Ninja Prestige Dualbrew System review: an incredibly easy way to brew great coffee

It was only last month that Ninja followed up its best-selling Luxe Café series with its second-ever coffee machine – the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System. The first launch was such a hit that expectations were high, so naturally, I couldn’t wait to start testing.

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System is an automatic 2-in-1 machine that lets you enjoy the flavour of freshly brewed filter coffee or the speed of capsule-based espresso, taking away the need for two separate machines.

Anything that cuts clutter and adds versatility is a win in my book, so here’s how it fared in testing.

Ninja Prestige Dualbrew System review: price and availability

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System retails for £249.99/$279.99 and is available directly from Ninja, as well as from Argos and Currys.

UK buyers can also grab 15% off their first order on Ninja’s website, bringing the price down to just £212.49.

Ninja Prestige Dualbrew System review: unboxing and set up

Setup is refreshingly simple – something I really appreciated after reviewing so many bean to cup machines that need endless calibration. I simply filled the water tank, then “primed” the machine. For the filter side, that meant checking the brew basket was in place, popping the carafe underneath, and running a quick rinse cycle to flush everything through.

It’s pretty much the same process for the pod function – I just popped a cup under the spout, select a setting without inserting a pod, and let it rinse. After that, I attached the milk frother, and that was it.

Ninja Prestige Dualbrew System review: design and features

As mentioned, one of the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System’s biggest selling points is its versatility, as it can brew both ground coffee (filter-style) and espresso-style drinks using pods. It’s compatible with Nespresso Original capsules and offers four pod drink sizes – Ristretto, Espresso, Lungo and Over Ice. The filter coffee offers three brew styles (Classic, Rich and Over Ice) and up to ten different sizes, from a single small cup all the way to a 1.8-litre carafe.

Ninja’s Thermal Flavour Extraction technology is what ties it all together, combining a 19-bar pressure pump on the pod side with an XL showerhead for filter brewing. This ensures the coffee grounds are evenly saturated for consistent flavour and aroma. There’s also a smart scoop that clips neatly to the side of the machine for measuring out your grounds – I found three small scoops was just the right amount for two cups.

It measures 41.1 × 27.4 × 32.6cm and weighs 6.18 kg, which more compact than most bean to cup models but bulkier than smaller pod machines. The stainless steel and matte black finish give it a sleek, premium feel, and the water tank is a great size, meaning fewer refills. An adjustable cup tray accommodates mugs, travel cups and espresso cups, and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe.

Convenience features include a delay-brew timer, adjustable Keep-Warm function (up to four hours), a clean cycle indicator and an anti-drip system. The hotplate’s three temperature options are also a great touch.

One surprise I really liked was the fold-away milk frother on the side, but it’s more of a basic frother than a true steam wand, so don’t expect too much.

Ninja Prestige Dualbrew System review: performance

The Ninja Prestige DualBrew System hits it on the head when it comes to easy, versatile coffee making. The pod function is such a simple way to get a caffeine hit, especially when you’re rushing out the door or need a quick pick-me-up before work. The filter coffee side is then ideal for slower mornings or work-from-home days when you want a full pot of coffee ready to go. As mentioned, I'm usually reviewing the best bean to cup coffee machines which can take a while to make the perfect cup, so I really appreciated how convenient this felt.

Throughout testing, the pod function performed exactly as expected, brewing a great range of capsules with ease. Each cup had a nice crema, came out at just the right temperature, and tasted consistently good. It was nice being able to choose from four options as opposed to the usual two on a lot of other pod machines.

The filter side was also impressive, made even better by thoughtful touches like the warming plate and drip-stop feature. The latter is particularly handy if you’re in a rush, since you can remove the carafe mid-brew without coffee dripping onto the hotplate. The machine even warns you if you forget to reopen it before starting another cycle.

I found that I preferred the Rich setting over the Classic, as it tasted a bit stronger and not as watered down, but this will of course depend on your own preferences.

As for the milk frother, it’s more of a simple frothing wand than a steam wand, so the results aren’t barista-level. Still, I liked the small frothing guide printed on the side of the machine, as it tells you how much milk to use and how long to froth for.

During testing, it worked better with dairy milk than plant-based options, and I found it needed a bit longer than the guide suggested to get that perfect foam. However, I do like a frothy cuppa, so again, it's personal preference.

Ninja Prestige Dualbrew System review: verdict

Overall, the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System strikes a great balance between convenience, versatility and performance. It’s ideal for anyone who wants both the speed of pod-based coffee and the flavour of freshly brewed filter coffee without cluttering the kitchen with multiple machines. Setup is refreshingly simple, the design feels premium, and handy features like the warming plate and drip-stop add impressive value. Whilst the milk frother isn’t the strongest, it’s a nice bonus compared to other similarly priced machines.

Ninja Prestige Dualbrew System review: alternatives to consider

If you like Ninja as a brand brand but want something a bit more exciting, I’d definitely recommend the Ninja Luxe Café. It offers the same versatility and build quality as the Prestige DualBrew System but swaps the pods and filter coffee for fully automatic espresso. The milk frother is also a big step up, so even with the slightly higher price tag, I think it’s well worth the upgrade.

Another great alternative is the Smeg Drip Filter Coffee Machine. As the name suggests, it’s a straightforward filter coffee maker, perfect if you’re not fussed about pods or espresso-style drinks. It looks great on the counter and delivers consistently smooth coffee.