Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer Review: The Perfect Drip Coffee Machine for Everyday Use

For coffee lovers who enjoy a smooth, rich cup of coffee every morning, the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer is an excellent choice. As someone who enjoys a fresh and flavorful brew, I found this coffee maker to be one of the best I have used. With its customizable features, user-friendly design, and ability to brew both small and large batches, it stands out as a top-tier drip coffee machine. If you're looking for a reliable and affordable coffee maker, this model is definitely worth considering.

Features That Make the Ninja 12-Cup Coffee Brewer Stand Out

1. Two Brew Styles for the Perfect Cup

One of the best features of this coffee maker is its two brew styles: Classic and Rich. The Classic brew provides a smooth and well-balanced flavor, while the Rich brew enhances the depth and boldness of the coffee. I personally enjoy using the Rich brew setting in the morning for a stronger start to my day.

2. Large 12-Cup Capacity

With its 12-cup glass carafe, this coffee brewer is perfect for both individuals and families. I appreciate the ability to make a full pot when entertaining guests or a small batch for personal use.

3. Hotter Brewing Technology

One of the key aspects of making great coffee is consistent temperature control. This model ensures even saturation of coffee grounds, resulting in a balanced and flavorful cup. Unlike some coffee makers that produce lukewarm brews, the Ninja 12-Cup Coffee Brewer delivers piping hot coffee every time.

4. Small Batch Function

If you don’t need a full pot of coffee, the small batch function (1-4 cups) is perfect. I found this feature incredibly useful for making just the right amount of coffee without compromising flavor.

5. 24-Hour Programmable Delay Brew

One of my favorite features is the 24-hour programmable delay brew. Being able to set up my coffee maker the night before and wake up to fresh, hot coffee is a game-changer. This feature adds incredible convenience to busy mornings.

6. Adjustable Warming Plate

The adjustable warming plate keeps coffee hot for up to 4 hours without burning it. I love this feature because it allows me to enjoy multiple cups throughout the morning without needing to reheat my coffee.

7. Removable Water Reservoir

Refilling the water tank is effortless thanks to the 60-oz removable water reservoir. Instead of awkwardly pouring water into a fixed tank, I can simply remove the reservoir and fill it at the sink.

8. Mid-Brew Pause

Sometimes, I just can’t wait for the whole pot to finish brewing. Thankfully, the Mid-Brew Pause feature lets me pour a cup before the brewing cycle is complete, ensuring I don’t have to wait too long for my morning coffee fix.

9. Easy Cleaning with the Clean Setting

Cleaning is often a hassle with coffee makers, but this model includes a Clean setting that simplifies the descaling process. With just the touch of a button, the coffee maker cleans itself, making maintenance easier.

What I Loved About the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer

• Rich and flavorful coffee with two brew styles.

• Large capacity suitable for families and entertaining.

• Small batch function for those times when I only need a cup or two.

• Programmable delay brew to wake up to fresh coffee.

• Removable water reservoir for easy filling and cleaning.

• Mid-brew pause feature for impatient coffee lovers like me.

• Easy cleaning process with a dedicated Clean setting.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Drip Coffee Maker

If you’re considering the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer, here are a few factors to keep in mind:

1. Brew Size and Capacity

If you frequently entertain guests or have multiple coffee drinkers in your household, a 12-cup capacity is ideal. However, if you usually brew for just one or two people, look for a coffee maker with a small batch function.

2. Programmability

A programmable coffee maker allows you to set your brew time in advance. If you want the convenience of waking up to fresh coffee, this is an essential feature.

3. Brew Strength Control

Some coffee makers offer multiple brew strengths. The Classic and Rich brew styles of this Ninja model allow you to customize your coffee experience.

4. Water Reservoir Design

A removable water reservoir makes refilling and cleaning much easier compared to a fixed tank. This is a key feature for convenience.

5. Warming Plate Duration

If you like to sip coffee over an extended period, an adjustable warming plate ensures your coffee stays hot without becoming burnt or bitter.

Final Thoughts

The Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer is a fantastic choice for coffee lovers looking for a versatile, affordable, and high-quality drip coffee machine. With two brew styles, a 12-cup carafe, a programmable delay brew, and an adjustable warming plate, this coffee maker delivers everything you need for a perfect cup of coffee. After using it myself, I can confidently say it’s one of the best coffee makers I’ve owned. Whether you need a full pot or just a few cups, this machine ensures you get rich, flavorful coffee every time. If you're in the market for a reliable coffee brewer, this is a top contender.

Top reviews from the United States

• 

  eclaire

  5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, detachable reservoir separates this coffee maker from the masses.

  Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024

  Color: Stainless Steel 

  I've owned this coffee maker over a month now and love it. Intuitive-to-operate controls and a very attractive appearance are among its virtues. Of course, hot water dripping over coffee grinds isn't rocket science and is something most coffee makers do comparably well, and the Ninja likewise makes excellent-tasting coffee.
  
  Other reviews were mildly critical of the "sneak a cup" functionality, but I've found it on par with that of my last two coffee makers (Krups and Cuisinart). Yes, a couple of drops of coffee will still splash on the hot plate while you pull the carafe out, but I've never used or seen a pot yet that didn't do that, and the spring mechanism on this carafe is at least as robust as any I've seen on other coffee makers.
  
  Where this pot really shines is in the clear, detachable water reservoir. That obviously offers you the (completely?) unique option of detaching the tank to fill it over the sink before brewing, which I've done a few times and anticipated doing regularly. Frankly, however, I find it unnecessary because the reservoir itself provides an unusually large opening/target for pouring directly from my filtered water pitcher.
  
  But there are other benefits to the reservoir design, including the fact that it allows you to easily monitor the conditions inside . . . i.e., when the moist environment inevitably leads to mildew, you will know it (and, because the reservoir is transparent to any ambient sunlight, mold/mildew should theoretically take longer to manifest in many kitchens.) More importantly, you'll be able to easily clean the reservoir in a sink of hot soapy water (with a little bleach) without repeated electric cleaning and rinse cycles for the whole brewer, followed by awkward attempts to wipe the nooks and crannies of the integral, typically black reservoir with a white paper towel to see if any undesirable residues remain.
  
  But perhaps the greatest advantage of this design is in what it will save you if you should *ahem* forget to put your carafe in place before you hit "brew." I've only done this twice in my life but, ironically, both times occurred within the last six weeks: once with my last Krups pot and once with this new Ninja. (Put aside for the moment what such forgetfulness might be saying about me.:-) At the very least, I gained valuable, first-hand experience in how the Ninja's design saved my a$$ while the typical integral design on the Krups resulted in a ruined coffee maker, which prompted my purchase of the Ninja in the first place.)
  
  When you fail to put the carafe under the filter spout on a coffee maker that offers the increasingly ubiquitous "sneak a cup" feature, the spring mechanism on the filter holder is never engaged and the water that's dripping down over your grinds to make coffee is never given proper egress below. So your mistake may go unnoticed for quite some time since you won't hear the kind of gushing and sizzling sound that an older model without the sneak a cup feature would produce when dripping coffee is merrily dispensing and burning on the naked hotplate below. Instead, the water stays in the filter holder, eventually having nowhere to go but over the sides, which, on the vast majority of drip coffee makers, means that the brewed coffee--complete with floating grinds--will spill over and back into the reservoir itself. That is exactly what happened to my Krups, and, despite hours of repeated cleaning cycles and an aborted effort to dismantle the innards, I realized the pot was shot (no pun intended) and would never process water properly through its (clogged) pump pathway again.
  
  Enter the Ninja. After making delicious coffee for a week or so, I, once again, got distracted by something (probably my Yorkie yapping to get out for a morning pee) and neglected to actually seat the carafe on the coffee maker before hitting brew. When I got back in, I noticed the problem just before the brewing coffee was about to overflow the filter holder. The difference was, even had I been a bit later, I would have only had to deal with a messy countertop and not a ruined $80+ coffee maker. In other words, if the Ninja coffee filter overflows, the brewed coffee will NOT go back into the reservoir because the latter is physically higher and isolated from the former in a way that would not permit that. So, should you repeat my negligence, you will hear coffee suddenly dripping on your hotplate and counter top, but you won't have to buy a new coffee maker.
  
  The only "negative" to the pot is that the carafe lid does not flip up via the common thumb depression above the handle. You have to slide/turn it to remove, which is more easily done with two hands. But this is a very, very minor ding in my view and not worth deducting a star for an otherwise very well-designed, highly practical, and elegant-looking appliance.
• 

  LenoxChick

  5.0 out of 5 stars Coffee maker

  Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2025

  Color: Stainless SteelVerified Purchase

  Love this coffee maker. Has various functions for small pot, full pot, classic brew, rich brew and different keep warm times. Haven’t tried the delayed brew but love the option. Water container is removable for easy fill and super easy cleaning! It’s sleek looking with all functions accessible and easy to read on the front.
• 

  Frank A.

  5.0 out of 5 stars Great coffee pot

  Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2025

  Color: Stainless Steel 

  New to Ninja, and I will have to say this is a very good coffee maker and well thought out. Easy to fill and program. I'm not sure about the dip tube idea in the pot but I can tell you one thing IT WORKS! There is no condensation expelling and when you take the pot off the burner, no drips! The heating plate stays dry! My other brands would always drip and after time the heat plate looked bad! Not now! It makes a great cup of coffee and well worth every penny!
• 

  RUKiddingMee

  5.0 out of 5 stars Very good so far

  Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024

  Color: Stainless SteelVerified Purchase

  I bought this coffee maker after going through both a Moccamaster and a Bonavita in less than a year. I have very hard water and the Moccamaster clogged up after I descaled it. It was my fault that I did not descale it often enough, but I misjudged how often it needed it because you can't use reverse osmosis water in it, like I could with my previous brewers. This resulted in a $100 repair in less than a year. I decided to give the Bonavita Enthusiast instead. I tried it because Wirecutter recommended the thermal carafe model (I don't like thermal carafes -- too hard to keep clean), thinking that the glass carafe/hotplate model would be comparable. Big mistake. What a waste of time and money -- they don't pay for free shipping for returns, even when you keep the brewer less than 30 days. The coffee wasn't particularly hot, and then was cold within a short period of time. The hotplate was less than 125 degrees. So next I tried this Ninja model, and my, my, my. Great, perfectly hot coffee for a much lower price. The carafe doesn't drip when you pour. It all goes in the dishwasher or is easy to wipe clean. It has a setting for "classic" coffee which I really prefer and the attached scoop accurately measures the appropriate amount of coffee without my having to weigh it. If you want a stronger cup, it has a setting for that. I haven't tried it, but it's there. If you want to brew a smaller amount, it still makes a very tasty pot of coffee.
  
  The hotplate heats the carafe before brewing begins, and keeps it hot for at least 2 hours after. You can program it to keep the pot heated for a longer period of time if desired.
  
  The built in filter works very well, or you can replace it with paper filters, which is probably healthier. The filter basket has high sides and fits #4 paper filters snugly so that you are less likely to have the paper filter collapse and have a mess all over your counter.
  
  All in all, this is an excellent coffee brewer for a reasonable price. It is thoughtfully designed and brews a reliably great cup of coffee. I don't know how durable it is, but I am very pleased so far. It isn't as fast as the Moccamaster, but the coffee tastes better and is just as hot. I'm sticking with the Ninja.