NINJA COFFEE BAR SYSTEM REVIEW
This Ninja Coffee Bar System Review is a personal one. We can learn a lot from simply doing research. However, sometimes you have to have personal experience with a product to fully test it out. We did not know what to make of other information online so we purchased one for ourselves. It has now been over 4 years since I purchased the original Ninja Coffee Bar System so this is an update on an older post. The coffee maker still works perfectly but has been replaced with a newer model that has more features.
While doing our research for perfect drip coffee, we learned that pre-infusing with just enough hot water to saturate the grounds would make the resulting coffee taste much better. This is called “bloom” and only some high-end coffee makers would do that for you. The Ninja Coffee Bar was an exception as it also pre-infuses but was much more affordable.
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Consumer Research
During our initial research of the Ninja Coffee Bar System, we found that consumers reported both good and bad reviews. We found mostly good reviews that talked about how good the coffee tasted. Those were raving reviews. People talked about the convenience and how versatile the machine was. You could make coffee (or tea) in a lot of different ways and sizes from a single cup to a whole pot. This seemed to be the perfect coffee brewer.
There were, however, also a smaller number of comments from people who had some problems. We are aware of the fact that there is nothing out there that someone, somewhere doesn’t have a problem with. But before we would consider doing a review of this coffee brewer system we wanted to have some firsthand knowledge.
Was the Ninja Coffee Bar a great product or just a great idea that did not turn out very well? After purchasing the Ninja Coffee Bar Glass Carafe System, I read the instructions and started to experiment by making many different styles of coffee drinks. Then I proceeded to fall in love with the machine. (I really do love good coffee and am rather picky with it.) The original model I bought is now hard to find, but several newer models with improved features are available. Each one seems to be an improvement over the other.
The one pictured above boasts these features:
- 4 BREW STYLES: Select from one of the four, versatile brew styles: Classic, Rich, Over Ice, or Specialty Brew. This is the same as the original. The Classic is what most people will use the most. The Rich brew makes a stronger coffee and the Specialty Brew makes a super rich concentrate you can use to make delicious lattes, macchiatos, cappuccinos and other coffee house style drinks.
- The Over Ice Brew makes flavorful iced coffee that’s never watered down.
- 6 BREW SIZES: Brew anything from a single cup or travel size to a half or full carafe in your coffee maker. 6 sizes include Cup, XL Cup, Travel Mug, Multi-Serve Travel Mug, Half Carafe & Full Carafe.
- No K cup pods required or enabled
- BUILT-IN, FOLD-AWAY FROTHER: Turns hot or cold milk/milk alternative into silky-smooth froth. Removable for easy cleaning. The original coffee bar included a glass microwavable frother. All the newer models include this built in fold away version.
- REMOVABLE WATER RESERVOIR: This coffee maker has a 10 cup carafe. Some of the newest versions have a 12 cup carafe.
Why The Ninja Coffee Bar Systems?
Why would you want to choose a Ninja coffeemaker? For one thing, they brew some of the most flavorful coffee you can get. Several models of Ninja coffeemakers have the Specialty Coffee Association certified home brewer certification. That means that a pre-infuse (called bloom) has been built in. They also have a consistent temperature and even saturation of the grounds.
The versatility of Ninja’s Coffee Systems far exceeds that of anything else we know of that is available. Because you can easily brew several different styles of coffee into a single serve cup, travel mug, half pot or full pot, you can easily serve your guests their favorite coffee drinks no matter how different their tastes may be.
You can have a pot of classic coffee on when someone wants a white chocolate mocha latte. It is a simple matter of moving the pot to a hot pad and brewing a concentrated specialty brew to be mixed with frothed milk, flavorings, and topping. When done, move the pot back onto the warmer plate, change the setting to one of the carafe settings and turn the warmer plate back on.
That one individual may instead want decaf or iced coffee. One person may want a low-calorie coffee drink and another, full flavor. It does not matter. you have the versatility to serve what is preferred.
Anyone who loves great tasting coffee and occasionally likes to have something really special brewed quickly… needs a Ninja coffee system sitting in their kitchen. The variety of coffee or tea is limited only by your imagination or the ingredients you happen to have on hand.
NINJA HOT AND COLD BREWED SYSTEM
I must mention the Hot and Cold brewed system by Ninja. With this model you have the choice of either hot or totally cold brewed coffee if you prefer. You can brew hot, over ice, or one of the specialty brews. With 5 different brew styles, separate baskets for coffee or tea and the Auto-IQ feature to identify the best setting for your choice… you are set.
For those who like to alternate between coffee and tea without having the tastes mingle… Or… For those who would like to have real cold brewed coffee or tea instead of just over ice…this newer version may just be a great step up for them.
Not only does this allow you to brew either coffee or tea from the same machine without mingling the flavors but it also allows you to choose between cold brew or brewed hot but over ice for those iced coffees and teas. The cold brew takes a little longer at 10 to 15 minutes but produces a naturally smooth sweet flavor. The hot brew over ice brews quicker but still is never bitter .
- Coffee and Tea Brew Settings: Brewing technology offers an array of coffee and tea options
- Smart Basket Recognition: System recognizes basket and displays coffee or tea drink options
- Separate Coffee and Tea Baskets: Brew coffee or loose or bagged tea to keep flavors separate
- 6 Brew Sizes: Brew anything from a single cup or travel size to a half carafe or full carafe in your coffee maker
- 5 Brew Styles: Choose your strength with Classic, Rich, Over Ice, Cold Brew, or Specialty.
- Tea Type: Select your tea type and the system knows the temperature and number of steeps needed
Ninja Coffee Bar System Versus 2 Way Coffee Makers
The Ninja brewers go way beyond the 2 Way coffee makers that we reviewed earlier. 2 Way coffee makers are great coffee makers for anyone who simply wants coffee available either as a single cup or in a full pot. They offer the choice of using K cups or a permanent filter basket for single serve. This Ninja Coffee Bar does not accommodate K cups. Neither do most of their models.
However, In September 2021 Ninja came out with two Dual Brew Specialty coffee systems that do accommodate the K cup pods. These two newest Ninja models may very well be the best yet.
We love being able to make the hot specialty coffee drinks or even iced coffee if we choose.
By being able to brew in so many sizes and strengths, plus being able to easily make so many different coffee treats, we feel that the benefits of the Ninja Specialty Coffee Systems far exceed any benefit that might exist in those other plain 2 way coffee systems.
If you are someone who is not interested in specialty coffee then the Ninja Coffee Bar System also makes great tasting plain black coffee and makes it pretty quickly.
One feature of the Ninja Coffee Bar that stands out to me is the way the lid is designed for the carafe. What is outstanding to me is that the pot can sit on the hot plate for the full 2 hours and the coffee does not evaporate and cause the coffee to taste old. That coffee is delicious from the start to the last drop. that is something that most coffee makers can not say.
If using one of the K cup coffee pods is important to you, then you might prefer one of the DualBrew Systems. If plain hot coffee is your preference then you might also consider one of the other 2 way coffee makers with K cup capability. The Ninja DualBrew systems also accommodate the K cup pods but the other models don’t. Usually people prefer the K cups when they want a quick cup of coffee with no cleanup. Keurig invented the system. Hamilton Beach improved it and Cuisinart improved it some more. That is where the Cuisinart shines as it makes a quick hot cup that is delicious.
The Original Ninja Coffee Bar Glass Carafe System
The features for the original Ninja Coffee Bar are similar to the newer models. However, it is worth noting that the glass carafe was smaller in this version. The neck was smaller and harder to get to in order to clean. Ninja has made improvements in the newer versions with larger carafes with bigger necks and an improved cleaning system where the clean light does not get hung up. The coffee actually has a richer flavor in the new models as well.
The original model if you can find it includes:
- Choose a Size… Cup, Travel Mug, Half Carafe, or Full Carafe…Brew directly into your favorite cup or travel mug or use the carafe.
- Choose a Brew… Classic, Rich, Over Ice, and Specialty… To make a variety of hot, iced, and frozen blended coffeehouse-style drinks.
- Auto-IQ One-Touch Intelligence… knows how to deliver the perfect amount of water at the right time for the size and brew type you select. No need to measure the water or refill the reservoir after every single serve brew.
- 43 oz. Glass Carafe and Intelligent Warming Plate… To keep your coffee at the ideal drinking temperature with 2-hour auto shutoff.
- Also Includes Ninja Hot & Cold™ 18 oz. Insulated Tumbler, Glass Ninja Easy Milk Frother, 40-recipe cookbook, permanent filter, Ninja coffee scoop, and 43 oz. glass carafe with a warming plate.
Tips to Help with the Original Ninja Coffee Bar Problems – Not Needed for the Newer Models
The original Ninja Coffee Bar was a great coffee maker but it did have a few problems. (mostly around the cleaning light. Problem solved below) It has since been replaced by newer even more innovative models like the ones featured on this page. I had one that I did not think that I would ever give up. However, After finding and purchasing the newest Ninja CFP301 DualBrew Specialty Coffee System I did finally give the coffee bar to my granddaughter-in-law. The new DualBrew system does everything my old one did and more.
If you happen to find the original Coffee Bar here is what you need to know.
Ninja Coffee Bar Troubleshooting
Not everyone had a problem with this coffee maker. But for those who did, we realized that Most of those problems center around the cleaning cycle light. After performing a cleaning cycle, some people found that the light would not go off. Because they could not get the light to go off, they tried to just use the machine with the light on. That did not work out very well. Those people who had problems with the cleaning light failed to notice one of two important details.
Two Important Tips For Cleaning the Ninja Coffee Bar
1. No other buttons but the “CLEAN BUTTON” should be pressed until after the clean and flush cycle complete. Unfortunately, I pressed the Classic Brew button to do my flushing. That was a no-no. That does not complete the cycle which enables the cleaning light to go off.
2. You must start the flush cycle within 15 minutes after the clean cycle ends. If you miss that, then the Clean light will not go off without going through another whole clean and flush cycle.
That 15-minute window of opportunity is what a lot of people miss. Without knowing that you have that window of time to start the flush cycle, it would be easy to make the same mistake over and over again. Set a timer to remind you to check on the machine in an hour and you will be fine.
Just to be on the safe side… This instructional infographic from the Ninja Kitchen is now taped to the inside of my kitchen cabinet above the coffee maker.” If you get a machine similar to mine you might want to download a copy for yourself. If you get a model that has the built in frother you need the instructions for that machine instead.
Other Troubleshooting Tips & Tricks
Other problems that some people mentioned had some easy answers. Below are some tips that may help you avoid those problems… or you may watch this helpful video:
Why is my cup overflowing?
- Because you are not using the correct setting for the size of the container, for instance placing a cup or mug under the drip basket but leaving the setting for a half or full pot.
- Or if you prefer your coffee weaker, you may be using a too small amount of coffee grounds for your size cup. (the grounds retain a certain amount of water in them so if you have fewer grounds, you have more water going into your cup. Just use a larger cup. Also, if you use more grounds, the resulting brew will have slightly less volume.
- Using too small of a cup. You should use at least a 12-ounce cup for the cup settings. I prefer to use a 14-ounce cup to avoid potential problems. An 8 or 10-ounce cup will simply overflow unless you stop the machine manually. The newer model has more sizes from which to choose.
- Filling the reservoir above the max fill line… NEVER do this as it can also mess up some functions. If you put too much water in the reservoir that can also cause an overflow problem. However, you can fill up to the Max line and just draw out enough water for a cup at a time if you wish. I do this a lot because I would rather have fresh coffee each time. Only if I know I will be drinking the same kind of coffee over an extended period (or have company) do I make a whole pot.
Why is the Brew Basket overflowing?
This is not likely to happen unless you:
- you are overloading the basket with too much ground coffee or
- you are using too fine a grind for the machine. Medium to medium/fine grind is recommended for this machine.
Why is the coffee going onto the counter instead of the cup or pot?
- you left the brew pause tab on after sneaking a cup of coffee
- check to see if coffee maker is sitting level on counter – if not then the coffee flow is following gravity. Try angling the coffee pot with the handle in the direction of where the overflow happens. It is a little wider that way. If that does not work try leveling the coffee maker.
Ninja Coffee Bar System Review Summary
If you have made it this far down in the article, you probably want to know if Glenda still loves her Ninja Coffee Bar System. Absolutely she does. The only problem she says she has is that she is now tempted to drink too much coffee. When she is home she has to remind herself to also drink plain water. It is a good thing that coffee is good for you. Here is what she has to say:
“The Ninja Coffee Bar System is really pretty simple and easy to use. But you do need to read the instructions. Otherwise, how will you know that there is nothing wrong with the machine when it pauses for almost a minute to pre-infuse the coffee grounds before resuming the brewing process? That is a process that adds a lot of flavor to the coffee.
One thing I have noticed with all my experimenting with my machine is that it has never brewed a bitter cup of coffee. I can make it strong, weak, or super strong if I wish. It is never bitter. I am so glad that I got mine. I think that with proper care and use it will last a long time. This machine made the best tasting coffee I have ever had... until they came out with this newest model. They just keep improving with each one.
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