Its design upends what we’ve seen from the most popular ice cream makers of the last few years, including the Ninja Creami (which we’ve reviewed), by adopting build that’s more like a Nutribullet blender than anything else.
This not only makes the Chill look streamlined and ready to pop into a cupboard when not in use, but also solves what I’d argue is the most pressing problem that Ninja Creami fans have: it’s not an easy machine to clean. Here’s how the Nutribullet Chill aims to solve that.
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Nutribullet
Chill Ice Cream Maker
The Nutribullet Chill is kitted out with five settings: Ice Cream, Sorbet, Smoothie Bowl, Frozen Yoghurt & Gelato.
This ice cream maker, like most out there, requires pre-freezing. That means you’ll need to prep your ingredients in the included tubs the night before you want to make ice cream and then freeze them. Most ice cream makers of this type require 24 hours of waiting time unless you want to opt for something like the Cuisinart Frost Fusion, which we recently reviewed, and allows you to make soft serve in under 30 minutes.
Like the ever-popular Ninja Creami, the Chill also uses a rotating blade to cut through your mix and creamify it in order to create a dessert-like consistency. The big difference with the Chill, however, is that the blade is stored within a countertop-friendly base.
(Image credit: Nutribullet)
This is very good news for those looking to save space in their kitchen. The Ninja Creami is, whilst incredibly impressive in its performance, a very difficult appliance to store on a kitchen countertop as it’s very tall. At almost 43 centimetres in height, it didn’t fit under my kitchen cupboards. Compare that to the base of the Chill, which is 27cm tall (without the tub attached) and you can see which would be best if you’re short on worktop space.
Another issue that long-time fans of the Creami often have is that the blade can be hard to clean, as it’s contained within the upper unit of the appliance. Nutribullet aim to solve this with the Chill by making the blade element totally removable and dishwasher-safe. The parts pop out the top of the base in order to be cleaned, as you can see below.
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The removable, washable element of the Chill.
(Image credit: nutribullet)
With purchase of the Chill, you’ll receive the appliance itself alongside two 450g tubs and matching lids for whipping up whatever kind of sweet treat you like. As with the Creami, a big part of the allure with this machine is that you have complete control over your ice cream ingredients – a must if you have dietary requirements or you want to make healthier family-friendly puddings.
If I’m being fussy, I would say that I’d love this new Nutribullet to also feature a Slush mode – but appliances that can make ice cream and slush are rarer to find. If that’s exactly what you’re looking for you might want to hold out until the release of the much anticipated Dualit Ice Cream Maker instead.
(Image credit: Nutribullet)
With more hot weather on the way, I can guarantee you that a frozen-treat maker like this will fast become your favourite kitchen appliance if you choose to take the plunge. You’ll get more use out of yours than you’d think!
Alternatives
Cuisinart
Freeze Wand Ice Cream Maker
At 41cm tall, this retractable freeze wand is another small space alternative to a traditional ice cream maker, the slim wand coming apart and fitting inside a drawer.
Ninja
Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker
The OG ice cream maker that kicked off the new generation of ice cream makers. It’s still a staple in many kitchens thanks to it’s impressive results and ease of use.
Ninja‘s shiny new coffee machine, the AutoBarista Pro, was only released at the end of last month but I’ve already spotted a version that’s cheaper by £100 and available to buy now (via Ninja for £799.99).
This pared-back version of Ninja’s super-automatic bean to cup coffee machine has a few differences from the original which I wrote about in detail in my preview. But there’s one that’ll disappoint decaf fans in particular: the two bean-hopper system (which is one of my favourite features of the £899.99 machine) is missing, as well as a few different drinks and milk frothing options.
Here’s a look at the key differences so you can work out which one best suits your morning brew routine.
Cheaper by £100, though missing a few of the flourishes of the original machine, this is the option to go for if you don’t mind missing out on the interchangable bean hopper system and upgraded drinks menu.
This Pro version of the machine has 13 drinks programs compared to the standard’s 10 and a Brew Two function which allows you to pull two shots of espresso at the same time.
With an £100 price difference, I predict that there will be plenty of people interested in the standard version of the AutoBarista over the professional, but it’s worth weighing up whether the features you lose are ones you might want in the future.
Let’s start with what I see as the most important difference: the lack of interchangeable bean hopper system with the standard version.
The ability to swap between different types of coffee, including to decaf beans in the afternoon, is something that you can usually only get with much more expensive machines. It’s excellent for making the most of your coffee machine without over-caffeinating or for those with partners or family members that have different coffee tastes. With two hoppers you could have one darker and one lighter roast on the go at the same time for those who want to switch between the two.
(Image credit: Ninja)
The other reason that the standard machine is more affordable is because it has a slightly diminished menu of drinks. There are 10 options available when brewing coffee: Espresso, Americano, Cappuccino, Flat White, Latte, Filter Coffee, Cold Brew, Cold-Pressed, Over Ice, and Hot Water.
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You’ll find those same drinks with the pro version alongside three more for your money: Cortado, Café Crema, and Lungo. And the ability to pull two shots of espresso at the same time – great for busy mornings if there’s two of you using the same machine.
The new Ninja AutoBarista Pro Coffee Machine ready for testing in my kitchen.
(Image credit: Future)
The automatic milk frother, which I think is the best feature on Ninja’s Luxe Café machine too after trying it, is slightly altered in terms of programs between these two machines. While the standard machine offers 4 presets (Steamed Milk, Thin Froth, Thick Froth, and Cold Foam), the pro version has the same and more with the addition of Extra-Thick Froth too.
For the £100 price difference, it’s definitely worth thinking about whether these differences would have an impact on the drinks you’d be making every day. If you’d be sticking to a flat white for most of the time, then you could save yourself a substantial chunk off your shiny new machine.
Or if this impressively kitted out new machine is out of the bounds of what you’re looking to spend, then I’ve included some alternative highly-rated options below that you can consider instead.
This is the latest machine to join the ranks of Ninja’s excellently regarded bean-to-cup coffee machine range. First came the sellout success of the Ninja Luxe Café (which I awarded five stars to in my review), followed by the even more capable Luxe Café Pro series.
Then, just last month, there was the hugely popular drop of the brand’s first super-automatic machine – the Ninja AutoBarista Pro – which I’ve been trying (and loving in my kitchen).
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Despite all of that success, there’s undoubtedly been a gap in Ninja’s range ready to be filled by a more affordable option. That’s where this much more compact and affordable machine is bound to be a total winner. Here’s how it compares to the rest of the sellout machines.
It may have ‘mini’ in the name but how compact is it really for small kitchens? The short answer is that it’s 30% smaller than the Ninja Luxe Café Pro, which is certainly a bulky machine, and measures up at 34.11cm high, 30.91cm wide and 26cm in length.
Situated next to the Luxe Café in the promotional images, it’s clear to see that this should be the Ninja coffee machine of choice for anyone who has been put off from the range thus far because of the bulky machine sizes.
(Image credit: Ninja)
Whilst having a much smaller footprint (and price tag), it seems there’s been no skimping on quality features with the Mini from a first glance. Its control panel looks extremely in-depth despite its smaller size and the machine still boasts the Barista Assist Technology that I loved in my reviews of the OG Luxe Café. With this tech even beginners will find it exceptionally easy to get into pulling espresso shots that are finely tuned to their coffee tastes.
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And crucially, this machine is still kitted out with an automatic milk frother too for the price, which makes it a brilliant buy for its price tag. As Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor, I trawl through press releases about new coffee machines everyday and it is very rare to get all of the features built into this machine for a sub £500 sum.
(Image credit: Ninja)
As a latte lover, the automatic milk frother is my favourite thing about every Ninja coffee machine I’ve tried – it makes wowing your guests with latte art or a perfect flat white so easy. And vegans haven’t been left out of the equation either as this Mini machine is equipped for plant milk too. In my experience I’ve found steaming oat milk with the Luxe Café as seamless as with dairy.
(Image credit: Ninja)
Given the breadth of features packed into this slimmed down machine for under £500, I predict that this is going to be Ninja’s most popular coffee offering for a long while. So if you like the look of this compact coffee maker, I’d snap it up fast!
In what seems to be a bid to capture the entire bean-to-cup coffee machine market, Ninja has unveiled an automatic model for the first time – a departure from the brand’s existing range.
As Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to receive and unbox this machine and so far, I’ve been absolutely wowed by the features packed in for the price tag. Here’s everything that’s new with this impressive new release as well as the difference between this and the Luxe Café and the Luxe Café Pro (both of which I awarded 5 stars to in my previous reviews).
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BRAND NEW!
Ninja
Autobarista Pro Automatic Espresso Machine
1. It’s packed full of automatic features
If you’ve considered buying the Luxe Café before (which is a semi-manual machine) but were put off by having to pull your own espresso shots, this the machine for you.
The AutoBarista Pro has a very capable touchscreen from which you can choose 13 different one-touch drinks. Whenever you want a coffee all you’ll need to do is select your drink from the screen and pop milk into the jug to be frothed. From there, the machine will set the grind, brew and froth settings.
(Image credit: Future)
I think this more hands-off approach will be a huge hit with those looking for a bean-to-cup machine that’s more like versions from competitors like De’Longhi and Philips. After recently testing out the De’Longhi Eletta Explore, I can totally see the appeal in these more laidback machines.
With the AutoBarista Pro once your coffee has brewed and your milk has frothed all there’s left to do is pour it over your coffee, meaning there’s still a chance to improve your latte art at home!
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2. It features two interchangable bean hoppers
When I was unboxing this machine I was very excited and impressed by the swappable bean hoppers included in the box. The ability to swap out two different types of beans (perhaps to switch to decaf in the afternoons or to meet different coffee tastes in one household) is something usually reserved for much more expensive machines – if it’s even included at all.
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The two bean hoppers stacked together.(Image credit: Future)
Showing how to remove the swappable bean hopper.(Image credit: Future)
I think the fact that it’s built-in to this machine is a huge plus. After a preliminary try, I found the process to unscrew the hopper very easy which will be encouraging for anyone looking for a double hopper system.
This is one feature I’m very excited to try out for decaf coffees in the afternoon!
3. Personalised user programs
Dedicated user profiles is something that I am always into when I test automatic bean-to-cup machines, as it makes rushing out of the door with a coffee so much easier when you have your preferences saved.
It’s just one of the big upgrades with this machine as opposed to the more pared-back screen on the Luxe Café. When initially turning it on, I noticed it had a very swish opening sequence, with the coffee icons appearing one by one, as well as full colour on the screen.
(Image credit: Future)
The number of coffee profiles is limited to just 2, but I’m intrigued to get stuck in and see how easy they are to program and use day-to-day.
This is just a small snapshot of everything I’ve noticed so far as I unbox and get to grips with this machine – not even touching on the easy cleaning features (which sound so useful) as well as the huge range of drinks available including cold brew.
I’ll be testing this machine as soon as I can to let you know exactly how it performs in my kitchen but I have to say, I’m thoroughly impressed from my first look.
The Smeg name has been synonymous with stylish kitchen appliances for many years now in the UK, but in Italy, the brand’s heritage and influence stretch back much further.
That’s something I learned first-hand last week on a trip to Smeg’s incredibly impressive HQ, based in northern Italy, where I got access to a treasure trove of trademark pastel kitchen appliances.
As Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor (and owner of a beloved Smeg toaster and kettle set), the part of the tour I most enjoyed was glimpsing all of the now-discontinued or limited edition pieces from Smeg’s collection – many of which are now extremely rare.
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As well as Smeg bean-to-cup machines and even air fryers in a palette of gorgeous colours, these were the Smeg appliances from the HQ that I was totally enchanted by on my trip – and I think you will be too!
1. A Barbie pink hidden dishwasher
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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
I’m usually so busy reviewing small appliances that I don’t have time to appreciate all of the wonderful large versions out there, but there was one thing on my tour of Smeg HQ that caught my eye immediately.
This Barbie pink waist-height appliance is masquerading as a fridge with its retro door, lettering and handle but behind the facade you’ll find a compact washing machine and sink set up that would complete any quirky pink kitchen scheme.
If the Barbie dream house was fitted with a washing machine, this would most certainly be it.
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First released in 2006, this washing machine has become a cult collector’s item – and for good reason. If your home isn’t big enough for a utility room, you have to get inventive with hiding your washing machine instead and this compact buy solves that problem in real style.
The inside of the outer door also has two hidden storage compartments, so there’s even more of an incentive with this machine if you love things being neatly tucked away.
As Smeg moved away from large freestanding appliances to focus on built-in units and those kettles, toasters and coffee machines that we all know and love, they stopped making this popular pink machine. But luckily they kept the much-loved colourway, so if you do want to add a pop of pink these are the Smeg buys we’ve tried you can buy it in.
Smeg
Espresso Machine with Steam Wand
Smeg
KLF05 Mini Kettle
Smeg
Personal Blender
2. Smeg x Fiat 500 drinks fridge
(Image credit: Smeg)
Next up is a true centrepiece, one that you can find in Smeg’s HQ in Italy and London, that I’m sure will make you do a double take. The Smeg x Fiat 500 Drinks Fridge features the front half of a 50s version of this classic Italian car.
But underneath the bonnet, rather than finding an engine, you’ll find a swish mini fridge that is more than capable of holding enough drinks to throw a fabulous party.
This very pricey design collaboration between these two Italian powerhouses was never a mainstream commercial product sold to consumers, but it still holds a huge charm when you see it in person.
It’s not just Smeg HQ where you can find one of these fridges, although they are exceptionally rare. So if you do spot one out in the wild, you can impressive everyone with your knowledge of this cult classic design piece.
3. Snoopy & Disney special editions
(Image credit: Future)
One corner of Smeg’s Italian showroom is dedicated to the brand’s best known creation: the iconic single door retro 50s style fridge. And while I was perusing all of the styles and colours, I noticed two very different versions.
The first was a fridge with Disney’s very recognisable Mickey Mouse plastered across it, closely placed near another that featured character Snoopy, from the American cartoon strip Peanuts.
So what’s the story behind these cartoon-inspired fridges? The Disney collection came first, released in 2018, and saw the creation of 90 Mickey Mouse inspired fridges – one to celebrate every year since Mickey’s inception. It was a huge hit with customers, and the extremely low number of fridges made mean this is a big time collector’s item.
Following in the footsteps of Mickey’s success, Snoopy’s mini fridge was released in 2020 (and then re-released in 2022) and uses the backdrop of the Smeg fridge door as a cartoonist’s easel. If you were to find either of these fridges in the wild these days, they would definitely fetch a pretty penny.
It wasn’t just the archive that I got a glimpse of at Smeg’s HQ – I was also wowed by the brand’s new and wonderfully sleek Isola range, which features induction hobs and cooker hoods.
Combining old cult classics and new cutting edge appliances, it seems there’s so much more from Smeg still to come and I for one can’t wait to see what’s next!
