#espressomachine — Public Fediverse posts

Tiny all-day cafe in Raleigh named one of the hottest restaurants in America https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/26024/ #CocktailBar #EastEndMarket #EspressoMachine #MegParadise #NorthCarolina #NorthCarolinaDining #NorthCarolinaFood #NorthCarolinaGroceryStores #NorthCarolinaRestaurant #NorthCarolinaRestaurants #Songbird

For Decades, This Florida Country Club Restaurant Was Nameless. 40 Years Later, It Finally Has a Name https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/16924/ #CountryClub #CrossCreek #EspressoMachine #Florida #FloridaDining #FortMyers #NewsPress

Three good things for today:

It was a lovely day with sun and a cool breeze

Work is going well

Got a lovely new espresso machine

#ThreeGoodThings #latesummer #espressomachine

My #EspressoMachine is back, freshly cleaned and ready for action. I’ve pulled roughly 11,700 coffees through this over the past 12.5 years.

I did not get a second coffee today as my #EspressoMachine packed an epic sad. Fortunately I know a local wizard and enchantress who had parts and were able to help. There will be #coffee tomorrow!

This failure mode was a first for the repair folks.

Brewing Espresso with Ultrasonic Assistance

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://hackaday.com/2026/06/21/brewing-espresso-with-ultrasonic-assistance/

Sekali lagi mengingatkan buat yang suka kopi berbasis espresso, entah espresso murni atau sebagai base.

Jika tertarik bisa bikin di rumah, mesin espresso rumahan yang murah insya Allah gak akan masalah. Pakai mokapot sebenernya dah okay, tapi kalo gatal beli mesin home espresso yang ekonomis juga gpp kalau pengen praktis.

Tapi alat/mesin grinding lah yang mutlak gak boleh sembarang.

Biji kopi merek sama tipe sama tapi beda batch seringkali butuh level grinding yang berbeda. Terlalu kasar jadi keenceran, tapi kalau terlalu halus bakal mampet tuh ekstraksi. Harus pakai grinder yang memang bisa mencapai level kehalusan yang pas dan konsisten.

Percayalah, ini yang gua sesali gara-gara gak percaya sama nasihat teman gua tentang hal ini.

#coffee #espresso #espressomachine #homeespresso

Today I learned that De'Longhi portafilter doesn't compatible with other home espresso machine like Lahome or Xiaomi. Although same 51mm and 3 ears, but ear thickness is different.

Can not learn it before buying the wrong one 🤭

#coffee #espressomachine #delonghi #lahome #xiaomi #portafilter #til

Tips buat penggemar #kopi espresso yang gatal dan akhirnya beli mesin #espresso rumahan.

Mesin espresso rumahan memang sangat ekonomis (hanya sekitar 1 jutaan) jika dibanding mesin profesional.

Mungkin anda merasa hasil ekstrasinya tidak maksimal, hambar, notes dari bean tidak terasa, coba ganti basket portafilter nya yang non-pressurized.

(part 1 of 3)

#coffee #espressomachine #homeespresso

Kok keren ya Philips Baristina, bisa otomatis grinding biji dengan simpel. Jadi pengen punya juga.

Tapi emang sih Philips kalo bikin produk biasanya emang mantap (bukan endorse loh)

https://youtube.com/shorts/xB0JrJAtflc?si=zfxMD9WjMVFPMEk1

#philips #baristina #coffee #espresso #espressomachine #homeespressomachine

Punya mainan baru, LAHOME KFJ925 5-in-1 cheap home espresso machine.

Tapi lumayan hasilnya. Krema jadi. Rasa cukup lah keluar. Bisa bikin cold brew instan pula. So far gak nyesal.

#coffee #espresso #lahome #espressomachine

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

Italy’s VBM Launches the Audrey Espresso Machine https://www.byteseu.com/1492382/ #CarloErnestoValente #CommercialEquipment #CommercialEspresso #CristianoOsnato #Domobar #EspressoMachine #HeatExchanger #HostMilano2025 #HX2 #Italy #Milan #VBM #VBMAudrey

Italy’s VBM Launches the Audrey Espresso Machine https://www.byteseu.com/1492382/ #CarloErnestoValente #CommercialEquipment #CommercialEspresso #CristianoOsnato #Domobar #EspressoMachine #HeatExchanger #HostMilano2025 #HX2 #Italy #Milan #VBM #VBMAudrey

The Breville Barista Touch Impress

Out of the Box

The Barista Touch Impress arrives in a substantial, glossy retail box. Inside, however, the machine is secured by large, fitted blocks of styrofoam. This is somewhat disappointing, as Breville has already demonstrated a much better approach with its newest releases. Their latest machines, like the Oracle Jet, now ship in plain brown boxes, using fully recyclable, form-moulded cardboard inserts to protect the machine during transit. It’s an eco-friendly philosophy we hope to see across their entire product line.

Once unboxed and on the counter, the machine has a significant presence. Its aesthetic borrows the softer, curving lines from the more expensive Oracle Touch, distinguishing it from the angular, utilitarian form of the classic Barista Express, a design philosophy Breville has continued with its latest flagship, the Oracle Jet. The softer curves are not just for looks; they also make the machine easier to wipe down compared to the sharper corners of the Express. The fingerprint-resistant brushed stainless steel gives it a solid, high-end appliance feel.

A tour from top to bottom reveals a series of practical design choices. The bean hopper is generously proportioned with a wider diameter than previous Barista models, allowing it to comfortably hold a full 340 gram (12 ounce) bag of coffee. A twist-to-lock mechanism seals the hopper’s base for mess-free bean swaps.

Hidden beneath this hopper is a significant internal hardware upgrade: a set of Baratza’s M2 conical burrs, precision-milled by the European firm Etzinger. This is a notable component, as it is the same burr set found in dedicated grinders like the Baratza Encore ESP Pro. For the user, this means the potential for a more consistent grind particle size, a key factor in improving the taste of the final espresso shot.

At the rear of the unit, the 2 litre (68 fluid ounce) water reservoir is designed for easy access. It can be filled in place or removed entirely using its sturdy handle. It incorporates both a magnetized low-water sensor and Breville’s integrated charcoal filter system. This filtration benefits flavour and machine longevity by reducing scale buildup.

The front of the machine is starkly minimal. Aside from a single, backlit power button, all user interactions are channelled through the large, vibrant colour touchscreen. This approach looks clean, but it also means every function, even a simple group flush, requires interacting with the screen, which can be less immediate than a physical button.

Below this screen is the main workspace, organized into three zones: the integrated grinding and tamping station on the left, the 54mm grouphead in the centre, and the automatic steam wand and hot water tap on the right.

The star of the left side is the “Impress” tamping system, activated by a large, mechanical side lever that provides satisfying, tactile feedback. On the right, the steam wand itself has a more robust, multi-part construction that feels more premium than those on other Barista line machines. The high-polish stainless steel backsplash looks sharp but is a fingerprint and splash magnet that requires frequent cleaning.

It might sound odd to positive-focus on a drip tray, but I have to give Breville credit here. I’ve handled the trays on nearly $10,000 prosumer machines that feel like flimsy, cheap afterthoughts (yeah, looking at you La Marzocco). By contrast, this one is robust and exceptionally well-finished. Pulling the entire unit out reveals the hidden accessory storage inside. It’s a great spot for stashing less-used items like the backflush disk, single basket, or cleaning tablets.

The included accessory kit is comprehensive. You receive four filter baskets (two single-wall for fresh coffee, two double-wall for pre-ground), a quality 480 ml (16 ounce) stainless steel milk pitcher, the water filter assembly, and a full suite of cleaning supplies. A standalone tamper is notably absent, as its services have been made null and void by the machine’s internal tamping system. Weirdly, the machine does come with Breville’s Razor tool, which seems a bit redundant. And the multitool for cleaning the steam wand doesn’t actually fit the new steam wand on this machine (for removal of the tip, at least).

Dimensionally, the unit measures 36 cm wide, 34 cm deep, and 41.5 cm tall (14.2 x 13.4 x 16.3 inches). It feels planted and secure on the counter, thanks to excellent high-grip rubber feet that prevent it from sliding when locking in the portafilter.

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Using The

Breville clearly wants you to get started on the Touch Impress without ever opening the manual, and to their credit, they make that easy. The moment you press the power button, the touchscreen lights up with a soft chime and begins guiding you through setup like a friendly assistant. It feels more like setting up a phone or tablet than an espresso machine, but it works.

The machine starts by asking a few practical questions. It wants to know what kind of milk you use, so it can adjust its frothing routine for dairy, oat, soy, or almond milk. Then it has you test your water hardness with a small strip and enter the result. From that, it automatically sets up reminders for descaling, which helps protect the machine from scale buildup and keeps the coffee tasting consistent. It is clear this product was designed for people who want good results without thinking about maintenance.

Once setup is done, you are ready to make your first drink. You pick a beverage from the touchscreen, lock the portafilter into the cradle, and tap the grind icon. The machine doses automatically, and when the grinding stops, you pull the large side lever. It feels solid and mechanical, almost like pulling a gear shift. The Impress tamping system presses the coffee with even pressure and finishes with a small polishing twist, leaving a clean, level puck. For anyone who has tamped unevenly in the past, this part is genuinely satisfying.

The smart dosing feature looks for a target puck height rather than a specific weight. If the height is too low, the screen prompts you to grind a little more. Once the correct level is reached, the machine remembers that dose for next time. It is a simple but clever way to help beginners achieve consistency without using a separate scale.

The grind setting itself is still adjusted manually using the dial on the side, but the machine gives feedback after each shot. It times the extraction and then suggests whether to go finer or coarser next time. It is not magic, but it saves new users from guessing blindly.

Breville advertises its ThermoJet heating system as ready in three seconds, and technically that is true. The water is hot almost instantly. The problem is that the grouphead and portafilter are still cold, and if you brew right away, the shot will come out sour and under-extracted. The solution is to run a blank shot first to preheat the metal parts, which works fine, but the process is slower than it should be. You have to dig through the drink menu on the touchscreen every time to do this. A simple flush grouphead button on the main screen would make a big difference.

Once properly preheated, the espresso from the Touch Impress is quite good (bordering on world class at times), but its real strength is its relentless consistency. After dialing it in, I was pulling nearly identical shots time after time using the timing and yield weights from CoffeeGeek’s standard espresso machine test parameters (we could not set the initial dose weight; relying instead on the machine’s preset volumes).  FYI, that formula is 18.5g in, 45g yield, in around 25-30 seconds (without preinfusion) or 35-40 seconds with preinfusion.

Here’s the process in action.

For most people, however, the real star of the show will be the Auto MilQ system. You’re essentially outsourcing the tricky skill of milk texturing and accurate temperatures to the machine. You just fill the pitcher, place it on the sensor, and tell the machine what you’re making. The result is a fine, pourable microfoam that it handles well even with non-dairy milks. For anyone buying this machine primarily for lattes and cappuccinos, this is arguably the feature that seals the deal.

The BBTI also lets you queue up the entire process in one go. Prep your portafilter, fill the milk pitcher, and place both in their respective places in the machine. Hit the shot button on screen, and also tap the steam milk icon right after. The machine will pull the shot, then immediately transition the Thermojet to steam mode, and automatically start steaming. You can come back about a minute later to find a nicely pulled shot and a pitcher of microfrothed milk waiting for your always-improving latte art skills. It even finishes by politely reminding you to wipe the steam wand, so it can even handle the nagging for you.

Unfortunately, the hot water function is deeply frustrating for Americano drinkers. One has to question if the Breville engineers even drink Americanos or Mistos. The automated settings are nonsensical for traditional recipes; the smallest preset dispenses 130 ml of water (a double shot needs only 90 ml), and you cannot stop it early. To add insult to injury, the water is a tepid 63°C (147°F). It’s a baffling design flaw.

What makes this flaw worse is that the Touch Impress cannot receive firmware updates. There is no Wi-Fi connection or USB port for new software. Whatever version the machine ships with is the one you will have for its entire life. For a product that depends so much on software, this feels like a huge swing and a miss.

Despite these annoyances, using the Touch Impress day to day is decently enjoyable. It is fast, intuitive, and clean to operate. You can stumble into the kitchen half-awake, tap a few icons, and end up with an espresso or cappuccino that looks and tastes a thousand percent better than what you would get from a capsule machine. Heck, it’ll probably be better than most cafés these days.

It is not made for people who want to learn the craft of espresso, but for anyone who wants café-level drinks with minimal effort, it comes surprisingly close.

The Barista Touch Impress sits in a crowded field of machines that aim to blend traditional espresso mechanics with heavy digital assistance. They attempt to deliver a full bean-to-cup experience without requiring separate components like a standalone grinder, but this integration often comes with its own trade-offs. Its most direct competitors are found both within Breville’s own lineup and from other established brands.

Breville Barista Express Impress

Its closest and most obvious point of comparison is its direct sibling, the Breville Barista Express Impress. This machine is the analog, more hands-on version of the same core concept. It features the same “Impress” intelligent dosing and assisted tamping system. However, the user experience diverges sharply from that point forward.

The Express Impress uses an older, slower-to-heat thermocoil system. While slower, it has the advantage of heating the entire machine, including the grouphead, for better temperature stability on the first shot. This is unlike the Touch Impress, whose fast Thermojet only heats the water, leaving the brewing components cold. The Express Impress is also controlled by an array of physical buttons and dials. It features a prominent pressure gauge, which provides visual feedback that can be useful for users interested in learning about extraction. The process of manually steaming milk, while requiring practice, also offers a higher ceiling for control over texturing for latte art. For many, the lower price point ($799.95 USD / $1,149.95 CAD) will be a deciding factor. (nb, as of this writing (Oct 15, 2025), it is on sale in Canada for just $900, making it an extraordinary value)

Breville Oracle Jet

Moving up the Breville hierarchy is the new Breville Oracle Jet. Priced at $2,000 USD ($2,999CAD, currently on sale for $2400CAD), it is positioned as a more advanced machine. For the $500 price difference over the Barista Touch Impress, the Jet includes several key hardware and software differences.

The Oracle Jet is built around a commercial-style 58mm portafilter and grouphead, allowing for larger, more traditional espresso doses up to 22g. Its tamping system is fully automated and internal, requiring no lever pulling from the user. It comes with a very nice and upgraded knock box, and the Jet’s completely new grinder has stepless adjustments for more precise control.

Crucially, the Jet also features a dual Thermojet heating system, with one dedicated to rapidly heating the grouphead, directly addressing the Touch Impress’s issue with cold-start temperature stability. Most importantly, the Oracle Jet is the first Breville machine with internet connectivity, allowing for Over-the-Air (OTA) firmware updates, a massive advantage.

While both machines feature the same automated MilQ system, the Jet’s superior hardware and updatable software make it a more advanced machine. At full retail price, the Oracle Jet’s upgrades may justify the extra $500 investment. However, the decision becomes much more difficult when the Barista Touch Impress is found on sale, as its value proposition increases significantly.

De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro

Outside the Breville ecosystem, a strong competitor is the De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro, which competes at a similar price point of $1,299.95 USD (often on sale for $1000), and $1899.99 in Canada (often on sale for $1500). This machine targets the same user with a different technological approach. It also integrates a grinder with an assisted “Smart Tamping Station” to ensure a level, consistently tamped puck without the mess of loose grounds.

It uses a dual heating system for rapid transitions between brewing and steaming and offers two separate milk systems. It has both a manual, pro-style steam wand for users who want to practice latte art and a separate, fully automatic “LatteCrema” system for one-touch convenience. This combination of features offers a flexibility that will appeal to some buyers.

Ninja Cafe Luxe Pro

Finally, a noteworthy budget competitor is the Ninja Café Luxe Pro. Priced around $750 USD (prices are up because of the Trump Tax), and $900 Canadian (a better deal these days because of the USA tariff nonsense) it’s roughly half the cost of the BBTI. For that price, it also offers an integrated grinder, a lever-based tamping system, and a hands-free automated milk frother. It even includes a wider array of drink options, from ristretto and lungo to larger brewed coffees.

This feature parity is notable, but there are key trade-offs to consider. Ninja is a recent entrant into the espresso market, compared to Breville’s decades-long track record. The Ninja’s versatility is also accessed via a complex, button-driven interface, which contrasts with the single, guided touchscreen on the Barista Touch Impress. Differences in component quality, such as the BBTI’s premium Baratza burrs, also likely account for the price gap.

At full retail, the price difference is stark. However, the Barista Touch Impress is occasionally on sale, sometimes as low as $1000USD. This narrows the gap considerably, shifting the decision from one of pure budget to a choice between the BBTI’s user experience and the Ninja’s button-based functionality.

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Conclusion

After a few weeks with the BBTI, a clear picture is emerging. Let’s be clear: this machine isn’t a tool for the aspiring artist. It’s a high-end appliance for those who want a great result without serving an apprenticeship.

If you want to graduate from capsules for better espresso but are intimidated by the learning curve of a traditional setup, this machine is for you. It delivers on its core promise: providing repeatable high-grade espresso shots and a high level of automated milk frothing, especially for non-dairy milks.

But this convenience comes at a price, and not just the monetary one. In exchange for the automation, you give up a lot of granular control. This isn’t just about tweaking for fun; it’s about the ability to adapt to different beans or correct a shot that’s pulling too fast or slow, a capability the machine deliberately abstracts from the user. You also have to live with its quirks, like the mandatory pre-heating and the poorly designed hot water function.

At its full retail price of $1,499.95 USD ($2,149.95 CAD), its value proposition is complicated. For $500 more, Breville’s own Oracle Jet offers significant upgrades like a 58mm portafilter and OTA firmware updates. Meanwhile, competitors like the Ninja Café Luxe Pro offer a surprisingly similar automated feature set for roughly half the price.

The value of the Barista Touch Impress hinges heavily on the times Breville puts it on sale. It is occasionally discounted, sometimes dropping as low as $1,000 USD retail. At that price, it becomes a much more compelling middle ground, offering a more premium build and user interface than the Ninja without the steep cost of the Oracle Jet.

This is our First Look. The real test is how this complex piece of technology holds up over the long haul. Will the software remain snappy? Will the automated systems prove reliable? We’ll be putting this machine through a comprehensive, long-term review to answer those questions and more.

In the meantime, if you own one or are on the fence, we want to hear from you. What has your experience been? Let us know in the comments below.

We use affiliate links to a) Amazon, and b) manufacturers only. Any links to vendors (including CoffeeGeek Sponsors) are not income generating links. Further details about our commission and affiliate link policies can be found on our Terms and Conditions Page. The use of any affiliate links have no effect on our editorial policy or review objectivity.

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#BaristaTouchImpress #Breville #espressoMachine #firstLook #homeEspresso

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

Ninja Introduces the Luxe Café Pro Espresso Machine

Last year, Ninja shook up the home espresso world with the launch of the Ninja Café Luxe Premier. It offered a surprising mix of good build quality, solid espresso, and enough features to make some of the more established brands shift uncomfortably in their (previously) comfy zones. All for a price that made Breville and Delonghi execs spill their macchiatos.

Now Ninja is back with new additions to the Luxe Café lineup. A new budget entry machine – the Luxe Café Essential – was introduced in the Canadian market last winter, and the subject of today’s article –  the Luxe Café Pro – is being rolled out this month in North America at a $699 price point. But before we get to the new kid on the block, let’s rewind a bit.

Last fall, at a European coffee trade show, some details quietly slipped out about two new machines. The ES601 – the original Luxe Café Premier – was positioned as the mid-range option. A more basic model, the ES501, would drop about $75 off the price tag by trimming some features. That one quietly landed in Canada not too long ago. On the other end of the spectrum, there was talk of the ES701, the Luxe Café Pro. This one would cost around $150 more than the Premier, and promised to bring a more tricks to the game.

Two of our writers went full caffeine-fuelled sleuth mode and dug up everything they could. They even tracked down the original source of the blurry “spy shots” from the trade show. What they pieced together was intriguing. The Pro would offer hot water on demand for Americanos, tea, or just warming your mug. It would also feature Ninja’s take on Breville’s semi-automated tamping lever, and a third filter basket for single shots, alongside the usual double and quad basket (which Ninja calls the “Luxe” basket)..

Our contact at Ninja Europe didn’t share much, but hinted at a smarter barista assist system and more options for brew volumes and presets would be found in the new ES701 top of the line machine.

We spilled the deets on CoffeeGeek’s social media channels, always stressing what we learned was half speculation, half sleuthing, and offering the caveat that anything and everything could change about the new machine. Now, speculation time is over. We’ve got one of the first Luxe Café Pro machines in North America. Here’s what it offers.

Hot Water Access

Our biggest complaint about the original Luxe Café Premier was the lack of any kind of hot water delivery system. On top of it being a good feature for preheating cups, and having hot water on demand for teas and other hot beverages, it’s a necessity for espresso based drinks like the americano and the misto. 

So good news, the Café Luxe Pro has a dedicated hot water tap that feeds right into the cup tray area. The machine also has a new dedicated americano button for a drink recipe. I haven’t figured out yet if you can program the volume of hot water for that drink, but it’s on the list. All I’ve determined so far is it is a 2:1 ratio of hot water to espresso, depending on the espresso shot volume you select (three espresso / grind coffee ratios are available – 4:1, 2.5:1, and 2:1). 

More Baskets, More Recipes… and Less Recipes

The Pro model comes with a third filter basket: a single basket. This is on top of the uniquely designed double and Luxe (or quad) shot baskets the Premier model initially shipped with. This also opens up more drink recipes and brew choices on the drinks menu. These include ristretto, espresso, americano and lungo, and a whole slew of hot and cold coffee brew choices.

One thing I found interesting: Ninja have decreased the amount of brew sizes available for the coffee brew side of the machine, removing the 20oz brew size. It now will do between a 6oz (180ml) and a 18oz size (525ml) brew of coffee, I won’t miss it.

Interestingly too, the “Quad Shot” option for a huge espresso is also missing on this machine, as far as I can tell. It was a weird outlier on the original Luxe Café Premier.

Because the Ninja Luxe Café Premier and Pro can “read” what filter basket you have in the portafilter when grinding, this also means the machine will dose the appropriate amount of ground coffee out to the single basket for shorter, “nespresso” style shots. It’s a good move by Ninja, because this machine is a very decent choice as an upgrade and replacement to nespresso systems.

Barista Assist Tamping

Breville pioneered this convenience – a machine with a semi-automatic method of levelling and tamping coffee – with their Impress technology in their Barista lineup, but I do have to say they aren’t the first to actually have this kind of ratcheted system for pulling a lever to clamp down and tamp coffee in a portafilter. These kinds of semi-automatic tamping systems were coming out of Italy as standalone devices for years. 

With the Luxe Café Pro, Ninja has incorporated a very similar system into their machine. Where they are different is that Ninja has a built in scale to ensure the right dose of coffee was ground out, before the lever-controlled tamping system does its job. This means less missfires or “press to grind a bit extra” like you have to do on the Breville Impress machines.

In my earliest testing, there isn’t any kind of tactile “click” or set position for the lever when pulling it down to tamp: the harder you push down, the harder it tamps. I have slight worries a home user may break this because they’ve pushed down too hard. You have to press the lever twice for the machine to be happy: each press down, once released, activates a bar of green at the top of the display. After the second press down and release, the “tamp” sign turns off.

Better Steam System

The Luxe Café Pro comes with an improved steaming system that has additional options, and the inclusion of an insulated wand that doesn’t get as hot as the one on the Luxe Café Premier does. I should note, it still does warm up and will get hot, but it’s more on the “no-burn” side of wand technology. 

They’ve also added an additional foaming option for the automated milk frothing ability bringing the choices up to five: extra thick foam joins steamed milk, thin froth, thick froth, and cold foam. The system still does the best cold foam in the industry, and this is because it uses a whisk to quickly froth up icy cold milk. For hot foamed milk, it uses a combination of air through the steam wand and the whisk to froth things up nicely. Steamed milk bypasses the whisk and introduces minimal air into the wand.

The steam pitcher is quite a bit bigger than the one that came with the Luxe Café Premier. Both fit in the Pro’s steam pitcher cradle area, but this is a curious change. My speculation is the wider steam pitcher works better with Ninja’s magnetically controlled frothing whisk to better froth up the milk. I’ll be testing this.

Unconfirmed: Better Barista Brain

I have not been able to confirm this, but I have been told Ninja’s engineers have heard all the feedback from the original machine, and slightly tweaked the machine’s barista guidance systems on things like grind fineness, shot volumes, temperatures, expected shot timings, and more. I’ll try to get something more solid for our formal review process.

Other Notable Elements

I’ve covered a lot of the changes already (larger steam pitcher, americano water ratio, lever arm, no tactile feedback on how hard you’re pressing to tamp, machine counts your lever presses, etc), but there’s also a few other things I’ve noticed about the Luxe Café Pro in my initial testing.

• The grinding range is quite different than the original Premier. On that machine, I had to sit in the 2-4 area of the grinder to get a good espresso shot. On the Pro, 14-17 range. Makes me wonder how coarse the grind is for the brewed coffee methods.
• The display now partially dims when brewing espresso or coffee: specifically, the grind settings and other elements not directly related to what’s happening at that moment. Very nice. 
• There’s also what appears to be a dim “barista light” in the shot pull area. Will cover this more in the First Look.
• Using the dedicated hot water button is a slow process, as the machine powers up the thermoblock a bit to get really hot water, which you can set to 3 different temperatures. A good/ bad thing. Good in that, if you want piping hot water for tea, this machine delivers: slowly. 
• The fit and finish is superb; if anything, the build quality is even better than the original. I loved the tactile touch of the buttons (which are textured), and the almost “audio tuner” like dampened smoothness of the center control and brew dial.

Here’s some other details and things we noticed in the initial use and walkthrough.

We also posted a quick video walkthrough of the display panel and its functions and drink choices, over on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CoffeeGeek (@coffeegeek)

What They Missed

I feel there’s two big ‘misses’ with the Pro version of this machine: it doesn’t come with a knock box, and it doesn’t come with a water filter system.

Ninja doesn’t need to include a tamper or the dosing collar like the Premier model has (because of the semi automatic dosing and tamping system built in), so I feel they should have considered including a knock box instead. Ninja does sell a nice one, retails for around $35, and it would have been nice for this to be included in the box. 

I’m also shocked Ninja didn’t include a water filter system. Not only is it a future income stream for them, but it’s an absolute necessity with espresso machines. If you do buy one, make sure to get a good water filter system. We use the BWT Aqualizer system at CoffeeGeek, and it’s fantastic.

Other than that, this is a pretty amazing machine for $699. Heck, I feel the original Ninja Luxe Café Premiere would be an amazing machine at $699, and this one is better in most ways.

Who the Ninja Luxe Café is For

The Ninja Café Luxe Pro is what you might call a “bridge” machine. It’s built for people who are new to making espresso at home and want something approachable without diving straight into the deep end. It handles the basics well, makes a wide range of hot and cold espresso drinks, and keeps things consistent. For beginners or anyone stepping away from capsules and pods, that’s a solid starting point.

There are some useful customisation options too, like brew temperature, dose, and volume. That opens the door a bit for people who want to start tweaking their process and learning more. You’re not locked into full automation either. You can skip the built-in tamping, use your own tools, and take more control if you want to experiment. You can even steam manually with the machine if you want, bypassing the auto whisk system.

It’s also worth considering for anyone getting tired of how much pod systems cost over time. I haven’t crunched the exact numbers for this machine, but based on our $500 super automatic vs nespresso comparison, it’s likely you’ll break even on the cost within a year or so if you’re coming from something like a $199 Nespresso. And yes, you’ll get better coffee out of it: noticeably better.

That said, this is not a machine for purists. If you’re serious about full manual control and chasing down perfect shots, this isn’t going to satisfy you in the long run. There are better options around the same price, especially if you catch a Breville Infuser and a Baratza Encore ESP on sale. That combo gives you more freedom and long-term potential.

Still, for what it is, the Ninja Café Luxe Pro does its job and does it well, if our experience with the original Premier model is any indicator. Out of the box, with minimal barista skills, you will be getting excellent coffee and espresso based drinks. There’s enough tweaking available to flex your barista muscles a bit and get even more out of the machine. We’ve got it on the test bench now and will be posting our more official First Look soon.

#espressoMachine #luxeCafe #luxeCafePro #ninja

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Semi Automatic Espresso Machine
Brew barista-level espresso at home! 20-bar pressure, rich flavor in every cup! ☕💥
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Profitec GO Espresso Machine

Out of the BoxProfitec GO

The Profitec Go arrives in a mix of environmentally friendly packaging, and too much polystyrene. They are so close to achieving fully sustainable packaging but not quite there yetl. Manufacturers must take full responsibility for eliminating unsustainable materials, and I hope Profitec makes that shift soon.

The machine is packed in a plain brown cardboard box, which is a positive step. The accessories also come in a cardboard box, but polystyrene is still used to hold the machine in place, which is disappointing. Even worse, polystyrene cutouts appear inside the accessories box.

Included with the machine are:

• A metal, low-profile 58mm tamper
• Single, double, and blind filter baskets
• A double-spouted Profitec portafilter (ours has the upgraded wood handle from WLL)
• A cleaning brush
• A product manual
• A plastic tube (included by WLL for third-party in-reservoir filters)

Notably missing is a water filtration system, which is expected at this price. Other common extras, such as a steam pitcher and additional cleaning tools, are also absent.

Profitec offers the Go in a range of colours. Our sample unit, officially Red but more sockeye salmon to my Pacific Northwest eye, is bold and striking. This shade suits nearly any kitchen, from sleek Scandinavian white to the rustic charm of a log cabin, making it a versatile and stylish choice.

From top down, let’s go through the Profitec Go.

A few notable things stand out right away. The metal reservoir lid, though nicely finished, has an odd fit; I’m still unsure if I’ve placed it correctly. It slides front to back over the Go’s adjustable OPV valve screw, another key feature on top. The lid also shifts slightly when the pump runs. Beneath it, a 2.8-litre plastic reservoir sits, though surprisingly, the Go doesn’t include a water filter. You’ll need to buy an aftermarket one separately.

The cup warmer area is spacious, larger than the Rancilio Silvia’s, with a polished metal finish. On the right side, near the reservoir, sits the OPV valve adjustment, allowing users to tweak grouphead pressure, even while the machine operates.

When the Go was launched, the live-adjustable OPV was rare. Since then, more machines, including the $500 MiCoffee Apex V2, have adopted this feature, but the Go remains a standout in its class.

I have mixed feelings about the buttons. They are metal and not exactly cheap, but they feel somewhat flimsy. I prefer mechanical rocker switches on semi-automatic, non-volumetric machines like this.

The front panel is… pretty basic. The Go is not a volumetric machine, so there’s only three push buttons up front: a brew button, a steam activation button, and a power button. The machine’s steam knob is also on the right side of the front panel.

I’m hot and cold on the buttons. On one hand, they are not “cheap” per se. On the other hand, they transmit a certain “cheapness” and seem a bit anemic in their action. I prefer mechanical rocker switches on these types of semi-automatic, non-volumetric espresso machines.

Moving down the machine, you reach the operations area: the grouphead, portafilter, drip tray, pressure gauge, and PID controls.

The pressure gauge is large and easy to read, but as a left-hander, I find it harder to view from that angle. This is due to its placement deep in the backsplash panel, partially hidden by the boiler’s overhang.

The grouphead and portafilter use ECM’s standard 58mm non-E61 design: heavy, solid, and built for heat retention. The Go includes a stock (and pricey) spouted Profitec portafilter. If you want a chopped portafilter (which you likely will, as I’ll explain later), avoid Profitec’s version: it’s overpriced. ECM’s versions, as well as third-party models, offer more affordable alternatives.

Profitec adjusted the spout design for the Go, using a shorter pitch, direct double-spout instead of the offset, deeper pitch design found on their other machines. This likely compensates for the machine’s low cup clearance.

The grouphead attaches directly to the Go’s 400ml brass boiler, which sits right above it. This setup allows for fast heat-up and stable operating temperatures. As expected in this price range, the Go includes a three-way solenoid valve, which immediately releases pressure after a shot. Excess water dumps into the drip tray, hidden behind the backsplash.

The PID controls, made by the house of Gicar, are functional but not intuitive. You need to read the manual to understand them. Italian manufacturers still struggle with digital UI and could learn a lot from the Asian market in this regard. The display shows a shot timer when the pump is running, which is a nice touch.

The steam wand system on the Go is well designed for this price point. It features a two-hole tip mounted on a ball joint, allowing full rotation and precise angling. However, it is not a cool-touch wand, though it includes a silicone sleeve for safer handling when hot.

The drip tray and cover feel premium, adding to the machine’s professional aesthetic. The tray is deep and well-finished, with polished edges and holes that allow water to flow smoothly. It keeps operation clean and efficient. Unfortunately, the tray rattles when the pump runs, exposing some design flaws we’ll cover later on in this First Look.

A major drawback is the low cup clearance. With just 7.75 cm (3”) between the portafilter spouts and tray, it is nearly as short as a Gaggia Classic. Fitting larger cups is difficult, and using an espresso scale is even trickier.

The back of the machine is a mix of “looks great!” and “why did they do that?”. The colour-matched back panel features a stencilled Profitec logo, which looks classy, especially from a distance. However, the company chose shiny bolts to connect the side panels to the back, which feels out of place against the otherwise sleek aesthetic.

That aside, the Profitec Go feels premium throughout. The unboxing experience reinforces this impression, with high-quality materials and solid construction. The fit and finish are excellent, except for the sliding reservoir lid, which feels a bit loose. Any concerns so far stem from design and UI choices rather than build quality; at least until I powered it up.

One issue worth mentioning early (I usually save this for the Usage section) is vibration and noise. If Profitec cut costs anywhere, it was in pump dampening, insulation, and isolation. This became obvious during first warm-up and boiler fill. The pump is loud, causing noticeable rattling throughout the machine. The drip tray vibrates, and the reservoir lid slides back and forth.

This problem seems common in European-made machines under $1,500. I sometimes wonder if manufacturers test them in loud factories where excessive noise seems normal. Regardless, pump noise and vibration remain a weak point, and the Profitec Go is no exception.

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Using theProfitec GO

The Profitec Go, only on market for 2 years, already has been upgraded with faster heat-up technology, reportedly heating in under six minutes. Our older test unit reached ready status in about eight minutes. However, that does not mean it is fully prepared for brewing. The grouphead and portafilter need another ten minutes to warm up, though running a few blank shots speeds this up.

Switching from brewing to steaming is quick. The longest transition time I recorded was about 50 seconds. Profitec recommends two steam purges with a ten-second break between them, bringing the total transition time to about 80 seconds.

Moving from steaming back to brewing is even faster. With steam wand purges, I dropped the machine from 270°F steam mode to 201°F brew mode in about 15 seconds. While I prefer brew shots before steaming, this machine performs best when steaming first. The live temperature display on the PID makes transitions easier.

Machine Noise

The Go is quite noisy, one of its biggest drawbacks. Years ago, I tested the Solis SL70, a $400 machine, and was impressed by how quiet it was. Solis added vibration dampening around the pump and used flexible connections to reduce noise. The $1300 Profitec Go could learn lessons from that machine and others.

The pump causes rattling from the drip tray, reservoir lid, and other parts. Many internal connections and water paths are metal rather than plastic, which reduces plastic use but amplifies noise.

No Hot Water

A major drawback of the Profitec Go is the lack of a hot water function. If I were buying the machine today, this would be a dealbreaker. Some may not mind, but many will.

Hot water delivery is useful for preheating cups, making americanos, brewing tea, and cleaning. Nearly every espresso machine over $600 has hot water delivery, making its absence on the Profitec even more surprising. It’s worth noting the Go’s closest competitor, the Lelit Victoria, includes this feature.

There is a janky workaround. If you place a blind filter basket in the portafilter, insert it, activate the shot button, and open the steam wand knob, hot water is redirected through the wand. It works but is unnecessarily complicated. Purchasing a second portafilter helps a bit, since you can keep the blind filter in one.

Programming and Brewing

Programming on the Profitec Go is complex enough that it could warrant its own article. We will cover this in the Full Review, but feel free to ask questions in the comments if you’re curious.

Brewing espresso is straightforward, and the adjustable OPV valve helps fine-tune extraction. Water flow is quite high, and we will measure that in the full review. Recovery times are adequate unless you experiment with the brewing trick below. The PID shows a steep drop after a shot, but the boiler usually cycles back to brewing temperatures within 10-15 seconds.

Cup clearance is an issue, especially when using a scale. Even our smallest scales barely fit under the spouts with an espresso cup. Forget about using cappuccino-sized cups with a scale; they simply will not fit.

Steaming Performance

Just to touch on this a bit more, the steam performance overall on this machine is really good. The boiler, especially after the two proscribed purges of water, keeps up well for steaming milk and the power level of the steam is enough that you have a lot of good control over the production of microfoam. In this image below, you can see we created enough foam for a proper cappuccino, but still were able to pour a perfectly formed heart.

A Brewing Trick

We are saving the full walk-throughs for our Full Review, but here is a trick for low-pressure preinfusion and controllable pressure profiling. This method also works on cheaper machines like the Gaggia Classic Pro.

When you press the brew button, some water flows through the steam wand if the steam knob is open. You can use this to your advantage. At the start of the shot, open the steam knob to redirect water, keeping pressure in the portafilter low (monitor the pressure gauge for this). After about 10 seconds, close the knob to let pressure ramp up to 9 bar or whatever the OPV valve is set to. Around 20 to 25 seconds in, slowly open the steam knob to bleed off pressure, controlling shot pressure for a smooth finish. Place a milk pitcher under the wand to catch the bypass water.

This trick provides excellent control over pressure during extraction. If you enjoy experimenting with shots, it is worth trying.

Overall, the Profitec Go is a solid machine with strong performance in heat-up time and steaming transitions. However, its noise level, cup clearance, and lack of hot water delivery may be dealbreakers for some. Keep these factors in mind when deciding if it is the right fit for you.

Profitec GOComparable Products

The Profitec Go most directly competes with the Lelit Victoria, a machine we’ve reviewed on CoffeeGeek that costs about $300 less. While the Lelit outshines the Go in many areas (check out our First Look for details), the Profitec has some advantages over it.

For one, the Go comes in a wider range of colours, which many users love. You can even upgrade its look with wood accents from Whole Latte Love, adding a personal touch. The overall fit, finish, and quality of the internal parts also seem to edge out the Lelit model. Even though it lacks a built-in water filter, its water reservoir system is better designed than what you find on the Lelit.

Another contender worth mentioning is the Breville Dual Boiler. Here, your choice may come down to preference: do you value a machine made in China (but designed and engineered by one of the world’s top espresso machine manufacturers), or would you rather have a machine hand made in Europe? If the latter matters most to you, then the Go is the clear choice.

On paper and in practice, the Dual Boiler does have some strong points. It brews and steams simultaneously thanks to its dual boiler design. It also offers a solid preinfusion system, excellent recovery times, built-in water filtration, a pressure gauge, and a dedicated hot water tap. Plus, it uses a well-honed 58mm portafilter system with plenty of aftermarket accessories. Although it’s about $100 more than the Go, it sometimes goes on sale for much less.

Overall, the Profitec Go is more serviceable, features commercial-grade internal parts, and – being made in Germany – promises lasting durability with proper maintenance.

Lastly, Ascaso makes some machines that compete directly with the Profitec Go. We do not have any experience with these machines, so I cannot provide direct comparisons at this time.

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ConclusionProfitec GO

The Profitec Go represents a thoughtful evolution of the classic single-boiler espresso machine, addressing many of the shortcomings often associated with the Rancilio Silvia. While retaining a familiar aesthetic, it introduces modern upgrades such as PID temperature control, a larger boiler, an externally adjustable OPV valve, and an improved drip tray. These refinements enhance the user experience, providing greater control, consistency, and convenience.

That said, the Go does come with some compromises. The most notable is the lack of a dedicated hot water function; a surprising omission at this price point. This could be a dealbreaker for those who frequently make americanos or need hot water for tea or rinsing. Noise is another issue, with vibrations from the pump and rattling components detracting from the otherwise premium feel. Additionally, the limited cup clearance may frustrate users who prefer larger cups or rely on an espresso scale in their workflow.

Despite these drawbacks, the Go offers compelling features that set it apart. Its sturdy, metal-heavy build exudes quality, while the multi-directional steam wand, shot timer, and quick transitions between brewing and steaming make operation smooth. The large pressure gauge, adjustable OPV, and deep drip tray further contribute to its appeal.

Ultimately, the Profitec Go is a well-built, modernized single-boiler machine with European craftsmanship and commercial-grade components that suggest long-term durability. Competing with models like the Lelit Victoria and even the Breville Dual Boiler, it presents an intriguing option for home baristas, though potential buyers must weigh its quirks against their priorities.

When we publish our full review, we’ll take an even deeper dive into these aspects and deliver a final verdict on the machine.

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#2 #espressoMachine #firstLook #go #profitec #review #singleBoiler

Absolutely love my new @ninjakitchen DUALBREW Pro! It does speciality drinks, classic coffee, and iced coffee! It also has a milk frother, works with pods or ground coffee AND has separate hot water reservoir for tea, oatmeal and grits! Yep, I think I’m in love! I added some caramel syrup to this drink and it was sooo much tastier than Starbucks! I might be on to something 🤔 #coffee #espressomachine #savingmycoins💰 #ninja #butfirstcoffee #fy #fyp

Unlike many super-automatic coffee makers,Gaggia Brera comes with a doser bypass that allows you to make espresso from pre-ground coffee.

Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AZdeH

#SuperAutomaticEspressoMachine #SuperAutomaticEspressoMachines #GaggiaBrera #Gaggia #EspressoMachines #EspressoReviews #EspressoMachine #EspressoMachineReview

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.

We use affiliate links to a) Amazon, and b) manufacturers only. Any links to vendors (including CoffeeGeek Sponsors) are not income generating links. Further details about our commission and affiliate link policies can be found on our Terms and Conditions Page. The use of any affiliate links have no effect on our editorial policy or review objectivity.

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

#2 #automaticEspresso #espressoMachine #luxeCafe #ninja

Most customers that bought the Gaggia Brera hold it in high regards, mostly due to the fact that it’s so easy to use.

Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AXFgO

#SuperAutomaticEspressoMachine #SuperAutomaticEspressoMachines #GaggiaBrera #Gaggia #EspressoMachines #EspressoReviews #EspressoMachine #EspressoMachineReview

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

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/

Fun day today, unboxing, photographing, and going over the new Ninjs Cafe Luxe espresso / coffee machine, from top to bottom. Also really need to break in that grinder; I can already tell, with about 15 drinks built, it is changing up a bit and settling in. I figure the usual 3-5kg of coffee and it should be singing. Have included several pictures, including the main machine, the very first shot pull, and how the milk VORTEXES in the steam pitcher. The standard double shot pulls 45g like clockwork.

The machine has some features no one's written about yet:

- the steam pitcher has a froth whirler whisk thing built right into the bottom centre of it. That's how froth is created, and also how the cold froth works

- there is a hidden service / additional features menu for further fine tuning the machine. Ninja only explains 2 of the 10 settings available, in the manual. Will inquire about the others

- This can brew a "quad shot" of espresso in one go, using the deeper basket. Up to 40g coffee used. Maybe @LanceHedrick will like that :) I remember La Marzocco and Pierro Bambi did some heavy experiments with this in the past.

- you can manually froth with this machine and a traditional milk pitcher. I'm very happy to see that.

- almost everything is very quick, though milk frothing takes a while automatically.

In addition, some letdowns: no hot water function, no PF rinse function. But that said, i've brewed several 6, 8 and 10oz coffees on this and they are FANTASTIC.

More to come!

cc @coffee @espresso

#espressomachine #espresso #ninjakitchen #ninjacafeluxe

Well, hello there!
Arrived home today to find this had arrived. The fun's about to begin.

It's Ninja's new entry into the premium espresso market, the Ninja Luxe Cafe Espresso / Coffee system. Unboxing and initial photos and setup testing planned for this weekend!

Content up on CoffeeGeek next week.

cc @espresso @coffee

#espresso #espressomachine #ninjakitchen

How Breville Can Improve the Barista Express

Newly Updated March 5, 2024.

The Breville Barista Express… the best selling espresso machine on the planet, for 10 years now. Introduced in March, 2013, it is still going strong today.

The reasons are plentiful. Prior to the Barista Express, most grind and brew espresso machines were just plain bad. Several Italian manufacturers tried that space, and the built-in grinders were usually clunky and badly designed (picking up a lot of moisture from the machine). The espresso parts were the lowest quality stuff they could bolt together. I know. I tested more than a few of them.

The Barista Express changed this. It has a full PID control brew and steam thermocoil heating system. It also has six different temperature settings available, though you cannot dial into specific 1F temperature changes like more advanced PID controlled machines.

 The Express’ well designed grinder section is very isolated from any of the machine’s moisture, and is based on Breville’s Smart Grinder Pro standalone grinder. It still uses Breville’s 10+ year old burr group (some of their more recent Barista machines have migrated to Baratza’s M2 burrset, a superior burr technology).

The transition from brewing to steaming on the Barista Express is very short – indeed, one of the shortest single-water heater transitions on the market in 2013 – and it has nice auto-purge features to get the thermocoil back to brewing temperatures after steaming. 

The benefits of the machine continue: the Barista Express is an excellent steam producer for a single boiler machine. It is a programmable automatic machine, meaning you just need to press a button once to brew a shot and the machine will end the shot after a predetermined time. The cup tray gets warm enough, and the drip tray is voluminous, with some hidden features. And there’s that pressure gauge up front which is rock solid and works the charm to help you gauge shots.

For 2013, this was state of the art and class leading in many consumer espresso categories. Here’s the introduction video Breville did for the machine back then.

We’re approaching 2024 now, and the Barista Express is showing its age in some ways. It is virtually identical today to the 2013 variant, with one change: Breville added a proper 9BAR OPV valve to the Express around 2019.

In the meantime, many other machines in the Breville lineup have surpassed it in some ways. For instance, even the diminutive (and cheaper) Bambino Plus from Breville has a better volumetric shot system and a completely automated steam and froth system.

Being 10 years old, I would like to see Breville take the Express to a 2.0 level, keeping in mind they have four other machines in the Barista lineup: the Barista Pro, the Barista Touch, the Barista Express Impress, and the Barista Touch Impress (all Amazon links). If I’m honest, I think some of those machines need improvement too.

Here are my main suggestions to Breville for the future roadmap of the Express.

Update the Grinder

Time has moved on from Breville’s now nearly 12 year old grinder design and burrset found in the Barista Express. Better conical burrs have come along. Inexpensive plasma generators eliminate static and reduce clogging and compaction. Better grind chamber designs eliminate spaces for coffee grounds to build up and retain inside the grinder.

Breville has done this with their new Barista Touch Impress machine to a point: they are using Baratza’s much improved Etzinger M2 conical burrs in that grinder housing.

The Barista Express 2.0 machine should have its grinder redesigned to nearly eliminate retention, reducing grind clumps, and reduce static issues. Put the Baratza M2 burr set in there, or an even better one. And give more finite control over super-tuning the grind output.

And speaking of the grinder and its role in the Barista Express…

Improve the Grinder Timer Dial

When the Breville Barista Express was released, its digital timer dial, basic in function with no visible readout, was fine and acceptable for its price point.

Today, it’s severely dated. We can get coffee grinders now with 0.1second resolution in their digital timers for under $75. 

If Breville ever does a Barista Express 2.0, it would be well equipped with a more accurate grinder timer, ideally with a digital readout and down to 0.1 second resolution.

Keep the Analog, But Add a Dial

People absolutely love the analog pressure gauge on the Barista Express. When I was showcasing the Barista Pro machine to a group of local espresso enthusiasts, they were asking “where’s the dial?”.

Pressure Dial

One of the most favoured features on the Barista Express.

Breville should keep the analog pressure gauge on the Barista Express 2.0, which gives the Barista Express a “pro” feel for consumers. 

They should also add another analog dial above or beside it: a shot timer gauge. There’s lots of digital shot timers out there on various espresso machines these days, including other Breville espresso machines. I cannot recall any analog dials, looking like an old-school tachometer stopwatch used in auto racing. 

As an aside, I actually suggested to Kees van der Westen back in 2010 he should add a shot timer to his Iconic Speedster espresso machine. I suggested it be an analog dial that resets automatically when the next shot starts. Alas, when van der Westen finally did add a shot timer to the Speedster, it was digital. And in my opinion, looks entirely out of place on that beautiful steampunk styled machine.

Breville could once again really stand out with the Express 2.0 and add an analog, tachometer style shot timer that starts as soon as you begin a shot, and rests when a) you start your next shot or rinse the group, b) 30 seconds after the shot is done, or c) if the barista presses a small analog button to reset).

Timer Dial

Some kind of advanced analog timer dial that resets, freezes, and perhaps even shows preinfusion time would be a great addition to the Express.

Add a Low Water Sensor

The Barista Express does not have a low water sensor for its water tank, which is a bit surprising, as it was a common feature on many espresso machines even 15 years ago. 

On the BBE 2.0 model, Breville should add one: at least the same system that’s on the Bambino Plus, one that interacts with the machine’s control panel as well as in shot volume management.

A neat trick Breville could introduce is a two stage low water sensor, akin to what machines like the La Marzocco GS3 has. That machine will trigger the low water message on the display panel and not let you pull another shot until you fill up. But if you are in the middle of pulling a shot and the low water sensor engages, it will still complete the shot, running on a small reserve of water in the reservoir. 

Barista Lights

Way, way back in 2005, I saw early LED lighting on an espresso machine at Espresso Vivace in Seattle, lighting up the drip tray area where the shots were pulled. I loved it so much, I modified the La Marzocco GS/3 prototype I had back then (which was housed in a Linea body) to have LED lights. I found the warmest lights I could, but they were still very “cold white”.

Still, it made a big difference in analysing shots.

Fast forward, and still to this day, very few espresso machines have “Barista Lights” lighting up the brew area. Some commercial machines do, and Breville’s Oracle Touch has adjustable LEDs that light up the grinder, portafilter and steaming areas. The new machine being brought in by Turin, called the Legato, also has an LED light on the left side, lighting up the drip tray area.

The Barista Express 2.0 could really distinguish itself as a killer machine by adding well thought out brewing area lights. By well thought out, I’m talking about colour temperature adjustable lights, going from 3200k to 6000k, and having the auto-adjust depending on the ambient light. Make sure they focus wide light over the drip tray area. Also, give the owner the option to turn them on or off.

That Tamper

The Barista Express was notable in 2013 because it came with a tamper. More importantly, the tamper clamped into the machine via a magnet and could be used in place (lift the coffee-filled portafilter up to it). It was a nice addition, but the tamper is quite cheap.

I think Breville should keep the concept and execution of that tamper intact for the Express 2.0, but add something secret to it:

One of the big trends in espresso is the Weiss Distribution Technique (the WDT, we’re working on an article about that) and WDT devices which are thin, stiff wires used for stirring. One of the better accessories I’ve bought for the Barista Express is a WDT / Tamper device, all in one. The WDT tool is built right into the tamper’s handle. 

Breville could totally do this, and practice a company mantra about “a single moment of brilliance” where they have added features in their products you don’t expect. If safety and damage is a concern, make the bristles out of stiff nylon and easily replaceable.

One caveat on this: if they include a WDT device in future Barista Express models, they also will have to include a WDT collar for their portafilters. There’s plenty of after market ones (including ones that work with the Barista Express’ grinder). 

Breville already sells their own plastic dosing funnel, but could include it with the Barista Express 2.0.

Steaming System

The Barista Express is a good machine for steaming milk, but it has also been surpassed by machines like the Bambino Plus, the Barista Pro and Barista Touch. 

I would still keep the Barista Express 2.0’s steam system more on the analog side (no auto steaming). It could be even quicker to transition, and have a better way to avoid all the extra liquid water it introduces to the steam pitcher at the start of steaming.

If Breville can find a way to make the steam output a controlled variable, from a scant puff to full on steaming via an adjustable knob, that would be better still.

Steam Dial

The Barista Express steam control is an all or nothing affair.

The Thermocoil

The thermocoil system in the Barista Express is excellent in many ways. Very fast to heat up. Even faster to transition to steam from brew. Equally fast to transition back to brew from steaming with some built in purge magic Breville has designed.

This is one area where the 10 year old BBE beats Breville’s newer machines like the Barista Touch and Bambino Plus and their instant-on thermojet systems: because the older thermocoil system does a great job heating the grouphead up and heating up the cup tray. The thermojet system on the new machines don’t do either very well.

The heating performance of the thermocoil system is so good, I originally thought the BBE was a boiler based system; you only notice it’s a thermocoil if you try drawing off hot water via the water tap: it can’t quite keep up with longer hot liquid draws.

In the next Barista Express, I’d like to see Breville keep with the thermocoil system, and perhaps put their thermojet system in place just for steaming and hot water delivery. A new variant on the dual boiler!

Or…

Breville has to figure out a way to heat up the grouphead and portafilter in their new nearly tankless “instant on” thermojet systems. If they can get it so the grouphead is nice and sizzling hot within 2 minutes of the machine being turned on, then by all means bring this instant-on system to the Barista Express 2.0. But for now, I like the thermocoil and thermojet dual option.

Concluding Thoughts

The Barista Express from Breville is a fantastic machine we’ve been recommending at CoffeeGeek for nearly 10 years.

It still is a fantastic machine and an awesome value to this day. But it is showing its age. Breville does have more advanced technology in the other Barista machines, and the Express is meant to be their entry into super high end home espresso; it should stay that way.

That means no fancy drink builds, or advanced shot timers and volumetric volume output counters on an OLED touch screen up top. No automated frothing systems either.

What made the Express so good is it was not only class leading when it was introduced, but had a range of unique, high end features no other machine had. For the Barista Express 2.0, Breville should go the same route. Build a “entry point into high end espresso in the home”, but offer new cutting edge features not seen on other machines in its class or price range. 

Barista lights, an analog shot timer, a WDT device included, updated and improved grinder components, and maybe even a tighter ability to program the brewing temperatures and preinfusion modes would further set this class leader apart from the crowd.

These things could take the Barista Express well into the 2030s.