The deciding figure is published heat-up time, from 3 seconds to no stated figure at all.
By the Lush Editorial Team·Researched & Compared
Five machines compared on the features each maker states, using only the published fact sheet.
ThermoJet stated to reach extraction temperature in 3 seconds
Assisted tamping and weight-based dosing stated
44 grind settings and one-touch brewing stated
Grinds on demand straight into the portafilter
7.8 pounds, stated 30 second preheat
| Model | Brand | Size (capacity) | Weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville BES450BSS Bambino Espresso Machine | Breville | Small | 10.9 lb | Fastest published heat-up |
| Ninja Luxe Café Premier 3-in-1 Espresso Machine | Ninja | 12.99 x 13.39 x 14.57 | not published | Most automated steps |
| AMZCHEF Espresso Machine With Grinder | AMZCHEF | 44 Grind Settings | 13.89 lb | Most grind settings |
| Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine | Breville | Large | 22.09 lb | Grinder built in |
| CHULUX Slim Espresso Machine with Milk Frother for H... | CHULUX | Slim | 7.8 lb | Lightest of the five |
ThermoJet stated to reach extraction temperature in 3 seconds
Assisted tamping and weight-based dosing stated
44 grind settings and one-touch brewing stated
Grinds on demand straight into the portafilter
7.8 pounds, stated 30 second preheat
Quick weekday preparation rewards machines that remove steps, not machines that brew better. The Breville Bambino states a ThermoJet system reaching extraction temperature in 3 seconds, the fastest published figure here. The Ninja Luxe Café Premier states assisted tamping and weight-based dosing, which cut handling. The AMZCHEF states one-touch brewing and a 60 oz tank. The Breville Barista Express states grinding directly into the portafilter. The CHULUX states preheating in 30 seconds and weighs 7.8 pounds, the lightest of the five.
“Fewer steps, not finer espresso, is what a weekday morning buys.”
Lush Editorial Team
Priorities, not a computed score. The inputs are published specifications, so we rank by what matters most and say how much.
The five split into two groups by what their makers publish. The Breville Barista Express, the Ninja Luxe Café Premier and the AMZCHEF state grind settings, dosing or tamping assistance, and water capacity. The Breville Bambino and the CHULUX state heat-up times instead, at 3 seconds and 30 seconds respectively. No single machine on this sheet publishes every figure.
Weight runs from 7.8 pounds for the CHULUX to 22.09 pounds for the Barista Express. Water capacity runs from 40 oz for the CHULUX to 67 oz for the Barista Express. The Bambino and the Ninja publish no water capacity, and the Ninja publishes no weight, so those two rows are incomplete by the makers’ own choice.
| Specification | Breville Bambino | Ninja Luxe Café Premier | AMZCHEF | Breville Barista Express | CHULUX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stated heat-up time | 3 seconds to extraction temperature | not published | not published | not published | 30 seconds preheat |
| Water tank | not published | not published | 60 oz | 67 oz | 40 oz |
| Weight | 10.9 lb | not published | 13.89 lb | 22.09 lb | 7.8 lb |
| Grinder | None stated | Built-in conical burr, 25 settings | Built-in, 44 grind settings | Integrated conical burr | None stated |
| Milk | Automatic steam wand | Hands-free Dual Froth System | Manual steam wand, 8 mm | Manual steam wand | Manual steam wand |
| Dosing or tamping aid | None stated | Weight-based dosing, assisted tamping | One-touch brewing | Grind directly into portafilter | None stated |
| Temperature control | PID stated | Real-time adjustment stated | 190°F to 201°F stated | PID stated | Not stated |
| Published width | 7.7 in | 13.39 in | 10.82 in | 12.5 in | 5.5 in |
The table cannot tell you how any of these machines performs. Nobody at Lush has used them. It records only what each maker states, and the blanks are as informative as the figures: a missing heat-up time means the maker chose not to publish one, not that the machine is slow.
The Bambino states 3 seconds to optimum extraction temperature, which is the shortest published figure on the sheet. The CHULUX states 30 seconds preheat. For the Barista Express, the Ninja and the AMZCHEF, no heat-up time is published, so a buyer weighing those three against the Bambino has no figure to weigh.
Heat-up is only one part of the first cup. The Barista Express states that you go from beans to espresso in under a minute, a figure that includes grinding. The Bambino has no grinder, so its 3 second figure covers the machine only, not the grinding that precedes it.
The Ninja states weight-based dosing and assisted tamping, two handling steps the maker says the machine performs. The AMZCHEF states one-touch brewing with a touch screen showing grind time, brew time and temperature. The Barista Express states a grinding cradle that fills the portafilter directly, removing the transfer step.
Milk is the other recurring step. The Ninja states a Dual Froth System with four preset programs, described as hands-free. The Bambino states an automatic steam wand with adjustable temperature and texture. The Barista Express, AMZCHEF and CHULUX state manual steam wands, which means the pitcher is held by hand.
The Barista Express states a 67 oz water tank. The AMZCHEF states 60 oz and the CHULUX 40 oz. The Bambino and the Ninja publish no tank capacity, so a buyer who wants fewer refills has three published figures to compare and two blanks.
Bean capacity is published for one machine only: the Barista Express states a 1/2 lb bean hopper. The Ninja and AMZCHEF have built-in grinders but publish no hopper figure. The Bambino and CHULUX take pre-ground coffee, so a hopper does not apply.
By published weight, the CHULUX is 7.8 pounds, the Bambino 10.9 pounds, the AMZCHEF 13.89 pounds and the Barista Express 22.09 pounds. The Ninja publishes no weight. A machine that stays on the counter makes weight irrelevant; one that is lifted daily does not.
Published width runs from 5.5 inches for the CHULUX to 13.39 inches for the Ninja, with the AMZCHEF at 10.82 inches, the Barista Express at 12.5 inches and the Bambino at 7.7 inches. These are the makers’ own figures and the listing does not say which measurement corresponds to which face of the machine.
Buyer who wants the shortest stated wait. The Bambino publishes 3 seconds to extraction temperature and an automatic steam wand. It has no grinder, so add one if you use whole beans.
Buyer who wants the machine to handle dosing and tamping. The Ninja states weight-based dosing, assisted tamping and hands-free frothing. It publishes no weight and no water capacity.
Buyer who wants grinding and brewing in one unit. The Barista Express states a built-in conical burr grinder, a 67 oz tank and a 1/2 lb hopper. It weighs 22.09 pounds.
Buyer who wants the most grind settings and a large tank. The AMZCHEF states 44 grind settings, a 60 oz tank and one-touch brewing, at a published 13.89 pounds.
Buyer with little counter space or a machine that moves. The CHULUX publishes 5.5 inches width, 7.8 pounds and a 30 second preheat, with a manual steam wand and no grinder.
Several figures a weekday buyer would want are absent from the makers’ published material.
The Breville Bambino states a ThermoJet heating system that achieves optimum extraction temperature in 3 seconds. The CHULUX states preheating in 30 seconds. The Barista Express, Ninja and AMZCHEF publish no heat-up time, so no comparison can be made for those three.
It removes the separate grinding step and the separate appliance. The Barista Express states an integrated conical burr grinder that grinds on demand directly into the portafilter. The Ninja states a built-in conical burr grinder with 25 settings. The AMZCHEF states 44 grind settings. The Bambino and CHULUX have no grinder.
The Barista Express states 67 oz, the AMZCHEF 60 oz and the CHULUX 40 oz. The Bambino and the Ninja publish no water tank capacity, so those two cannot be compared on this figure.
By published weight, the CHULUX is 7.8 pounds and the Bambino is 10.9 pounds. The AMZCHEF is 13.89 pounds and the Barista Express 22.09 pounds. The Ninja publishes no weight. Lower weight suits a machine that is lifted or stored.
The Ninja states a Dual Froth System that combines a spinning whisk with an automatic steamer, with four preset programs. The Bambino states an automatic steam wand with adjustable temperature and texture. The Barista Express, AMZCHEF and CHULUX state manual steam wands.
Heat-up time is missing for three of the five. Water capacity is missing for two. Weight is missing for one. Where a figure is absent, this guide says so rather than estimating it.
Specifications come from the manufacturers' own published listings. Lush Food & Drink may earn a commission if you buy through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we research.
