I'm telling everyone with cluttered worktops that the Ninja Luxe Café Mini is the coffee machine they need – it solves the debate about appliances being on show

It's rare to hear complaints about Ninja's coffee machine range but the big and bulky sizes of the original collection simply aren't a fit for every kitchen.

That's where the brand's newest offering, the Ninja Luxe Café Mini (and the Plus model) come in – both of which are 30% smaller than the original bestselling machine.

Looking at pictures of the machines side-by-side, it's very clear to see the target audience for the Mini line. Of course, it's tailor-made for small kitchens but it's also perfectly sized for those who can't imagine anything worse than their curated cooking space being overtaken by a big, hulking machine. I imagine a lot of Ideal Home readers fall under that bracket.

I was lucky enough to try out this petite bean-to-cup offering after previously trialling every single one of Ninja's bean-to-cup coffee machines. Here's how I got on.

In a nutshell

If you're familiar with Ninja's bestseller, the Ninja Luxe Café, then this machine will feel very recognisable to you.

It takes the best parts of that larger size bestseller (intuitive controls, a great menu of drinks and the automatic milk frother) and packs them into a machine that's a lot smaller and a little cheaper – both things that will appeal to many.

The version I tried is the Plus (with an RRP of £529.99) but the standard Mini has an even more attractive £479.99 pricetag and can be found on sale for even less. The principal difference between the two is the addition of an automatic milk frother with the Plus. As someone who has never mastered the art of microfoam on a manual frother, the upgrade is very much worth it. But if you'd prefer a manual version then the price factor is even better.

Despite the small size of this machine it retains the Barista Assist Technology that I loved with the OG. This tech tells you which grind setting to go for in accordance to the drink you've selected which is so handy for beginners as the learning curve with a bean-to-cup ordinarily can be pretty steep.

Espresso is the big draw for me but if you like a filter coffee from time to time, that's possible with this machine too. And though there's no cold brew functionality, you could of course have the filter coffee over ice.

Given the huge pull of the smaller size and the fact that all of the best bits of the Luxe Café have been retained, I would wholeheartedly recommend this machine to anyone who wants to save space, cash or keep their kitchen looking tidier.

Who tested this coffee machine?

Molly Cleary

Molly is Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor. Since she started testing products five years ago, she has evaluated hundreds of small appliances in both controlled test environments at the Ideal Home test facility and in her own kitchen, giving her insight into what actually works for home cooks.

She's tested three Ninja coffee machines previously to this one (the Luxe Café, Luxe Café Pro and AutoBarista) but this Mini size might just be her favourite of the lot.

Unboxing the product

I had been testing the Ninja AutoBarista just before the Mini arrived and the difference in size was stark. While the AutoBarista was almost unmanageably long as well as very heavy and wide, the Mini was the exact opposite.

It came in a small box, with easy-to-follow instructions at every step on how to get started with this machine. This is something I've experienced with every Ninja machine I've set up. I think it's by far the most comprehensive brand in regards to set-up of any coffee machine line I've tried.

On the left you'll find features that solve any headaches that come with dialling in your shot of espresso. The grind size can be adjusted via a knob on that side with recommendations made on the digital screen once you go through the Barista Assist program.

Once you've got the right grind size set, you can use your portafilter and dosing funnel in conjunction. The funnel prevents mess and makes it easier for you to tamp your grounds too, with the included hand tamper.

Speaking of the tamp, one of the things I really love with this machine is how easy everything is to store. There's a neat slot to keep this in on top of the machine as well as a space to warm your cup, just next to the bean hopper. The water tank is located here as well, fitting neatly into the back portion of the machine.

The screen element on the Mini is smaller than the original, as you'd expect, but it works just as well to communicate what you need it to. The combination of buttons and screens mean that you can scroll through all of the drinks options with ease and find any setting you need in a rush.

Making coffee

Manually tamping my grounds is something I'm not in the habit of as I use the Sage Barista Express Impress daily and that has a handy tamp. But Ninja makes the process of grinding and tamping nice and easy thanks both to the in-built tech and the add-on funnel, which prevents coffee flying out everywhere.

Once your puck is tamped, slotting the portafilter into the machine is easy and the resulting coffees were of the same standard of any other Ninja machines I've tried – excellent!

The ‘Morning Rush’ test

As per our testing protocol for coffee machines here at Ideal Home, I made two milky coffees back to back to see how this machine coped.

In total, it took me a little over five minutes to get both lattes ready. This is slower than when I've made coffees before with the larger, more indulgent Ninja Luxe Café Pro machine because the latter has an oversize jug for making multiple milk-based drinks at once. So if speed is your ultimate concern, that might be worth checking that out.

There's also an extra time-loss in having to clean out the portafilter of the first puck. If you want to avoid this step when making two coffees at once, you probably want an automatic machine instead of a manual. The De'Longhi Rivelia is our top-rated pick thanks to its (relative) affordability.

The Wet Paint test

Micro foam that looks like wet paint is of the highest standard and is therefore the aim of many amateur baristas. With the Mini Plus, acing this test is made very easy – all thanks to the automatic milk frothing settings. The same applies if you'd rather an oat or almond latte instead thanks to the special plant-based settings.

User experience

In my weeks of testing I found this machine a joy to use. My everyday coffee is a latte while my husband drinks an Americano and both are very easy to achieve within a short space of time in the mornings. There's an in-built Americano preset with the Mini Plus which adds water automatically to create a longer drink.

The main difference between this machine and the other Ninja coffee machines I've tried is with the size. My kitchen was freed up of so much space compared to the AutoBarista, which I think will tick many people's boxes. I do wish there was a version of this machine with an assisted tamp, however, as I do find the process of manually tamping a little bit tiresome.

What's it like to clean?

As I mentioned earlier, you need to knock out your old puck before you can make a new coffee, so there's no long cleaning out process of a grounds tray at the end of a week. You do need to empty the drip tray regularly however and as with all of Ninja's coffee machines, it does fill up fast.

As this is an automatic milk wand it's thicker than a manual version and therefore easier to wipe clean. Just remember to do it pronto before you settle down to drink your coffee, or it'll be a nightmare to get off later.

How does it compare to competitors?

There has been an uptick in the number of big coffee machine brands releasing smaller versions to fit into everyday kitchens. Recent notable releases include the De'Longhi Rivelia Start, which our tester Lindsey loved in her review. And of course, Sage has it's own line of compact espresso machines, including the Bambino Plus which also features an automatic milk frother. Our reviewer Helen loved that machine in her review, but it's not a bean-to-cup so unless you want to buy a separate grinder, it may not tick your boxes.

Should you buy the Ninja Luxe Café Mini?

If you're looking for an easy-to-use coffee machine that'll slot into your kitchen without taking over, then I can't recommend the Mini Plus more. If you're a beginner, you'll find it so easy to get to grips with especially this version with the automatic milk frother. If you've already got your latte skills down, then you can save even more money by opting for the standard Mini.

I do wish that the Mini Plus was a little cheaper than it's £529.99 pricetag, as for many the investment point will still be too high. But if you want to splurge or save up for this one, I don't think you'll regret it!