Ninja Luxe Cafe vs De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro

The De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro is the better espresso machine for someone who wants real barista control and authentic shots. The Ninja Luxe Cafe is the better all-rounder for a household that wants drip coffee, cold brew and espresso from one countertop unit with minimal fuss. The Ninja automates grinding, dosing and tamping and adds a built-in scale, but owners and reviewers call it large, heavy and weak on cold brew. The De'Longhi has a smaller tank, fewer grind settings and a steeper dial-in period, yet its 19-bar pump, 20 kg lever tamp and temperature control win on shot quality.

• Choose the Ninja Luxe Cafe if you want one machine for drip coffee, cold brew and espresso, and you would rather the machine handle dosing and tamping for you.
• Choose the De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro if espresso quality is the priority and you are willing to spend a week dialing in beans to get it.