Ninja CFP301 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

The Ninja CFP301 is a single-serve drip coffee maker that brews coffee, tea, and specialty beverages in various cup sizes. Part of Ninja's Specialty Coffee Maker line, this machine is versatile yet easy to use with the ability to customize coffee strength and size. With a sleek design and intuitive controls, the CFP301 aims to provide delicious custom brews and added convenience for coffee lovers.

This review will examine the benefits and downsides of the Ninja CFP301, including its build, features, performance, and value. Key details like the brewing technology, programming options, and accessories will be covered to determine if this specialty coffee maker lives up to its promise. Read on to learn if the CFP301's combination of simplicity and personalization makes it the right choice for your morning coffee routine.

Design and Build Quality

The Ninja CFP301 drip coffee maker has a sleek and modern design that looks great on any countertop. It has a plastic exterior housing that feels sturdy and durable. The water reservoir is made from BPA-free plastic.

At 9.9 x 7.7 x 12.1 inches, the CFP301 has a compact footprint that doesn't take up too much counter space. It weighs 5.85 pounds, making it easy to move around or store away when not in use.

The coffee maker comes in 3 color options - black, white, and red. The matte finish helps minimize fingerprints and smudges. The LED interface adds a touch of sophistication.

Overall, the Ninja CFP301 is solidly constructed from quality materials. While mostly plastic, it doesn't feel flimsy or cheap. The compact size and modern aesthetics allow it to fit well in most kitchen decors.

If you're interested in another great option, consider the KIDISLE CM615S. This coffee maker features a brushed stainless steel body, which not only adds to its durability but also gives it a professional look. It has a slightly larger footprint but includes advanced features like a programmable timer and a reusable filter, making it a top choice for coffee enthusiasts.

Features

• Capacity: The Ninja CFP301 has a 40oz water reservoir and 12 cup carafe capacity, allowing you to brew multiple cups of coffee at once.

• Adjustable brew sizes: You can choose between brewing a full carafe, a half carafe, a full travel mug, or a half travel mug size. This makes the Ninja CFP301 versatile for brewing anything from a single cup to 12 cups.

• Hot plate: The hot plate will keep your brewed coffee hot for 2 hours after brewing is complete. This is useful for keeping a pot warm if you want to drink coffee throughout the morning.

• Removable water reservoir: The water reservoir detaches from the coffee maker for easy filling at your sink. Once filled, it slides back into place easily.

• Fold-away design: When not in use, the Ninja CFP301 can fold up into a compact shape. The brew basket, water reservoir, and hot plate all tuck away neatly, reducing the footprint on your counter.

• Proctor Silex 43680PS: Discover the convenience and efficiency of the Proctor Silex 43680PS, a reliable coffee maker designed for simplicity and performance. With its easy on/off operation, the Proctor Silex 43680PS allows you to brew a perfect pot of coffee with minimal effort. Its compact design makes it ideal for small kitchens, while the durable, dishwasher-safe carafe ensures easy cleaning. Proctor Silex 43680PS.

Ease of Use

The Ninja CFP301 drip coffee maker is designed for simplicity and convenience. The control panel features buttons for power, brew, cup size, and clean/descale, which are easy to identify and use.

Programming the coffee maker is straightforward - you can set the brew size from a single cup up to a full carafe, and schedule auto-brew up to 24 hours in advance. The instructions for setting up these functions are clear and intuitive.

Cleaning and maintenance of the Ninja CFP301 is also uncomplicated. The removable water reservoir and filter basket can be hand washed or placed in the dishwasher. A clean light indicator prompts you when it's time to descale the machine to remove mineral buildup. The descaling process only takes about 30 minutes start to finish.

Overall, the Ninja CFP301 coffee maker achieves excellent ease of use with its simple interface, programming options, and manageable cleaning/maintenance needs. These features make the coffee maker accessible for users of all levels.

Coffee Customization

The Ninja CFP301 allows you to customize your coffee to your exact preferences with options to adjust the temperature, brew strength, and cup size.

Temperature

The Ninja has four different temperature settings - low (185°F), medium (195°F), high (205°F), and specialty (which starts hotter and cools as it brews for an ultra-smooth cup). This temperature range lets you highlight different flavor notes or achieve your ideal drinking temperature.

Brew Strength

Not only does the Ninja offer classic and rich brew strength options, you can choose anywhere from a 1-4 strength intensity. This lets you go from a smooth, mild cup to an extra bold and intense brew.

Cup Size

With the Ninja, you aren't limited to a single cup size. It can brew directly into your favorite travel mug or go up to a full carafe. The water reservoir is removable so you can fill it with just enough for your desired number of cups.

Brew Performance

The Ninja CFP301 delivers superior brew performance thanks to its Thermal Flavor Extraction technology. This innovative system evenly saturates coffee grounds to extract robust, full-flavored coffee that's never bitter or diluted.

The CFP301 brews a single cup in just under 2 minutes, which is quite fast for a drip coffee machine in this class. It reaches optimal brewing temperature in 3-4 minutes after turning on. The rapid heating allows you to brew cup after cup with minimal downtime.

Each cup comes out piping hot, at an ideal temperature to enjoy coffee's intricate flavors. The coffee has a wonderfully smooth mouthfeel, without any chalky or watery texture that can occur with poor extraction.

Flavors consistently come through clean and balanced, with sweetness, acidity, and aromas all preserved. The CFP301 highlights coffee's inherent flavor notes rather than imparting any burnt, artificial taste.

It brews batches with excellent uniformity. Coffee comes out just as tasty from the first cup to the last, without any variation cup-to-cup.

The CFP301 delivers professional coffeehouse flavor in every cup. Its advanced heating and saturation creates rich, complex coffee that surpasses typical drip coffee makers.

Additional Functions

In addition to regular drip coffee, the Ninja CFP301 offers several convenient functions for iced coffee, specialty brews, and hot water on demand.

Iced Coffee Setting

The Ninja has a dedicated iced coffee setting that automatically doubles the strength and slows the flow rate to produce coffee well-suited for iced and cold brews. This prevents iced coffee from tasting weak or watery. The slower flow allows for full flavor extraction while doubling the concentration results in a robust, non-diluted iced coffee.

Specialty Brews

Beyond regular coffee, the Ninja can make specialty cafe-style drinks like lattes and cappuccinos using the integrated milk frother. The frother heats and foams milk to create a rich, creamy froth for topping specialty drinks. The Ninja can also brew concentrated shots for making espresso-based drinks.

Hot Water on Demand

The Ninja dispenses hot water from the same brew head as the coffee, allowing you to easily prepare teas, instant oatmeal, or other hot beverages. The hot water button provides piping hot water in seconds without having to boil water separately.

Price and Value

The Ninja CFP301 Drip Coffee Maker is priced at $129.99. This puts it solidly in the mid-range for drip coffee makers.

When you consider the features, brew performance and overall quality, the CFP301 provides excellent value. It produces specialty-cafe style coffee that is often only achievable from more expensive machines.

At this price point, you get a sturdy stainless steel thermal carafe, customizable brewing options via the fold-away control panel, and a permanent filter that removes the need for wasteful paper filters. The warming plate can keep coffee hot for 2 hours without burning or bitterness.

The CFP301 goes toe-to-toe with pricier drip coffee makers. It doesn't have some of the extra bells and whistles like a built-in grinder or Bluetooth connectivity. However, it focuses on the core functionality of brewing amazing coffee. For this purpose, the CFP301 delivers tremendous value.

Overall, the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker offers premium features and cafe-quality coffee at a mid-range price point. This makes it an excellent value purchase for coffee enthusiasts who want great-tasting brew without breaking the bank.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Brews coffee quickly, around 1 minute for a cup
• Lots of options to customize coffee strength and size
• Removable water reservoir for easy filling
• Simple button controls with light indicators
• Sleek, compact design saves counter space
• Makes hot and iced coffee
• Accommodates travel mugs up to 18 oz
• Dishwasher safe removable parts for easy cleanup

Cons

• Only compatible with proprietary coffee pods
• Pod holder cannot be removed for cleaning
• No option to use ground coffee
• Water reservoir could be larger than 40 oz
• Ice function inconsistent, coffee may still come out hot
• Not very budget friendly

Conclusion

The Ninja CFP301 single serve coffee maker is an excellent option for people looking for a versatile and customizable coffee experience at home. With its simple interface yet advanced programming features, you can easily dial in the perfect cup of coffee to suit your tastes.

The Specialty Brew mode really allows you to fine tune the bloom time, temperature, and flow rate to extract the best flavor from your preferred coffee roast and grind size. And the fold away frother lets you top off your coffee with rich, silky steamed or frothed milk with minimal effort.

In terms of build quality, the Ninja feels sturdy and durable with its metal and plastic construction. And it brews coffee quickly while still delivering consistent results. The travel mug compatibility adds convenience, letting you take your freshly brewed coffee on-the-go.

Overall, the CFP301 combines customizable brewing, convenience, and reliability in a fairly compact footprint. While not inexpensive, it delivers excellent performance for the price. For anyone looking to upgrade their daily coffee routine with more control and flexibility, the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker is easy to recommend.