Choose the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier if one machine should also brew drip coffee and cold brew, and the Barista Express Impress if the machine is for espresso and milk. Both makers describe a conical burr grinder with 25 settings and an assisted tamp, so the choice rests on what else each puts on the counter. The Ninja adds two more brew modes and hands-free frothing. The Impress adds a pressure gauge, PID temperature control, a manual steam wand and a two-year warranty against the Ninja's one year.

Grinding and dosing

Ninja's page describes a conical burr grinder with 25 grind settings and a built-in scale that doses by weight, tailored to each drink. Its Barista Assist feature guides grind size and adjusts the brew. Breville's manual describes a precision conical burr grinder with 25 settings on the grind size dial and an 8.8 oz hopper. Its dosing is automatic: the dose is calculated from the last grind, and the measurement corrects the next dose (PDF pages 8, 9 and 14).

Tamping

The Ninja's box includes an assisted tamper and a funnel. The Impress has an assisted tamp lever that presses at 22 lbs (10 kg) and finishes with a 7 degree twist (PDF page 8). In both, the machine takes over the tamp.

Milk

The Ninja page describes hands-free frothing that combines steaming and whisking, with a milk jug in the box. The Impress manual describes a manual micro-foam texturing wand with a 360 degree swivel (PDF page 8). If you want to steer the wand yourself, the Impress is built for it. If you want milk handled without technique, the Ninja is the one that describes it that way.

What else comes out of the machine

The Ninja is described as three machines in one, brewing espresso, coffee and cold brew from whole beans. The Impress is an espresso machine with a dedicated hot water spout for an Americano and for warming cups. A household that wants a pot of drip coffee from the same machine is asking for the Ninja's second mode, and the Impress does not claim it.

Heat, pressure and what you can watch

Breville's manual lists electronic PID temperature control, a ThermoCoil heating system and an extraction pressure gauge (PDF pages 8 and 9). Ninja's page says Barista Assist monitors and adjusts brew temperature and pressure, and it names no PID, no pressure gauge and no heating system.

Power and warranty

The Impress is rated 1750 W at 120 V (PDF page 9). The Ninja prints 1,650 W, 13.75 amps and 120 volts. Both are rated above 1,600 W, and the socket guide covers what that means beside a kettle or a toaster. Breville's product page states a two year limited warranty for the Impress, and Ninja's page states one year. See what each maker states about warranties for the wider picture.

In the box

Ninja lists a portafilter, a milk jug, a double basket, a Luxe basket, the assisted tamper, a funnel, a cleaning brush, a cleaning disc, descaling powder and a hard water testing kit. Breville lists single wall and dual wall baskets in one cup and two cup sizes, a milk jug, a water filter holder with filter, cleaning tablets, a trimming tool, a hex key, a steam wand cleaning tool, a cleaning disc, descaling powder and a brush (PDF page 10). Breville says the dual wall baskets suit pre-ground coffee. Ninja's page does not say which of its baskets does.

Weight and size

No weight or size is given here for either machine, so measure your counter against the maker's own page before you buy.

Which one

Pick the Ninja for a household that wants drip and cold brew from the same machine, and for the milk steps handled for you. Pick the Impress for an espresso-first counter, for a steam wand you steer yourself, for the gauge and PID, and for the longer warranty. The Barista Express against the Impress page covers what the assisted tamp adds over the plain Express. Each figure above comes from the maker's own page or manual, and the Breville ones carry their manual page numbers. This comparison is based on manufacturer pages and manuals, not hands-on testing.