infuser has a bit of a backstory: it even has a “father” machine:  the “Die Cast Automatic” espresso machine, model BES820XL, released back in 2009. At the time, it was basically a grinder-less version of the first Barista Express, but neither machine was particularly impressive. This was before Breville hired Phil McKnight, who would go on to revamp their entire espresso lineup.

The BES820XL chugged along for about five years. Meanwhile, Breville introduced some game-changing machines: the Dual Boiler in 2011, and in 2013, both the updated (and still current) Barista Express and The Oracle, their fully automated espresso machine. These were all major leaps forward for the company.

Then, in early 2014, Breville quietly introduced the Infuser (model BES840XL) as a replacement for the BES820XL. It didn’t get much attention at first, but it was a solid upgrade. Initially, the Infuser came in Breville’s classic Brushed Steel finish, and later on, they offered a slick Piano Black version, which looked stunning with its shiny black finish, mirror backsplash, and drip tray. We got our hands on the Piano Black model in 2014, and it was a real beauty.

Everything about the Infuser feels polished and well thought out. The water reservoir is easy to access and spacious, and the coated cup warming tray does its job and makes cleaning a sinch. The machine’s front panel is simple, with just four control buttons, two indicator lights, and a pressure gauge. It has an articulating steam wand and even a magnetized tamper built into the machine. Nothing feels unfinished or out of place.

Under the hood, the Infuser is packed with the same brewing system, volumetric controls, pump, and electronics as the Barista Express. Since it doesn’t have a built-in grinder, it’s more compact, making it a better fit for smaller kitchen counters, The machine is only a bit wider than a Gaggia Classic or Rancilio Silvia, yet feels spacious and can accommodate a much wider range of cup sizes.

What’s great about the Infuser is that nearly every accessory or upgrade designed for the Barista Express works with it. That means you can easily find better dispersion screens, filter baskets, tampers, portafilters, and even lever-style arms for the steam and hot water controls.

Pair the Infuser up with any of the grinders from our Best of Budget Grinders Guide, and you will have a winning combination capable of exceptional, hand crafted espresso, and a wide range of milk based espresso drinks.

The Price

One big knock against the Infuser is that some feel the price is too close to the Barista Express pricing to justify its cost. This may have been more true in the past, when the Infuser was $599, and the Barista Express was $649.

Today, the list price for the Barista Express is $699, and the Infuser is $569, or a difference of $130. For me personally, that’s enough of a discount to definitely buy it over the Express, and use that $130 (plus another $75 or so) to buy a grinder that’s 2x better than the one built into the Barista Express.

But now I come to the other main reason for this blog post. Right now, and through the next Prime Sale this October, Amazon – the only place you can buy the Infuser in the USA right now – has both the brushed steel and black models on sale for $350. 

$350!! 

At that price, this could very well be the best espresso machine on the planet, when price is factored in. It performs as good if not better than other sub $600 traditional espresso machines like the Gaggia, Rancilio, and Lelit offerings. It’s certainly put together in a much more polished way.

I also like the Infuser slightly better than the Bambino Plus, because unlike that machine, you do not have to run blank shots on the Infuser prior to actually pulling an espresso shot. Just let it heat up for 10 minutes, and Bob’s your uncle. Transition time to steam is around 30 seconds, which is very acceptable. And the entire machine is bigger, and does not have a drip tray so small that you have to empty it every shot pull, like the Bambino demands.

Even at $570, I think this is a machine that should be on everyone’s shortlist, especially if your goal is improving and honing your home barista skills. At $350? A no brainer. The price is so low, I bought one myself just to have as a backup machine.

https://coffeegeek.com/blog/new-products/the-breville-infuser-the-insider-secret-espresso-machine/

#BES840XL #Breville #BrevilleInfuser #deals #espressoMachine #Infuser

Guess what folks: The Breville Infuser is back down to $350 (for Prime members only) on Amazon. This is a $220 reduction in price, and historically the lowest price the Infuser has ever been available at.

It's one of our favourite machines from Breville. It's the Barista Express, sans grinder, which is just fine because you can buy a much better grinder to pair up with it.

cc @espresso

#espressomachine #espresso #brevilleinfuser

https://amzn.to/3NeiyL1

A milestone???

Prior to my cancer, I had bought an espresso machine. I made espresso just about every day. I like espresso.

When my cancer struck, it affected my brain. The complexities of espresso were too much for me. I stopped using it. I'm not sure when, but it was definitely in 2020 that I stopped.

The machine came with me in the divorce. I had stored it in my bedroom closet.

Today, I took it out. I don't know how long it is going to take to bring it back from the dead. It is a sophisticated piece of equipment.

I also need to get back into the groove of actually making espresso.

Wish me luck!

#cancer #CancerSurvivor #espresso #EspressoMachine #milestone

At CoffeeGeek, our First Looks are often longer and more comprehensive than most full reviews you find elsewhere online. This morning's publication of the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier espresso machine First Look fits that bill!

Check it out, to find out everything you'd want to know about this machine.

(nb, link may not work for up to 5 min after I post this, because of the MastoDDos effect).

cc @espresso @coffee

#espressomachine #espresso #coffee

https://coffeegeek.com/reviews/firstlooks/ninja-luxe-cafe-premier-first-look-review/

Out of the BoxLuxe Cafe Premium

Ninja is of course a company born of the infomercial.

Shark is the parent company, and they got their start pushing vacuums on late night TV. Ninja is similar. So their product box for the Luxe Cafe Premier model has a very “As seen on TV” vibe to it all. Lots of details, lots of splashy, colourful graphics, lots of product details. You can learn pretty much most of the machine’s functions (and there are many) just from reading the box.

We cover this at CoffeeGeek because it’s crucial: there’s too much styrofoam in the Ninja Luxe Café’s packaging. It would be great to see the company switch to more eco-friendly materials. If Breville can ship the Oracle Jet and Rancilio can package their machines using all paper-based protection, Ninja can do the same with the Luxe Café. Make an environmental statement, Ninja, and be a leader!

After removing the paperwork, you’ll find a chromed metal cup tray, and the Luxe Café Starter Kit nestled in styrofoam. Once those are removed, the machine itself is revealed, wrapped in plastic.

The Starter Kit box contains the Luxe Cafe unique portafilter (more on that later) with the standard double basket, the oversized Luxe basket (both baskets are thankfully unpressurized), a very unique click pillar tamper, the dosing collar, and a box with starter cleaner supplies, the blind filter insert (for backflushing), and a brush. Missing, gratefully, is a double scoop.

With the machine out, you’ll find a box under the grouphead containing the unique milk frothing pitcher, which has a magnetically held, removable frothing whisk in the bottom.

There’s quite a bit of tape securing parts of the machine, which need to be removed. The machine’s overall appearance is appealing, with real brushed steel plates on the front, top, and sides, complemented by high-quality dark grey-brown plastic for the rest.

Let’s now look at the machine in more detail.

Machine, Top to Bottom

There’s a lot to cover with the Ninja Luxe Cafe, but I’ll let our photos speak for themselves, aside from the detail we get into with the control panel.

At the top, you’ll find the bean hopper for the grinder, a cup warmer, and the lid for the removable reservoir. The grinder hopper low-profile design is a nice touch, making it more under-counter friendly. The cup warmer is large and features a brushed stainless steel ridged plate.

The reservoir holds 2 litres of water and has a low water sensor (something missing from the Breville Barista Express). However, it lacks a built-in water filter, which is surprising since all espresso machines should have one, and it would be a long-term profit opportunity for Ninja.

Moving down the front of the machine, you’ll find the Luxe Cafe’s rather imposing control panel, which has many lights and indicators. While there’s no OLED, there are LEDs and plenty of light-up features. It may seem confusing at first, but it becomes intuitive after a few weeks. The upper portion is glossy black glass, while the lower section features brushed steel with buttons and knobs.

The control panel is divided into three areas. The left side controls the grinder and includes options for setting espresso temperature (three choices) and a descale button. It also shows your grinder setting and recommends one based on your drink. It reminds you to tamp the coffee for espresso and the larger (16-18oz) brewed coffee drinks, after grinding.

The middle section handles drink selections and displays the brewing status. A rotating knob allows you to choose drinks like espresso, quad shot, cold pressed espresso, and various hot and cold coffee brewing methods. The machine suggests which filter basket to use and allows coffee brewing size selection from 6 to 18 fl. oz via a button push. A long press on this size button accesses the advanced menu, which is covered in the manual.

The right side is dedicated to milk frothing, with four options: no froth, low, high, and cold froth. “No froth” is also used for manual steaming (the spinning whisk mode is disabled), while cold froth uses no steam at all – only the magnetically spun whisk. You’ll also find controls for milk type selection (dairy or plant based), foam type, a clean button, and a purge button for quick steam wand purging before use.

Continuing down the machine, you reach the main “business” area: the grinder doser, grouphead brewing area, and steaming platform.

The grinder only works with Ninja’s dosing collar; if you insert the portafilter into the grinder cradle without it, the machine won’t operate and alerts you on the display. The doser cradle includes a built-in scale, an entirely unique feature for home espresso machines as of this writing.

The grinder and burr assembly resemble the Barista Express, though there are differences. It features a removable conical top burr but cannot be micro-adjusted like Breville grinders. The grinder is fast, and the removable hopper holds up to 12 oz of coffee (350g). It features a bean shut-off system that works well for its purpose.

Another unique element of the Luxe Cafe is the grouphead and portafilter. The 54mm portafilter, possibly chromed brass (waiting on confirmation for this), is extremely deep with two spouts cast into its design. Why it has two spouts is a mystery, because you cannot fit two espresso (or larger) cups on the elevated or base drip trays. The handle is weighted, featuring a metal Ninja logo at the end cap. While it shares the triple bayonet design of Breville’s 54mm portafilters, they aren’t compatible due to the recessed grouphead designed for the deeper portafilter.

Ninja’s filter baskets are also incompatible with standard 54mm Breville baskets or aftermarket baskets made for Breville machines. The Luxe Café baskets feature rubber insets, fitting only one way into the portafilter. The machine includes two baskets: a standard double basket for up to 18g of coffee and an extra deep “Luxe” basket, holding up to 45g. Thankfully, nether are pressurized.

And there’s still more unique design choices to explore on the Luxe Café: its dual cup tray designs. A removable “mini” tray fits into the main drip tray. This allows the machine to accommodate large 18-20oz insulated cups by removing the mini tray and placing the cup directly on the counter. Since the Luxe Cafe uses a 3-way solenoid valve to release pressurized water after a shot, the main drip tray catches this purge water even when the mini tray is removed.

The second removable cup tray, made of thick metal, can be slotted into one of three positions, allowing you to move your espresso cup closer to the two spouts (again, why does this machine have dual spouts?)

On the right side of the business area is the milk station with a cradle for the Ninja Luxe Cafe pitcher. It includes a temperature sensor, a purge hole directing steam wand water to the drip tray, and a hidden magnetic stirrer to spin the frothing whisk inside Ninja’s steam pitcher at different speeds.

The pitcher has markings for milk levels, and the frothing whisk is easily removable due to its magnetic attachment.

On the left of the machine is the grind adjustment dial and slots for the tamper and dosing collar.

More innovation can be found in the grinder adjustment settings: as long as the portafilter and doser collar are in the grinder cradle, each click finer you set on the grinder activates the motor for milliseconds, to purge some grinds and prevent damage to the burr carrier. This is kind of brilliant.

You can also further purge the grinder of any left over grinds by pressing and holding the front mounted grinder button.

The tamper is a pillar design, and has a click effect with about 30lb of pressure applied. It is designed to work with the dosing collar, and using both ensures a very level pack on the ground coffee.

On the right side of the machine is a door that opens to a storage area for filter baskets, the blind filter insert, and the cleaning brush. You can also view the water reservoir level visually on the right side of the machine.

At the bottom is the drip tray system, primarily designed to collect purge water from the machine and steam wand. It has a pop-up indicator when full. The drip tray includes a plastic cover to keep coffee grounds out of the purge water and a steel top grate with part of the steam pitcher platform attached.

The mini central drip tray is separate from the main drip tray, with each being self-contained.

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier model is a bit smaller in real life than it looks in photographs. It sits just 37cm tall (14.5”), and will have no problem sitting under most kitchen cabinets. It is 34cm wide (13.25”) but you need a bit more clearance on the side for the tamper and dosing collar storage. Back to front it is just 33cm (over a foot at 13”). The machine weighs 12.5kg (around 25lb). It runs at a full 1650W when doing everything, but my initial tests with a Kill-a-Watt meter show it manages that power well and is pretty efficient, drawing low power most of the time. The cord is 1m long, which to me is a perfect length for most kitchens, but some might find it too short.

The warranty is one year, but if you buy direct from Ninja, there’s options to extend that, up to five years.

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First UseLuxe Cafe Premium

A few things you should know about the Ninja Luxe Café: it won’t let you grind into the portafilter unless you also attach the dosing collar stored on the side of the machine (it’ll even tell you on the display to use it), and there isn’t a lot of “play” in terms of the shot you can pull. If you dive deep into its advanced menu (more on that below), you can set your espresso shot ratio to 1:2, 1:2.5, and 1:3.

You also cannot change the dose. It will grind about 17.5 to 18g of coffee for every double espresso shot. I’ve measured this repeatedly, and the dose usually sits at 17.8g, give or take .15g, across 10 measurements.

To touch on this a bit more: I speculate that the built in grinder works in conjunction with a timer system. I’ve done a lot of weight measurements with this machine, and I noted that anytime I changed the coffee, or did a major adjustment to the grind size, the first dose for espresso is a bit off: by as much as 1g. The next dose is back up around the 17.75-18g mark, as are the subsequent ones. 

This leads me to believe (and Coffee Kev, of Youtube also believes this) that the grinder scale only measures the finished weight of the coffee; it doesn’t actively measure the ongoing weight build up, but instead bases how long the grinder runs on an internally-set timer. When the machine’s programming notes the final weight is off, it adjusts a timer for the grinder accordingly so it grinds for a shorter or longer time the next use. 

I say “speculate” because I am trying to confirm this with Ninja.

Back to operating the Luxe Café Premier: the machine doesn’t need any preheating time to brew its first shot of espresso for the day: no 15 minute heat up time, no massive blank shot count to warm up the grouphead, nothing. It actually goes through its own preheating routine, after you grind coffee. There’s also a coupling wire attachment to the grouphead that I spied when looking inside the machine, which leads me to believe the grouphead is actively heated (I need to confirm this).

Before diving into a true first use, I like to season grinders before really testing machines, and the Ninja Luxe Café is no different. A local roaster had just gifted me 5kg of stale, old coffee (he knows I need those supplies for this purpose), so I was able to put 3kg through the Ninja’s grinder over a 2 day period, in 250g batches. For the most part the grinder in the Luxe Café handled it like a champ, though the machine was obviously disappointed that I wasn’t brewing espresso (I would have to turn it off and on to reset the grinder).

Once fully seasoned, I got to work. Our lab coffee – Social Coffee’s People’s Daily Blend – went into the Luxe Café hopper, and even though the machine starts you off at “12” as a suggestion for espresso grinding, I set it to 7. I didn’t change any other parameters: default dose, temperature, brew volume were factory stock.

The first shot ran fast, and the Luxe Café suggested going down a click. I went down 2, to “5”. Repeated the process (after purging the grinder, and let the machine do its thing. The resulting 1:2.5 ratio shot I got?

Tasty. Fine. Good. 3 star shot (out of 5). Not bad at all. Perhaps a slight tad sour.

Dialed the Luxe Café grinder down to 4, and set the brewing temperature higher via the front panel button. Purged the grinder, and set up the next shot. Better. Really good. Possibly a 3.5 to 3.75 star shot. Good volume, good looking, no sour notes. Impressive.

Repeated the process. Got a near identical shot. Repeated again. Ditto. This was looking very good. I shot some rough video of the process.

(video coming soon)

Right out of the gate, the Ninja Luxe Café produces a better shot of espresso than a cold-start thermojet-equipped Breville machine. Yep, I said it.

Because you don’t have to go through the same pre-heat kerfuffle you do with the Breville thermojets. Don’t get me wrong, the instant on, instant steam ability of those machines is fantastic. The amount of blank shots and preheating you have to do with them? Not so much. You don’t have to preheat the Luxe Café. It does it automatically. You can hear it during the start up time after you grind coffee.

When it comes to Breville’s older espresso machines – the Barista Express and the Infuser (beloved here on CoffeeGeek), things are closer. I’ll cover this more in the comparisons below, but in the hands of a well seasoned home barista, the Express (and Infuser) should deliver better coffee, almost every time.

That said, the Ninja Luxe Café produces a very good shot of espresso, and more importantly, it does so consistently with minimal “crafted input” from the home barista. This kind of thing will appeal to many folks.

There is one thing, mentioned in the unboxing, that still perplexes me about this machine: there’s no hot water tap, or hot water function out of the steam wand. Ninja prides themselves on their swiss-army knife approach to appliances, so this seems like a major miss. Hot water would turn this machine into a complete hot and cold beverages system for your home, giving hot water for tea use, for americanos, and for just preheating and rinsing cups. I am boggled by their decision to omit it.

In our Full Review, we’ll talk more about this entire drink building process with the Luxe Café and dive more into the details on the “barista assist” decisions the machine makes for you, good and bad.

Drink Options on theLuxe Cafe Premium

Ninja is known for packing in features on their small appliances, and the Luxe Café is no different. After testing it for two months, this machine’s varied drink options are all presented with acceptable to excellent results. Let’s break it down:

Espresso

Luxe Café semi-automates espresso brewing to SCA-level standards (it is not SCA approved, but Ninja’s engineers have clearly done their homework). Out of the box, it will use roughly 18g of coffee to deliver 45g of espresso in the cup.

You can adjust the brewing temperature, and shot ratio (1:2, 1:2.5, or 1:3), but not the grind volume. The machine sticks to 18g of coffee, and honestly, I’m good with all of that. 18g is what most people use these days to brew coffee. A 1:2 ratio is also what many advanced home baristas like their machines to pull (that means if you’re using 18g of coffee, you get 36g of espresso liquid out). The machine can also deliver CoffeeGeek’s preferred ratio (1:2.5), so I’m happy the machine lets you do that as well.

This isn’t a machine for wild espresso experiments; it’s built to deliver a solid double shot with just the right amount of finesse control available to the operator if they want to do some tweaking..

For most coffee lovers, these tweaks are more than enough. The bottom line is, the Luxe Café is super consistent in its output, shot after shot, and that’s a big win. Use excellent water and good, freshly roasted coffee, and you’ll often get better espresso than most cafes can deliver these days.

The Quad Shot

I haven’t played around with this feature much yet, but I’m here for it. When I’m heading out to Vancouver Island’s epic shorelines for a walkabout with my partner and our pups, I usually prep a thermos with a few doubles of espresso and some hot water for a giant to-go americano. It’s a bit of a hassle though, brewing back-to-back shots, dumping the portafilter, wiping it down, and grinding again.

With the Luxe Café, that’s history. Just pop in the deep filter basket, select Quad Shot, and the machine does its thing, giving you 100ml of espresso in one go. It uses a different brewing process than a double shot, with a different preinfusion, and a different pulsing “timbre” to the pump action. The brew time is longer too, natch.

The downside? No hot water option, so you’d need a kettle for your americano. But if you’re craving a XXL cappuccino for your walk, the Luxe Café has that on lock with the automated frothing system capable of doing up to 20oz of milk.

As for the taste, it’s decent. Not as balanced or sweet as the double shot the Luxe Café produces, but totally drinkable.

Hot Brewed Coffee Modes

The Ninja Luxe Café has two hot coffee brew modes: Classic and Rich, with brew sizes from 6oz to 20oz (in 2oz jumps). You can’t control the weight of the machine’s preset choices for coffee grounds, or the water temperatures directly. You do control the grind level, and “Rich” uses more coffee and adjusts the flow for a stronger brew.

Both modes use Ninja’s deep “Luxe” filter basket, and no need to tamp unless you’re making an 18 or 20oz brew, which really packs in the grounds. They both leave a messy spent puck in the filter basket that needs a bit of cleaning

I’ve mostly been rolling with the Rich mode, and honestly, from a cold start, you can get a really solid cup of coffee in under 5 minutes. It’s not quite handmade, pourover coffee levels of cup quality, but better than any “single cup brew mode” I’ve tried in a variety of big brand auto drip coffee makers.

One note though on grind settings: whatever the Luxe Café suggests you set for the grinder, go at least 3 or more clicks finer. It always suggests 25 for these modes, and I roll it at 21 or 22. 25 is just too coarse. 21 gets the particle sizes down below 900um in my brief measurements.

The Luxe Café mimics pour-over techniques, with pauses and a low-flow pump to optimize extraction, and it pays off with a rich, tasty cup every time. I’ve measured the TDS and it consistently hits the SCA approved sweet spot of 1.35-1.40% extractions; more importantly, it just tastes good, and is very acceptable for such a hands-off brewing mode.

Cold Coffee Modes

The Ninja Luxe Café has two cold brew modes: one is like the Japanese Iced Coffee Method we champion a lot on CoffeeGeek, and the other mimics slow drip cold brew. The first keeps most of the coffee’s flavors and acidity, but can be a little bitter. The second chills out on the acidity and delivers a sweeter, smoother taste, missing some of the coffee’s more delicate flavours and aromas.

“Brew Over Ice” is the Luxe Café’s take on Japanese iced coffee. It uses hot water but tweaks the game: more coffee per ounce, longer brew and steep times, and it cuts back on the final liquid output so you get concentrated coffee that mixes with your ice. For a 20oz brew, the Luxe Café will dish out about 9oz of coffee, assuming the ice will melt and bring you up to the finished 20oz brew..

Cold Brew skips the heat and uses reservoir temperature water, with the pump doing slow pulses for a mellow extraction. Like the Brew Over Ice option you’ll end up with about half the liquid you select – like 8oz for a 16oz brew – and the rest is filled by ice.

Between the two, I’m on Team Cold Brew. It’s smooth, low on acidity, and rarely needs sugar, unlike Brew Over Ice, which sometimes needs a little kick of external sweetness. And I have a pro-tip for you, that other reviews of this machine and its cold brew mode have missed: fill the reservoir with ice-cold water for an even colder extraction.

Milk System on theLuxe Cafe Premium

Ninja’s milk frothing system is pretty unique, but still gives you the option to go fully manual with the steam wand. You can get pro-level microfoam for latte art—but only if you go manual. The automated frother system Ninja designed doesn’t quite nail it.

The Luxe Café’s milk system has three parts: the wand, the base, and the pitcher. The wand works like a traditional steam wand, though it’s pretty basic and doesn’t have the fancy internal features you’d find on some Breville Barista MilQ systems. It’s not super flexible either—just moves straight out for manual frothing.

Now, the base is where things get interesting. Like Breville’s setups, it has a temp sensor for milk, but it also includes a magnetic stirrer, kind of like what you’d see in a science lab. This spins a whisk in the pitcher to create foam at two different speeds, depending on if you chose low foam or max foam on the front panel. There’s also a “no foam” mode, which disables the stirrer completely. (this mode also is the one you use for manual frothing).

The frothing pitcher has a removable whisk that spins to foam your milk. Creates foam in most milk and plant based “milks”. The downside? It creates that airy, fast-dissipating foam you’d expect from any whisk stick frother.

One big flex of the Ninja Luxe Café is its ability to froth cold milk for iced coffee and espresso drinks. The built in whisk does a solid job here, making dense, pourable ice cold foam that holds up well. Add some sugar, and you’ve got a whipped cream-like topping. No other machine available today can touch this feature.

And yeah, if you prefer to steam the old-school way, the steam wand works great. It has decent power, and you can totally get “pro calibre” microfoam for latte art with some practice.

All in all, the Luxe Café offers some choices here. If milk frothing isn’t your thing, Ninja’s got your back with automatic settings. If you love iced drinks, it’s the only machine available today that froths cold milk like a boss. And if you’re trying to level up your barista game, and practice to become the next latte art champ of upstate New York, the manual steam wand can provide you the tool for that.

Competing ProductsLuxe Cafe Premium

You’re probably wondering: Is the Ninja Luxe Café a better machine than the Breville Barista Express, the best-selling espresso machine on the planet? Ninja certainly seems to think so, given their direct marketing comparison.

In short, no. The Barista Express can deliver better espresso shots and superior milk texture from its steaming system. You get to control elements that improve espresso, including brewing temperatures, dose, a more refined puck prep, shot volumes, and preinfusion levels. Plus, it has a hot water option, something the Luxe Café lacks.

But the real answer is a bit more nuanced than that. The Barista Express is designed for a hands-on, traditional espresso experience, which means the quality of your completed drink depends a lot on your skill. If you make mistakes – like incorrect dosing, grind size, or bad puck prep – the machine won’t compensate, and the result will be subpar.

The Luxe Café, however, takes a different approach. It’s more user-friendly, controlling aspects like coffee dose, temperature range, and shot volume for you. Ninja’s engineers have set it up to deliver consistently good results, provided you use fresh coffee and filtered water. It’s hard to mess up on this machine, whereas the Barista Express gives you plenty of ways to go wrong.

If your goal is to develop serious barista skills, the Barista Express might be the better option. But if you want consistently good espresso with minimal effort and a variety of drink options, the Luxe Café is the better fit.

A fairer comparison might be between the Luxe Café and Breville’s assisted machines, including the Barista Touch Impress, Barista Touch, or Barista Express Impress. Or even the Oracle Touch or Oracle Jet machines. The thing is, price is a big factor in these comparisons. The Barista Touch Impress, for example, does almost everything the Ninja machine does (and has more features like various automated drink builds) but costs about three times as much as the Luxe Café. Is it 3 times the value? Most likely not.

We’ll dive deeper into these comparisons in the full review.

ConclusionLuxe Cafe Premium

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier espresso machine is a new venture and territory for Shark Ninja, and the first of three Luxe Cafe models planned (the other two, the Essential, and Pro models, will be coming later this year and next). They sure ticked a lot of boxes in the correct category with the Premier machine’s launch.

I’ve seen a lot of criticism online about this machine, mainly because “well, it’s from Ninja” Some believe their machines and products only last a year or two. Even the Hoff, in his video, implied this. But Ninja are very serious about this product and its potential to build and improve the company’s rep.

For instance, they list and sell a lot of parts for the Luxe Cafe Premier. All at excellent prices. Heck, even the full and complete drip assembly is only $50. You can buy spare baskets, portafilters, dosing cradles, even steam tips. (I’d recommend buying a spare dosing cradle and baskets). That means the company wants this product to last more than a year or two.

The Luxe Cafe Premier is packed with unique features and abilities. From the ice cold froth ability, to the grinder with built in scale, to the super deep 40+g basket, to the well designed tamper and dosing collar combo, there’s a lot going on with this machine.

I especially like that the Ninja Engineers really paid attention to modern, specialty coffee wants and desires for espresso and brewed coffee with their barista assist choices. Settling on a 1:2.5 dose ratio for espresso is exactly the standard we preach here at CoffeeGeek. The more common 1:2 ratio is also available.

This is a First Look, but we have enough time with the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier to put it into consideration for Espresso Machine of the Year, and it is definitely a worthy addition to our Best Budget Espresso Machines Guide.

We’ve covered a lot in this First Look, and going forward, we’ll be doing more direct temperature, timing, and grind quality tests, more direct comparisons with other machines, and organizing a focus group to scope out the machine fully from various consumers’ standpoints. But for now, this is an excellent addition to the world of specialty coffee and espresso, and a machine you should consider, especially if you’re looking for an all-rounder, first serious espresso machine to buy.

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https://coffeegeek.com/reviews/firstlooks/ninja-luxe-cafe-premier-first-look-review/

#2 #automaticEspresso #espressoMachine #luxeCafe #ninja

Heads up - Breville's put the Barista Express Impress (the Express model with the assisted dosing and tamper mod) on sale $200 off, at $699 on Amazon. It's actually a few dollars cheaper than the standard Barista Express right now.

Sales' only on for a few days according to the tracking info I get.

#breville #espressomachine

https://amzn.to/3BbuzOz

I recently noticed our Senior Editor shared a post on Threads about Breville’s focus on automating their espresso machines over the past five years. He mentioned that the last two traditional models released by the company were the Infuser (2014) and the Barista Express (2013). I also noted the recent coverage and excitement for the new Luxe Cafe machine from Ninja, which has a lot of “barista assist” features. It seems like a super machine, but a few of the details caused a pause in my home barista mind.

As a longtime owner of the Breville Dual Boiler (which was introduced in 2011), both of these caught my attention. I love the hands-on experience my machine offers every time I use it, and I find no appeal in the automated steaming, tamping, and dosing features that Breville’s newer machines now include. So, I proposed writing this article, and Mark was more than happy to let me take it on.

What’s a Traditional Espresso Machine

I do hope this isn’t a controversial take, but here’s what I think of as a traditional, artisan craft espresso machine in 2024:

• A normal portafilter with proper single and double baskets (no crema raiders)
• Manually controlled steam system, with a steam arm that can fully articulate and a steam dial knob
• Volumetric, programmable shot buttons that can be manually controlled (or manual on/off shot buttons)
• Hot water either via a dedicated water tap, or through the steam arm
• PID temperature controls, giving easy access to setting temperatures and offsets
• A cup tray that properly warms up to keep cups warm for your drinks
• A grouphead that properly heats up, eliminating the need to run blank after blank shots to heat all the bits that touch your brewing water (this is a knock against Breville’s thermojet)
• A pressure gauge to show you your active pressures and help diagnose shot problems
• Good reservoir size, and good drip tray size.

Offer that kind of machine, and a manufacturer is in effect offering a capable tool that lets us home baristas build and hone our coffee making skills. The better we are, the better the shots will be. No hand holding from the machine: it provides the rock solid basic toolset, and we supply the rest.

Of course, there is the argument that some companies are doing this. Lelit (which is now owned by Breville), produces traditional machines, but all their machines under $1,000 range have been on the market for years, and are based on 10-15 year old technology and designs. They don’t have the polish and finnese of a Breville machine. Same goes for a lot of the other traditional Italian made machines. New “traditional” machines with more modern features and interfaces are being introduced, but they often have a high premium price point.

What I want is a new traditional machine, with 2024 technology, from a big modern manufacturer like Breville. And highkey here: priced around the same price as the Infuser or Express.

If I could go on with a bit of a wish list, my dream traditional home espresso machine would have the following:

• Entire machine is engineered to provide good recovery times between shots, relatively quick warm up times (10 minutes or less), and steady temperatures during the shot
• Ability to control and set the machine’s overpressure valve, to set your own max brewing pressure (this is a new demand, but something I think all new machines should offer)
• Relatively quick transition between steaming and brewing temperatures (this is where thermoblocks excel; perhaps a machine with a brew boiler and steam thermoblock?)
• Has a shot timer built in
• Has programmable, controllable preinfusion modes.
• Has a built in clock, and the ability to program in turn-on times in the morning (so the machine is fired up when I wake up). 

It’s worth noting that none of the items above include wishes like “help me automate steaming” or “dose and tamp the coffee for me.”

Don’t get me wrong—those features are fantastic and ideal for many people who want cafe-quality drinks without having to think too much about the process. For peeps who prefer simply moving a portafilter from the grinder to the group head and letting the machine handle the rest, these automations are perfect.

But they aren’t for me.

The Hand Crafted Art of Espresso

The Breville Dual Boiler sitting on my kitchen counter is my ideal machine, and it’s been a trusty companion for years. The shot counter shows I’ve pulled 5,700 shots so far. I’ve done most of the maintenance myself — replacing o-rings, fixing leaks (thank you, YouTube!), descaling it three times, replacing the grouphead ring, cycling through baskets, and even upgrading to a naked portafilter.

The Dual Boiler checks almost all the boxes on my wish list: pressure gauge, shot timer, programmable shot buttons, solid steam pressure with a bit of control, a large reservoir, and the ability to steam and brew simultaneously. The cup tray gets toasty, and the grouphead heats up fully, thanks to its own heated PID controller.

In Breville’s lineup, there are really only two machines that match the Dual Boiler as traditional options: the Infuser and the Barista Express. And when you think about it, those two are basically the same, with the Express just having a built-in grinder. Both have been around for over a decade.

Recently, Breville introduced the Bambino, Bambino Plus, Barista Pro, and the Barista Express Impress. Some might call these traditional machines, but I don’t see them that way because they have the thermojet system (and the Express Impress and Bambino Plus automate certain barista skill things).

I appreciate a lot about Breville’s thermojet system, but the lack of grouphead heating would drive me crazy. Having to run 2 or 3 blank shots just to get the machine warmed up seems to defeat the purpose of “instant on.” It complicates the process instead of simplifying it. Although, I’ll admit, the quick switch to steaming is a nice perk.

Then there’s the new Luxe Cafe from Ninja. I was very surprised to find out you couldn’t manually control the shots of espresso on that machine: it is a fully automated process, and the only thing you can change, before pulling the shot, is the ratio (2:1, 2.5:1, or 3:1). You can’t change the dose volume either: the machine has that preset, and you just have to trust them. That puts the machine’s espresso production into a very tight, very predetermined box. No developing barista skills there.

A traditional espresso machine that handles the basics — good temperature control, strong steam power, stable temperatures, a properly heated brew group, regulated pressure, and quick recovery times — gives you a solid foundation to build your skills on. Grinding, dosing, distributing, and tamping are skills. Steaming milk to create perfect microfoam is a skill. Analyzing a shot pull, watching the timer, pressure gauge, and shot development, and making adjustments to improve it — those are all skills.

That’s what I want in a home espresso machine: something reliable that lets me hone my barista skills. The automated “barista assist” machines Breville has been focusing on for the past seven years don’t offer that environment for skill-building.

I don’t fault Breville or any other manufacturer for making espresso machines that simplify the process for coffee lovers. I think Ninja entering the premium market with a machine that can brew a good “textbook” shot of espresso right out of the gate without any real input from the home user will introduce great coffee to a lot of people who otherwise wouldn’t put in the effort.

But, talking about Breville specifically, I wish they’d pay a bit more attention to the traditional espresso machine market. Their only “traditional” models are over a decade old, and one of them (the Infuser) isn’t even on their website anymore. (ed.note: We asked Breville about this, and they said the Infuser isn’t discontinued, but is now an “Amazon-only SKU” and has been removed from their website.)

As we approach 2025, it’s time for Breville to consider updating the Barista Express, preferably without moving it to their thermojet system—or at least solve the cold grouphead and cup tray issue if they do. And maybe it’s time to introduce a new, state-of-the-art traditional espresso machine designed for hands-on home baristas who want a reliable tool to perfect their espresso skills.

What do you think? Are you happy companies like Breville are putting all their focus on barista assist technologies and automating things like grinding, dosing, tamping, and milk steaming? Or do you want them to also introduce new traditional machines that let you practice the art of the home barista? I’d love to hear from you: leave a comment below!

https://coffeegeek.com/blog/technology/a-renewed-focus-on-traditional-espresso-machines/

#baristaAssist #Breville #dualBoiler #espressoMachine #luxeCafe #traditional

Well, look at what arrived today! Breville wanted us to get a review unit so quickly, they actually raided the Mexico inventory for the new Oracle Jet to send one up to me here in Victoria, BC.

I love love LOVE that they have moved to environmentally friendly packaging. Kudos!

Going to have a lot of fun with this machine. I am borrowing an Oracle Touch to also compare it to.

cc @espresso

#espressomachine #breville #oraclejet

Fresh up on CoffeeGeek right now: our first impressions and product walk through of the brand new Ninja Cafe Luxe Espresso Machine. Check out the machine's expansive feature set, including a few things that were real surprises.

(yay, I got this up a day early!).

cc @coffee @espresso

#espresso #espressomachine #ninjacafeluxe #cafeluxe

https://coffeegeek.com/blog/new-products/ninja-luxe-cafe-espresso-machine-first-impressions/