The Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier ES601 became one of the best-selling espresso machines in the US by doing something unusual: putting a real 9-bar espresso machine, a built-in grinder, a drip coffee maker, and hands-free milk frothing into one $500 box. The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro ES701 does not change what that machine brews. It changes how it feels to use it every day, with two headline additions: an integrated tamper built into the machine body, and an independent hot water dispenser.
If you have not read our full Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier ES601 review, that is the place to start for the full picture of what this machine line does. This review focuses on one question: is the ES701’s roughly $100-150 premium over the ES601 actually worth paying?
Who It’s Actually For
The ES701 is built for the person who is already sold on the Luxe Cafe concept and is deciding between the two models, not someone hearing about this machine line for the first time. It makes the most sense if you:
- Drink Americanos regularly and want a hot water tap instead of improvising one
- Pull multiple espresso shots a day and want a faster, more consistent tamping workflow
- Want access to Ristretto and Lungo shots alongside the standard Double and Quad
- Are comfortable paying a premium for daily convenience rather than better-tasting coffee
Who Should Skip It
- Skip it if the ES601 already covers what you need. The core espresso, drip, and cold brew quality is identical between the two models – the Pro does not brew better coffee, it brews more conveniently.
- Skip it if you do not drink Americanos and do not mind the ES601’s separate tamper tool. Both headline upgrades are workflow conveniences, not flavor upgrades.
- Skip it if counter space is tight. The ES701 has a slightly larger footprint than the already-large ES601.
- Skip it if you want espresso only. A dedicated machine may suit a purist better than an all-in-one built around versatility.
- Skip it if budget is the deciding factor. The ES601 gets you the same cup in the cup for less money.
Quick Verdict
| Category | RoastRig Verdict |
|---|---|
| Best for | ES601 shoppers who make Americanos daily or want the integrated tamper workflow |
| Brew formats | Single, Double, Quad, Ristretto, and Lungo espresso; Classic, Rich, and Over Ice drip; rapid cold brew; independent hot water |
| Strongest upgrade | Integrated tamper – lever-actuated, consistent tamp pressure, no separate tool to misplace |
| Most practical upgrade | Independent hot water dispenser, fixing the ES601’s most common complaint from Americano drinkers |
| Biggest drawback | A real premium over the ES601 for convenience, not better coffee |
| Shared with the ES601 | Grinder, Barista Assist Technology, Dual Froth system, core espresso/drip/cold brew quality |
| Buy if | You will actually use the hot water spout or want the smoothest daily tamping workflow |
| Skip if | You are fine tamping separately and do not drink Americonos – buy the ES601 instead |
The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro ES701 does not reinvent what the Luxe Cafe line can brew. It refines how it feels to use one every day. The integrated tamper and independent hot water dispenser are real, tangible conveniences – but they are not reasons to pay more unless you will actually lean on them daily.
ES701 at a Glance
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Positioning | 4-in-1: espresso, drip coffee, rapid cold brew, independent hot water |
| Espresso styles | Single, Double, Quad, Ristretto, and Lungo |
| Drip styles | Classic, Rich, Over Ice – brew sizes from 6 to 18 oz |
| Cold brew | Rapid cold brew and cold-pressed espresso, same technology as the ES601 |
| Hot water | Independent hot water dispenser – not available on the ES601 |
| Tamper | Integrated, lever-actuated tamper built into the machine body |
| Grinder | Built-in conical burr grinder, 25 settings, weight-based dosing |
| Steam wand | Insulated, non-burn steam wand, described by hands-on reviewers as thicker and more professional-feeling than the ES601’s wand |
| Froth system | Dual Froth System Pro – XL milk jug, 5 preset functions versus 4 on the ES601 |
| Barista guidance | Barista Assist Technology: grind-size recommendations, weight-based dosing, automated brew adjustments |
| Included baskets | Luxe (40g), Double (18g), and Single (9g) unpressurized baskets |
| Filter basket type | Unpressurized – real crema, not the pressurized faux-crema style |
What’s Actually New on the ES701?
The Integrated Tamper: Convenience or Gimmick?
The ES701’s tamper is built directly into the machine body rather than being a separate tool you pick up and press by hand. A lever actuates two gears that lower the tamper into the dosing cradle, tamping the puck with consistent pressure each time – you typically tamp twice, as the machine prompts. The cover over the mechanism is removable, both for cleaning and for a look at the moving parts if you are curious.
Hands-on coverage describes the tamp action as satisfying and consistent. It is a genuine upgrade in workflow and repeatability, especially if you pull several shots a day. It is not, however, fixing a real limitation – a careful manual tamp with the ES601’s included tool can produce the same result. This is a convenience upgrade, not a flavor upgrade.
The Hot Water Dispenser: The Feature Americano Drinkers Actually Want
This is the upgrade most likely to be a genuine dealbreaker rather than a nice-to-have. The ES601 has no dedicated hot water function, which has been one of the most common complaints from Americano drinkers using that machine. The ES701 adds an independent hot water dispenser that solves this directly – pull a shot, add hot water, done, without brewing a separate pot or heating water some other way.
If you make Americanos regularly, this single feature can justify the price difference on its own.
Five Espresso Styles Instead of Two
The ES601 offers Double and Quad shots. The ES701 adds Single, Ristretto, and Lungo, giving you five total. Ristretto uses a shorter extraction for a more concentrated, syrupy shot, while Lungo runs water through the grounds longer for a larger, more diluted pour. These are ratio and timing changes handled by the same hardware, not new mechanical features – a genuinely nice-to-have for someone who already knows they want a specific style, but a minor upgrade for a casual drinker who was already happy with Double or Quad shots.
What’s the Same as the ES601?
It is worth being direct about what does not change, since it is easy for an upgrade to feel like a bigger deal than it is. The ES701 uses the same 25-setting conical burr grinder with weight-based dosing as the ES601 – despite some comparison charts floating around suggesting the Pro has more grind settings, manufacturer and retailer listings for both models list 25. Barista Assist Technology, the core drip modes (Classic, Rich, Over Ice), and the rapid cold brew system are all identical between the two machines. If you already own an ES601, you are not missing out on better espresso or better cold brew by not upgrading – only on the tamper workflow and the hot water tap.
Is the Extra Cost Worth It?
For most buyers, no – not on its own. The ES601 makes the same cup of coffee for less money. The ES701 earns its premium specifically for two groups: people who drink Americanos often enough that a dedicated hot water tap changes their daily routine, and people who pull enough shots that the integrated tamper’s consistency and speed genuinely matters to them. If neither applies to you, the ES601 is the better value.
Ninja ES701 vs ES601: The Upgrade Comparison
| Feature | ES601 Premier | ES701 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Tamping | Separate assisted tamper tool (included) | Integrated tamp arm built into machine body |
| Hot water dispenser | No | Yes |
| Grind settings | 25 | 25 |
| Espresso styles | Double, Quad | Single, Double, Quad, Ristretto, Lungo |
| Cold brew | Yes | Yes |
| Froth modes | 4 | 5 |
| Footprint | Slightly more compact | Slightly larger |
RoastRig recommendation: buy the ES601 unless you make Americanos regularly or specifically want the integrated tamp workflow. The core espresso, drip, and cold brew quality is identical between the two models, so the roughly $100-150 gap buys convenience, not better coffee. See our full Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier ES601 review if the cheaper model sounds like the better fit.
Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro vs the Competition
vs. Breville Barista Express
The Barista Express is the classic pick for someone who wants a manual, hands-on espresso experience and does not need drip coffee or cold brew from the same machine. The ES701 takes the opposite approach: more guidance, less manual skill required, and three brewing methods instead of one. Choose the Barista Express if espresso technique is part of the hobby for you. Choose the ES701 if you want one machine that removes the guesswork across espresso, drip, and cold brew.
vs. KitchenAid KF2
Our KitchenAid KF2 review covers Kitchenaid’s entry into the fully-automatic bean-to-cup category, and it makes for a useful comparison since both machines are guided systems aimed at removing guesswork.
| Category | Ninja ES701 | KitchenAid KF2 |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Espresso, drip, cold brew, and hot water in one machine | Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso and coffee |
| Grinder | Built-in conical burr, 25 settings, weight-based dosing | Integrated steel conical burr with IntelliGrind auto-adjust |
| Milk system | Dual Froth System Pro, hands-free | Panarello Auto Steam Wand, manual and hands-on |
| Guidance | Barista Assist Technology with an integrated tamper | Fully automatic presets, six hot and iced drink options |
| Best for | Someone who wants espresso, drip, and cold brew from one machine | Someone who wants near-zero manual involvement per cup, including milk texturing |
Pairing and Follow-Up
If the price is the sticking point rather than the feature set, our best espresso machines under $300 guide covers more budget-friendly alternatives. And once you have a machine dialed in, fresh beans matter more than almost anything else you can buy – see our best coffee beans for espresso picks, or put the cold brew mode to work with our brown sugar shaken espresso recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the Ninja ES601 and ES701?
The ES701 adds an integrated tamper built into the machine body, an independent hot water dispenser, and three additional espresso styles (Single, Ristretto, and Lungo) on top of the Double and Quad shots both machines share. Core espresso, drip, and cold brew quality is identical between the two.
Is the Ninja ES701 worth the extra cost over the ES601?
Only if you will use the hot water dispenser regularly or specifically want the integrated tamper’s workflow. The coffee itself does not taste different between the two machines.
Does the Ninja ES701 have more grind settings than the ES601?
No. Both use the same 25-setting conical burr grinder with weight-based dosing.
Can the Ninja ES701 make an Americano?
Yes, and more easily than the ES601 – its independent hot water dispenser makes pulling a shot and adding hot water straightforward, without a workaround.
What espresso styles does the ES701 offer that the ES601 doesn’t?
Single shot, Ristretto, and Lungo, in addition to the Double and Quad shots both models share.
Is the ES701’s cold brew the same as the ES601’s?
Yes – both use the same rapid cold brew technology, which produces a smoother, lower-acid drink than iced hot coffee but is not identical to a true 12-24 hour immersion cold brew.
Does the ES701’s integrated tamper actually improve the espresso?
Not the extraction itself – a careful manual tamp with the ES601’s included tool can achieve a comparable result. The upgrade is consistency and convenience, not flavor.
Bottom Line
The Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro ES701 is a refinement, not a reinvention. It takes an already well-regarded machine and smooths out its two most common friction points – manual tamping and the lack of a hot water tap – without changing the coffee, drip, or cold brew quality underneath. That makes it an easy recommendation for Americano drinkers and frequent espresso pullers, and a harder sell for anyone who would be just as happy with the ES601’s lower price.
