Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have been using Keurig pod style brewers for years and have dabbled in larger whole bean (auto-grinding) coffee makers as well. The Ninja fall somewhere in the middle. It does provide the flexibility to use any ground coffee which to me is a big plus and even whole bean assuming you have a grinder. It is also very easy to clean with the silver screened filter. That is pretty much where the pluses end for me. The reservoir is too small in my opinion for anyone other than a single person who drinks maybe one cup of coffee per day. If you are using this in a family environment or like to drink multiple cups per day be prepared to fill the machine each day. The machine offers a Classic Brew and Rich Brew function that for the life of me I can't taste the difference between. I have been using Gevalia Majestic Roast in it since I received it and have tried using consistent scoop sizes between modes to see if the difference was pronounced. My last knock on the device is the lack of an auto-off timer. Overall, it's decent if you want to use your own ground coffee, but nothing special.

First, about me. I would not call myself a coffee snob. I generally drink one 10 oz. mug of coffee in the morning, black. I do strongly prefer dark, rich roasts, and for many years I subscribed to Gevalia until the worldwide coffee shortage meant I could not depend on my favorites being delivered. I am the only one in my family who drinks coffee, so I have gotten by all my life with a small, Mr. Coffee-type brewer, where half a pot gave me my 10-oz. cup. Although my opinion has always been (and still is) that the excellence of a cup of coffee depends mainly on the coffee itself, I had read that the machine that makes the coffee matters, too. Specifically, I had heard that ordinary home coffee makers could not heat water as hot as commercial coffee makers, and this is why coffee made at a restaurant is better than coffee made at home. So in the back of my mind I've wondered whether a coffee maker more expensive than a Mr. Coffee might make a better cup of coffee. Another reason I decided to try a higher-end coffee maker is the inconvenience of measuring water each time I made a single cup of coffee. Some of my previous coffee makers had detachable reservoirs, which made the process of measuring out exactly the right amount of water for one cup a little easier, but most did not. A better machine like the Ninja Coffee Bar holds a tank of water and dispenses exactly the amount you need, depending on the size of your serving and the type of coffee you are making. On setting up and reading about the Ninja Coffee Bar, I was delighted to discover the convenience of choosing different styles of coffee and different volumes by turning a knob and pushing a button. At first the number of choices was a bit bewildering to a simple coffee drinker like myself, but I quickly caught on. There is a knob with four different settings: Cup, XL Cup, Travel Mug, and XL Multi-Serve. The volume of coffee made depends on which setting you choose and then which of three buttons you push: Classic, Rich, or Over Ice. For example, the Cup setting makes 9.5 oz. with the Classic button and 8.7 oz. with the Rich button. The XL Cup gives you 11.5 oz. with the Classic button and 10.3 oz. with the Rich button. I tried all of these combinations and was very happy with all of the results. The Rich setting definitely made a richer cup of coffee, but I would not say that the Classic was just a watered-down version of the Rich. It was, as promised by the instruction booklet, smooth and balanced. The Rich choice is recommended if you are adding milk, cream, or flavoring, but I enjoyed it black. In addition to the four-settings x Classic/Rich/Iced choices, there are also two buttons that function independently of the four settings: a specialty button and a café forte button. The former always dispenses 4 oz of extra-rich, concentrated coffee for special recipes, and the latter always dispenses 8 oz. of robust, full-bodied coffee, drinkable black or au lait. I found the café forte choice to produce a very nice cup of black coffee indeed, with nuances I never tasted with my old Mr. Coffee. This morning I tried the specialty option, using a recipe for pumpkin spice latte from the very interesting 40-coffeehouse-style recipe booklet that came with the Ninja. I chose this recipe because (1) I like pumpkin spice coffee, and (2) it allowed me to try out the Ninja's built-in frother. The frother produced an awesome frothy mix for the latte. The result was tasty, but incredibly stronger than the pumpkin spice lattes you'll find in coffee shops. As interesting as the recipe book is, a shortcoming is that it does not recommend what kind of coffee to use with rare exceptions such as blueberry coffee for the Blueberries & Cream Iced Coffee recipe. So you'll need to use your own knowledge of roast types to use the recipe booklet. I also had difficulty finding a recommendation about a recommended coarseness of grind, There is one line in the instruction booklet that suggests a "medium grind." I suppose that term refers to the "auto-drip" setting on the grinder I use in the store where I buy coffee. It certainly worked well with both the permanent filter and paper filters, although the store grinder suggested a finer grind for paper filters. A couple of more details about the coffee-making process. There's a double-sided scoop for measuring small or large scoops of coffee, and it clips conveniently to the side of the coffee maker. The Ninja comes with a permanent filter, although you can use a #2 paper cone filter if you like. I tried both and found no difference in the quality of the coffee. A lever on the filter holder can be switched from left to right to prevent dripping when removing the filter holder for cleaning. I discovered by accident that if you push a brew button after failing to return the lever to the left, the machine gives you a warning beep. Nice feature. The base of the Ninja contains a cup platform for holding ordinary mugs. It can be raised like a drawbridge if you are using extra-tall cups. The frother swings forward or back, out of the way as needed, and can be removed easily for cleaning. In fact, all of the movable parts of the Ninja worked very well, moving or separating as they should, but also being steady and sturdy while in place. Before pressing one of the brew buttons you must turn on the Ninja by pressing a button labeled "Pre-Heating." The preheating of water takes about three minutes; when the light goes out you are ready to brew. Once you press a brewing button, a small amount of hot water is delivered to "infuse" the coffee. Then there is a pause before the process continues to completion. It does not take long to brew a cup. There is no heater of any sort for your mug, so it is recommended that you warm up your mug with hot water for a few minutes before brewing. The quick-start guide contains sufficient information to brew all of the available types of coffee, while the owner's guide gives you some more details and the recipe book some ideas for special coffeehouse recipes. I know I will continue to enjoy the Ninja Coffee Bar, and I think you will, too.

This coffee maker is perfect for my travel mug in the morning. Very easy to use and great tasting coffee. It took me a few tries to get the correct level of beans to my preferred taste but once I found it, perfection! Brews very hot coffee which keeps warm in my mug a long time. Great easy to use product!

Tried it out with a few different types of coffee and the everyone said it was really good. The reusable filter is very convenient and easy to clean. So switching between what is brewed doesn't leave any tastes behind. Everything is attached. The scoop, frother etc, it's a compact unit with a lot of features. Operation is simple, fill with water, turn on, select cup size, and wait for the coffee to come. Overall it doesn't take up too much space on a crowded counter, but it is a full sized unit. It makes from cups to travel mugs, just add the right amount of grounds and you don't have to waste water or coffee on a full pot, or expensive cups. Other uses! I am more of a tea drinker and this unit really came though. Putting loose tea in the brewer came out great. Also, put it on a more concentrated setting, put ice in your cup, and you can have good iced tea in a single size serving. If the unit has already been run, it's hot and great for hot water to add to powered mixes in a cup, hot chocolate, oatmeal etc. The versatility really expands it's uses.

I was extremely skeptical of this product. I used to be a HUGE coffee snob and the menopause hit and now I like everything!!! But anyway... When I got it, cleaned it and plugged it in, I tried to figure it out without turning it on- can't really do that so I finally turned it on and made a cup of flavored coffee I did't really care for to try to get my bearings. While I trust directions, I had to do the measuring that I have always used in my other coffee pot and the directions are accurate. I noticed as well that the machines foot print is not much bigger than a regular coffee pot. I had to stop using my French press and other non filter coffee makers as the sediment started to hurt my throat so again I was skeptical about the permanent filter, but I got a VERY smooth cup of coffee in no time! Then I got creative and make a pumpkin latte...I am sold!!! The frother really works and it works quickly and it cleans easily. I have not tried the iced feature yet- maybe later. I also have no info on long term use, but this initial use is great!!

Loving this coffee maker so far. It's been great. It is the perfect next level up from the Keurig I had been using for years. No K-cups means tons of savings on coffee. The coffee is perfect every time, and comes with great recipes for specialty coffee. I have made numerous cups of coffee, the ice coffee, and a latte and was very pleased with the taste of everything. I love that I can choose the strength of the coffee and you can definitely taste the difference in brews. I also like being able to select from four different mug sizes. With the Keurig my choices were somewhat limited. The built-in frother and included coffee scoop is also a plus. It is also very easy to operate and clean. If you are a coffee connoisseur and a Keurig is your primary coffee maker, you will definitely enjoy the Ninja Single Serve Coffee Bar.

Like many, I opted some time back to use the K system when I wanted a cup of coffee, mainly for the convenience. All along, 2 things were in the back of my mind - waste and not knowing the freshness of the coffee in the K-cups. [I did purchase a DIY basket somewhere along the line to solve these 2 issues but more $$$.] When the opportunity to check out the Ninja came along, I was onboard. Regardless of the convenience of the K system, variety is non-existent in my line of single-user machines; I welcomed the capability to use different brew modes to create the cup of coffee my mood dictated. I'm now a Ninja convert. This machine is great. Easy to maintain [dishwasher-safe parts is a plus], the brew modes are varied and capable [the Rich Brew and Cafe Forte are my favorites], water reservoir doesn't require frequent filling [unlike my K system which require a fill/top-off each session. The glowing brew mode light as well as the subtle brewing-cycle-complete alert are nice touches. It is not a small unit but is self-contained, down to a holder for the measuring spoon [2 scoop sizes for flexibility]. Bottom line, I can now have fresher cup of coffee, brewed the way I want, for much less $$$, at home.

Does not make espresso as I thought it would for caperchino

Let's start with what the Ninja Coffee actually does. It's a drip machine, so it doesn't handle any sort of cup/capsule system like some other coffee machines. All you need are coffee grounds, water, and an electrical socket to plug the Ninja into. That's just the essentials. You fill the reservoir (which can hold around 440z or so) with water, turn on the machine, and press the power button to start pre-heating the water. After a few minutes or so—admittedly slower than the Keurig in my kitchen, the Ninja is ready to brew your coffee. Place your mug of appropriate size under the dripper, and with just 2-3 scoops of ground coffee into the reusable filter (or your own paper filter), you're almost ready to brew your coffee. Simply choose one of 4 different sizes between 8 oz and 22 oz and then select a brew type (Classic, Rich, Over Ice, Cafe Forte, or Specialty), and the Ninja will begin dripping. There is also a drip-stopper in case you want to stop dripping your coffee earlier than the machine. That being said, if you stop early and decide not to finish the rest of the brewing process, you will likely be left with some coffee in the filter chamber—which can be quite annoying. You'll have to empty it by releasing the drip-stopper and letting the remaining, colder coffee drip into another cup which you can then dispose of. Cleaning the reusable filter is very easy. No complaints there. If you decide to froth your milk, the included frother on the Ninja makes the job very easy. It even detaches for an easy clean-up process! The Ninja is a great way to make specialty coffees, since it has much of the configuration necessary to do so. However, the temperature of the coffee could be improved if you like your coffee to come out scalding hot. Temperature certainly plays a factor in the flavor of the coffee, but also in the experience of drinking your coffee. As a result, it's hard to give the user so much control over the temperature when your machine is trying to make it easier to make better-tasting coffee. Regardless, the coffee that resulted was pleasant. Two areas that could use improvement are: 1. The temperature of the resulting coffee (drippers are slower, and there's no heated base to keep your coffee at the same temperature while you wait) 2. The speed of pre-heating the water.

When I read the box I assumed "Infusion Technology that unlocks the full flavor of your coffee" was marketing hogwash. Boy was I wrong. I have tried a lot of 'flavored' beans and never really tasted them with my regular old coffee pot, so I typically get 'Hazelnut and cinnamon' cause it tastes the least offensive. I put it in this machine, brewed it on rich, and did my typical cup o joe (hazelnut milk and a bit of chocolate syrup) and the taste...oh my... totally different than I ever expected from a cup of coffee at home. It really did bring out the flavors of the coffee I had never been able to taste before. I handed the cup to my friend, who usually is fairly ambivalent about coffee. Her eyes popped open and she said "Woah, what did you do to it?" When I told her I didn't do anything I don't normally do to my regular coffee, she didn't believe me. So I had her make a cup herself. Every day this week we have fought over who gets the first cup, and probably will well in to the future. This opens a whole new coffee world for my taste buds, and I can't wait to get more coffee and see what they taste like. My only negative mention of this is the whisk, it is cute, but really...not as useful as one would imagine. The filter is also hard to clean for someone used to putting grounds in compost, the grounds stick inside and make a mess when I try to bang them out, but I think that would be true for any reusable filter.

I wasn't sure what to expect with the Ninja Coffee Bar. After using the product, I was very impressed with its build quality. It also has a really cool design. It looks nice in my kitchen. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good quality coffee maker.

I am very happy with this coffee maker. I previously had tried a single serve cup machine and really was not happy with how hot and tasteful my coffee came out but the Ninja is great with both - good hot coffee.

Great product. It's very easy to clean, easy to make coffee, the recipe book is very detailed. Highly recommended.

Seems the Ninja got everything right: speed, flexibility, and a great design. The ability to accommodate a tall travel cup is an especially nice feature. The only criticism is a minor one: the first few brews had a "plasticky" taste to them; I recommend running hot water through a new unit a few times before your first "real" use.

I love the starbucks like drink making options like iced americhano and that it will make the foam froth. Takes regular coffee. Needs a kcup option ans should bundle a blender since some of the drinks require one. Needs a timer option so you can wake up to coffee.

Ninja products never appealed to me, partly because of the quality or lack of , in the products. The company is affiliated with Shark, needless to say Shark products are just as poor quality. I tested the Ninja Coffee Bar Single Serve System and I did not get that Starbucks or Tim Hortons feeling. The built-in Frother is flimsy as best and does not really create a rich froth. With K-CUPS and even TOSSIMO taking over traditional coffee makers, Ninja should have added an option for a POD. Hot vs Cold, the HOT coffee tasted better and I could get some froth in there. Still nothing like a REAL coffee shop. This product gets two empathic thumbs down! The product also feels cheaply made, I felt like I was using one of those Shark Vacuums which look impressive but last a month!

This coffee maker is pretty average. I was expecting better quality. It took a while to understand how this thing works exactly. I read the startup guide and it was pretty thorough, however I still found some difficulty using it. The main issue I had was with the amount of coffee I was trying to get. I put the setting on the small coffee cup but mine overflowed. I put the setting on travel mug and it came close to overflowing. So basically after a while, I just filled the reservoir to the exact amount I wanted. Then it could just shut off when the water ran out. Also it took a really long time to do one cup. I let the coffee maker preheat and then when the light went off I selected classic brew and it started dripping...then stopped...then started again. I do not like the flow of this machine at all. Maybe I had a faulty one, I don't know. Maybe I'm not doing something right. I just know that my single serve pod brewer was faster and did a way better job at not overflowing.