# Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini ES301 vs Smeg ECF02: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini ES301 (Ninja) and Smeg ECF02 (Smeg) among espresso machines. Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini ES301 is the cheaper of the two at $449.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini ES301 | Smeg ECF02 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $449.99 | $600 |
| Brand | Ninja | Smeg |
| Released | 2024 | 2019 |
| Type | semi-automatic | semi-automatic |
| Boiler | — | thermoblock |
| Built in grinder | Yes | No |
| Grind settings | 60 | — |
| Milk frother | manual steam wand | manual steam wand (Cappuccino System) |
| Pressure (bar) | — | 15 |
| Water tank (L) | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| Programmable | Yes | Yes |

## Key differences

- Built in grinder: Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini ES301 Yes vs Smeg ECF02 No
- Milk frother: Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini ES301 manual steam wand vs Smeg ECF02 manual steam wand (Cappuccino System)
- Water tank (L): Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini ES301 1.4 vs Smeg ECF02 1.1

## What reviewers say

**Smeg ECF02** — Two whitelisted hands-on testers (Tom's Guide, Oct 2024; TechRadar, Mar 2024) agree the Smeg ECF02 is a gorgeous retro machine that pulls decent straight espresso but is undercut by a short, weak steam wand, poor heat management between brewing and steaming, and a price inflated by Smeg styling. Both also flag the flimsy thin-plastic tamper. All quotes and measured values verified against source text; both sources survived verification intact. (2 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini ES301: https://www.sharkninja.com/ninja-luxe-cafe-mini-espresso-machine/ES301.html (sharkninja.com, verified 2026-06-15)
- Smeg ECF02: https://www.smeg.com/us/products/ECF02BLUS (smeg.com, verified 2026-06-15)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/espresso-machines/ninja-luxe-cafe-mini-es301-vs-smeg-ecf02/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Ninja Luxe Cafe Mini ES301 ($449.99) vs Smeg ECF02 ($600) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/espresso-machines/ninja-luxe-cafe-mini-es301-vs-smeg-ecf02/
License: CC BY 4.0.