Updated: July 22, 2023 by Alex Carpenter
Coffee is, without a doubt, the fuel of the modern human. From students to workers, everyone loves that fresh cup of coffee in the morning, a staple ritual without which you can’t start the day.
But doughing out cash in coffee shops every day will put a strain on your budget, that filter coffee machine will get boring after a while, and espresso makers cost an arm and a leg. That’s where Ninja Coffee Bar coffee machines come in – they’re versatile enough for every taste and affordable enough for every budget. Yet, there are quite a few Ninja Coffee Bar coffee maker models to choose from, so you may get lost while trying to find the best new addition to your kitchen countertop.
To help you in your search for the perfect coffee machine for your preferences, we selected our favorite Ninja Coffee Bar units and reviewed them in detail. We made sure that our favorites boast different features and fortes so that you can find exactly what you need. The one thing they all have in common: they brew awesome coffee.
Ninja Coffee Bars employ a technology called Thermal Flavor Extraction, which, according to them, enhances the extraction process, bringing out the full depth and richness of flavors from your coffee grounds at a touch of a button. This results in delicious and robust coffee every time
Don’t leave this article without reading the handy buying guide at the end, where we go over the main factors you should keep in mind when deciding which option is best for you!
Table of Contents
Ninja Coffee Bar Coffee Machines Reviews
1. Ninja CM401 Specialty 10-Cup Coffee Maker: Most Versatile and Best Overall
“We especially recommend the CM401 for offices, where each person can make their own custom coffee drink.”
The Ninja Coffee Bar CM401 is the best option if you’re looking for a versatile machine that doesn’t hog up all your counter space. The CM401 is very versatile, as it features four different brew styles for each individual taste. Six brew size servings from single size to full carafe. It even has a built-in fold-away frother for milky drinks! We especially recommend the CM401 for offices, where each person can make their own custom coffee drink.
Pros:
The Ninja Bar Coffee Maker CM401 offers great value for your money, as it comes with a lot of versatility. You can brew both hot and iced coffee in four custom brew styles: classic, rich, over ice, and specialty. Specialty brews include options for lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. If you like your coffee strong and your colleague likes it weak, no worries! You can each be your own barista and make your own favorite coffee.
Another feature we love is the built-in frother. What a relief that you don’t have to get a separate milk frother. The one that’s built-in here has options for frothing both cold and hot milk! It’s not every day that you get a coffee machine with the perfect method to add foamy milk to your cappuccino.
The Ninja Coffee Bar folks designed the CM401 knowing full well that a single serving means different things to different coffee drinkers. To cater to individual desires, this machine features six brew size options: Cup, XL Cup, Travel Mug, Multi-Serve Travel Mug, Half Carafe & Full Carafe. If your mornings are hectic and you need to take your coffee to go, you’ll love the travel mug option on the CM401.
We love that the CM401 is eco-friendly, as it comes with its own filter and is pod-free. This is also great in terms of taste, because pod coffee doesn’t always taste very good, and this way you get to use your favorite ground coffee!
Cons:
Some parts of the machine are challenging to clean, but isn’t required very frequently.
2. Ninja Bar Single-Serve Coffee Maker PB051: Best Single-Serve
The Ninja Bar Single-Serve Coffee Maker PB051 presents an excellent option for those seeking fast, hassle-free, and delicious coffeehouse beverages. It’s fantastic for smaller households or ones with little to moderate coffee consumption. This model provides four distinct brewing styles and accommodates both coffee grounds and K-cup pods, adding to its overall convenience.
“With its compact footprint, the Ninja PB051 takes up minimal space on your countertop, making it a perfect fit for small kitchens or limited spaces.”
Pros:
One of the standout features of the Ninja PB051 is its ability to brew both coffee pods and ground coffee in four different brews styles. This versatility allows you to enjoy a wide range of coffee options, from specialty pods for a quick cup to your favorite freshly ground coffee for a more customized experience.
The coffee maker delivers a consistently rich and flavorful brew, regardless of whether you’re using pods or ground coffee. The 8 oz brew size is perfect for a standard cup of coffee, while the adjustable drip tray accommodates larger travel mugs.
If you’re always in a rush, the Ninja PB051 won’t disappoint. It boasts a rapid brewing process that quickly fills your cup with piping hot coffee, saving you precious time during busy mornings. Operating the coffee maker is a breeze. The intuitive control panel offers simple button functions for brew selection and cup size, making it accessible for coffee lovers of all levels of expertise.
With its compact footprint, the Ninja PB051 takes up minimal space on your countertop, making it a perfect fit for small kitchens or limited spaces.
Cons:
The Ninja PB051 can be a bit noisy when brewing coffee, particularly noticeable in tranquil surroundings.
3. Ninja Bar 12-Cup Coffee Maker CE251: Most Budget-Friendly
The Ninja Coffee Bar CE251 coffee maker is the best choice for those who are on a tighter budget or just want a simpler coffee maker. The CE251 features fewer brew styles, but still delivers in terms of taste. It can be set to make small or large batches of coffee up to 12 cups, so it’s an affordable choice for large households.
“The heater plate will always keep your coffee warm, which makes it ideal for homes or offices where there always needs to be a hot pot of coffee. This coffee maker is designed with an XL showerhead, so you’ll get your flavorful coffee fast!”
Pros:
The Ninja Coffee Bar CE251 model has quite a few great features for the price. The two brews you can select from are classic and rich, so you can choose between a smooth, balanced taste or a more intense flavor that pairs excellently with milk or creamer. You can also decide how much coffee this little guy should make – whether it’s a small batch or a full carafe.
Another really useful feature of the CE251 is the heater plate. The heater plate will always keep your coffee warm, which makes it ideal for homes or offices where there always needs to be a hot pot of coffee. Plus, this coffee maker is designed with an XL showerhead, so you’ll get your flavorful coffee fast!
This Ninja Bar unit is easy to use. It comes with its own reusable filter and coffee scoop – all you need to start brewing is coffee grounds! There’s a mid-brew pause setting, so you can stop the dripping at any time when you want to fill up your mug. The CE251 comes with a timing feature, so you can set the coffee maker to start brewing at any time you choose.
This coffee maker is also easy to set up and easy to maintain. The removable water reservoir will allow you to fill it up without making a mess, and the brew basket lid will prevent coffee grounds from going where they shouldn’t. It even has a self-clean feature which will lessen the hassle of cleaning!
Cons:
The CE251 is a bit bulky, so make sure its dimensions match your countertop!
4. Ninja Bar Tea and Coffee Maker CP307: Best for Coffee AND Tea Drinkers
The Ninja Bar Tea and Coffee Maker CP307 is pretty much the Cadillac of drip-style coffee brewing machines. The CP307 has the most options for brew styles and sizes, so you choose between espresso-like intensity, mocha pot-like flavor, or the smooth taste of a French press. Not only does this coffee machine make both hot and iced coffee, but it can also make tea!
“Thanks to the pod-free design, you can use any coffee grounds you like, and the featured tea filter will allow you to use either loose leaf or bagged tea. What’s more, there are separate coffee and tea baskets!”
Pros:
The Ninja Bar Tea and Coffee Maker CP307 is by far the most versatile option on this list. It makes both hot and cold coffee and tea in five brew styles: classic, rich, over ice, cold brew, and speciality. This will pretty much allow you to make your coffeehouse favorites at home – from an iced chai tea latte to an ice blended cappuccino.
Thanks to the pod-free design, you can use any coffee grounds you like, and the featured tea filter will allow you to use either loose leaf or bagged tea. What’s more, there are separate coffee and tea baskets!
With the CP307, you can always decide exactly how much coffee you want to make. It comes with 6 brew size settings, including single cup, travel size, half carafe, and full carafe. This makes it ideal for small and large households, as well as offices!
The CP307 comes with its own frother. You can play with the different brew and froth settings to create the perfect coffee or tea drink for your taste.
Cons:
The one drawback of the CP307 is that it doesn’t come with a heater plate although the Thermal Carafe is double-walled to keep your coffee and tea hot for up to 2 hours. We would have liked to have a heater plate for the price.
5. Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System: Best Splurge for Espresso AND Coffee Lovers
The Ninja CFN601 presents an exceptional choice for individuals aiming to enhance their coffee journey and relish a wide array of café-grade beverages in the comfort of their home. It is a standout option that is sure to impress even the most meticulous coffee connoisseurs. It particularly caters to coffee lovers who occasionally yearn for the indulgence of an espresso treat.
“The CFN601 boasts an intuitive control panel, making it easy to navigate through the various drink options and customization settings. The touch-button controls and clear display provide a hassle-free coffee-making experience, even for those new to espresso machines.”
Pros:
The Ninja CFN601 offers an impressive array of coffee choices. Whether you’re in the mood for a smooth espresso shot, a rich cup of coffee, a velvety cappuccino, or a creamy latte, this machine has got you covered. The versatility of options ensures there’s something for everyone, catering to different taste preferences.
The Ninja system employs Barista Plus Technology, a 19-bar pressure system that brews espresso at the perfect temperature and pressure, resulting in exceptionally flavorful espresso with a velvety crema. It offers three options for Espresso: Espresso, Lungo, and Over Ice.
One of the standout features of this coffee maker is the built-in frother, which enables you to create perfectly frothed milk for your specialty drinks. Whether you prefer microfoam for lattes or airy froth for cappuccinos, the frother does an excellent job, adding a touch of luxury to your coffee creations.
The CFN601 boasts an intuitive control panel, making it easy to navigate through the various drink options and customization settings. The touch-button controls and clear display provide a hassle-free coffee-making experience, even for those new to espresso machines.
The coffee maker is constructed with durable materials, ensuring its longevity and reliability. The stainless steel finish gives it a sleek and modern look, making it an attractive addition to any kitchen.
Cons:
The integrated frother can only aerate milk, lacking the ability to heat it. Therefore, if you desire lattes and cappuccinos, you must warm your milk separately.
Conclusion
The Ninja CM401 is the top pick due to its affordability, versatility, and overall excellence. It provides four unique brewing methods to suit different tastes and accommodates six serving sizes, spanning from single cups to full carafes. Additionally, it includes a handy integrated frother for creating delicious milk-based drinks.
The Ninja PB051 stands out as the finest single-serve option available. Its versatility in brew styles, smaller serving size options, and the inclusion of a frother make it an excellent choice, especially considering its price. Moreover, it also offers the added convenience of using K-cup pods.
The Ninja Coffee Bar CE251 is our favorite budget-friendly option, as for way under $100 you can get a straightforward coffee maker that delivers in taste and quality. The CE251 features a neat heater plate, which will always keep your coffee warm. It can make both small and large batches of coffee, so it’s the perfect choice for an office!
If you’re eager to make all kinds of coffee and tea drinks, and money is not a problem, you’ll love the Ninja Bar Tea and Coffee Maker CP307. This coffee and tea maker has the most versatility in terms of brew styles and sizes. Like the CM401, it comes with its very own frother that works on both hot and cold milk.
The Ninja CFN601 is an exceptional option for coffee enthusiasts who occasionally yearn for the luxury of enjoying an espresso. It allows them to enhance their coffee enjoyment with a wide selection of café-quality beverages in the comfort of their own home. This remarkable coffee maker is certain to captivate even the most discerning coffee connoisseurs.
Choosing The Best Ninja Coffee Bar Coffee Maker For You
Now that we’ve looked at our favorite Ninja Coffee Bar products, the question remains – which coffee maker is the best choice for you? To help you make up your mind, we’ve prepared a list of the main factors you should keep in mind while choosing. Read on!
What’s Your Budget?
Depending on the additional features that come with each Ninja Coffee Bar product the price will vary.
Our favorite budget-friendly option, the CE251 costs about $80. While it doesn’t have as many fancy brewing options, it’s a good quality, straightforward choice.
If you’re able to spend a bit more, you can go for the CM 401. It is the most versatile in terms of brews styles and brew size.
The coffee machine that has it all is the CP307 – all brewing styles and sizes, a tea maker, and a frother. However, it costs twice as much as the other models.
How Would You Like Your Coffee?
What sort of coffee you like to drink is an important question when choosing the best Ninja Coffee Bar for your taste. While the CE251 can only make hot coffee, models like the CM 401, PB051, CP307, and CFN601 can make both hot and cold coffee.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the different models offer different brew styles, so whether you want something closer to filtered coffee or something more intense like an espresso will definitely influence your choice.
Lastly, if you take your coffee with milk, choosing one of the models that feature a frother will make your morning coffee ritual even more wholesome.
FAQ
Q: Does the Ninja Coffee Bar make espresso?
A: The Ninja Coffee Bar CFN 601 has the option to make 3 different espresso styles along with four different brew styles of coffee. With some of the other models, you have the option to adjust the settings to achieve a nearly perfect espresso-like consistency and flavor. By using larger quantities of coffee grounds, you can create drinks that resemble espresso-like beverages.
Q: How do you make espresso with a Ninja Coffee Bar?
A: To make espresso with a Ninja Coffee Bar CFN 601 add grounds (according to your taste preference with included measuring scoop) or a capsule, add water to the reservoir, select the espresso brew style that you want, use frother to make foam from milk/creamer.
Q: How often should you clean your Ninja Coffee Bar?
A: You should clean your Ninja Coffee Bar every time the featured light at the bottom of the machine where it says “Clean” is lit. More generally, though, we recommend that you clean your coffee maker once every two months.
What’s Next?
Hopefully, you found our Ninja Coffee Bar reviews fun and useful in your search for the best coffee maker. To get better acquainted with each product, follow their title links to learn their up-to-date prices, specifications, and customer reviews.
While you’re here, you can find more of the best coffee makers for every taste and budget!
