Customer Ratings & Reviews

Over ice function doesn’t work properly. When you select the highest amount of oz for “over ice”, the machine only produces about half.

Mixed review. Works great when not leaking. Will be exchanging. Hope the system we received was defective and not an ongoing issue.

I opened the box and started to set it up, I noticed thay it had splashes of coffe on it and it was missing the filter.

Not good enough to use it, I want to use it for office use. But it’s not working properly.

As coffee lovers, we have had several espresso coffee systems. Some looked nice, but they were all more complicated than necessary. Getting the right pressure was the main challenge. It took many weeks to figure it out and we’re the type of people who love gadgets. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this Ninja Expresso/Coffee Barista to be any different. But this Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista makes that process easier and faster. Sure, puritans will say I’m cheating by using the capsules, but I’d rather “cheat” and have a nice espresso before heading to work than just not having it because it takes too long to get it right. Having the option of making just one single cup when it’s just you or filling up a mug for take-away is so practical. I loved the Over Ice function which keeps the ice from melting quickly, avoiding the watered-down taste of most iced coffee. We have been trying almost every recipe in the included book and they all come out just as good as you’d get at a specialized store or coffeehouse. Sometimes better because you can adapt to your liking. We’ve tried lattes, cappuccinos, and even a cookie coffee. Creamy and smooth were the words that came out of our mouths. We have a separate milk frother, but with the one built into this system, we are not sure we need to keep that one anymore. Unfortunately, the one thing we didn’t like much in this system was cleaning the milk frother as it is not as easy as everything else. Not a huge deal, but I had to mention Overall, we are very impressed and definitely recommend. It is like having a coffeehouse in your kitchen. In the long run, you can recoup the cost in a matter of months just by not going to that coffeehouse every day.

It only take the original espresso pods which are way smaller the vento. Not a bad machine.

Like a child’s toy. Less options for the cups compared to other brands.

I bought this for my husband about 6 months ago. He likes to have a latte in the afternoon, and he was driving to a coffee shop to get one, spending about $6/day. He immediately loved the espresso maker and the milk frother, but I was missing my Keurig for a single cup of decaf or coffee. I am a notorious skimmer (of instruction manuals), and I did not realize that there is a little shelf on the coffee side, so you can make a single cup of coffee, too. You use a regular filter and set the volume at 10 or 12 ounces. Now we're both happy! I like to set the coffee pot on a timer so it's ready when we get up, and I like the large tank so you don't have to fill it with an exact amount every time you make a cup or pot. Excellent purchase.

Ninja has always been one to try new things and offer an interesting variety of kitchen products, and their latest machine is no different. The Ninja Espresso and Coffee Barista System features a "do it all" mentality, with the ability to brew both coffee grounds and espresso pods. In typical Ninja fashion, though, the options don't stop there: you can select from a whopping 9 coffee ground brew sizes and 3 espresso pod sizes, brew "classic" or "rich" coffee grounds, or set either side of the machine to brew directly over ice. There's even a built-in milk frother! Unboxing was a straightforward affair, with the machine tightly-packed to avoid any shipping damage, although the box contains lots of plastic and styrofoam. The Barista has a reassuring heft to it, belying the complex machinery that certainly must reside within. It's not a small machine by any means, but I was surprised how well it fit on my counter, even underneath my standard-height cabinets. It's quite a bit deeper than my previous coffee maker, but not all that much wider. I only have to slide it out partway to open the lid on the coffee basket, something I had to do with my previous brewer as well. The machine remains firmly planted and takes a bit of effort to move, but this means you're in no danger of bumping it around or nocking anything over. All the various included accessories fit right into the Barista for use and storage, with only a special cover plate for cleaning the espresso-pod-side of the machine needing to be stored elsewhere. Everything feels very sturdy; I appreciate the thickness of all the plastic pieces and the finishing of everything. Nothing seems cheap or likely to break, and the glass carafe has a large, sturdy handle to aid you in using and cleaning it without breaking the glass. Although the Barista is largely black plastic, it's generally well-grained, and Ninja has included enough stainless steel accenting to make the machine feel about as premium as its price would suggest. I'm a big fan of the way the control panel is implemented. When off, you see a dim clock in the middle, and not much else. As soon as you press the power button the display springs to life, with all the various options dimly illuminated. Pressing either the "grounds" or "espresso" button then brightly illuminates only the options for that brew method, helping to keep things straightforward. Most functions are controlled with the central rotating knob, which is easy to understand and a joy to use. After filling the large (removable!) water reservoir and running an empty cycle through both sides I set out to experiment with all the various options Ninja offers with the Barista. Brewing coffee grounds is as simple, if not simpler, than a stand-alone brewer: simply load the basket and filter, using Ninja's included coffee scoop with helpful measuring options, select your brew strength with the grounds button and rotate the middle control knob to your preferred size. The display indicates your brew size with an icon and a fluid ounces readout, which is a great touch, especially for selecting the right size cup or mug if you're brewing directly into one. There's a helpful flip-down mug platform to reduce splashing into smaller vessels. The carafe warming plate can be turned on or off and the temperature and duration of warming can be adjusted as well. For the sake of comparison I brewed a few carafes of coffee using the same grounds (a "medium-dark" roast) and roughly the same capacity as my previous, well-reviewed brewer. Ninja's "classic" brew setting produced a smooth, slightly bland cup, while the "rich" brew setting made a stronger, more flavorful coffee. Neither cup tasted exactly the same as my previous brewer, of course, but I found the "rich" setting to make a satisfactory brew with noticeably more flavor than the "classic" setting, with a strength that can handle my usual amount of creamer. Again, your mileage may vary, and it's worth trying different grounds and different settings to find the right balance. Both brews came out nice and hot and stayed hot for awhile on the warming plate -- almost too hot, so I might try adjusting the temperature setting of the plate. But I'd rather it be too hot than too cold. I'm happy to say the carafe pours quickly but smoothly, and the brew basket is totally drip-free. This is due to Ninja's lever-based brew basket opening, which requires you to flip a level to either open or close the drip valve. This allows you to pause brewing early for a quick cup of coffee, but it also allows you to shut the drip valve off when brewing is complete, preventing drips from hitting the warming plate and making a mess. While it's not automatic I much prefer the ability to open and close the valve myself, and the Barista is smart enough to stop brewing and ask you to open the drip valve if you forget, preventing the machine from overflowing. I'll admit that until I set up the Ninja I'd never had a espresso pod-based drink, but I've long been curious. Having used the popular coffee pods for many years at work I've been accustomed to a weak, watery brew, so I was a bit apprehensive about the abilities of the Ninja's espresso brewing. I'm happy to say my fears were not confirmed! If you've used any type of pod-based system, you'll find the Ninja very straightforward. Simply load the pod into the machine (it goes in sideways and only fits one way, which is good), press the lever down and make your size selection. Like the coffee grounds side of the Barista, the espresso side lets you select three different standard sizes in addition to the over-ice setting. Unlike coffee pods, however, espresso pods produce far less liquid volume, as they're designed to truly make a shot-sized brew. This will take some getting used to if you're expecting it to fill your entire mug like a coffee pod would. Also unlike coffee pods the Barista will drop the used espresso pods into a built in holder when you lift the lever after it's finished brewing -- a nifty convenience that lets you easily store up to 20 pods until you're ready to dispose of them. Most pods are aluminum, meaning they're very recyclable, either by emptying them yourself or through a recycling program. Definitely look into pod recycling to avoid the amount of waste you'll otherwise produce. I tested the Barista's espresso brewing with a classic espresso roast pod, since I'm pretty familiar with their coffee flavor. The Ninja quickly produced a smooth, delicious espresso shot, with crema on top and everything. The roast was delightfully dark and flavorful, totally unlike a coffee pod, although it's truly a shot, not a cup, in size. Trust me when I say you'll find the flavor an absolute revelation if you're used to coffee pods. The attraction here is the ability to make coffeehouse-type drinks, too, with the Ninja's built in frother, which is easy to use and effective. You'll definitely want to heat your milk up first, though, as cold milk quickly cools the espresso-sized brew and leaves you with a lukewarm drink. Overall I really like the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System. It offers tons of options in a well-made and relatively compact footprint, backed by Ninja's excellent warranty and customer service. Coffee grounds and espresso are both brewed quickly and easily, with espresso pods producing a wonderfully-tasty brew. Grounds flavor is actually noticeably different with the Barista's strength settings, which I appreciate, and the "rich" setting makes a strong enough brew to handle cream, milk and/or sweetener. My only major quibble is on the espresso side, where the adjustable cup tray is positively tiny: none of my large-ish coffee mugs will balance securely on it, and I've taken to removing it entirely when brewing. It's definitely sized to fit traditional espresso mugs, which are much smaller, so keep this in mind when you're brewing. That being said, the Barista is absolutely worth a look if you want a ton of features and flexibility in one good-looking countertop machine.

Our Ninja luxe espresso and coffee 3 in one coffee system arrived last night. I ran a double shot through as a wuick test. A+. Got up thos morning made a cinnamom honey latte with almond milk and a classic cup of coffee! I have been a 100% Breville Barista Espresso fan. Their prices are too high. I don’t get consistent great shots! So as mine that I have had since 2013 started failing I did some research and found this Ninja ratings. Notably another Breville fan stated how much easier it wad to make a cup of coffee with this machine!! I AM SOLD ON NINJA luxe espresso and coffee machine!!

It seems to me that part of the routine of many people today starts with a cup of coffee, maybe in the afternoon an espresso or a latte, or just sharing an iced coffee with friends, but coffee remains present in our lives or at least to many of us who love coffee. All these ways of preparing coffee are available in a single coffee maker which in the first instance I must say, like most of Ninja's products, looks great, has a minimalist and elegant aesthetic at the same time. All parts of the coffee maker have a millimeter finish, each piece fits into place without any problem and each of the parts fulfills its purpose flawlessly. To start using the coffee maker it is important to read the quick use guide as there are some steps to follow before brewing coffee for the first time. Once these steps have been completed, the process of brewing coffee, be it coffee grounds or espresso capsules, is very simple. Something that I think is great that is included is the frather, this piece that is very easy to wash and works impressively well, the truth is that preparing a classic coffee with foam on top and a little milk, makes its taste much better, I can say with all certainty that it tastes the same if not even better than a regular coffee shop. The instructions for use and cleaning of the coffee maker are very clear and are illustrated for further reference in the guides included in the box, personally I find it very helpful as well as the QR code that comes attached to the coffee maker that directs you to a page where you can consult the Clean Cycle Instructions and Instruction Manual in case you do not have the documentation at hand. Something that I think is important to mention and what is not emphasized in the quick use guide, is the measure or rather the type of capsules that can be used with this coffee maker because if you do not know correctly, you can end up buying the wrong kind of capsules, Nespresso Capsules OriginalLine are those that are compatible, on the internet you can order in various flavors and different number of units, which by the way are not expensive and you can prepare very tasty coffee. With this coffee maker you can prepare coffee for one person or for a group of people, there are some coffee styles that by their nature should be prepared one by one, however, in practice, the preparation takes a few minutes but the result is, at least in my experience, very gratifying. The truth is that the measures of water, coffee and milk are enough to make a good coffee without making practically mistakes, the flavor and the intensity of the coffee flavor will increase or decrease depending on the style of coffee that is selected, perhaps it is not necessary to clarify this but just in case. In conclusion I can say that the price of this coffee maker is reflected not only in how it looks and what features the product has, but also by the time it saves you cleaning the coffee maker and how easy it is to use, either to brew coffee grounds or espresso capsules. It may be the first time you buy a coffee maker of this type and if so I can say that using it and prepare good coffee, is easier than it seems, it is a very intuitive product that makes one can enjoy much more of this great pleasure that is drinking coffee either hot or cold, classic or espresso, there is always a good time for a good coffee, highly recommended without a doubt.

I love this machine. A couple reasons on why I give it a 4-star rating though. First, the frother works pretty well. It gets the job done. However, it does not heat up the milk like a traditional steam wand on an espresso machine does. If you want your milk to be warm, you will need to microwave it first. Second is that it uses capsules. Not sure if over time these would become obsolete. But even if not, I feel it limits what you can do overall. For instance, you can only do 1 shot of espresso at a time. On this same line, it also does not come with a shot glass for the espresso. And it did not come with a starter pack of espresso capsules. The cord, I wish they would have made it a bit longer. I like to set up my coffee station on a cart and the plug is farther away so had to use an extension cord. Lastly the coffee side, you will have to by filters. I was hoping it would have been like previous Ninja models and have a washable filter. It would have been nice to maybe see an option to do either or. But outside of those things, I do love this machine and some of the reasons that I am loving it. My main use so far has been making espresso drinks. Mainly an iced mocha. I put a capsule in, select espresso, and while it makes, I'll put some chocolate in a cup, add a little milk, mix that, then put ice in and by then the espresso is done and I pour that over the ice. Then if I am wanting a double shot, I will then start another espresso shot, mix the first shot with the milk, and then pour the second shot and mix that in. I then will pour a little french vanilla in and more ice and milk if needed. What I am loving is that this machine takes maybe 20 seconds, if that, to finish a shot. Within a few seconds after pressing start, the machine is already pouring the espresso shot in the cup. The espresso shot itself has a nice crema on top about a 1/8-1/4 inch. And the espresso itself does not taste burnt. You also get a few nice options to choose as well if you do not want espresso. If espresso is not strong enough for you, you can select ristretto which is a little less, but more concentrated or if it is too strong or you just want a little more, you can select lungo which is a bit more (a little more than a double shot) but not as concentrated. The regular coffee side also gives you a few options of different drink sizes. ranging from 8oz up to 55oz. The water tank is just the right size for me. It fits great under my kitchen faucet to easily fill it up. Has a nice little fold out cup holder piece so if you are using a smaller cup, it will raise it up closer to where the coffee pours out from. The Espresso side also has a piece that you can adjust for different cup sizes as well. Another nice future on the espresso capsules is that when you make a coffee, the capsules will go into a trash can built in that you can pull out and dump when it gets full. It has a drip stop, so if you want to get coffee in the middle of it brewing, you can or if you accidentally selected the wrong size, you could close and place another cup under. You can also select it to brew at a certain time. I prefer to just brew manually when I want coffee just in case power goes out etc. But you do have that option. The frother, like I said works pretty well other than it does not heat up the milk. It is also easy to clean which is something I like. Easy to take apart and wash in the sink. Overall, if you do not mind having to purchase espresso capsules, Then I recommend this machine. This is handy as it saves you time from having to measure out coffee and tamper down the coffee and with the frother, you don't have to wait for pressure to build up. Very easy to clean as well.

This works perfectly! My husband got it for me since I broke the carafe of my older Ninja Coffee Bar and I wanted go upgrade. It is simple to use on the espresso side and holds the used cartridges. It makes brewed coffee quickly and keeps it warm if desired. There are many different brewing sizes, from a small cup to the whole caraffe. The only downfall is that the brew section opens from the top, and my old one slid out the front. It is too tall to open under my cabinet, so when using the brewing option I have to pull the unit out further on the counter.

As per usual in my opinion, Ninja has delivered yet another incredibly thought-out appliance that is sure to thrill its customers with its quality and versatility. I am extremely pleased with the ability of this machine to handle both Nespresso pods and to serve as a traditional coffee brewer in a relatively compact form. I am using this model to replace my previous Ninja CP307 that my wife and I have loved and used for YEARS. This model has more versatility that we are seeking with its Nespresso pod handling. Given that I have experience with a different/older model than this machine, I will give my thoughts on some areas of refinement that I would like to see that knock it down to 4 stars: Areas needed for refinement: -I dislike the tall coffee ground/filter tower and how access to insertion of the coffee filter is straight up and down and doesn’t pivot out like the CP307 that I am replacing with this newer machine. With our cabinets above the counter, it makes it to where we have to pull the machine out from underneath the cabinet if we want to remove the coffee grounds basket. -The built-in coffee ground scoop seems to be of lower quality than the CP307 model. It is flimsier and not as robust of a measuring scoop in its feel. -I am unhappy that a reusable coffee filter basket is not included. One was included with the CP307, it seems lame that one is not present here at this price! -I wish that the water tank had a hinged lid and not a fully removable one. The hinged lid made filling the tank with water easy when you would remove it and take it to the sink, but now it is just an extra piece I have to hold or put down separately. I also understand how its position is necessary for the build of the machine, but it’s also a bit of a bummer that the tank is on the back of the machine instead of the side where it would be less awkward to remove it and put it back. -I dislike the manual close and open lever for the drip stop. The CP307 had an automated one controlled with a button that was a simple push on and push off, and it would reset at the end of the brew cycle. With this one, if you close it at the end of a brew cycle, it will not flip back in place automatically and if you forget to put it back it will not allow you to brew your coffee. This means you could have it setup on a delay brew mode, and wake up to find out the cycle did not get started because the drip stop was closed. This is very annoying at this price level. -Between the Nespresso and the ground coffee drip portion, this machine just seems to be a tad messy in its drips-post brew cycle on both of the portions of the machine. When I flip the lever up on the Nespresso, drips come out. When I open the lid on the coffee ground basket, the evaporated water collects and drips down and out of the drip spout if the drip stop is in the open position. Overall, it just feels like I am wiping and cleaning up more often with this machine than with the previous CP307 I owned. In spite of these critiques, I do not want to dissuade someone from buying this as I think it is awesome in all its purposes. I am just determined to give feedback that might assist Ninja in adjusting these products for the convenience of future buyers! Thanks for reading this review and I hope it helps you make a well-informed purchasing decision!

I already own, and use daily, a Ninja basic coffee maker. That legacy Ninja has been the most reliable and easy to use coffee maker I’ve owned, and that includes a variety of manufacturers. BUT, I’ve never had a more elaborate espresso maker, so the Ninja Barista is my first foray into a multifunction coffee maker. I’m happy to report that after a week of usage, the Ninja Barista is great! As I did with my past devices, I make a half pot of regular coffee every morning. The Ninja Barista brews this as fast as my previous Ninja, and with the same quality. Also, it’s just as easy to use, but with the water reservoir on the back rather than the side. I wondered if that would be an issue; it’s not… it’s just different. From an appearance perspective, the reservoir on the back is more attractive on the kitchen counter. A nice touch is the simple dial control for selecting the brew amount. This is very intuitive and allows for precise sizing. There’s also a button for choosing brew strength, including an over ice option. Meanwhile, both my wife and I are using the espresso capability. She is not a fan of complex technology, so I was curious to see how she’d react to the Barista… she loves it! The espresso capability is on the right side of the machine, but fully integrated with the regular coffee maker. What I mean is that it uses the same water reservoir and central dial control to start brewing. There’s a separate button on the right to choose brewing size (ristretto, espresso, lungo, and over ice). Additionally, the Barista includes a side/extending frothing wand. That “frother” is also easy to use, and quickly/effectively froths cream or milk. Finally, an important element of a coffee maker’s usefulness is the cleaning process. I’m happy to report that it’s easy to do with all liquid and coffee exposed parts easily detachable and dishwasher safe. I highly recommend the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista!

I love Ninja products but this was a disaster. I wanted an all in one machine. However it made poor drip coffee and poor espresso. Kick in the fact that it leaked was the final straw. Returned to store

It is a very good approach for universal coffee machine. I like how it can handles several machines in one. The possibility to make one cup or 10 cups jut with the same machine. good to be use in an office or separate study room and not limited to be in a kitchen thanks to used pods compartment. Coffee is coming very well done using this Ninja Espresso and Coffee machine. I'll get the reusable filter for the coffee. I like to support the nature and limit the waste. The attached frother is a good idea (if needed) I am old school. Not very used to it. I am sure some other people will find it very convenient and a good addition to their coffee machine. The made coffee will not stay hot for long time in the caraf. I think it is something to do with making a more efficient appliances. the bottom heater is not very powerful but works fine for at least 3 hours after the coffee is done. This complain came from another person (other than me) that likes her coffee very very hot. I honestly like my coffee on the warm side if not iced... Overl all, using and cleaning the machine is just at what is expected. It is a good replacement for at least 2 coffee machines by one only. I'd recommend it for any coffee drinker if you are looking to limit the count of your home appliances and to have a good taste of coffee every morning or whenever you are seeking a good cup of java.

Because I have been impressed with everything Ninja that I own I expected no less for this. This is no different thankfully. While I enjoy my other brand machine and will continue to use it in my office, this one better fits my household overall needs. I wanted something that could let me make a full pot of coffee when several people wanted a cup versus having to take turns making a single cup with my other machine as well as giving me an at-home barista kind of feel. This definitely does that and to my joy, it not only uses pods but can use K-Cups also. And of course, you can use ground coffee as well. The frother is a nice addition although it's an afterthought for me and likely won't be something I use often (but I know it will get a lot of use by others in my house). Coffee tastes as expected and more importantly, you don't have a lot of grounds making it into your cup or the pot (something I have experienced with similar systems). The coffee stays hot for long periods without the flavor being compromised. And when trying out the different options I found that iced coffees and cappuccinos were amazing so ultimately, this will help cut down on pricey coffee shop runs when you can make what you want at home. This is definitely a nice addition to my kitchen and will get a lot of use by everyone!

This is my third Ninja coffee machine and I have LOVED all of them! They do trend to be a bit more complicated with each one, I always follow the instructions the first time I make something so I made the coffee with the measurements with the lowest amount of grounds and HOLY COW...I had hair growing out of the bottom of my feet!!! I highly recommend NOT following those guidelines (1 reason why only 4 stars). I made a regular pot and it is the same amount of grounds as my previous pot. The 'rich' cycle simply made it a bit stronger. The single cup is great however I used the travel measurement of water and 1 level Tbsp of grounds and I ended up with about 12 oz of coffee- not filling my cup but a good tasting cup of coffee. The frother on these machines is GREAT!!! I heat my milk in the microwave, add some flavor syrup and froth away! I am not a fan of foam and with this make perfect light and airy flavored milk to add giving the barista taste without the cost. The other reason for the only 4 star- I know what will break on this machine first- the pressure seal on the grounds lid. Yes, I may be blaming the past on this new machine but it is obviously a weak spot with these coffee makers and I saw nothing saying this has been addressed. I am not impressed with the pod coffee. Honestly the capsules are just too expensive! I was able to find a clearance pack and made one and it is strong but the frothed milk helped. Yes, I would recommend this because it can make so many different types that it can please just about anyone.

The Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System is a welcomed addition to my kitchen. I previously had a k-cup coffee machine, and had been considering going back to a paper filter to lessen my waste on the environment. This machine fits the bill. It takes a number 4 paper filter, which is perfect for a single serve portion of coffee. And if you need an extra kick, it does have a built in espresso maker via a pod. It also has a built in milk/cream frother which can also be easily cleaned after use. Another option I really enjoy is the timer/delay option. You can setup the coffee maker the night before to run a single cup, or up to a full carafe of coffee in the morning. I like waking up to the smell of fresh coffee. Also, the way this machine is setup, it's very easy to clean for the next use. Likes: 1.) Ability to make a single cup easily without the use of a k-cup. 2.) Easy to clean 3.) Comes with everything you need to start making coffee, minus the coffee Dislikes: 1.) #4 filters cost twice as much as standard coffee filters.