Ninja CE251 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

The Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker CE251 is a high-quality drip coffee machine with a sleek stainless steel design and a range of useful features. Part of Ninja's Specialty Coffee Maker line, it can brew anything from a single cup to a full carafe and offers customizable brewing options to get your coffee just right.

With a 60-ounce water reservoir, the CE251 allows you to brew up to 12 cups of coffee at a time. It has a removable water tank for easy filling and cleaning, and the brew basket is large enough to accommodate travel mugs. An integrated frother lets you froth milk to create lattes and cappuccinos.

This coffeemaker provides a lot of value for the price point. Keep reading to learn more about the design, features, performance and overall pros and cons of the Ninja CE251 programmable coffee maker.

Design & Build Quality

The Ninja CE251 brewer has a sleek stainless steel and black plastic exterior that will look great on any countertop. The materials used in construction seem durable, with a sturdy stainless steel thermal carafe and plastic housing that should stand up well to regular use.

At 14 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 15 inches tall with the carafe in place, this is a relatively compact brewer that won't take up too much space. The water reservoir can hold up to 60 ounces, while the carafe has a 12-cup capacity.

The overall aesthetics are modern and understated. The brewer features sleek lines and a minimalist design that will fit into nearly any kitchen decor. The buttons are well-labeled and intuitive, with a simple interface that is easy to operate.

The materials and build quality allow this brewer to blend seamlessly into your kitchen without occupying too much real estate on the countertop. It has a smart, sophisticated look at a very reasonable price point.

Another excellent coffee maker option is the KitchenAid KCM1208DG, which features a refined style with matte black and stainless steel accents. It offers excellent brewing capabilities with a distinctive pour-over feature for optimal flavor extraction, built into a durable shell that stands the test of time. The KitchenAid model also boasts a 12-cup glass carafe and an easy-to-use programmable interface, making it a user-friendly and stylish addition to any kitchen setup. Like the Ninja CE251, it combines both form and function at a competitive price.

Features

The Ninja CE251 coffee maker comes with a variety of features to customize your brew.

• Programmable settings - You can program the machine to brew coffee up to 24 hours in advance. This allows you to wake up to a freshly brewed pot. There are also specialty brew settings for iced coffee and cold brew.

• Brew types - The machine can brew classic, rich, over ice, specialty, and cafe forte coffee. You have options for hot and cold brew.

• Brew size flexibility - Brew anything from a small cup to a full carafe. The sizes range from cup, XL cup, travel mug, half carafe, or full carafe.

• Temperature control - There is a hot and cold temperature setting. The hot brewing temperature reaches 205°F-208°F. You can brew hot coffee directly over ice at lower temperatures.

• Self-clean - There is a built-in self-cleaning cycle. After prompt, you simply add water and vinegar to the reservoir and run the clean cycle.

The Braun KF7070 is another excellent coffee maker, known for its sleek design and consistent brewing performance. It features a 24-hour programmable timer, a PureFlavor system to ensure your coffee is made at the optimal temperature and brewing time, and a large LED display. The machine also includes a gold-tone permanent filter, eliminating the need for disposable paper filters. Discover more about the Braun KF7070.

Ease of Use

This coffee maker is designed to be intuitive and easy to operate. The control panel has a simple programmable timer and buttons to select cup size or the brew strength.

The water reservoir is easy to access and has markings to measure the amount of water. The removable filter basket has clear max fill lines so you can see the right amount of ground coffee to add.

Ninja provides a handy measuring scoop that clicks into the side of the machine for easy storage. This makes it simple to get the coffee to water ratio right.

The settings allow you to choose Regular or Rich brew strength, as well as Small, Medium, or Large cup size options. You can also use the Delay Brew timer to program the machine up to 24 hours in advance.

Overall, the intuitive controls, clearly marked parts, and included measuring scoop make this an exceptionally easy drip coffee maker to use on a daily basis. Just add water and coffee grounds, select your settings, and you'll get great tasting coffee with little effort.

Brew Performance

The Ninja CE251 coffee maker brews a full pot in around 7 minutes, which is average speed for a drip coffee machine. It can brew anything from a single cup up to a 12-cup carafe, with most users reporting it takes just over 6 minutes to brew a full pot.

The coffee yield is consistent, with the CE251 brewing roughly 12 ounces per cup when making a full pot. It includes both a permanent filter and a reusable paper filter, which produces a good flavor without too much sediment.

The water reaches the optimal brewing temperature between 195°F - 205°F before entering the filter basket. This hot water evenly saturates the grounds to extract flavor.

The coffee comes out with a balanced, smooth taste according to most reviews. The flat bottom filter basket and wide shower head distribute water evenly over the coffee bed for uniform extraction. The flavor is medium strength without any burnt or bitter notes.

The coffee maker produces a consistent brew each time as long as you use the same amount of grounds. It doesn't have any major issues with overflow or clogging the way some budget drip coffee machines do. Overall, the Ninja CE251 makes a flavorful, aromatic pot of coffee.

Cleanability

The Ninja CE251 coffee maker is designed for easy cleaning and maintenance.

The removable water reservoir, brew basket, and filter basket can all be taken out and washed by hand or in the dishwasher. The heating plate is also detachable for cleaning if needed.

The coffee maker has a self-clean mode that can be run with vinegar to help descale and clean the internal components. This is recommended every 3-6 months depending on water hardness to keep the machine running optimally.

Descaling can also be done manually by running a descaling solution through the water reservoir and brew cycle. Ninja recommends descaling every 3-6 months even for soft water, and more frequently for hard water areas.

The exterior surfaces like the control panel and housing can just be wiped down with a damp cloth as needed. Overall, the simplicity of the design and readily removable parts make this an easy drip coffee maker to keep clean.

Price

The Ninja CE251 Coffee Maker has an MSRP of $99.99, which puts it at the lower end of mid-range pricing for drip coffee makers. While not the most budget-friendly option, it offers excellent value for the price.

The CE251 is affordably priced given the quality materials, well-designed features, and consistent performance it delivers. You get a stainless steel thermal carafe, 24-hour programmability, fold-away frother, brew strength control, and "flavor extraction" technology that evenly saturates grounds.

For a sub-$100 coffee maker, the CE251 punches above its weight. The combination of useful features, durability, and great-tasting coffee makes this an impressive value purchase. It costs significantly less than premium coffee makers yet performs at a comparable level.

If your budget is under $150, the Ninja CE251 should be on your shortlist. Very few alternatives can match this appliance's capabilities and reliability at this price point. While not the cheapest option, it's a worthwhile investment for years of delicious drip coffee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Generous 12-cup carafe capacity
• Programmable timer for scheduled brewing
• Adjustable brew strength selector
• Permanent filter included - no need for paper filters
• Thermal carafe keeps coffee hot for hours
• Stylish brushed stainless steel exterior
• Auto-pause & pour feature avoids drips and messes
• Dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning

Cons

• Carafe lid can drip when pouring
• Water reservoir not easily visible
• No brew-pause button
• Brewing time is slower than average
• Lack of insulation means brewed coffee cools faster
• No indicator lights for brew progress
• Takes up substantial counter space

Comparable Models

The Ninja CE251 is a 12-cup programmable coffee maker that competes with other mid-range drip coffee makers in the $100-150 price range. Here's how it stacks up against some of the top competitors in this class:

• Breville Precision Brewer Thermal: The Breville is a premium coffee maker with a thermal carafe, while the Ninja has a glass carafe. The Breville offers more customizable brewing options through its bloom time, brew temperature and flow rate control. It produces a more consistent brew but costs nearly twice as much as the Ninja.

• Cuisinart DCC-T20: The Cuisinart is very similar to the Ninja in terms of features and performance. Both have programmable timers, brew strength control, glass carafes and dishwasher-safe parts. The Cuisinart is slightly less expensive but the Ninja edges it out in carafe design and ease of use.

• OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker: The OXO has a rainmaker shower head for even saturation. It lacks the programmable timer but has a backlit screen and comes in a compact footprint. The Ninja offers more flexibility and customization for not much more money.

• Bonavita BV1900TS: The Bonavita is a simple coffee brewer focused on optimal brewing temperature and fast brew time. It lacks the bells and whistles of the Ninja but produces a flavorful cup. The Ninja gives more options to tweak the brew, but the Bonavita is hard to beat for a fuss-free morning coffee.

The Ninja holds its own against these popular models by offering a balance of features, performance and value. Its flexibility and ease of use make it a great choice for the price.

Conclusion

For those looking for a programmable coffee maker with quality brewing at an affordable price, the Ninja CE251 is a strong option worth considering.

The stainless steel build feels sturdy and durable, while the wide mouth basket and removable water reservoir make the brewer easy to clean and maintain. The 24-hour programmable timer adds convenience, allowing you to wake up to hot coffee.

Performance is solid, producing full-flavored coffee that stays hot for hours. However, the lack of a heating plate may be a downside for some who don't drink their pot right away. The coffee maker takes up a decent amount of counter space, so keep that in mind.

Overall, the Ninja CE251 delivers customizable brewing options, quality construction, and solid everyday performance at a reasonable price point. For an affordable 12-cup drip coffee maker with premium features, the Ninja CE251 is a recommended model to consider.