From Novice to Ninja: Find the Best Ninja Coffee Maker

Coffee makers have come a long way. Today, as you browse, it’s not hard to find new-age coffee machines from renowned houses. And one brand that draws the most attention sitting among the competitors is Ninja.

Ninja coffee makers are amazing little machines having an array of brewing abilities. It is a crowd-pleaser. But does it mean that the Ninja coffee maker is a jack of all trades or a master of none?

So, discover the best Ninja coffee maker with its features and know why it’s a coffee lover’s choice.

Overview of Ninja Coffee Maker

Ninja is the sister company of Shark Ninja Operating LLC, headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts. Shark Ninja derives its name from two brand lines: Shark, which focuses on vacuum cleaners and similar appliances, and Ninja, renowned for kitchen appliances.

Shark’s success laid the beginning of Ninja in 2008 with blenders, multi-cookers, air fryers, and coffee makers. Ninja coffee makers are crowd-pleasers. The sleek, edgy, and compact machines have features combined with technology packed into them.

5 Best Ninja Coffee Maker for Home

Here are the five best Ninja coffee makers:

1. Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer

Specification:

• Capacity: 60 oz.
• Dimension: (D x W x H): 8” x 10” x 14”.
• Feature: Programmable.
• Power: 1100W.

What’s in the box:

• The coffee machine.
• 12-cup glass carafe.
• Removable water reservoir.
• Ninja smart scoop.
• Permanent filter.

Product details: Wake up to a cup of hot and flavorful coffee every morning brewed in this Ninja coffee maker. Just program this coffee maker using the Delay Brew button up to 24 hours in advance. You can brew as small as 1-4 cups or 12 cups of classic or rich coffee for the entire family in 12-15 minutes.

Design: This Ninja 12-cup brew programmable coffee maker is a simple elementary compact coffee maker with an edgy, straightforward design and no fancy elements. It is a model more progressed from the similar run-of-the-mill coffee makers.

It features a detachable water reservoir of 60 oz., convenient to pull away without mess, a 12-cup glass carafe, and humanized control panel having a descale button. It also features a mid-brew pause setting. Do it by pulling out the carafe to pour the brew. The coffee maker also features a foldable drip tray to hold cups and mugs.

Distinctive feature: Coffee in this one of the best coffee makers by Ninja stays up to 4 hours warm without burning. And the credit goes to stay-warm mode and an adjustable warming plate.

Why I recommend:

• Brew a small cup to a full carafe (12 cups).
• Program the brew for up to 24 hours.
• Mid-brew pause.

A similar product that can be an alternative to Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer Review is Ninja DCM201 Programmable Coffee Maker XL Pro.

2. Ninja CM401 Specialty 10-Cup Coffee Maker

Specification:

• Capacity: 50 oz.
• Dimension: (D x W x H): 8.75” x 11.99” x 15.04”.
• Feature: Makes a wide variety.
• Power: 1550W.

What’s in the box:

• Specialty coffee maker.
• 10-cup glass carafe.
• Permanent filter.
• Removable water reservoir.
• Ninja smart scoop.
• Guide.

Product details: Like me, if you love variants in coffee, the Specialty coffee maker perfectly fits your need. You can brew 4-variants—classic, rich, over-ice, and super-rich specialty brew in 6 different sizes—from a single cup to a full carafe.

Design: The Ninja 10-Cup Specialty Coffee Maker is an improved version of the Ninja Coffee Bar system. Its intuitive design makes the kitchen look like a coffee research center. However, setting it up and brewing is child’s play. Its intuitive control panel makes brewing and switching between brew sizes and styles easy.

This best specialty coffee maker has the Thermal Flavor Extraction system and Ninja gold-tone filter built in them. The surgical-grade stainless-steel woven mesh filter gives the most taste to your coffee, and the extraction system gives your coffee the best flavor. It also features an intelligent warming plate to keep coffee hot without burning and a foldable drip tray for cups.

Distinctive feature: It is a programmable coffee maker where you can set the brewing time up to 24 hours in advance. It features a built-in, removable, fold-away frother that turns hot/cold milk into smooth foam.

Why I recommend:

• Brew 4 styles in 6 sizes.
• Built-in fold-away milk frother.
• Programmable.

3. Ninja CP307 Hot and Cold Brewed System Tea & Coffee Maker

Specification:

• Capacity: 50 oz.
• Dimension: (D x W x H): 10.1” x 11.81” x 15″.
• Feature: brew tea and coffee.
• Power: 1500W.

What’s in the box:

• The hot and cold brew system.
• 50 oz. (10-cup) double-walled thermal carafe.
• Individual coffee and tea baskets.
• Permanent reusable filters.
• Recipe book.

Product details: If your family has coffee and tea lovers: the Ninja CP307 Hot and Cold Brewed System will keep everyone happy. It makes 5-styles of tea and coffee in 6-six different sizes. Brew a single cup to a full carafe of classic, rich, over-ice, cold brew or specialty coffee or herbal, black, oolong, white, and green tea.

Design: Designed with Smart Basket Recognition and an Auto-IQ feature: this coffee maker eliminates the guesswork. While the former detects the baskets and displays the beverage options, the latter pulls the perfect shot into the cup as you select the size.

There is more to the appliance’s striking features. The footprint is compact. There are separate tea and coffee basket to retain their original flavor. The milk frother turns hot/cold milk into smooth foam in seconds. It has a humanized control panel with the cold brew option that gives smooth and naturally sweet beverages in 10-15 minutes. There is a foldable drip tray for cups and mugs and descale button for easy cleaning.

Distinctive feature: You get a double-walled stainless steel thermal carafe to keep your beverage hot for 2 hours without the warming plate.

Why I recommend:

• Coffee and tea maker.
• Brew multiple styles and sizes.
• Auto-IQ feature.

A coffee maker very similar to Ninja CM401 and a close alternative can be Ninja CP301 Hot and Cold Coffee Maker.

4. Ninja CFP301 Dual Brew Pro System 12-Cup Coffee Maker

Specification:

• Capacity: 60 oz.
• Dimension: (D x W x H): 9.13” x 11.39” x 15.54”.
• Feature: brew grounds and pods.
• Power: 1550W.

What’s in the box:

• Ninja DualBrew Pro coffee maker.
• K-Cup pod adapter.
• 12-cup glass carafe.
• Ninja smart scoop.

Product details: This Ninja coffee maker stands out among the best, is, you can brew coffee grounds and pods in it. This coffee maker is compatible with K-cup coffee pods. Brew coffee grounds in 9 sizes—from small cups to full carafes, including ¼ and ¾ carafe sizes. Also, brew 4-conventional pod sizes—6, 8, 10, and 12 oz.

Design: Designed with a Thermal Flavor Extraction Duo system: the machine yields rich, ultra-flavorful coffee in every cup, whether you use coffee grounds or pods. This coffee maker brews pods faster than Keurig models.

With a simple and aesthetic appeal: this appliance has a hi-tech and humanized design. While the control panel makes brewing easy, the compact footprint and adjustable water reservoir (60 oz.) make the placement easy. You can place the water reservoir on the side or rear to fit the space. Equally; easy is making silky, smooth milk froth with the built-in fold-away milk frother.

Distinctive features: The coffee maker contains an independent hot water dispenser featuring a hot or boil option. It eliminates the chance of cross-contamination and generates perfect water for tea, hot cocoa, instant soups, and cereals.

Why I recommend:

• Brew coffee grounds and pods.
• 13 brew sizes.
• Independent hot water system.
• Adjustable water reservoir.

An excellent alternative to this coffee maker is Ninja CFP201 DualBrew System.

5. Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System

Specification:

• Capacity: 60 oz.
• Dimension: (D x W x H): 12.21” x 9.84” x 14.96”.
• Feature: espresso maker.
• Power: 1260W.

What’s in the box:

• Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System
• 12-Cup Glass Carafe.
• 20-used capsule storage bin.
• Ninja Smart Scoop
• Warming Plate
• Paper Filter Kit

Product details: Ninja’s another versatile coffee maker is here, designed to make coffeehouse-style drinks at home. Make espresso or lungo and classic, rich or iced coffee or cappuccino, latte, and more.

Design: Ninja has built this coffee maker with a sleek, aesthetic look, very appealing. Well, more appealing is the combined design-one for the grounds and the other for espresso. While you can make from a cup to a full-carafe coffee from the coffee grounds, it is a single-serve espresso machine that can fill up to an 8″ travel mug. There is also a built-in milk frother, an adjustable cup tray to hold the espresso cup, and a warming plate.

This all-in-one barista system has Barista Plus technology installed. The technology uses a 19-bar pressure system to extract the rich flavors of pods and coffee grounds into the cup. Hence, every brew you get is rich and flavorful, and espresso gets a thick, rich crema.

Distinctive features: The appliance comes with a bin to store reused pods for recycling. It can hold up to 20 used capsules.

Why I recommend:

• Make espresso with thick crema.
• Brew capsule and grounds.
• Adjustable cup tray.

Types of Ninja Coffee Makers (Buying Guide)

1. Ninja Programmable Brewer

The programmable coffee maker is a prodigious pick for one who needs mugs of coffee but is hardly bothered with advanced features or who only prefer classic or rich brews. The appliance always produces exquisite, flavorful, never bitter Classic and Rich coffees.

Though it is one of the elementary models, Ninja has infused some extra features, pretty useful. It features the delay brew setting to brew your coffee for a specific time – especially when you want to start the day with a hot cup. The adjustable warming plate will keep the coffee carafe hot for 4 hours.

2. Ninja Dual Brew Coffee Makers

Ninja Dual Brew Coffee Makers are one of the versatile home brewing machines catering to every coffee lover’s need. It features the signature intuitive design with the aesthetic look of the single-serve brewing machine–however, in performance too.

Dual Brew is Ninja’s first-ever Coffee Maker that brews pods and coffee grounds. It is compatible with K-Cup pods.

Hence, if you want to brew grounds or pods for the family or a small cup-it brews all.

3. Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System

When the Ninja Coffee Bar System retired, the Hot and Cold Brewed System emerged as the successor. The company has surpassed itself here.

This coffee maker feature five brew styles and six brew sizes-from XL cup, including XL multi-serve/travel mug, to a full carafe. However, the best part is its versatility-not just the brew style but the brew type. Hot and Cold brewed system brew tea and coffee. There are separate permanent coffee and tea filters and dedicated brew baskets, so neither flavors ever mingle. You can brew each in five styles.

Coffee lovers can brew classic, rich, over-ice, cold brew & specialty, while tea lovers can brew Black, Herbal, White Oolong, and Green Tea.

4. Ninja Specialty Coffee Makers

The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker is a super-versatile machine built to satisfy most coffee lovers. Its broad range allows you to make variants in different cup-size—from single-serve to full carafe. You can make delicious specialty drinks, refreshing iced coffee, and consistent classic or rich hot coffee.

The specialty model bears similarity to the Hot and Cold system, except for the little brewing limitation. It does not brew tea. Hence, it’s no huge loss for coffee lovers. However, it neither brew pods.

What to Expect from Ninja’s Best Coffee Maker

Most Ninja Coffee Makers come with four brewing options-classic, rich, iced, and specialty. However, the newer models also feature a Cold Brew coffee option.

Here’s what each option results in:

• Classic: The trusty go-to brew option, it brews a typical cup of coffee.
• Rich: A brew strength between the classic and espresso, this option entails a beverage that blends well with or without dairy without being overpowered.
• Iced: This brew option opens a new world of at-home beverage brewing. You can brew the coffee or tea over ice for a delightful refreshing caffeine mix.
• Cold brew (newer models): This is not the exact 14-hour cold brew you can make, but it brews gently at a cooler temperature to create a smoother cup.
• Specialty: The specialty feature brew a strong espresso-like concentrated coffee base. However, it won’t taste authentic. Yet, it makes a great alternative and saves your coffee shop visit.

Besides these different coffee brew options, many Ninja coffee machines feature an Auto IQ One-Touch feature that eliminates much guesswork. Select the brew size, the appliance measures the water, and pull the perfect coffee shot into the cup.

What is the best way to clean a Ninja coffee maker?

Cleaning a Ninja coffee maker is pretty simple. As the ground coffee comes into contact with hot water in an enclosed space, the condition becomes ideal for the growth of bacteria, microalgae, and mildew. So, it is wise to keep things as clean as possible.

1. Daily Cleaning

First and foremost, to maintain the flavors of every cup of coffee, follow a daily cleaning regime.

• Always use fresh, filtered water in the water reservoir.
• Once the machine cools, wipe the surfaces-showerhead, warming plate, and the brew basket interior with a damp cloth.
• Remove the permanent filter– if using one, after each brew, from the filter basket and rinse thoroughly.
• Try to use a brush to scrub stubborn coffee grounds from the mesh screen, but not dish soap.
• Rinse the carafe with warm water. You can use a soft brush.
• For the built-in milk frother: rinse off the milk residue before it dries.
• Using mild dishwashing liquid on removable parts is allowed: but use very little. After all, you never want the soapy flavors in your coffee.
• I recommend avoiding putting anything in the dishwasher, even if the manufacturer allows it.

2. Descaling

Even when using filtered water, every coffee maker needs a deep descaling for proper functioning and long-term use.

Descale the Ninja coffee maker periodically. And this is where the handy ‘Clean’ button has its use. It lights up when the appliance needs that extra love and care (a.k.a. deep cleaning).

For descaling: use a descaling solution or white vinegar and water mixture. The latter option works equally well but costs a fraction of a descaler solution. If you dislike the smell of vinegar, use citric acid cleaner.

Ninja’s descaling cycle takes about an hour to complete. Once the process ends, rinse the carafe and water tank to remove excess solution. Flush the system by running a carafe brew cycle with only water to extract the solution residue.

Tips for Using Ninja Coffee Makers

Ninja coffee makers have the most simple and user-friendly design. So, there is no step learning or straining your brain from the first use. I made the first coffee without looking at the instruction properly.

• For a drip coffee maker, start with a medium-fine grind. It yields superb results.
• If using a permanent filter in the Ninja coffee machine to get the little sediment at the cup’s bottom, try a finer grind but not too fine. Else, it may clog the brewer basket.
• If there is no silt at the bottom, the best option is to brew using #4 paper filters.
• Many complain about water leakage while using the Ninja coffee maker. Well, that’s mostly a case of improper handling. Make sure to place the tank properly, or else you may face the issue of water running everywhere.

Find out the differences between a Drip coffee maker and French Press.

FAQs: Best Ninja Coffee Maker

Final Word: Best Ninja Coffee Maker

Earlier, an at-home coffee house experience meant an expensive process with a kitchen counter loaded with the appliance, leaving little space for anything else. Just think, you need a coffee bean grinder, an espresso or drip coffee machine, a frother, and a stovetop French press to add extravagance. And for those lazy days, you even need a pod coffee maker.

But coffee makers have made coffee brewing easy, in-budget, and compact.

So, get your hands on the best Ninja coffee maker and experience the ultimate coffee-making experience.