Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker Review for 2020
SharkNinja raises the Bar on what a specialty hot and cold brew system can do!
Your Guide: Shaun Gilley | Updated 8/9/2024
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Our top recommendation goes to the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker. This versatile machine allows you to create a broad range of coffee drinks in just the right serving size for the occasion. Want an iced coffee in a travel mug for the road? No problem! Half a pot of hot cappuccino “style” for you and your two friends who just popped over? Done! Seriously, this delightful piece of coffee hardware makes it easy to serve one or many coffee beverages that are sure to please. You’ll feel like a barista using this machine!
Ninja Specialty
The best Ninja Coffee Maker for most people
Versatile replacement for the Ninja Coffee Bar allows you to create a broad range of coffee drinks in just the right serving size for the occasion.
Pro
- Numerous Coffeehouse drink choices
- Select the perfect serving size any time! Whether a single cup or full pot.
- Diverse Coffee Brew style settings: Classic brew, Rich brew, Over Ice and Specialty
Con
- Big footprint – bigger than the prior Ninja Coffee Bar model
- Can’t make true espresso or cold brew
- Carafe doesn’t hold as much coffee as a traditional coffee maker
According to a research study by Annals of Internal Medicine, heavy coffee drinkers may live longer! And Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker owners may live happier, too! (Uhhh, they didn’t say that 2nd part).
Glass or Thermal Carafe?
Model CM401 of the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker comes with a glass carafe. Model CM407 comes with a thermal carafe. Which should you choose? Glass is fragile, so if you accidently break it you have to wait to order a new carafe. The thermal carafe keeps coffee warm longer but you can’t wash it in the dishwasher. I’d spring a few extra dollars for the more durable carafe – thermal.
Just the Right Serving Size
The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker allows you to choose the perfect serving size for your immediate need. There are convenient choices for single serve coffee cup, XL cup, travel mug, XL travel, ½ carafe and full pot settings. And if you have previously been a Keurig fan, you can save yourself a bundle in “K cup” costs AND get superior brewed coffee flavor just by using the easy brew size settings. You don’t even have to be concerned that you might miss the convenience of the K cup, because it literally takes maybe 10 seconds longer to scoop coffee grounds.
Additionally, Ninja includes a noteworthy tool (the Ninja Smart Scoop) to make it simple to scoop the exact amount of coffee needed for your brew choices. The handy scooper has easy to read icons and numbers for each brew size and It attaches to the side of the coffee maker so you don’t lose it.
Expanded Coffeeshop Menu Choices with the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker
There are four brew style choices that allow you to make a myriad of coffee drinks – Classic, Rich, Over Ice and Specialty. With these core choices you can serve a normal or strong hot cup of Joe, Iced coffee with any adjustments to flavor you can dream up (vanilla, coconut, caramel, thai-style, etc.), and homemade versions of classic intense coffee beverages, like cappuccino.
The SharkNinja Specialty can’t make genuine espresso. That being said, it can make a more concentrated brew that can be used as a foundation for a latte, cappuccino, macchiato, etc. The coffee machine does this by fine-tuning the blend of water to ground coffee in the specialty brew setting.
Other Notable Features of the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker
Milk frother – Includes a versatile milk frother with easy to remove frother whisk. The milk must be warmed in the microwave if you want it heated, but the frother does an excellent job of frothing the milk needed for drinks like a latte with velvety microfoam. The whisk is easily removed from the machine for cleaning. If you clean the frother immediately, it is easy work and you won’t hesitate to enjoy this feature.
Drip Stop – The coffee maker has a switch you can turn on and off that stops the flow of coffee. So if your cup is almost full and you need to run out the door… just bam! – hit the switch, the coffee flow stops and you are ready to run. If you forget to open the Drip Stop, the coffee maker will pause the brew, and after 20 seconds it will give you a friendly audible reminder. After 6 minutes, the brew will be canceled.
Removable water container – Makes it easy to fill the water chamber. You can even take it over to your refrigerator and fill it with filtered water from the door. Because it is detachable, it is also easier to clean.
Programmable – It’s easy to program and can be set up to 24 hrs in advance
Cleaning – the Ninja system has a setting to automatically clean and descale the coffee maker. It takes about an hour. You just put a mix of vinegar and water in the chamber and run the cleaning program. You can also use a descaling solution specifically formulated for coffee maker cleaning.
Specialty Coffee Association Certification – The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker has been certified by the SCA to meet their Golden Cup Standard, designed for optimal extraction and strength.
Other Ninja coffee makers to consider:
Ninja Hot and Cold Brew System – Does everything the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker does, and also brews loose leaf or bagged tea. Model CP301 with glass carafe or Model CP307 with Thermal carafe
Ninja Coffee Brewer – traditional drip coffee maker. Model CE251 with glass carafe. No thermal carafe available.