HOW NINJA DUALBREW PRO SETS A HIGHER BAR TO DELIGHT COFFEE LOVERS
The Ninja DualBrew Pro Coffee System brings together great tasting coffee, versatility and convenience with two brand new features.
This newest coffee maker from Ninja really sets a higher bar of quality and innovation that out paces other coffee makers in the same category. We think that this may very well be the very best dual brew or 2 way coffee maker yet.
This review talks mostly about the Ninja CFP 301 DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System which on average costs about $30 more than the DualBrew CFP201 version. It is also the one that really raises the bar of innovation. You can read on to see whether one or the other would fit your lifestyle better than what you are currently using.
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K Cup Pod Adapter in Newest Ninja Models
With the introduction of Ninja’s two DualBrew Coffee Systems, Ninja entered the market of pod compatible coffee makers. Yes, Ninja now has two models that will accept the K cup. The DualBrew name represents the ability to choose between brewing a carafe or a single cup using premade pods (K cups) or your own preferred grounds.
While Ninja’s DualBrew CFP201 coffee system is a basic 2 way coffee maker, the Ninja DualBrew CFP301 Pro Specialty Coffee System is much more. Ninja added a K cup pod adapter in both of these new models. This means that you can now use premade K cup pods when you want just one cup, quick and easy with no mess.
The Pro version, Ninja CFP301 DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System includes more features such as a separate hot water system, a build in frother and their signature concentrated specialty coffee setting.
The new hot water system offers either “Hot” or “Boil” water and bypasses the coffee brewing system. This makes sure that you have clean water with no coffee taste for hot chocolate, tea, soups, or hot cereals. I am thinking how useful that would be in dorm rooms or offices.
Testing the Ninja CFP301DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System
As we put it through some tests, we noticed some neat features that we have not seen before. We also noticed some things you need to be aware of if you are considering this for your own home. For instance, with the first pot brewed, we noticed a lot of steaming coming out of the top of the brewer. After reading the start up guide carefully, we found that we should have calibrated the machine for our current elevation first. That reduces excessive steaming by determining the boiling point of water in your current location. We do recommend following this especially if you live anywhere above sea level. The instructions are in the manual and are easy.
What is included in the Box?
Included in the Box
- The DualBrew coffee maker
- Ninja Pod Adapter that accepts K cup pods
- Brew Basket
- 60 ounce glass carafe (12 cup)
- Detachable Frother Whisk that is easy to clean
- 60 ounce Removable Water Reservoir (which can be re-positioned from side to back)
- Ninja Smart Scoop that has a resting place on the coffee maker
- Paper Filter Kit to get you started
- Owner’s Guide
- Quick start Guide
If you are looking for recipes there are 2 in the quick start guide. There is one for a hot cappuccino style coffee and one for an iced latte. If you want more you can find quite a few by simply doing a google search. These two give you the basics of how to get started making them. Then use your own creativity (or recipe) to make your own special coffee house style drinks.
How Does the DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System Compare to the Ninja Coffee Bar?
Since Ninja specializes in coming out with new innovative products, you might wonder what the difference is in this newest model and the previous Ninja brewers. Since I already had the original Ninja Coffee Bar it was easy for me to compare those two.
To start with, the DualBrew Pro will do everything that the Ninja Coffee Bar will do and more. It makes classic, rich, over ice and specialty strength coffee. It has the special pattern of brew, pause, and continue brew which allows the coffee grounds to “bloom.” Blooming enhances the flavor of the coffee by quite a bit.
Most of the Ninjas include a measuring scoop and some type of frother. This one has a swing out detachable frother that is easy to use and easy to clean. Since it is stored on the machine you also don’t have to hunt it down in your cabinet or drawer.
There is quite a bit of difference in the two Ninja coffee brewers that I have. For starters, the carafe and the water reservoir are bigger in the DualBrew. This is both a 12 cup coffee maker and a K cup single serve. The Ninja Coffee Bar carafe was only a 10 cup coffee maker. Although you could brew a 12 ounce cup with it you had to use regular grounds as it was not pod compatible. It only brewed coffee through the filter basket. The addition of the K cup pod adapter is a welcome sight for those who are in a hurry for their coffee in the mornings.
More Info on the DualBrew Pro
The DualBrew Pro will accept both your own ground coffee or a K cup pod. You could only use ground coffee in the older models. One of the benefits of using the K Cup style pods is the variety you could get one cup at a time. Now, you can do that with this Ninja.
The Pro model has 4 brew styles and includes a special hot water delivery system that is completely separate from the coffee brewing system. That means no coffee contaminating your tea, or oatmeal, or whatever.
The hot water system, the Frother, and the specialty coffee brew that enables you to make cappuccinos and lattes is not available in the regular DualBrew model (CFP201).That model is simply another 2 way coffee maker but it does make great tasting coffee.
If you are not interested in the coffee house specialty drinks or the hot water system, then you can save a little money by getting the Ninja CFP201 DualBrew System. It works the same way but without the special features
Versatility and Convenience Come together in the Ninja CFP301 DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System
This coffee maker has the most versatility of any that we have seen yet. To begin with, it makes great tasting coffee. That is the most important thing for a true coffee lover. It makes it quick and it makes it hot. It also does it without making a mess.
The hot water system is very convenient and is a lot faster than using a microwave oven.
The adjustable water reservoir makes it easy to fit a small space and enables this coffee maker to take up only a small footprint.
The pod adapter comes out for cleaning or for brewing a carafe.
When making a single cup of coffee there is a platform for your cup to reduce any splattering.
- When you choose to brew using loose grounds there are 9 different sizes to choose from ranging from 6 ounces in a cup up to a 55 ounces in the carafe. That is a lot more than the old Ninja models.
- The hot water setting gives you 17 size options from 2 ounces to 60 ounces.
- There is a short pause in the brewing cycle to evenly saturate the coffee grounds. (a higher end feature called bloom)
- The water reservoir can be positioned on the side or the back to save space
- It brews 4 different brew styles -classic, rich, over ice, and specialty strength that mimics espresso coffee
- The 4 different brew styles can be done with either grounds or a pod in a cup or the carafe
- has separate water only mode dial and outlet to ensure clean water is dispensed every time
- the water only mode is dispensed either hot or boil with 17 size options from 2 ounces to 60 ounces.
- The machine remembers your last size setting on each type of brew
More Than a 2 Way Coffee Maker
This coffee maker is way more than a 2 way coffee maker like the Cuisinart and Hamilton Beach 2 way coffee makers we reviewed a couple of years ago. In our opinions this one is much better thought out and better performing than either of the other. It also produces the most flavorful cup of coffee. That is with our own taste testing.
More Benefits You May Appreciate
The pod adapter comes completely out for cleaning or for when you choose to brew a pot of coffee or tea. If you have ever had to clean a Keurig or Cuisinart after a pod has burst, you will especially appreciate this fact. The Ninja DualBrew is much easier to clean.
There is a dial to switch back and forth from coffee to plain hot water. This makes the coffee maker an excellent gift choice for an office or for college dorm student. Quick preparation of tea, hot chocolate, instant oatmeal, instant grits, Ramen noodles, and other similar choices becomes readily available with no need of the microwave.
Many offices use the Keurig coffee maker. Although taste is subjective, in our opinion this machine produces better quality coffee. The Ninja Dual Pro also brews that single cup much faster from start to finish.
Quick Tips For The DualBrew Pro:
The manual suggests to push the pod down until it clicks in place before closing the top of the pod adapter. This helps to release gas that can cause bursting especially at higher elevations. So far we have not had a pod to burst even using a brand that would not work in the Cuisinart without bursting.
The manual also gives instructions on how to calibrate the boiling point for your machine at your elevation. Doing this helps to prevent excessive steaming.
The reusable K cup filters will not work in the DualBrew as this machine has 3 needles in the top as opposed to the one in Keurig, Cuisinart, and Hamilton Beach. If you choose to brew your own grounds instead of the K cup, simply use the filter basket the same way you would use it for a pot of coffee.
Touch Screen Technology
The Touch Screen on this coffee maker is pretty intuitive and easy to use. If however, it is confusing at first, the quick start guide will have you up and running pretty quickly. I would suggest reading through that first and it will clear up any confusion.
Lots of Pros But a Few Cons
Over all, we really like this new coffee maker but there are a few things that you need to be aware of.
- 1. The first use may produce excess steaming if you do not calibrate it first. Easy instructions are in the manual.
- 2. A reusable filter does not come with the coffee maker and the filter from another machine will not fit. If you want one you must order it separately.
- 3. You will not be able to use the individual reusable filter cups in the pod adapter. This machine has 3 needles instead of one and they will not fit. To make a single cup using your own ground coffee, place a scoop of grounds in the regular filter basket lined with a paper filter.
I have found that I rarely used the reusable filter in my other coffee machines anyway as they will allow more sediment to come through than a paper filter will. That is just a personal choice for me but you need to know your options so that you can make your own choice.
Ninja CFP301 DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee Maker Review In Summary
The Ninja CFP301 DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee Maker is the most versatile and convenient coffee maker I have tried yet. It also makes the best tasting coffee. No matter whether I use the K cup style pods or my own ground coffee in a single cup or in the carafe, I can count on some great, fresh tasting coffee.
This coffee maker is easy to use and easy to clean. It brews either a pot of coffee or a cup of coffee pretty quickly too. Switching back and forth from the hot water system to the brewing system is easy… just turn the knob, press the button and you are done. this is the most versatile and useful system I have seen in a long time. This coffee lover is happy.