Reviews October 25, 2020 If you’re looking for the convenience of a single-serve coffee machine but you don’t want the running costs or environmental footprint of a pod-style coffee maker, Ninja comes flying to the rescue. See Also: Best Latte Coffee MachinesGaggia Brera Super Automatic Espresso Machine ReviewsBest Keurig Coffee Makers ReviewsKeurig K575 Coffee Maker Review Today, we’ll look at 5 of the strongest Ninja Coffee Bars in their impressive range so you can decide which, if any, would make the most suitable addition to your kitchen. If you’re impatient for the main event, check out our capsule summary of the 3 overall picks then we’ll laser in on what makes these coffee makers such a winner… Ninja Coffee Bar Reviews Before we move on to dissecting the differences between the 5 best Ninja Coffee Bars, we’ll give you some background first and look at these machines in general across the following 5 categories: Design of the Ninja Coffee MachineAuto-IQFree Pods5 Brew Styles: Classic, Rich, Iced, Specialty, Cafe fortePerformance We’ve chosen to approach things differently today since these machines are all broadly similar. We fully appreciate you’re only looking to invest in one of these Coffee Bars so it’s senseless to produce a batch of the review where almost every aspect is the same. Instead, we’ll outline what these machines have in common before doubling down on the specifics and differences between the individual models. Design of the Ninja Coffee Machine Design is always a highly subjective subject that polarizes opinion. Although most aspects of buying a coffee machine are personal, the design is more so. The same black and silver look extends across the entire range and there’s a bit too much plastic on the show to give a truly upscale appearance. If you’ve got a stark and minimalist kitchen, though, these Coffee Bars make a mean addition. While these coffee machines might look similar at a glance, sizing varies considerably. From a design standpoint, how much room a coffee machine takes up on your countertop is arguably the most important factor of all. Here’s a look at the sizing by the model in the order in which we review them: CP301: 14 x 8 x 14 inchesC112: 12.2 x 11 x 16.3 inchesCF901: 15 x 11.3 x 16.3 inchesCF080Z: 10.8 x 10.5 x 14.9 inchesCE201: 7 x 8 x 12 inches There’s no right or wrong answer here and it very much hinges on how much importance you place on this issue in the first place. If you live in a small apartment and you’ve got limited space, the CE201 is by far your strongest option while if you have a sprawling house with ample room for all the appliances you need, pick from the entire range. With frothers and carafes on-board and a neat interface, we have to see we very much like the Ninja machines in terms of design. Unless you find them particularly offensive on the looks front, though, you should focus more on sizing than appearance. Of course, the way in which a machine performs is the most vital part so we’ll kick off with that Auto-IQ technology… Auto-IQ You can’t examine any of these Ninja Coffee Bars without being confronted by the words Auto-iQ One Touch Intelligence. You might be wondering if this is just marketing jargon or whether it has real meaning. Well, it’s far more than just a buzzword. Of course, the one-touch part refers to the ease with which you can make coffee with these machines. An easily navigable menu with single buttons for just about everything you need means your coffee truly is just one-touch away. As far as intelligence goes, don’t expect AI with the Ninja Coffee Bars but you will get programmability on most of the models along with auto shut-off to ensure you don’t get any overheating or burnout if you forget your machine and leave it turned on. The Auto-IQ element comes into play after you’ve popped in your coffee and selected both your brew style – more on that shortly – and the size. It’s here that the Ninja Coffee Bars step in and do the hard yards for you. The machine will automatically pull down the precise amount of water needed to make the best version of any drink you choose. This means you won’t need to undergo the fiddly task of measuring out the water and you won’t be endlessly messing around with the reservoir. The size of these water tanks varies by model and we’ve drawn your attention to this within the individual reviews. Free Pods Pod-style machines divide opinion, including our own. On the one hand, this type of coffee machine with single-serve capsules is incredibly convenient. Unfortunately, this is where the real advantages end. In terms of the environment, packages of coffee with multiple small pods all containing plastic that’s tough to recycle and often ends up in the trashcan anyway are obviously not good news. While some manufacturers are making all the right noises about large-scale recycling campaigns, the bottom line, pods are not eco-friendly. Another significant drawback with pods is the relatively limited choice you’ll get. If you’re a real coffee lover, we’re pretty confident you’ll have a favorite blend. Are you just as confident this will be available in pod form? Only you can decide whether the taste of pods meets your standards. For us, they make serviceable coffee but it’s simply not in the same league as freshly ground coffee popped directly into the machine. And beyond all these downsides, pods are also pretty pricey. Sure, you can compare them favorably to the cost of hitting Starbucks every day but that’s hardly an equal comparison. It would like comparing the expense of eating at home to a restaurant meal, a little like comparing apples and oranges. With all that said, we’re not here to tell you what to do. If you’re a pod enthusiast, there are some great machines out there. If you agree with most of the above points, though, the Ninja Coffee Bars offer all the convenience of single-serve machines without any of the downsides of pods. Brew Styles: Classic, Rich, Iced, Specialty, Cafe Forte We’ll touch briefly now on the 5 brew styles these awesome Ninja Coffee Bars deliver with the same consistency as your favorite coffee shop. Classic: If you like your coffee mild and smooth as well as perfectly balanced, the classic brew is just what you’ve been waiting for. No-fuss, no extras, just great coffee the right way Rich: Deeper and with more punch than the classic brew, if you like a more intoxicating taste with a little more robustness, punch Rich and you’re good to go. This brew lends particularly well to drinks with added milk or flavoring Iced: No surprises here, cold coffee poured over ice. The great thing with Ninja is that this brew is designed so as not to overly dilute your coffee so you can enjoy the benefits of cold brew without the tiresome waiting time Specialty: Ninja is careful to avoid the word espresso since, as we’re sure you know, a bona fide espresso is made under pressure, usually a minimum of 9-bar. If you enjoy your coffee short and strong like the Italians, though, the Specialty brew delivers in fine style. This option also goes well with a latte and blended or frozen drinks so experiment using the handy recipe guides Ninja throw-in Café Forte: For a truly full-bodied brew that brings out the more complex elements of your preferred blend, there’s no substitute for Café Forte Performance The one word best summing up Ninja Coffee Bars on the performance front is choice. You’ll be almost overwhelmed by options. We say almost since the user-friendly nature of these machines along with a super-simple interface gives you the one-touch functionality so frequently mentioned by the manufacturer. The machines all offer supreme convenience without the drawbacks of pods and you’ll get a milk frother so you can expand your repertoire of drinks. Some models extend the scope to tea and iced drinks so read our Ninja Coffee Bar reviews to pick which one makes the best fit for you. Glass carafes allow you to keep your eye on proceedings while heating plates on some models give you up to 2 hours of warming before you’ll need to make a fresh pot. In summary, all Ninja Coffee Bars combine ease of use, programmability, and first-class coffee in an extremely affordable machine so all that remains is to decide which model you fancy. To that end, we’ll highlight the chief differences that make each of these fine models stand out in a crowded market. 5 Best Ninja Coffee Maker Reviews 1. Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System First up in our Ninja coffee maker reviews is the pricey but powerful CP301. This is not especially cheap but the price/performance ratio is unbeatable. If you love hot and cold coffee but you’re also partial to the occasional cup of tea, this multipurpose machine is the obvious solution to an age-old problem. At the heart of the Ninja coffee machines are Auto-iQ but what does that even mean? In essence, it’s just one-touch technology so all you need do is choose the type of drink you want and the size. Rather than needing to also fuss over the amount of water, what you need will be pulled straight from the tank meaning you need only focus on keeping it topped up and the machine will do the rest. You can choose from 5 coffee brew styles (classic, cold brew, rich, over ice, specialty) with the same options for tea. 6 cup sizes let you enjoy anything from a short shot to a travel mug and even a whole carafe. The milk frother allows you to enjoy far more than shorter espresso-style coffees the specialty brew and you can use your favorite ground blend in this pod-free machine. The frother folds away in a neat space-saving manner. If you prefer cold coffee, go for the on-demand version over ice or, if you’re fussier and prepared to wait, the cold brew coffee that takes 10 minutes but is well worth the wait. Perfect for large families with varying tastes in drinks, the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System is an absolute must and flexible addition to the kitchen which happens to look great into the bargain. Pros Brew Sizes: Choose from 6 sizings ranging from regular cups through half-carafes and full carafes for maximum flexibilityChoice of Drinks: Brew coffee hot or to go over ice and also tea so an extremely versatile machineFilter: Separate filters for tea and coffee so you’ll get no unwanted cross-contaminationWarming Plate: Keep your drinks piping hot for a full 2 hoursFrother: You’ll get an integrated frother perfect for making longer drinks Cons The carafe is pretty difficult to clean 2. Ninja Single-Serve Pod-Free with Hot and Iced Coffee This single-serve Ninja Coffee Bar known as the C112 is another machine capable of delivering both hot and cold drinks. While this is by no means the most rapid delivery system if you’re looking for coffee in a hurry, you’ll be able to make very large 22oz cups which takes some of the stings out of making repeated smaller drinks if you’re a real coffee fiend. We’d alert you to the fact the hot drinks from this model are not exactly scorching. Bear in mind, too, that if you plan to add milk you’re likely to end up with a coffee-like you get in Starbucks: almost at the temperature where you can drink the whole thing in one go. If you like your coffee piping hot, this is not the machine for you. There’s no hot plate on this model either. This particular model is slightly lacking in terms of design and build quality but we’ve had no issues with the machine breaking down and aesthetics are subjective so it might be to your taste. We’ve drawn your attention to the flaws in this model since we always like to give you a frank and honest lowdown on products. After all, there’s no sense in reviewing a batch of Ninja Coffee Bars only to tell you they are all “the best”. While this machine is by no means perfect, it still comes in as our runner-up in the Ninja range as an affordable and versatile machine giving you a decent choice of styles and sizes along with frothing Pros Pod-Free: You’ll get a superior cup of coffee while you can also do your part for the environment with this pod-free machineIntegrated Frothing Arm: The frother comes on board so you can enjoy hot or cold lattes any time of dayOne-Touch Technology: Auto-iQ meaning you won’t need to measure out any waterHot and Cold Drinks: Choose from hot and iced coffee although there is no temperature controlFilter: Permanent filter means no ongoing expense of paper replacements so great for your pocket and the environment Cons As with many Ninja machines, the cleaning light can get stuck onRelatively slow brewing compared to some of the competition 3. Ninja CF091 Coffee Maker Ninja has a robust range of Coffee Bars and the CF901 is arguably the best overall value offering the bulk of functionality from the pricier machines without the tedious drawbacks of the weaker CF112. The supersized carafe enables you to make ample coffee for all the family and you can keep it warm for a good couple of hours thanks to the plate in place. This machine is strictly for use with pre-ground coffee so you’ll get the eco-friendly pod-free experience many consumers are now looking for along with the convenience of a near-instant coffee that tastes out of this world. You’ll get the same trademark 5 brewing types common to the Ninja Coffee Bar range making this perfect for families with varying palates. The integrated frother gives you even more versatility allowing you to get precisely the coffee you want without needing to hit Starbucks. The same latitude comes to the fore with sizing and you can make 6 different brew sizes at the push of a button. This is the only model in the range without a programmable brew delay but this is hardly a deal-breaker considering the shower of benefits you’ll get from a fairly modest investment. Pros Carafe: 50oz glass carafe is good for a full 10 cups of joe and warming plate a nice extra bonusSpecialty Coffee: Get a super-concentrated drink you can give some added oomph by layering in some milk for a gourmet experience at homeRecipes: You’ll get a mini-guide with 20 inspiring recipes thrown inControl Panel: Extremely user-friendly and easy to readValue: Unbeatable price/performance ratio and currently available at an aggressive discount Cons Cleaning button prone to coming on, a common fault with Ninjas 4. Ninja CF080Z Coffee Maker with Hot and Iced Coffee The CF080Z is another rock-solid Ninja Coffee Bar. It’s a shame they didn’t name these machines with something a little more inspiring but that’s partly why we’ve tried today to focus on the differences rather than the similarities so you can see which makes the best sense for you. The 43oz carafe on this machine is slightly smaller than the supersized one you’ll find on the CF901 but it’s still large enough for the whole family. Although glass doesn’t retain heat brilliantly, this is mitigated by the hot plate so you’ll have hot coffee for a good couple of hours. You’ll get the same variety of coffees at your disposal as with all these Ninja Coffee Bars. Whether you prefer it hot or iced, long or short, the choice is impressive. Setting aside the ongoing cleaning indicator snag that blights these Ninjas, cleaning and maintenance is a breeze. If you’re looking for a robust and flexible way to enjoy gourmet coffee without endlessly tinkering around, this model is tailor-made. Pros Carafe: Generous 43oz carafe with additional warming plate keeps your drinks hotter for longerAccessories: Insulated tumbler, coffee scoop, and recipe book as an added bonusMultiple Drink Sizes: Make a cup, travel mug or go for a full or half carafe if you have a family crying out for their morning coffees in a hurryWater Reservoir: Slips out for ease of use and no need to measure water each time or endlessly refill thanks to Auto-IQHot, Iced, or Frozen: Take your coffee any way you like it with the remarkably versatileProgrammable: Set up your Coffee Bar 24 hours in advance for on-demand coffee just the way you like it Cons Standard clean indicator issue that blights these otherwise excellent machinesSome complaints about sediment floating in the carafe although this was not a problem we encountered 5. Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker Rounding out our best Ninja Coffee Bar reviews, we’ve got the CE201, another unimaginatively named machine that packs the same punch as its stablemates and comes in at an incredibly keen price point. You’ll get a huge carafe capable of holding fully 12 cups of coffee and if you don’t have such heavy needs, you can easily brew in smaller batches. The pause function comes in handy if you want the best of both worlds so you can set a whole carafe to drip through but grab a quick cup on the fly before it’s completed the cycle. Programmability with the valuable auto shut-off for safety’s sake gives you a great deal of convenience while you can take full advantage of the precise warming plate and enjoy your coffee remaining hotter for longer. If you’re not a tea fan and you’re not bothered about iced coffee, this makes an outstanding choice for the best hot coffee on a budget from a brand you can rely on. Pros Thermal Flavor Extraction: A surefire bet for getting the very most out of your favorite coffee blend every timeBrew-Pause: Ideal if you’re rushing around in the morning and want to snatch a quick cup before the whole carafe of coffee has dripped throughJumbo Carafe: A whopping 60oz glass carafe ensures the whole family is fully loaded with their caffeine fix every morning with the minimum of fussVersatility: Brew up coffee in small batches and by the full or half carafe for a flexible experienceSmall Footprint: Despite such hard-hitting functionality, the CE201 occupies relatively little space on the countertop Cons Some complaints about a taste of plastic even after running water-only cycles but we did not encounter this issue when testing Conclusion We trust these snapshots of the best Ninja Coffee Bars has given you a clear idea of which machine would be the most suitable addition to your kitchen for 2019. There really is no single machine that’s better than the others, it’s very much of a case of being honest about your needs, the type of drinks you enjoy most, and how much space you have to accommodate the machine. Of course, budget is also always a factor but all of these machines are great value so that needn’t be your prime motivator. If you want top-tier freshly ground coffee in a machine that gives you the flexibility of a single-serve machine with the added reach of a carafe and none of the drawbacks of a pod system… Well, the only question that remains is which Ninja Coffee Bar has your name on it?
