I’m very excited to bring you my Ninja AutoBarista Pro review. Partly because I remember predicting some time ago that hybrid fully automatic espresso machines would become more common in the coming months and years. Similar to hybrid espresso machines like the Breville Barista Touch Impress, these hybrid models draw inspiration from traditional semi-automatic machines but remain, at their core, automated coffee machines.
The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is one of the first to demonstrate how this concept can work and what advantages it offers. However, the first fully automatic espresso machine from this trendy brand also shows that even a crossover machine must decide which target audience it actually wants to appeal to.
Note: Until the AutoBarista Pro becomes available on Amazon, we’re linking to the AutoBarista, which has a couple fewer drinks and one less milk froth setting.
Ninja AutoBarista Pro
Rather frustrating but good overall
High-quality construction
Extensive drink menu
Great value
Makes delicious espresso
No manual grind change option
Rather confusing operation
| Ninja AutoBarista Pro | |
| Manufacturer | |
|---|---|
| Model number | AE1051 |
| Product category | Super automatic espresso machine |
| Removable brew group | |
| Housing material | Stainless steel |
| Color options | Silver |
| Milk frother | Steam wand |
| User interface | Color TFT with buttons |
| App | |
| User profiles | 8 |
| Removable water reservoir | |
| Water reservoir capacity | 81.2 fl oz / 2.4 l |
| Number of boilers | 1 |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
| Maximum cup height | 8.0 in / 20.3 cm |
| Minimum cup height | |
| Grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder |
| Grind adjustment levels | 50 |
| Bean hopper capacity | 12.0 oz / 340.0 g |
| Pre-ground coffee bypass | |
| Grounds discard container capacity | 12 |
| Specialty drinks | 13 |
| Pre-infusion | |
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |
| Adjustable milk foam temperature | |
| Adjustable milk temperature | |
| 2-cup function | Yes (non-milk drinks only) |
| Pot function | |
| Hot water function | |
| Hot milk function | |
| Milk foam only option | |
| Water filter | |
| Power consumption | 1650 W |
| Weight | 39.4 lb / 17.9 kg |
| Dimensions | 15.8 x 10.7 x 17.8 in |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Notes | Included Accessories: Cleaning brush, 2 x bean hoppers, cleaning supplies, water filter, milk pitcher |
| Current price on Amazon | $899.99 |
| All specifications | |
Table of Contents
Ninja AutoBarista Pro Review Overview: What Can This Fully Automatic Coffee Machine Do?
Coffeeness Medium Roast Espresso
Well-balanced with chocolate & hazelnut notes
Freshly roasted in Brooklyn
Very low acidity
Anyone who uses Instagram or TikTok knows about Ninja. The American brand is best known for its ice cream makers and air fryers, which stand out for their high functionality, innovative design and oh-so-cool vibe. Heck, these appliances often solve problems we didn’t even know we had.
With the Ninja Luxe Café espresso machine, they’ve proven that this approach works well in the coffee sector, too. The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is now the brand’s first fully automatic coffee machine. And it’s quite something.
A Powerhouse Packed With Features
The Ninja AutoBarista Pro’s status as a crossover machine is immediately apparent from its appearance: its dimensions highlight the automatic coffee machine aspect, while everything else looks like a semi-automatic espresso machine.
Weighing 41 pounds (18.7 kilograms), it’s also significantly heavier than other machines, but this is justified by its high-quality stainless steel construction. As soon as you touch it, you’ll notice that everything here feels a bit different than with its plastic counterparts.
This also applies to the features and details, which, on paper, offer the best of both machine categories:
13 coffee specialties including cold brew function and “drip coffee”
Milk foam via the steam wand (auto-start) with 5 milk foam presets
Operation via color screen with capacitive touch buttons
Adjustable drip tray rather than moveable dispensing spouts
Two interchangeable 12-ounce (340-gram) bean hoppers
Burr grinder with 50 adjustment settings and automatic Grind IQ technology
Stainless steel milk jug
What Is AutoBarista Technology?
The Ninja AutoBarista Pro fully automatic coffee machine is designed to appeal to beginners who aren’t confident enough to use an espresso machine and don’t (yet) know much about fully automatic coffee machines. To achieve this, it relies on AutoBarista technology, which controls all beverage settings.
While you can customize your latte macchiato, iced latte or café au lait yourself, the machine also automatically adjusts key parameters such as dose, grind size and even the external milk frothing system to a large extent.
On the other hand, it’s also designed to appeal to advanced users who want more control over the coffee quality and the appearance of their drinks. Yet it’s precisely this dual focus that proves to be the Ninja’s undoing. I’ll go deeper into this unfortunate contradiction later in my Ninja AutoBarista Pro review
Ninja AutoBarista Pro Price
When the Coffeeness editorial team orders a review unit, I don’t always know the price. Given its design and features, I was sure this model would cost around $1,200.00 – if only because of all the stainless steel in its construction. What’s more, dual bean hoppers mean you can easily switch beans, as with the much pricier DeLonghi Rivelia.
So I was all the more surprised to find that it’s currently selling in stores for around $950.00. Even with all my criticisms, that’s a great price – one that some other automatic espresso machines with cold brew functions could learn a thing or two from.
After all, even with the best iced latte and cold brew machines, we usually don’t get such high-quality construction or such flexibility when preparing specific drinks.
How to Set Up the Ninja AutoBarista Pro
Beginners using the best fully automatic espresso machines want to get from the initial setup to their first cup of coffee as quickly as possible. But the Ninja AutoBarista Pro throws a wrench in their plans. And that’s also the case for more experienced users.
On the one hand, the front display looks very clean and straightforward. It’s not a touchscreen, but rather a sensor-button panel where the corresponding color icon lights up depending on the selected drink and settings.
Fortunately, you don’t have to dig through submenus, but you do need good lighting. That’s because the display is annoyingly dim.
On the other hand, both beginners and amateur baristas alike will be annoyed by confusing settings, overzealous automation and unnecessarily limited options for customizing their coffee creations.
Ultimately, the learning curve is steep; you can’t get by without the user manual, and you’ll go through a lot of coffee before everything comes out in the cup exactly the way you want it.
Adjusting the Grinder: How Intelligent Is Grind IQ?
With a full 50 grind settings, coffee lovers will be thrilled. Not only is this a record among all the fully automatic models I’ve tested, but it also provides the best conditions for trying out different coffee varieties or perfecting your lungo, americano and other drinks.
But don’t get too excited just yet, because you have no control over these 50 settings. The AutoBarista Pro can only be adjusted via its Grind IQ technology.
According to the manufacturer, “[the grinder] auto-dials in the perfect grind size and dose from 50 settings, bean to cup, so every drink is smooth and balanced.”
Unless there’s a camera in the bean hopper and a computer with AI control built into the grinder, this $950.00 fully automatic coffee machine definitely isn’t analyzing any beans. At most, the Ninja AutoBarista Pro relies on flow rate measurements and presets for various beverage programs.
Until the machine is satisfied with the combination of beans, beverage and desired settings, the Grind IQ has to adjust itself several times, flushing a lot of espresso through the spout in the process. On top of that, an IQ setting applies to only one type of beverage at a time.
What annoys me the most, however, is that you can’t bypass this automation. There’s no manual or digital way to set a consistent grind size.
The folks at Ninja apparently haven’t grasped that, first of all, coffee machine users are creatures of habit, and second, we’re not dealing with an espresso machine where every tiny change in grind size has a huge impact on a latte macchiato, cappuccino or iced latte.
To add insult to injury, the stainless-steel conical burr grinder in the AutoBarista Pro roars away at a measured 78.5 decibels. This is primarily due to the all-metal construction, which transmits sound more effectively than thick plastic housing.
Coffee Volume & Dose: Frustration for Beginners and Experts
If the following section seems a bit confusing, you can thank Ninja for that. After all, there’s no good reason to use different scales or units for the serving sizes of different beverages.
To put it simply: Espresso uses a five-point scale, while beverages like cold brew or “drip coffee” use a standard measurement. And no one knows when which particular one applies. In the manual, the manufacturer tries to clear up the confusion. But it doesn’t work:
Here, Ninja talks about “brew ratios” – that is, the ratio of water to ground coffee for espresso. At level 1 out of 5, the brew ratio is 6:1; at level 5 out of 5, it’s 2:1. Makes sense, right?! When the classic five-level scale for coffee strength comes into play, no one knows what the Ninja AutoBarista Pro fully automatic coffee machine actually wants anymore.
In my opinion, no fully automatic espresso machine user wants to deal with brew ratios. Rather, they just want to fill their cup with good coffee drinks. The cup is the measure of all things with a fully automatic machine; ounces or milliliters are the meaningful units.
On top of that, you simply can’t rely on the preset ratios. During my testing, my last set of measurements at level 4 out of 5 yielded 44 grams, while at the strongest setting – level 5 – it was 45.2 grams.
After plenty of trial and error, I settled on level 3 out of 5 for espresso, which (at least in my test) yields 48.2 grams. I also set the strength to level 3 out of 5.
For cold brew or other “longer” drinks, you can use standard amounts and see where they get you..
Adjusting Milk Foam
With its milk-steaming system featuring FrothPerfect technology, the Ninja AutoBarista Pro finally shows what a successful crossover machine can look like. That’s because it truly strikes the perfect balance between a fully automatic machine auto milk frother and a semi-automatic machine’s steam wand.
Although you have to pour the milk into the included carafe and the foam into your cup yourself, everything else happens automatically.
For example, if you want to make a cappuccino, you tell the machine whether you want light, thick or extra-thick foam. And when you press Start, the machine prepares the coffee and milk at the same time.
That’s a real bonus, seeing as you don’t have to wait for the milk to be ready before espresso extraction begins. Plus, there’s no need to press an extra button, as you would with classic fully automatic coffee machines that have a manual steam wand. This combination offers plenty of advantages.
For starters, you can use any type of milk (including non-dairy milk), adjust the amount based on your preferred capacity, relax while preparing your drink and still get perfect froth in various textures.
Plus, steam wands are easy to clean thoroughly, and the Ninja AutoBarista Pro even comes with a handy rinse feature. This makes it a real pleasure to prepare a cortados, café au lait or other specialty drink.
How Do Espresso and Coffee From the AutoBarista Pro Taste?
Given all the Ninja AutoBarista Pro’s sophisticated features, the results at the push of a button naturally have to deliver to justify this machine’s existence. And I think they do.
Delivered at 149 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius), my Coffeeness Espresso Blend espresso displays its full character, with the typical chocolate notes coming through in rich, vibrant tones. I’m way more used to this kind of intensity from semi-automatic espresso machines, so Ninja has definitely achieved its espresso quality goal here.
During my Ninja AutoBarista Pro review, the “drip coffee” was a particular highlight. It featured a lighter body, more pleasant tingling on the sides of the tongue, and a pleasantly fresh profile that actually reminded me of real drip coffee. And at 149 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius), the drinking temperature was also ideal for my taste.
Incidentally, I didn’t try the cold brew this time around. However, given the success of the cold espresso from the Luxe Café, I’m confident its flavor should also give no cause for complaint.
Best coffee for the Ninja AutoBarista Pro
Coffeeness Medium Roast Espresso
Well-balanced with chocolate & hazelnut notes
Freshly roasted in Brooklyn
Very low acidity
After 10 years reviewing super automatics and espresso machines, and over 15 years reviewing coffee beans, we’re proud to offer our own Coffeeness Espresso Blend. Comprising ethically farmed and sourced coffee beans, our Espresso Blend is expertly roasted in small batches to guarantee freshness.
This premium blend of direct trade Brazilian coffee beans produces rich, bold and complex espresso that’s ideal straight or paired with milk. Featuring notes of chocolate and hazelnut, our Espresso Blend is particularly low in acidity, making it easy on the stomach.
Here’s how we recommend setting up your Ninja AutoBarista Pro for the best results:
Grinder: Self-adjusting
Espresso volume: Level 3
Coffee volume: 4 ounces (125 milliliters)
Coffee strength: Variable, depending on the drink
Temperature: High for espresso; low for coffee
Milk Foam: Just Like Hand-Steamed
Top-notch milk foam without barista training? That’s right up my alley. The same goes for Ninja’s one-touch cappuccino. Since we combine the two components of the drink ourselves here, the milk and coffee blend even better than when they’re simply mixed together from the coffee spout and milk system.
At 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius), it’s at the perfect drinking temperature, even if some people might prefer it a bit hotter. Still you can get a few more degrees out of it by adjusting the ratio of coffee to milk or foam.
By the way, the Ninja AutoBarista Pro can also make cold foam – which is even more impressive given its price and this milk system. I haven’t explicitly tested this feature myself, but based on my positive experience with the foam settings, I’m confident it’ll work great.
Cleaning & Descaling: The Usual Routine
When it comes to cleaning and descaling, the Ninja machine behaves just like any ordinary fully automatic machine – and I mean that as a compliment. Because everything works exactly as it should.
The milk frothing wand rinses itself when you slide it into the correct resting position. However, you should have a damp cloth on hand to wipe it down on the outside as well.
Elsewhere, the brew unit is easy to remove, as is the very handy water tank. Oh, and when you switch out the removable bean hopper, it’s a great opportunity to quickly vacuum the machine or brush it off. By the way, you’ll find the cleaning brush right behind the service door.
There’s just one way the Ninja AutoBarista Pro differs from many other machines: to keep it looking its best, you’ll need to polish it more often.
Verdict: Ninja AutoBarista Pro Review
Ninja AutoBarista Pro
Rather frustrating but good overall
High-quality construction
Extensive drink menu
Great value
Makes delicious espresso
No manual grind change option
Rather confusing operation
| Ninja AutoBarista Pro | |
| Manufacturer | |
|---|---|
| Model number | AE1051 |
| Product category | Super automatic espresso machine |
| Removable brew group | |
| Housing material | Stainless steel |
| Color options | Silver |
| Milk frother | Steam wand |
| User interface | Color TFT with buttons |
| App | |
| User profiles | 8 |
| Removable water reservoir | |
| Water reservoir capacity | 81.2 fl oz / 2.4 l |
| Number of boilers | 1 |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
| Maximum cup height | 8.0 in / 20.3 cm |
| Minimum cup height | |
| Grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder |
| Grind adjustment levels | 50 |
| Bean hopper capacity | 12.0 oz / 340.0 g |
| Pre-ground coffee bypass | |
| Grounds discard container capacity | 12 |
| Specialty drinks | 13 |
| Pre-infusion | |
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |
| Adjustable milk foam temperature | |
| Adjustable milk temperature | |
| 2-cup function | Yes (non-milk drinks only) |
| Pot function | |
| Hot water function | |
| Hot milk function | |
| Milk foam only option | |
| Water filter | |
| Power consumption | 1650 W |
| Weight | 39.4 lb / 17.9 kg |
| Dimensions | 15.8 x 10.7 x 17.8 in |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Notes | Included Accessories: Cleaning brush, 2 x bean hoppers, cleaning supplies, water filter, milk pitcher |
| Current price on Amazon | $899.99 |
| All specifications | |
I should really write two separate Ninja AutoBarista Pro reviews. I mean, on the one hand, it has some great features that set it apart from other models in my best fully automatic espresso machine guide.
Not only is it an exceptionally high-quality machine, but it’s also great value for what it offers. We get premium features and functions that would otherwise cost at least $300-$500 more. Last but not least, the coffee and milk foam turned out really well during my testing.
On the other hand, this machine is costing us unnecessary stress and wasted coffee beans. It’s also incredibly annoying that automation comes at the expense of customization. And I simply can’t overlook that. After all, what good is a great machine if it’s overly confusing and, on top of that, tries to tell me what good coffee is?
How do you see that? Are my reviews too hard or would you also despair at the Ninja first machine? Feel free to leave me a comment!
