The best Ninja coffee maker offers a variety of different functions that make them easy to use and easy to clean. They feature brew sizes from single-serve to full carafes, they can make coffee or tea, they are capable of hot and cold brewing, and they even offer a range of features that enable you to brew specialty beverages.
Regardless of the Ninja appliance you buy, the brand offers a great value because they’re reasonably priced and include a lot of versatile options. Of course, they’re not necessarily the best coffee makers on the market. Ninja is better known for its blenders, and its coffee makers may not live up to the hype. Still, they make it possible for the average household with a modest budget to purchase a decent machine.
Keep reading our buying guide to learn more about Ninja coffee makers.
Top Ninja Coffee Makers
#1 Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer with 12-cup Glass Carafe Coffee Maker
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: It has a reasonably large water reservoir, so owners will be able to brew up to 12 cups of coffee. It can also be programmed for scheduled brewing, and it also has a mid-brew pause function where users can halt its functioning and pour themselves a cup.
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- Large capacity
- Brewing can be scheduled in advance
- Elements are dishwasher safe
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- Some might not like that some of its elements are made of plastic
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The Ninja CE251 programmable brewer can brew up to 12 cups of coffee and has a relatively small footprint not to take up too much space on the counter. The coffee maker has a 1.7-liter water reservoir that is removable for easy cleaning and can also be programmed to brew coffee in advance. The coffee maker also has an adjustable warming plate to keep coffee fresh for four hours. Its casing includes elements made of stainless steel and plastic, which some users may not appreciate.
This coffee maker also comes with its own carafe and has a unique feature where users will also be able to pause their brewing and pour themselves a cup of coffee. Cleaning it is also pretty easy to do since it is dishwasher safe, and since it also includes a flavor straw, the coffee will also be able to brew to ensure that every cup is as hot and flavourful as the next.
#2 Ninja CM401 Specialty 10-cup Coffee Maker
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: It comes with a built-in frother and can brew coffee in four different ways. It does not require the use of pods and can be set to brew coffee in up to six different sizes.
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- Can brew coffee in four different kinds
- Can be configured for six different brew sizes
- Has an automatic shut off function
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- Heating plate does not get warm enough to keep coffee hot for too long
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The Ninja CM401 is a 10-cup coffee maker that offers four different brew styles: Classic, Rich, Over Ice, or Specialty Brew. It can also be configured to six different brew sizes, and instead of using pods, owners will just stick to ground coffee. It comes with a built-in frother that can easily be stored away and a glass carafe that is very easy to clean. To preserve power, the coffee maker has an automatic shut-off function where its system powers off after one hour of inactivity and a removable water reservoir that can hold up to 1.18 liters of water at a go. Unfortunately, some previous users have complained that its heating plate does not get hot enough to keep coffee warm for a long time.
The CM401 also includes an integrated smart scoop that can be used to accurately measure ground coffee for a specific size, and since it comes with a programmable function, users will also be able to schedule its brewing in advance. The coffee maker also has a relatively small footprint because of its compact size, and thanks to its automated brewing technology, it can unlock and enhance the coffee’s full flavor potential.
#3 Ninja CF091 Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR DIFFERENT BREWING SIZES
WHY WE LIKE IT: It offers users the option to choose between different brewing sizes and also comes with a built-in frother. It also comes with a permanent reusable filter and can be programmed to automatically brew at a scheduled time.
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- Offers up to six different brew sizes
- Has a built-in frother
- Programmable for scheduled brewing
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- Can only brew ground coffee
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The Ninja CF091 coffee bar system is designed for users who want to bring the coffee house experience back home. It comes with a built-in frother that transforms milk into a silky microfoam and offers owners the option to choose from up to six different brew sizes. Buyers will also have the chance to explore up to four different brewing styles, and thanks to a water reservoir with a 1.47-liter capacity, it can prepare coffee that serves up to 10 users. Unfortunately, it is limited to ground coffee and cannot use pods.
This coffee maker will only take a quick three minutes to get heated up, and since it also comes with a permanent reusable filter, owners won’t have to spend their money buying a new one. Its drip tray is also movable to allow for different cup sizes, and with a programmable function that can be used to schedule an advance brewing time, owners will have the opportunity to wake up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee if they so wish.
#4 Ninja CP307 Hot and Cold Brewed Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR COFFEE AND TEA BREWING
WHY WE LIKE IT: It is designed to be able to brew both tea and also coffee and can be scheduled for advanced brewing. The coffee machine also comes with a carafe that can keep contents warm for up to two hours.
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- Great for tea as well as coffee
- Comes with a thermal carafe that maintains warmth for up to two hours
- Has a milk frother
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- No water filter feature
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The Ninja CP307 is a compact, modern-looking coffee machine that can be set to brew coffee for up to six different cup or mug sizes and comes with a frother for added convenience. One of its unique features is that it can also be set to brew tea, and overall, it offers up to five different brew styles for users to choose from. Its carafe can hold up to 50 ounces of coffee, which is equivalent to 10 cups, and has a decent brew time of between 10 and 15 minutes. Still, some might not be impressed that it does not come with a water filter.
This coffee machine’s smart basket recognition system will be able to differentiate whenever the owner is using a coffee or tea basket and can also be programmed to brew coffee in advance. Its intricate thermal flavor extraction process yields a rich and well-saturated cup of coffee and can also be used to brew cold drinks.
#5 NInja CP301 Hot and Cold Brewed Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR EASE OF USE
WHY WE LIKE IT: It is very easy to use and features an easily removable and relatively large water reservoir. It can also be used to brew tea as well as coffee and is pretty easy to clean.
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- Very easy to use
- Brews both tea and coffee
- Can be programmed for advanced brewing
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- Some have complained that it leaks
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This Ninja CP301 hot and cold coffee maker is a nice-looking, compact alternative that comes with a glass carafe and a removable water reservoir that can hold up to 1.48 liters of water. This translates to a cup capacity of about ten standard-size cups, and since it also comes with a frother, owners will have the chance to transform hot or cold milk into rich microfoam for a creamy taste. The machine can be used to brew both tea and coffee, and as such, it comes with separate flavor baskets so that the flavors remain independent of each other. Unfortunately, there have been a lot of complaints concerning leakage.
The coffee machine can be used to produce up to six different brew sizes, and since it does not require any pods, owners have the option to pick their specialized type of ground coffee, and with the opportunity to choose from five brew styles, owners will get to enjoy and try out new drink styles. Those that would not want to wait for the 10 to 15 minute brew time can also opt to program it for advanced brewing, and since its water reservoir is also removable, it is pretty easy to clean.
#6 Ninja CF111 Pod-Free Coffee Maker
Award: BEST FOR BEGINNERS
WHY WE LIKE IT: It has impressive coffee brewing technology that measures the exact amount of water needed for the perfect brew and eliminates any guesswork. It can also be used as a hot water source and is also pretty easy to operate.
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- Takes the guesswork out of water measurements
- Can be used as a hot water source
- Features a built-in frother
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- Does not come with a reusable filter
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This Ninja CF111 single-serve coffee maker is a classic-looking pick that offers four custom brew sizes and a built-in frother. It also features advanced thermal flavor extraction technology for a rich and well-saturated coffee brew, and since it is pod-free, users will have the opportunity to customize their brew as they see fit. Its use of Auto-IQ intelligence is ideal for users who aren’t very good at measurements since it automatically measures the exact amount of water required for a perfectly brewed drink, depending on the chosen brew size. Still, some might not appreciate that it does not come with a reusable filter.
The coffee maker is made of mainly plastic, but it does have elements of stainless steel material. This gives it a visually elegant appearance, and since it is pretty easy to operate, using it to brew coffee is a stress-free experience. The coffee maker can also be used as a hot water source for tea, and this can be done by pressing the rich brew button without including any coffee in the filter.
Introduction to the Best Ninja Coffee Maker
Ninja was originally founded by Mark Rosenzweig as Euro-Pro in 1994 in Montreal, Canada. They started out making household cleaning appliances. A few years later, Euro-Pro expanded beyond household cleaning and created a line of Ninja kitchen appliances.
The first Ninja blenders appeared on infomercials in 2013, and they were marketed as gimmicky “As Seen On TV” products. The blender proved to be so popular that, in 2015, the company changed its name to SharkNinja Operating LLC, and they’ve seen such immense success that they’ve been able to grow their product line.
Since that first Ninja blender, the company has become famous for its durability and quality. They’ve expanded to 15 offices in eight different countries. Today, they have a line of kitchen appliances like blenders and food processors, pressure cookers and air fryers, ovens and toasters, cookware and cutlery, ice cream makers, juicers, and coffee and tea makers.
How Ninja Compares to Other Brands
Pro 1: The Ninja brand has a good hold on the market with a name people trust to offer durability and performance at a reasonable price. Their coffee makers offer a wide range of features, sleek appearance, and plenty of functionality.
Con 1: Ninja only offers four different coffee maker models in their lineup. They have a few specialty machines and dual brewers, but they lack options for people who would like more simple, straightforward functionality for making a cup of coffee or who would like a machine that focuses on a single task.
Pro 2: Ninja coffee makers range in function from a simple carafe of coffee to a fold-away frother for specialty beverages. There are so many things a Ninja coffee maker can do that everyone in the house will get good use out of the machine, making it a great value. It offers hot and cold coffee as well as tea and specialty beverages like espresso, cappuccino, lattes, and more.
Con 2: The sheer number of options on a Ninja coffee maker can be quite overwhelming. It’s possible that the learning curve may be too much to handle for some people who simply want a straightforward brewing machine. And if you’re looking for a cold brew option, you may be better off with the best nitro cold brew coffee maker. For a richer brew, you may also be better off with an espresso machine.
Pro 3: A Ninja programmable coffee maker is capable of automatically brewing several different cup sizes, from a single serving with a coffee pod to a full carafe using ground coffee. They’re great for a quick morning out the door and for entertaining.
Con 3: The single-serve function brew cycle is very quick, making it noisy. When brewing coffee in the morning, you may find that you wake the rest of the house up by trying to make your coffee more quickly.
Pro 4: Ninja coffee makers come with two different carafe materials. You can choose from glass or thermal carafes with most of their machines. A glass carafe offers style and a timeless appearance, while a thermal carafe will keep your coffee hot without the use of a warming plate.
Con 4: Glass carafes require “keep warm” functions to ensure your coffee doesn’t get cold before you drink all of it. Keeping your coffee warm like this can lead to burning or a burnt taste, which makes for poor coffee quality. You can avoid this with the stainless steel thermal carafe, but this will increase the price.
Pro 5: Some of the Ninja coffee makers feature technology that is smart enough to detect the type of brew basket you’re using and will automatically display brew options based on whether you’re making coffee or tea.
Con 5: The presence of two different baskets for coffee and tea means you have extra components you have to store rather than a single, straightforward accessory that can do multiple things. This can make storage difficult, especially when the footprint of a Ninja specialty coffee maker is larger and takes up more space.
Pro 6: Ninja coffee makers come with dishwasher-safe parts, making them easy to clean. Even the pod adapter is removable, to ensure that you can keep every component of your machine clean with ease.
Con 6: These dishwasher-safe parts are made of plastic, which isn’t the most durable or long lasting material. A Ninja coffee maker offers a wide range of functions and capabilities, but it may not last as long as other specialty machines. On the contrary, it may still last longer than the best Mr. Coffee maker.
Why should you buy a Ninja Coffee Maker?
A Ninja coffee maker can offer awesome functionality for the price. They’re not the cheapest coffee makers on the market, but they provide great value. You can brew a variety of beverages like coffee, tea, and specialty drinks; you can brew hot coffee or cold beverages, and you can enjoy many different cup sizes to make them convenient for everyone.
Ninja coffee makers are made with plenty of features like a removable water reservoir, a built-in frother, permanent filters, and multiple functions, so you’ll be able to enjoy an all-in-one machine for everything from single-serve sizes to full carafes of coffee. They’re great for individual use and entertaining.
Ninja is a well-known name, and they offer intuitive machines that are easy to use and easy to clean, so you’ll always enjoy some of the best functionality in the home coffee making world.
How Long Will a Ninja Coffee Maker Last?
A Ninja coffee maker will last 1-2 years. Reports suggest that the lifespan of a Ninja coffee maker isn’t as long as other high-quality machines, but it will perform well until it ceases to work. If you keep it clean and care for it properly, it could last longer, but it won’t last much longer than about 3 years, due to less durable components than other specialty machines.
Ninja Warranty
The good news is that Ninja offers up to a seven-year limited warranty, so if something does go wrong, they’ll repair or replace it. The warranty you get depends on the machine you purchase and the authorized retailer. As each year goes by, the warranty will cover less and less, but it can still offer good protection.
Ninja also offers a 60-day money back guarantee, which is the time frame in which something is most likely to go wrong if anything does. This gives you a great opportunity to test out the machine to see if you like it and see if it will work for you.
