Ninja makes genuinely useful kitchen appliances, but not every model is worth the money. The Café Premier 3-in-1 Espresso Drip Coffee & Cold Brew Maker at £199.99 is the standout value here — it does three jobs competently without the premium price tag of their professional espresso machines. If you want serious espresso, the Café Pro Series at £749.95 justifies the cost; if you just want reliable coffee at home, you can skip it.
Why Ninja?
Ninja specialises in high-performance kitchen appliances — blenders, coffee makers, and multi-cookers — designed for people who want function without the intimidating learning curve of commercial-grade equipment. They focus on compact, multi-purpose designs that solve specific problems: making espresso at home without a £2,000 machine, blending hot soup without a separate cooker, or slow-cooking a meal in 40 minutes instead of 8 hours.
Their strength is taking professional-standard performance and making it accessible. The Foodi multi-cooker, for example, pressure-cooks, slow-cooks, steams, and browns in one pot — combining what normally requires 3-4 appliances. Prices sit in the mid-range (£130–£750), which means you’re not buying entry-level, but you’re also not paying luxury brand markups.
Top Picks
Café Premier 3-in-1 Espresso Drip Coffee & Cold Brew Maker — £199.99
Best for people who want espresso, filter coffee, and cold brew from one machine without breaking the bank. This does three genuinely useful things without being a jack-of-all-trades. The espresso function uses a 19-bar pump (professional standard), the drip function handles regular coffee, and the cold brew carafe brews overnight. Most espresso machines at this price don’t exist — you’ll pay £400+ elsewhere for just espresso. The downside: the espresso capability sits below what a dedicated espresso machine offers, so if espresso is 80% of your priority, save for the Pro Series.
Foodi 6.5-qt. Everyday PossibleCooker Pro Multi-Cooker MC1101 — £129.95
Best for busy cooks who need one pot instead of five. It pressure-cooks, slow-cooks, steams, roasts, and sautés — genuinely replacing a slow cooker, rice cooker, and Dutch oven for most people. At £129.95, this is the entry point to multi-cooker cooking without the Instant Pot premium. The 6.5-quart capacity handles family meals. Real limitation: pressure-cooker designs aren’t faster than stovetop for everything (they excel at tough cuts and grains, less so at weeknight vegetables).
Café Pro Series Espresso Machine — £749.95
Best for espresso enthusiasts who want café-quality results at home without espresso-bar training. This is where Ninja’s engineering shows: it includes a PID temperature controller (keeps water at exact temperature), a commercial-style group head, and milk frothing that actually works. £749.95 is expensive, but it’s roughly half the cost of Rancilio or Gaggia machines with equivalent specs. Buy this only if espresso is your daily ritual — if you drink it 2–3 times weekly, the Café Premier does the job.
Power Blender Duo Pro + Single Serve — £177.00
Best for smoothie makers and soup cooks who want a dual system. You get a 64oz blender for regular batches and a single-serve cup for one-off smoothies — useful if your household has different blending needs. The motor is genuinely powerful (enough for hot soups via friction), not toy-grade. Downside: you’re paying for two jars, so if you only blend solo, a single Vitamix costs less for better-known resale value.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Café Premier 3-in-1 | £199.99 | Multi-method coffee | 19-bar espresso pump + cold brew in one machine |
| Foodi Multi-Cooker | £129.95 | Batch cooking & meal prep | 6.5-quart capacity, pressure + slow-cook + sauté |
| Café Pro Series | £749.95 | Daily espresso drinkers | PID temperature control + commercial group head |
| Power Blender Duo | £177.00 | Household with mixed blending needs | Dual 64oz + single-serve system |
What to Look For
- Pump pressure (espresso machines): Look for at least 15 bars; 19 bars is professional standard. Anything below 9 bars won’t pull proper espresso. The Café Premier hits 19 bars at £199.99, which is exceptional value.
- Capacity for your household: The Foodi’s 6.5-quart pot suits 4–6 people; smaller households might waste electricity heating unused space. The single-serve blender is only worth it if someone regularly uses it solo.
- Temperature stability: Espresso quality depends on holding water at 90–94°C precisely. Only the Café Pro Series has PID control; entry-level machines fluctuate by 5–10°C, which degrades espresso noticeably.
- Cleaning time: Multi-cookers are faster to clean than stovetop equivalents (no burnt bottoms), but sealed designs trap moisture. Check if the lid is removable for proper drying.
The Bottom Line
The Café Premier at £199.99 is the smartest buy if you drink multiple coffee types. The Foodi Multi-Cooker at £129.95 is the best value for reducing kitchen clutter. Only buy the Café Pro Series (£749.95) if you’re a committed espresso drinker — otherwise, the Premier covers 90% of what you need at a quarter of the price. Skip the Power Blender Duo unless your household genuinely needs two separate blending stations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ninja good value for money?
Yes — Ninja sits between budget brands and luxury names like Breville or Smeg. The Café Premier offers espresso capability at a price point where most competitors only offer drip coffee. The Foodi multi-cooker beats a dozen single-purpose appliances for the money. You’re not overpaying for design or brand status, but you’re not cutting corners on core performance either.
What’s the difference between the Café Premier and Café Pro Series espresso machines?
The Premier (£199.99) has a 19-bar pump but no temperature stability — water temperature fluctuates during brewing, which affects espresso consistency. The Pro Series (£749.95) includes a PID controller that holds temperature to ±1°C, plus a better group head and rotary pump. If you drink espresso daily and taste the difference between shots, the Pro Series justifies itself. If you drink it casually, the Premier is sufficient.
Can you actually make cold brew in the Café Premier?
Yes — it includes a dedicated cold brew carafe. You fill it with grounds and cold water, leave it overnight (12 hours), and it’s ready. This is genuinely useful because cold brew requires zero heat, so it’s a different process from espresso or drip coffee. The same machine covering all three methods is why the Premier is such good value.
Do Ninja multi-cookers work as well as Instant Pot?
The Foodi is more versatile (it browns and sautés better), but both pressure-cook similarly. Instant Pot has better community recipes and resale value. The Foodi costs less (£129.95 vs. Instant Pot Pro at £150+) and has larger capacity. If recipes matter to you, Instant Pot wins; if functionality and price matter more, Foodi is the smarter choice.