There are a couple things I wish I would’ve remembered to include in this review. First of all, I was wrong about the 37 ounce capacity of the Ninja - I measured it at 2.085 liters, or 70.5 ounces. Next, a dual boiler has the inherent ability to be able to extract and steam milk at the same time. But also, you can make successive drinks, too. Since the boilers maintain their temperature, there is no ramping up steam temperature, or cooling back down. With that being said, I wish that the Meraki had a settable standby time. It turns itself off rather quickly, and it’s hard to keep the brew group and portafilter heated. Hopefully they fix that in the upcoming iterations. Thanks for watching!
Hope your channel keeps on growing tom, your unbiased opinions are always so refreshing and your knowledge is great! Thanks for giving me a place to come to when i have questions on things
I’m glad Ninja took a chance and made this type of machine. I’ve owned a few different machines and have always migrated to the super autos or semi-auto machines. I wish I could try out the luxe to see what the espresso tastes like.
Great comparison video Tom! Thank you for the time you take to give us as thorough info and clear unbiased explanations as possible. Your the best! Habt ein tolles Wochenende!
Since a lot of coffee YT channels went crazy for the Ninja, I purchased it recently as a second machine at another location. I do think it offers quite a bit of functionality for the price, but the machine and its accessories all felt pretty cheap, and more importantly, I couldn’t get the espresso dialed in the way I like. The grinder in particular seems weak and I was always at the finest or next to finest setting with a pretty fresh medium roast. Even then, couldn’t get a pour I liked. Auto milk was unimpressive, and steam power for manual milk was weak. I also learned the value of an insulated steam wand. 😂 I ended up returning it. Just my experience!
Yeah for me having only 25 grinder settings doesn’t go well with unpressurised system. And you are absolutely right with the steam wand. It is huge difference having the insulated one
I can vouch for this comment, with the steam more importantly. I tried a 3 heat setting on manual mode, and not once could the steam get my Barista Oat milk even close to being a thick consistency for a traditional latte. The automatic is just not there, unless you do cappuccino which is water with surface foam.
@@kenroman777 Yes. I used it for around 2 weeks straight. I also tried with WDT and Normcore tamper which helped. I also tried all three brew temp settings. Generally, extractions seemed too quick and was already at the limits of fineness for the grinder, and this was medium roast. I did like the cold brew, cold espressos, and ability to make cold foam. I did not try a medium dark or darker roast which likely would have done better. Again, I still think it delivers a lot of functionality for the price, it does make real espresso, but kind of just barely; in my opinion. 😅
Thanks for the review. I dont get that people are upset by this comparison. You can compare every espresso machine with each other regardless of the price. Anyway great review.
I love my ninja lux. My only issue is the subpar grinder. Dark roast is my favorite, and my grimder setting is at it's finest setting. I guess that means medium and light roast are out of the question since they require a finer grind than dark roast
I haven't found in my limited experimentation with light roasts, that they necessarily need a finer grind. It's much more the case that older beans need that. I grind between 4-8 with my fresh med roast beans on this machine.
Thank you! You can see the overhead latte art at 14:21 for the Meraki. Unfortunately, you can see I am almost out of frame. The problem is, at 17:50 for the Ninja, I WAS completely out of frame. Sometimes it would be good to have a camera man, lol. Sorry, I know it would have been nice to have seen both.
You're absolutely right! The practice you're referring to is increasingly common in the consumer goods industry, including espresso machines. It involves "private labeling" or "white labeling" where products are manufactured in factories (often in China) and then branded with a different name. These products are marketed as premium or European/American products, even though their manufacturing origins are in low-cost production countries. In the case of coffee machines, brands like Meraki (and others) may market their products as being of European or American origin, but the actual manufacturing could be done in China or other regions known for cost-effective production. The brand then adds a layer of design or customization, and the product is often positioned as a "premium" or "stylish" alternative to well-known, high-end brands. You're absolutely right in your assessment of Meraki and similar brands. Many companies, including Meraki, indeed source products from low-cost manufacturers in China and then add a few additional features or cosmetic changes to differentiate their offerings. They often sell these products as premium or high-end, but the actual quality control and long-term reliability can be questionable. Feature Additions Without Substance: As you mentioned, some companies just add features (like digital displays, new buttons, or customizable settings) but don’t focus on improving the core reliability or durability of the machine. Meraki Espresso Machines and Grinders With Meraki, it's likely that the company: Sources low-cost Chinese machines and grinders from factories that mass-produce similar models under various brand names. Adds Features: Perhaps some extra features, like digital interfaces, additional settings, or custom finishes, to make the product appear more appealing or premium. Branding: The brand creates a European look or claims higher-end status, but, as you mentioned, the underlying reliability and quality can be low. Given this, Meraki products, like many other rebranded or private-labeled items, may suffer from: Inconsistent Performance: Machines or grinders that fail unexpectedly, suffer from wear, or have subpar components that break down sooner than expected. Poor Longevity: Even if a Meraki machine seems fine initially, over time, the lack of high-end components and rigorous testing may cause issues with durability.
Actually, neither of these machines are white label. Meraki is designed and made in China, and they never hid that fact. White label would be: DF grinders, Apex espresso machines, Gastroback machines, etc.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The comment never said Meraki is white labeling, but the overall idea is clear. DF grinders are sold for reasonable price, be it white, black or grey labeling, but when they give it kinda Italian type name, like Turin and just for this add extra 200 Euros, that is misleading the customers.
Great video Tom. Just a small correction; you've mentioned the water tank size on the Ninja to be 37oz in a few of your videos. I believe that is incorrect. A number of users and the user manual say it's 70oz or just over 2 L. Cheers.
Ah crap, you're right! I thought I had read 37 ounces, but after looking at the manual, it does say 70. 37 ounces is the descaling volume. support.ninjakitchen.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/14670346024348
@@JT-zy2ft ok I’ll hop off Meraki. Sure a “true enthusiast” (whatever that now is) would not choose combo machine “they” would probably choose something else but within the constraints of being a combo machine I don’t think there is anything better. Also the price isn’t that bad especially if u buy it now for like 1200 usd it’s a very good price for just the rotary pump + 2 boiler machine.
Here in South Africa we also have a Metro stop very close to OR Thambo airport, and one inside the airport. If you stop at the first stop you can see the airport stop. But the price to go inside the airport is 3 times the normal price.
Very nice video! I like the Meraki much more! Love that big steam wand and the rotary pump. I think both machines are going to give Breville a run for their money at different points in the market. See, I can make a comment without mentioning Decent.........DOH!
Which superautomatic do do you guys recommend for under 1000usd? I mostly drink cappuccino but also cold brews. So far delonghi Electra explore is what I’m thinking
Would like to see an odd comparison between the Ninja and one of the Delonghi superautomatics like the Elleta or Dinamica Pro. Is the espresso/cappuccino of the Ninja that much better to switch to a semi-automatic?
Nice Videos, can't wait to give the ninja a try when I get the chance here in Germany. How is the handling if you want to switch beans? Here we drink also decaffeinated espresso and have a dual grinder setup.
First of all, Rocket is about $1000 more, it's only got full metal body over Meraki in everything else Meraki is better: dual boiler with PID over HX, rotary pump over vibration, real low pressure preinfusion over pseudo one, dual scales for precise volumetrics, steam wand with temperature sensor and bonus grinder by timemore.
I have heard that ninja will be coming out with a second model. With a water spout for americanos. Don't know if this is true. Ninja usually releases multiple versions so we will wait and see
@@DerKaffeelehrer boy, I don’t know. I guess it could be many things… Maybe the load cell needs recalibration, maybe the connection between the scale and the controller is faulty, maybe there’s an issue with the controller or the firmware, it’s hard to know.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Yep. Many users have problems with the steam wand. A comparison of the two machines is - in my opinion - a little premature, as the Ninja is already finally on the market, but the Meraki is not yet and is still being improved!
@@albertabdullayev3108 Why are you saying such nonsense? You can say something like that once you have tested the machines. Furthermore, Ninja is not an unknown company. So don't write nonsense that doesn't correspond to the truth and for which you have no evidence. Thank you!
@@DerKaffeelehrer Nonsense is when you take a 250usd noname Chinese machine, add 15usd for your Logo and name on it, agree with the guys to be exclusive seller, and sell it for 1200usd. Another Dynavin (aftermarket BMW multimedia) story, used to be sold as a brand, on eBay and in us and Europe for 1000-1500 while Originally it was a Chinese Erisin maker, who made multimedia systems for any car maker, and were selling those for 150-200 usd. Guys selling Dynavin would also argue that they are not Erisin, and they are brand and different, but how come either you buy Erisin for 200 or Dynavin for 1200 you had to have exactly the same problems, freezing screen, mics, connectivity isssues etc. Not to metnion that you literally couldn't find any but any difference in design, functions and etc. Same gamble for different price. So tell me about Ninja, who are they? Where is the factory? Certificates? Registration? and etc. Quality Assurance? As a client I need no evidence, as a maker you need to provide me with all the certificates, papers, tests etc. Unless proved otherwise, cheap, noname, low quality, labeled scrap. But as I said Ninja's price is not as bad as Meraki's. Thank you too. Btw, in the end Dynavin guy in Britain got arrested for FRAUD, after many complaints.
Hey Tom , nice video as always!!! I have great news!! Remember the Hibrew H10A?? Now Hibrew made H10 plus and I think it's even better than before!! Hope you can get your hands on it.
Just know that those E61 brew groups do need time to heat up - I think the TCA is quicker, but it'll still be slower than either of these machines, fyi. But yes, the Appartemento is a beautiful machine.
The Meraki could be a perfect machine if they had actually put it in a metal housing and separated the grinder so it could be replaced effortless. As it is now, the Meraki is just too expensive and we have to wait and see how the software support will be in the future, there'll be bugs, problems and requests and if they don't care the Machine will not last long on the market.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I assume that doesn't include warmup time. That's the thing with boilers - they take significantly longer than a thermocoil to be ready to brew.
@@DamianSheesh which is key. I dont know how consumers make use of a dual boiler system, unless they are are bunch of people who all drink several coffee drinks several times a day. Of course in that case the machine has to be turned on all the time because otherwise you always need to warm up the whole boiler.
Hello, Im looking for a new coffee "setup" so an espresso machine and a grinder maybe combined if that's good too. I want an espresso machine that makes really good shots and always make them good so someone with medium experience can taste the difference of a really good shot, and also a non automatic steamer with enough power and "wholes" for you to easily get a good and nice 'void' when you steam. I know a good grinder is really important too. My max budget is about 900 American dollars ( I live in Europe). What is THE BEST espresso machine and grinder (either separate or combined) to get for max 900 dollars that will make really good milk and really good shots for someone with barista experience? Hope you can answer as I feel like your videos is mostly 2 machines compared but I don't know witch is the overall "winner". Hope you can help, and I love your detailed, thorough and honest reviews where I can really see that you know a lot of what you talk about. Keep it coming 🎉
For that budget, probably a DF54 and Apex V2. Or maybe a GCP, but it's not the easiest machine to use. Apex is easier, and has 2 heaters. Have fun looking!
The scale on the Ninja only work for espresso , when you grind for the brew cofee the grind work on time only and too coarse if you want the right amount because the grinding time is fixed and the amount of ground coffee varies when the grind size is changed
Do you have one or are you quoting another TH-cam video. I have the Ninja Luxe Cafe and I will add that I enjoy the coffee (regular type) that it makes.
@@davidloewen5528 Hi, I don't have one, I've read several reviews and in one in particular they tried to measure filter coffee and it turned out that the machine doesn't measure it the same way as Espresso (by weight of coffee) but by time. If you enjoy that machine that's fine by me but it's better to know the compromises that were made before buying it.
imo both machines look like appliances. (have owned low end home thermoblock and breville, home lever, cremina, la pavoni.faemina collectible, prosumer simonell, la spaziale, brasilia, commercial gaggia and others i cant recall. conical and flat burr grinders low, mid, to commercial. ; over decades. ninja imo is a breville on steroids with interesting features. thermoblock and vibe pump is not to be underestimated since decent uses it. for home use you wont usually find yourself steaming while pulling a shot from my experience.single circuit thermoblock takes longer to steam but unless you are in a rush matters little at home. in a cafe it matters a lot. even freestanding grinders can jam. the issue of not grinding fine enough can often be remedied with a simple modification. what i have also noticed is coffee machines perform better at native 220 volts even low end home thermoblock ones as have had them also. the meraki starter price is decent (no pun intended) for a dual boiler, rotary pump, grinder combo with preinfusion and built in scales. ps; latte art does not improve capuchino taste.
Different machines for very different people. Ninja seems great for budget conscious person just getting into expresso/milk drinks. Meraki at Kickstarter price is for the more experienced budget conscious individual. Other than making expresso… both machines are very different. Only a naive person would really even cross shop these machines
I'd say they're both a lot different. BP has a great steam wand and is ready in an instant. Meraki is a dual boiler with its inherent advantages. Ninja offers incredible value.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner A (dual) boiler also has a lot of disadvantages compared to a thermoblock. Longer warm up time, makes only sense if you drink more than 1-2 coffee drinks per day, otherwise you keep draining the boiler to have fresh water. You always warm up the whole water mass instead of just the water for the needed volume of the specific drink.
I think I missed that in your previous reviews, but this is the first time I've heard that Ninja Luxe can make cold milk froth. So, can you actually make a Freddo Cappuccino without a separate milk frother? That's a game changer for sure. How does it even do that?
Yes, it should be about to. The jug that comes with the ninja has a small whisk in the bottom that can froth milk without using the steam wand (ie cold foam).
I've shown the rapid cold brew in the first video, but not the rest of the cold functions, besides snippets. I should make a separate video for that...
@@TomsCoffeeCorner That would be really nice! If you do, make sure you call Freddo cappuccino by name though, not as a generic "cold brew espresso" there's a lot of history behind it.
The metal I definitely looks cheap af for its price, all that plastic and still paying so much… with the ninja I like the features you get for the price, but for almost $2000, I’d rather go with a separate grinder and machine.
Simple difference in price comes of course from the parts, components and advance features meraki offers. (grind by weight, 2 boilers, 2 scales, auto off shot, the great steam with thermometer) But i didn't back on this i rather have more controll with some e61 and some grinder. To much tech and i don't want to service it after couple days.
Very good vid, liked. I currently own a dedica along with a 9barista with a K ultra grinder for expresso. I was thinking of switching to the Ninja Luxe ES701 once it's out, looks interesting. Would you say that the expresso quality is good enough compared to the 9B from your testings of the Ninja? If so it would make my life easier to just replace what I have with the ninja.
@@mrtru1te well, it’s kind of hard to quantify, without testing them side-by-side. The nine barista made some very tasty, medium to dark roast espresso, with excellent texture. That being said, you cannot vary the temperature, so it is not ideal for various roasts. The ninja is more flexible in that regard. But, your grinder will be better than what is included in the ninja. So ultimately, you can probably do better espresso with your current set up, but it’s a lot more work.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The 9B can surely make great shots and even in light roasts I manage to get some good results, but like you said it's a lot of work so if the ninja can produce expressos that are close it'll be worth it for me since I will have way less work and way more possibilities than with my current setup... I'll have to see :)
Probably. My mom says to me when I make an espresso: "how can you drink that strong, nasty sh*t?" Lol... She drinks her milk and sugar with a side of coffee, but I love her. Anyway, it's not everyone's cup of tea, so to speak. I'd try it with frothed milk as a cappuccino, and see if you like that better.
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The Ninja Lux, which is a combination machine with grinding, brewing, and steaming functions, doesn’t seem to live up to expectations at the $500 price point, especially since it’s unclear if it’s repairable. A better alternative might be the Breville Barista Express, which also combines these functions and is priced similarly. While Breville machines are more accessible in terms of parts and repairs, they aren’t known for lasting long in the espresso machine world. Although they offer better serviceability compared to the Ninja, both options fall short in terms of long-term durability, especially compared to higher-end brands like Rancilio or Rocket. That said, for $500 as an entry-level machine, it's not bad, but don’t expect it to last more than two years without issues.
Wait a second... So You prefer more some espresso machine what can prepare "semi-espresso" than profesional really good prepared espresso from machine what can prepare it? Or it's really no differences in taste? Because for me ninja looks like its gonna prepare a little better espresso than automatic machine but still it's not true rich or very nice espresso and Meraki looks for me like really profesional espresso machine for Home use.
@@earthalign2965 You might be surprised. The ninja makes real espresso. Maybe check out the first video I did on it. The Meraki has a PID settable to the degree, which of course is a better feature. And it has a dedicated steam boiler, which is great. The ninja is capable of making bonafide espresso as well.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner well i meant that Meraki looks like it is capability to create espresso like in coffee shop, and ninja looks like toy with too many (and oh boy too too many features). I think its impossible to be good with everything. So if machine can create "espresso" and cold brew it looks like good marketing and that's all . Anyway in my opinion ninja cant make good cold brew. Its just fine enough cold coffee.
@@earthalign2965as an owner I can say that the “extra features” are really just software options which do not get in the way of making espresso. If I am in a hurry, I can grind, tamp, set both the coffee and milk, touch two buttons and walk away until it is done. Now that isn’t my preferred workflow, but but when I need my hands elsewhere, it is helpful. And I still get great coffee.
#LuxCafe is ridiculously good value for the price. But I prefer the aesthetic of the Maraki. I just can’t get my head round the way the Ninja portafilter looks too
James Hoffman ist von der Ninja nicht wirklich angetan. Ich finde, dass die Meraki viel schicker ist und auch innovativer zu bedienen. Außerdem wird bis zum Launch noch einiges optimiert. Andererseits wird bei der Meraki die Brühgruppe nicht heiß genug.
I thought he gave it a great review, it isn’t suited for him, he liked the espresso, didn’t really make an ice drink from the cold brew, and his educated taste buds didn’t like the regular coffee. While I have yet to make cold brew, the regular coffee is fine, it is fresh and you can grind finer and control how much water you put through if you want to.
#LuxeCafe > Because for me, as you said, the value for the price. :) I mean, my Delonghi PrimaDonna Deluxe (1.200€) is now 12 years old and I replaced some parts after 6 years, because of steam leak (50€). That's it. Comparing the 1.200€ to 12 years, that's 8€ per month and a crazy value. After 10 years you should consider replacing a machine and now I'm other this time. I don't think, that the Ninja Luxe will be more than 5 years old. That's also ~9€ per month (because of the 599€ in Germany for the Ninja Luxe Cafe ES601EU) and it's still a very good value for the price. And it makes a very good foam by itself.:D I dont' know, if we'll get some aftermarket parts for repair in the future or if Ninja will offer parts in the shop, but after your teardown video I think, that the Ninja interior is very repair friendly (not the opening of course). :D
The only thing about the Ninja though are the one time hose clamps. So one will need to find a way to replace those kind of clamps, if having to service the machine. Cheers!
Frankly I'm not sure where did you get the idea to compare the two machines. Apart from the fact that they both have built in grinder and the steamer are probably the only common things between the two.
i think both machines miss the current coffee enthusiast niche these are both for beginners/lazy people that are kinda low on budget and beginners/lazy people that don't have a set budget. Just my opinion
Now that’s a ridiculous comment. There are people who have a life and still enjoy decent coffee; who don’t have time to get obsessed about their coffee. The #NinjaLuxeCafe makes coffee a sight better than I am used to and hasn’t required me to be an expert in a day.
@@nerdygeeksI have done all kinds of crazy things with just a Nespresso unit, quite sure I can abuse my #NinjaLuxeCafe the same way. For instance I have already used just the old Nespresso machine and frothed my milk on the Lux, made a mug of hot water on the Lux, mixed my own beans and saved off some ground coffee.
Ok, am I the only person that is being distracted by the “animation” on the Meraki? I think it starts at 5:44. Because let me tell you what. If the Meraki and do that, I’m sure guys would pay way more than $1800 for it 😂😂😂
Great you can show us you can make the milk yourself, I however do not know how to do the milk, so I would buy the Ninja for that reason, although you did not want to show this fantastic function of the Ninja, why did you not show more of what the machine can do, I'm not interested in what you can do, only the machine, if one machine cannot do that, is it a problem that the other can, though you do not want to show because it would not be fair, get a machine that is in the same position as the Ninja, if their is not, then the Ninja is hands down the clear winer
Having owned a Breville Dual Boiler and a Decent DE1 with thermocoils, one thing that is often forgotten about is simply cost to operate. My electricity bill was noticeably higher with the BDB. Heating up volumes of water to near boiling every day to mostly just sit there takes a lot of energy. You also lose fast temperature flexibility. While I like the Meraki for some of its capabilities, in today's world, I'd lean towards a dual thermocoil machine for fast heating, lower power usage, and flexibility way before I considered anything with a boiler. If Ninja comes out with a dual block machine? That'd be killer.
Yes, that's also true. Boiler machines are kind of like traditional water heaters in your home, while thermoblocks are like the new tankless options. I should do an energy measurement once, for a comparison...
@@TomsCoffeeCorner It really would be interesting. Unscientifically, I can look at my home's power usage through my electric company's website on an hourly basis. With the BDB, the 3 hours it was on in the morning, I calculated to using about $1 or so in power (our rates are quite high). $350/yr to run the coffee maker. Thermocoils with the low mass and quick heat up are way more efficient by an order of magnitude.
@@FatNorthernBigotif you get meraki at kickstarter price, then thats an amazing deal for a dual boiler machine. But MSRP, i agree its not worth it. Better to go with breville dual boiler + grinder combo
There is a large price difference, yes. But dual boilers are expensive. Also, Ninja is a humongous company and I think that plays into their hand in production, logistics, and storage costs.
I will not chose any of the 2. The biggest issue for consumers is how long will those machine lasts and how much maintance is required as well as how will the handle water and what kind of service will they need. I will not prefer any machine like this over a heat exchanger machine with E61 group head from Italy such as the rocket which I have now for 16 years with almost zero maintanace or even need to clean it proparly not to mention that no problem with spare parts and self made maintanace with the help from so many people on youtube
People like you worry me in the coffee world - you have an expensive machine but perform no maintenance nor cleaning on it?? You probably do the same for your car!
@@donjon1st Ha Ha you are right I am lazy but do only what is needed the great thing is that not like other machines I have no problem since I use filtered water and changed maybe one valve but I have already ordered the full kit to refurbish the head, thanks for the remark
The Rocket machines are indeed handsome, but I don't have the patience to wait the 30 minutes for those E61 groups to heat up, lol. Glad you're happy with yours!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Therefore I have a timer that start the machine before I weak up and is set up also for 16:00 to enable be 17:00 coffee break and the advantage I can steam up milk at the same time when makeing the espresso which is a big advantage
The founder is an Asian American, bro was a barista and tech enthusiast so he created it. Everything is based in HK because its cheaper for manufacturing and shipping lol.
I just bought the De'Longhi Magnifica Start Espresso & Coffee Machine with Automatic Milk Frother, One Touch Latte, Cappuccino from Amazon. It is absolutely phenomenal. Using 2% milk and Dunkin' Donuts medium roast beans. I make an expresso first and then add on top a cappuccino for my perfect coffee. The best coffee I have ever had in my life.
@@donjon1st It's about coffee machines. I watched tons of this guys videos, one of which is the one I mentioned, and I was saying how good it is. Sorry if that was too complicated a jump for you.
The Magnifica does a great job for its price bracket, and I honestly like Dunkin' Donut beans. I find them significantly better than Starbucks. Glad you're enjoying the machine!
Ok, here is the long story short. See a noname Chinese machine for 100usd, 80usd grinder, 15usd scales, 20usd accessories, build a Frankenstein, call it something and sell for over 1000usd. The numbers on the screen are nice and precise, but do they really match the physical world we live in? They now digitalized the taste of espresso.) Nice toys. Ninja is down to earth at least.
I personally prefer a more analogue display like on the Ninja- it's modern but still quite classic. Also very strange that the Meraki is mostly plastic for that price, every time it heats up you're essentially breathing in expensive fumes!
Well, they both have a fair amount of plastic, to be fair. I think both displays are pretty intuitive too, but I like that the Ninja still has haptic rotary buttons.
There are a couple things I wish I would’ve remembered to include in this review.
First of all, I was wrong about the 37 ounce capacity of the Ninja - I measured it at 2.085 liters, or 70.5 ounces.
Next, a dual boiler has the inherent ability to be able to extract and steam milk at the same time. But also, you can make successive drinks, too.
Since the boilers maintain their temperature, there is no ramping up steam temperature, or cooling back down.
With that being said, I wish that the Meraki had a settable standby time. It turns itself off rather quickly, and it’s hard to keep the brew group and portafilter heated. Hopefully they fix that in the upcoming iterations.
Thanks for watching!
Hope your channel keeps on growing tom, your unbiased opinions are always so refreshing and your knowledge is great! Thanks for giving me a place to come to when i have questions on things
That's so kind of you to say - thank you!
Ive had 2 Sage machines, both broke within 2 years. Just pre-ordered a Ninja, excited
I’m glad Ninja took a chance and made this type of machine. I’ve owned a few different machines and have always migrated to the super autos or semi-auto machines. I wish I could try out the luxe to see what the espresso tastes like.
Won’t that depend more on the beans used?
@ absolutely. If you’re lucky enough to have a local roaster near you. Fresh makes a difference
@@bluowl I think you can get freshly roasted beans shipped to you. There are lots of small businesses roasters around.
Great comparison video Tom! Thank you for the time you take to give us as thorough info and clear unbiased explanations as possible. Your the best! Habt ein tolles Wochenende!
You can do manual milk frothing on the ninja...look in the safety manual its like page 16
Hello from Costa Rica. I would have liked to see the latte art at the end so I could compare the quality visually. Thank you so much.
Regularly follow your content , very informative .
Got the ECP 35.31 after getting a positive review from you.
Thanks 😊
Since a lot of coffee YT channels went crazy for the Ninja, I purchased it recently as a second machine at another location. I do think it offers quite a bit of functionality for the price, but the machine and its accessories all felt pretty cheap, and more importantly, I couldn’t get the espresso dialed in the way I like. The grinder in particular seems weak and I was always at the finest or next to finest setting with a pretty fresh medium roast. Even then, couldn’t get a pour I liked. Auto milk was unimpressive, and steam power for manual milk was weak. I also learned the value of an insulated steam wand. 😂 I ended up returning it. Just my experience!
@elsupremo19 so you did the water hardness and 3 espressos to calibrate and it did not give you a pour you liked?
Yeah for me having only 25 grinder settings doesn’t go well with unpressurised system. And you are absolutely right with the steam wand. It is huge difference having the insulated one
I can vouch for this comment, with the steam more importantly. I tried a 3 heat setting on manual mode, and not once could the steam get my Barista Oat milk even close to being a thick consistency for a traditional latte. The automatic is just not there, unless you do cappuccino which is water with surface foam.
@@kenroman777 Yes. I used it for around 2 weeks straight. I also tried with WDT and Normcore tamper which helped. I also tried all three brew temp settings. Generally, extractions seemed too quick and was already at the limits of fineness for the grinder, and this was medium roast. I did like the cold brew, cold espressos, and ability to make cold foam. I did not try a medium dark or darker roast which likely would have done better. Again, I still think it delivers a lot of functionality for the price, it does make real espresso, but kind of just barely; in my opinion. 😅
i let my girlfriend buy it, and I transferred mine from china….
Thanks for the review. I dont get that people are upset by this comparison. You can compare every espresso machine with each other regardless of the price. Anyway great review.
I love my ninja lux. My only issue is the subpar grinder. Dark roast is my favorite, and my grimder setting is at it's finest setting. I guess that means medium and light roast are out of the question since they require a finer grind than dark roast
I haven't found in my limited experimentation with light roasts, that they necessarily need a finer grind. It's much more the case that older beans need that. I grind between 4-8 with my fresh med roast beans on this machine.
@TomsCoffeeCorner thank you Tom
Hey Tom, i really really like your videos! Great quality and great facts. I would like some more up top shots after doing the latte art though.
Thank you! You can see the overhead latte art at 14:21 for the Meraki. Unfortunately, you can see I am almost out of frame.
The problem is, at 17:50 for the Ninja, I WAS completely out of frame. Sometimes it would be good to have a camera man, lol.
Sorry, I know it would have been nice to have seen both.
You're absolutely right! The practice you're referring to is increasingly common in the consumer goods industry, including espresso machines. It involves "private labeling" or "white labeling" where products are manufactured in factories (often in China) and then branded with a different name. These products are marketed as premium or European/American products, even though their manufacturing origins are in low-cost production countries.
In the case of coffee machines, brands like Meraki (and others) may market their products as being of European or American origin, but the actual manufacturing could be done in China or other regions known for cost-effective production. The brand then adds a layer of design or customization, and the product is often positioned as a "premium" or "stylish" alternative to well-known, high-end brands.
You're absolutely right in your assessment of Meraki and similar brands. Many companies, including Meraki, indeed source products from low-cost manufacturers in China and then add a few additional features or cosmetic changes to differentiate their offerings. They often sell these products as premium or high-end, but the actual quality control and long-term reliability can be questionable.
Feature Additions Without Substance: As you mentioned, some companies just add features (like digital displays, new buttons, or customizable settings) but don’t focus on improving the core reliability or durability of the machine.
Meraki Espresso Machines and Grinders
With Meraki, it's likely that the company:
Sources low-cost Chinese machines and grinders from factories that mass-produce similar models under various brand names.
Adds Features: Perhaps some extra features, like digital interfaces, additional settings, or custom finishes, to make the product appear more appealing or premium.
Branding: The brand creates a European look or claims higher-end status, but, as you mentioned, the underlying reliability and quality can be low.
Given this, Meraki products, like many other rebranded or private-labeled items, may suffer from:
Inconsistent Performance: Machines or grinders that fail unexpectedly, suffer from wear, or have subpar components that break down sooner than expected.
Poor Longevity: Even if a Meraki machine seems fine initially, over time, the lack of high-end components and rigorous testing may cause issues with durability.
Actually, neither of these machines are white label. Meraki is designed and made in China, and they never hid that fact. White label would be: DF grinders, Apex espresso machines, Gastroback machines, etc.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The comment never said Meraki is white labeling, but the overall idea is clear. DF grinders are sold for reasonable price, be it white, black or grey labeling, but when they give it kinda Italian type name, like Turin and just for this add extra 200 Euros, that is misleading the customers.
Great video Tom. Just a small correction; you've mentioned the water tank size on the Ninja to be 37oz in a few of your videos. I believe that is incorrect. A number of users and the user manual say it's 70oz or just over 2 L. Cheers.
Ah crap, you're right! I thought I had read 37 ounces, but after looking at the manual, it does say 70. 37 ounces is the descaling volume. support.ninjakitchen.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/14670346024348
The Ninja is for the coffee enjoyer and the Meraki is for the coffee enthusiast
I wouldn’t even put the meraki in the enthusiast category. No true enthusiasts would get a combo grinder/espresso machine for that much money.
@@JT-zy2ft ok I’ll hop off Meraki. Sure a “true enthusiast” (whatever that now is) would not choose combo machine “they” would probably choose something else but within the constraints of being a combo machine I don’t think there is anything better. Also the price isn’t that bad especially if u buy it now for like 1200 usd it’s a very good price for just the rotary pump + 2 boiler machine.
@@justwater9763 yes $1200 for a duel boiler is a good price but its from a kickstarter and a new company so that is a risk.
@@justwater9763coffee enthusiast sounds about right to me. People who like separate grinders are probably coffee connoisseurs or coffee aficionados.
Here in South Africa we also have a Metro stop very close to OR Thambo airport, and one inside the airport. If you stop at the first stop you can see the airport stop. But the price to go inside the airport is 3 times the normal price.
Very nice video!
I like the Meraki much more! Love that big steam wand and the rotary pump. I think both machines are going to give Breville a run for their money at different points in the market.
See, I can make a comment without mentioning Decent.........DOH!
Which superautomatic do do you guys recommend for under 1000usd? I mostly drink cappuccino but also cold brews. So far delonghi Electra explore is what I’m thinking
Would like to see an odd comparison between the Ninja and one of the Delonghi superautomatics like the Elleta or Dinamica Pro. Is the espresso/cappuccino of the Ninja that much better to switch to a semi-automatic?
Nice Videos, can't wait to give the ninja a try when I get the chance here in Germany. How is the handling if you want to switch beans? Here we drink also decaffeinated espresso and have a dual grinder setup.
Thanks for your videos, I finally backed Meraki on Kickstarter.
Dont
Hey Tom, please make hand grinder videos. I'm waiting for my Kingrinder k6 to arrive and would love to know more about 1Zpresso, Commandante and Kinu
I read there is a 700 Ninja Luxe Café Premiere coming out. Would you happen to know about it?
Thank you for such an informative comparison between the two machines.
You betcha!
Hi Tom right now I have the ecp3630 on advance mode just like yours. If you were wanting to upgrade which espresso machine would it be?
Thanks
The Meraki seems to be a similar price to something like the Rocket Espresso Appartamento Espresso Machine. I know which one I'd have.
First of all, Rocket is about $1000 more, it's only got full metal body over Meraki in everything else Meraki is better: dual boiler with PID over HX, rotary pump over vibration, real low pressure preinfusion over pseudo one, dual scales for precise volumetrics, steam wand with temperature sensor and bonus grinder by timemore.
Why did you steam manually when it does it for you?
I have heard that ninja will be coming out with a second model. With a water spout for americanos. Don't know if this is true. Ninja usually releases multiple versions so we will wait and see
Yes, they'll be coming out with newer models soon. ES501, ES601 and ES701. 👍🏻
If ninja comes up with a dual boiler🤯😂
@@TomsCoffeeCorner came in the comments looking for this. Any idea on the pricing, features, eta on those?
My Meraki Prototype has 2 problems since last week: The scale does not work and the steam wand has too less power. What could be the reason?
@@DerKaffeelehrer boy, I don’t know. I guess it could be many things… Maybe the load cell needs recalibration, maybe the connection between the scale and the controller is faulty, maybe there’s an issue with the controller or the firmware, it’s hard to know.
All fake. Chinese nonames. Read my comment above.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Yep. Many users have problems with the steam wand. A comparison of the two machines is - in my opinion - a little premature, as the Ninja is already finally on the market, but the Meraki is not yet and is still being improved!
@@albertabdullayev3108 Why are you saying such nonsense? You can say something like that once you have tested the machines. Furthermore, Ninja is not an unknown company. So don't write nonsense that doesn't correspond to the truth and for which you have no evidence. Thank you!
@@DerKaffeelehrer Nonsense is when you take a 250usd noname Chinese machine, add 15usd for your Logo and name on it, agree with the guys to be exclusive seller, and sell it for 1200usd. Another Dynavin (aftermarket BMW multimedia) story, used to be sold as a brand, on eBay and in us and Europe for 1000-1500 while Originally it was a Chinese Erisin maker, who made multimedia systems for any car maker, and were selling those for 150-200 usd. Guys selling Dynavin would also argue that they are not Erisin, and they are brand and different, but how come either you buy Erisin for 200 or Dynavin for 1200 you had to have exactly the same problems, freezing screen, mics, connectivity isssues etc. Not to metnion that you literally couldn't find any but any difference in design, functions and etc. Same gamble for different price. So tell me about Ninja, who are they? Where is the factory? Certificates? Registration? and etc. Quality Assurance? As a client I need no evidence, as a maker you need to provide me with all the certificates, papers, tests etc. Unless proved otherwise, cheap, noname, low quality, labeled scrap. But as I said Ninja's price is not as bad as Meraki's. Thank you too. Btw, in the end Dynavin guy in Britain got arrested for FRAUD, after many complaints.
Hey Tom , nice video as always!!! I have great news!! Remember the Hibrew H10A?? Now Hibrew made H10 plus and I think it's even better than before!! Hope you can get your hands on it.
I have the ninja luxe cafe and I love it
I've been strongly considering both for awhile now but decide to go with neither and get the real thing, going with Rocket Appartamento TCA
Just know that those E61 brew groups do need time to heat up - I think the TCA is quicker, but it'll still be slower than either of these machines, fyi. But yes, the Appartemento is a beautiful machine.
The Meraki could be a perfect machine if they had actually put it in a metal housing and separated the grinder so it could be replaced effortless. As it is now, the Meraki is just too expensive and we have to wait and see how the software support will be in the future, there'll be bugs, problems and requests and if they don't care the Machine will not last long on the market.
You never added up the process time for each machine. Obviously, the Ninja is longer but by how much?
You're right. The Meraki is about 2 minutes from puck prep to finished cappuccino, while the Ninja is about 4 minutes.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I assume that doesn't include warmup time. That's the thing with boilers - they take significantly longer than a thermocoil to be ready to brew.
@@DamianSheesh which is key. I dont know how consumers make use of a dual boiler system, unless they are are bunch of people who all drink several coffee drinks several times a day. Of course in that case the machine has to be turned on all the time because otherwise you always need to warm up the whole boiler.
Can you do a review of the capresso EC50?
Hello, Im looking for a new coffee "setup" so an espresso machine and a grinder maybe combined if that's good too.
I want an espresso machine that makes really good shots and always make them good so someone with medium experience can taste the difference of a really good shot, and also a non automatic steamer with enough power and "wholes" for you to easily get a good and nice 'void' when you steam. I know a good grinder is really important too. My max budget is about 900 American dollars ( I live in Europe).
What is THE BEST espresso machine and grinder (either separate or combined) to get for max 900 dollars that will make really good milk and really good shots for someone with barista experience?
Hope you can answer as I feel like your videos is mostly 2 machines compared but I don't know witch is the overall "winner".
Hope you can help, and I love your detailed, thorough and honest reviews where I can really see that you know a lot of what you talk about. Keep it coming 🎉
For that budget, probably a DF54 and Apex V2. Or maybe a GCP, but it's not the easiest machine to use. Apex is easier, and has 2 heaters. Have fun looking!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Okay, will do! Thank you so much for your answer, have a great day :)
The scale on the Ninja only work for espresso , when you grind for the brew cofee the grind work on time only and too coarse if you want the right amount because the grinding time is fixed and the amount of ground coffee varies when the grind size is changed
Do you have one or are you quoting another TH-cam video. I have the Ninja Luxe Cafe and I will add that I enjoy the coffee (regular type) that it makes.
@@davidloewen5528 Hi, I don't have one, I've read several reviews and in one in particular they tried to measure filter coffee and it turned out that the machine doesn't measure it the same way as Espresso (by weight of coffee) but by time. If you enjoy that machine that's fine by me but it's better to know the compromises that were made before buying it.
@ I agree on being aware, I was, and it turns out I liked the regular coffee.
Wie hast du die Ninja nach Deutschland bekommen?
Momentan geht nur der Import aus den USA, oder?
@@antonmuhlhausen3610 Ich habe es aus den Staaten mitgebracht. Die Maschine sollte allerdings schon in Oktober in Europa zu Verfügung stehen. Gruß!
imo both machines look like appliances. (have owned low end home thermoblock and breville, home lever, cremina, la pavoni.faemina collectible, prosumer simonell, la spaziale, brasilia, commercial gaggia and others i cant recall. conical and flat burr grinders low, mid, to commercial. ; over decades. ninja imo is a breville on steroids with interesting features. thermoblock and vibe pump is not to be underestimated since decent uses it. for home use you wont usually find yourself steaming while pulling a shot from my experience.single circuit thermoblock takes longer to steam but unless you are in a rush matters little at home. in a cafe it matters a lot. even freestanding grinders can jam. the issue of not grinding fine enough can often be remedied with a simple modification. what i have also noticed is coffee machines perform better at native 220 volts even low end home thermoblock ones as have had them also. the meraki starter price is decent (no pun intended) for a dual boiler, rotary pump, grinder combo with preinfusion and built in scales.
ps; latte art does not improve capuchino taste.
Different machines for very different people. Ninja seems great for budget conscious person just getting into expresso/milk drinks. Meraki at Kickstarter price is for the more experienced budget conscious individual. Other than making expresso… both machines are very different. Only a naive person would really even cross shop these machines
expresso
5:05 2L vs 37oz, now convert them to ergs per barleycorn and we're set
are both better than Breville Barista Pro?
I'd say they're both a lot different. BP has a great steam wand and is ready in an instant. Meraki is a dual boiler with its inherent advantages. Ninja offers incredible value.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner A (dual) boiler also has a lot of disadvantages compared to a thermoblock. Longer warm up time, makes only sense if you drink more than 1-2 coffee drinks per day, otherwise you keep draining the boiler to have fresh water. You always warm up the whole water mass instead of just the water for the needed volume of the specific drink.
I think I missed that in your previous reviews, but this is the first time I've heard that Ninja Luxe can make cold milk froth. So, can you actually make a Freddo Cappuccino without a separate milk frother? That's a game changer for sure. How does it even do that?
@fgmenth check out Just A Dad Videos he has many on Luxe
Yes, it should be about to. The jug that comes with the ninja has a small whisk in the bottom that can froth milk without using the steam wand (ie cold foam).
I've shown the rapid cold brew in the first video, but not the rest of the cold functions, besides snippets. I should make a separate video for that...
@@TomsCoffeeCorner That would be really nice! If you do, make sure you call Freddo cappuccino by name though, not as a generic "cold brew espresso" there's a lot of history behind it.
#LuxeCafe - purchased, starting my 2nd bag of coffee.
The metal I definitely looks cheap af for its price, all that plastic and still paying so much… with the ninja I like the features you get for the price, but for almost $2000, I’d rather go with a separate grinder and machine.
What coffee beans are your go to, or favorite?
www.martermuehle.de/m-espresso/
Can you do a review with the Ninja Luxe vs Breville Touch Impress? That would be more real world since they are both in production now
I compared the Ninja to the Express Impress. That's a bit different than the Touch Impress, but should still give a decent impression. Cheers!
I am exiting when they launch the ninja in Asia.
Very nice video their Tom.
Simple difference in price comes of course from the parts, components and advance features meraki offers. (grind by weight, 2 boilers, 2 scales, auto off shot, the great steam with thermometer)
But i didn't back on this i rather have more controll with some e61 and some grinder. To much tech and i don't want to service it after couple days.
Very good vid, liked. I currently own a dedica along with a 9barista with a K ultra grinder for expresso. I was thinking of switching to the Ninja Luxe ES701 once it's out, looks interesting. Would you say that the expresso quality is good enough compared to the 9B from your testings of the Ninja? If so it would make my life easier to just replace what I have with the ninja.
@@mrtru1te well, it’s kind of hard to quantify, without testing them side-by-side. The nine barista made some very tasty, medium to dark roast espresso, with excellent texture. That being said, you cannot vary the temperature, so it is not ideal for various roasts. The ninja is more flexible in that regard. But, your grinder will be better than what is included in the ninja. So ultimately, you can probably do better espresso with your current set up, but it’s a lot more work.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner The 9B can surely make great shots and even in light roasts I manage to get some good results, but like you said it's a lot of work so if the ninja can produce expressos that are close it'll be worth it for me since I will have way less work and way more possibilities than with my current setup... I'll have to see :)
I bought the Ninja but that espresso is too strong, it's a black ink. I don't know if it's because I'm not used to drinking it like that.
Probably. My mom says to me when I make an espresso: "how can you drink that strong, nasty sh*t?" Lol...
She drinks her milk and sugar with a side of coffee, but I love her.
Anyway, it's not everyone's cup of tea, so to speak. I'd try it with frothed milk as a cappuccino, and see if you like that better.
☕✨ Master the art of latte with a handheld frother! This quick tutorial shows you how to create beautiful designs in just minutes. Perfect for impressing friends or enjoying a café-quality coffee at home. Watch now and become a latte artist! 🎨💖
what about the taste of each espresso ? Incomplete video ...
The Ninja Lux, which is a combination machine with grinding, brewing, and steaming functions, doesn’t seem to live up to expectations at the $500 price point, especially since it’s unclear if it’s repairable. A better alternative might be the Breville Barista Express, which also combines these functions and is priced similarly. While Breville machines are more accessible in terms of parts and repairs, they aren’t known for lasting long in the espresso machine world. Although they offer better serviceability compared to the Ninja, both options fall short in terms of long-term durability, especially compared to higher-end brands like Rancilio or Rocket. That said, for $500 as an entry-level machine, it's not bad, but don’t expect it to last more than two years without issues.
Well, we will see about the longevity. Too early to tell. Cheers!
Wait a second... So You prefer more some espresso machine what can prepare "semi-espresso" than profesional really good prepared espresso from machine what can prepare it? Or it's really no differences in taste? Because for me ninja looks like its gonna prepare a little better espresso than automatic machine but still it's not true rich or very nice espresso and Meraki looks for me like really profesional espresso machine for Home use.
@@earthalign2965 You might be surprised. The ninja makes real espresso. Maybe check out the first video I did on it. The Meraki has a PID settable to the degree, which of course is a better feature. And it has a dedicated steam boiler, which is great. The ninja is capable of making bonafide espresso as well.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner well i meant that Meraki looks like it is capability to create espresso like in coffee shop, and ninja looks like toy with too many (and oh boy too too many features). I think its impossible to be good with everything. So if machine can create "espresso" and cold brew it looks like good marketing and that's all . Anyway in my opinion ninja cant make good cold brew. Its just fine enough cold coffee.
@@earthalign2965as an owner I can say that the “extra features” are really just software options which do not get in the way of making espresso. If I am in a hurry, I can grind, tamp, set both the coffee and milk, touch two buttons and walk away until it is done. Now that isn’t my preferred workflow, but but when I need my hands elsewhere, it is helpful. And I still get great coffee.
#LuxCafe is ridiculously good value for the price. But I prefer the aesthetic of the Maraki.
I just can’t get my head round the way the Ninja portafilter looks too
James Hoffman ist von der Ninja nicht wirklich angetan. Ich finde, dass die Meraki viel schicker ist und auch innovativer zu bedienen. Außerdem wird bis zum Launch noch einiges optimiert. Andererseits wird bei der Meraki die Brühgruppe nicht heiß genug.
I thought he gave it a great review, it isn’t suited for him, he liked the espresso, didn’t really make an ice drink from the cold brew, and his educated taste buds didn’t like the regular coffee. While I have yet to make cold brew, the regular coffee is fine, it is fresh and you can grind finer and control how much water you put through if you want to.
#Meraki ... im thinking to buy one ... will see
#LuxeCafe > Because for me, as you said, the value for the price. :) I mean, my Delonghi PrimaDonna Deluxe (1.200€) is now 12 years old and I replaced some parts after 6 years, because of steam leak (50€). That's it. Comparing the 1.200€ to 12 years, that's 8€ per month and a crazy value. After 10 years you should consider replacing a machine and now I'm other this time.
I don't think, that the Ninja Luxe will be more than 5 years old. That's also ~9€ per month (because of the 599€ in Germany for the Ninja Luxe Cafe ES601EU) and it's still a very good value for the price. And it makes a very good foam by itself.:D
I dont' know, if we'll get some aftermarket parts for repair in the future or if Ninja will offer parts in the shop, but after your teardown video I think, that the Ninja interior is very repair friendly (not the opening of course). :D
The only thing about the Ninja though are the one time hose clamps. So one will need to find a way to replace those kind of clamps, if having to service the machine. Cheers!
#luxe, price and Design for me wins. Cleaning also, cleaning around 4/5 towers after a spill or general dust looks like a total nightmare.
So both going to have problems grinding lighter roasts, like Breville.
Well, neither are power houses, but I think the occasional light roast should work. I've tried a bit on both without issues so far.
Legit thought Cisco was making a connected espresso machine.
Frankly I'm not sure where did you get the idea to compare the two machines. Apart from the fact that they both have built in grinder and the steamer are probably the only common things between the two.
People were asking for it, so I did it. But yes I agree, they are quite different machines.
i think both machines miss the current coffee enthusiast niche these are both for beginners/lazy people that are kinda low on budget and beginners/lazy people that don't have a set budget. Just my opinion
Now that’s a ridiculous comment. There are people who have a life and still enjoy decent coffee; who don’t have time to get obsessed about their coffee. The #NinjaLuxeCafe makes coffee a sight better than I am used to and hasn’t required me to be an expert in a day.
Hi Tom
I double dog challenge you to review the Tenker Expresso machine 20 bar
Hmm, that looks like a copy of the popular machine by Mr. Coffee...
@@TomsCoffeeCorner did you find it as amazing as I did?
Meraki all-day, its more tailored to advance home barista
No
well, one feels more like an appliance and the other a machine that gives you freedom to do more
@@nerdygeeksI have done all kinds of crazy things with just a Nespresso unit, quite sure I can abuse my #NinjaLuxeCafe the same way. For instance I have already used just the old Nespresso machine and frothed my milk on the Lux, made a mug of hot water on the Lux, mixed my own beans and saved off some ground coffee.
Next time let's compare an S Klasse with a Ford Focus :))
#luxecafe love mine but there seems to be a leak from the water reservoir. I will contact Ninja
Also, make sure the water tank is seated correctly. Sometimes that's the problem.
Ok, am I the only person that is being distracted by the “animation” on the Meraki? I think it starts at 5:44. Because let me tell you what. If the Meraki and do that, I’m sure guys would pay way more than $1800 for it 😂😂😂
I guess the frequency of the animation is what causes that illusion. It's just telling you to put the water tank back on.
#LuxeCafe I already have an ice cream maker, and an airfryer. Ninja!
Great you can show us you can make the milk yourself, I however do not know how to do the milk, so I would buy the Ninja for that reason, although you did not want to show this fantastic function of the Ninja, why did you not show more of what the machine can do, I'm not interested in what you can do, only the machine, if one machine cannot do that, is it a problem that the other can, though you do not want to show because it would not be fair, get a machine that is in the same position as the Ninja, if their is not, then the Ninja is hands down the clear winer
499 at costco and 1099 at temu
i go with costco.
#luxe cafe 😊
Having owned a Breville Dual Boiler and a Decent DE1 with thermocoils, one thing that is often forgotten about is simply cost to operate. My electricity bill was noticeably higher with the BDB. Heating up volumes of water to near boiling every day to mostly just sit there takes a lot of energy. You also lose fast temperature flexibility. While I like the Meraki for some of its capabilities, in today's world, I'd lean towards a dual thermocoil machine for fast heating, lower power usage, and flexibility way before I considered anything with a boiler. If Ninja comes out with a dual block machine? That'd be killer.
Yes, that's also true. Boiler machines are kind of like traditional water heaters in your home, while thermoblocks are like the new tankless options. I should do an energy measurement once, for a comparison...
@@TomsCoffeeCorner It really would be interesting. Unscientifically, I can look at my home's power usage through my electric company's website on an hourly basis. With the BDB, the 3 hours it was on in the morning, I calculated to using about $1 or so in power (our rates are quite high). $350/yr to run the coffee maker. Thermocoils with the low mass and quick heat up are way more efficient by an order of magnitude.
Now, the kickstarter price is 1199 USD...
@@Madalin1312 Thanks for that info!
My espresso expertise is a double shot pod in my nespresso 😂
That’s exactly where mine was at before I got me #NinjaLuxeCafe. It didn’t break the bank and the coffee is amazing in comparison.
The Meraki easily LOOKS 3.5x better than the Ninja.
What if both were same price??
Good question. I'd still like the Ninja better for ergonomics, and prefer the Meraki for its steam wand.
#LuxeCafe doesn’t have space for 2 cups 😢
Given the price difference, the Meraki should absolutely run away with this. It doesn't! 😂
Both machines are for very different consumer groups. Ninja has few good features like cold brew,cold foam etc but meraki is more powerful and quicker
No lol
@@haha7836hahah Different "consumer groups", or not, (and those groups have more in common than not) the price disparity is ridiculous.
@@FatNorthernBigotif you get meraki at kickstarter price, then thats an amazing deal for a dual boiler machine. But MSRP, i agree its not worth it. Better to go with breville dual boiler + grinder combo
There is a large price difference, yes. But dual boilers are expensive. Also, Ninja is a humongous company and I think that plays into their hand in production, logistics, and storage costs.
I will not chose any of the 2. The biggest issue for consumers is how long will those machine lasts and how much maintance is required as well as how will the handle water and what kind of service will they need. I will not prefer any machine like this over a heat exchanger machine with E61 group head from Italy such as the rocket which I have now for 16 years with almost zero maintanace or even need to clean it proparly not to mention that no problem with spare parts and self made maintanace with the help from so many people on youtube
People like you worry me in the coffee world - you have an expensive machine but perform no maintenance nor cleaning on it?? You probably do the same for your car!
@@donjon1st Ha Ha you are right I am lazy but do only what is needed the great thing is that not like other machines I have no problem since I use filtered water and changed maybe one valve but I have already ordered the full kit to refurbish the head, thanks for the remark
The Rocket machines are indeed handsome, but I don't have the patience to wait the 30 minutes for those E61 groups to heat up, lol. Glad you're happy with yours!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Therefore I have a timer that start the machine before I weak up and is set up also for 16:00 to enable be 17:00 coffee break and the advantage I can steam up milk at the same time when makeing the espresso which is a big advantage
One machine that is top of the game and does it all gives the top of the line.
Maraki
#Meraki
#meraki
#LuxeDeluxe
Wow the Ninja is undefeated on this channel. Hopefully they aren't subscribed and raise the price of this machine 🥷🥷😂😂
I think Ninja underpriced their machine to storm the market. But they cannot keep up with demand - almost always sold out. So that sucks too, haha.
#luxecafe
#LuxeCafe
I dont get it, why Chinese use kick starters, like they needed theey can produce any thing and can be distributed quickly around the world.
The founder is an Asian American, bro was a barista and tech enthusiast so he created it. Everything is based in HK because its cheaper for manufacturing and shipping lol.
I just bought the De'Longhi Magnifica Start Espresso & Coffee Machine with Automatic Milk Frother, One Touch Latte, Cappuccino from Amazon. It is absolutely phenomenal. Using 2% milk and Dunkin' Donuts medium roast beans. I make an expresso first and then add on top a cappuccino for my perfect coffee. The best coffee I have ever had in my life.
Who cares and how is this relevant to the video?
@@donjon1st It's about coffee machines. I watched tons of this guys videos, one of which is the one I mentioned, and I was saying how good it is. Sorry if that was too complicated a jump for you.
@@digitalclips the fact you’re using a super automatic shows you’re probably on the wrong channel. Dunkin’ donuts beans? Christs sake.
The Magnifica does a great job for its price bracket, and I honestly like Dunkin' Donut beans. I find them significantly better than Starbucks. Glad you're enjoying the machine!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Starbucks beans have got to be the lowest level of beans so anything is an improvement!
#luxecafe
#LuxeCafe
❤🥰👋
Ok, here is the long story short. See a noname Chinese machine for 100usd, 80usd grinder, 15usd scales, 20usd accessories, build a Frankenstein, call it something and sell for over 1000usd. The numbers on the screen are nice and precise, but do they really match the physical world we live in? They now digitalized the taste of espresso.) Nice toys. Ninja is down to earth at least.
Seriously who gives an F about latte art? Especially at home...dump the dang milk in and call it good
Haha, yes sure. But it's fun to try!
Why compare it to random ass kickstarter scam ?
Paying 1700 for Chinese Junk i rather get a breville
I'd buy an Asian car over American. Same with most things.
You understand that most Breville/Sage machines are manufactured in China right? 🤔
You realize almost everything is made there, right? Probably the phone or PC you typed this ridiculous comment from as well.
Some people just think all low quality thing come from China. That is same logic as racist.
Well, the Macbook I'm typing on and my iPhone are also made in China. My Trek bike was made in Taiwan.
I personally prefer a more analogue display like on the Ninja- it's modern but still quite classic. Also very strange that the Meraki is mostly plastic for that price, every time it heats up you're essentially breathing in expensive fumes!
Fumes? What? 😂
@@fakenews3676 When plastic is heated it emits fumes, yes.
sometimes plastic is just the easier choice to match a certain design and shape…
Well, they both have a fair amount of plastic, to be fair. I think both displays are pretty intuitive too, but I like that the Ninja still has haptic rotary buttons.