Ninja vs Smeg Filter Coffee Machines

Ninja and Smeg both focus on accessible home coffee, with Smeg adding a retro style. Ninja's range runs from the CFN802UK DualBrew at £249 to the ES601UKBK Luxe Cafe Premier at £475 and the ES601UK at £499. Smeg offers the DCF02GRUK and DCF02CRU drip filter machines at £199 each, the ECF02WHUK espresso machine with frother at £319 and the BCC13WHMUK bean to cup with milk system at £649.

Ninja's Luxe Cafe models include a built-in grinder with 25 grind settings on the ES601UK, hands-free frothing and dual froth on the Premier range. The CFN802UK DualBrew makes filter and pod-style coffee. Smeg's drip filters have five cups, a 40-minute stay-warm feature and an aroma function, while the ECF02WHUK has a built-in milk frother, 1350W power, 12-bar pressure and makes two drinks at once. The BCC13WHMUK adds a 1.4-litre capacity, 19-bar pressure, thermoblock technology and a built-in grinder with milk system, which makes it the closest Smeg to Ninja's grinder-led approach.

Ninja suits people who want to grind fresh beans and enjoy barista-style guidance, while the DualBrew suits households who drink both filter coffee and single cups. Smeg suits buyers who want a retro design for the kitchen, a five-cup drip filter for family mornings, or a bean-to-cup with milk at £649 for a more automated option. The Smeg BCC13WHMUK is £150 above the ES601UK, so the choice comes down to whether the retro look or the extra grind control matters more.

Bottom line: choose Ninja if you want a built-in grinder, dual froth and guided brewing from £475 to £499, or the DualBrew at £249 for filter and pod-style cups; choose Smeg if you want retro styling, a five-cup drip filter at £199 or a bean-to-cup with milk and a built-in grinder at £649.