The Ultimate Single-Serve Coffee Maker: Ninja Pods & Grounds Review

If you’re looking for a compact yet versatile coffee maker that delivers both convenience and rich flavor, the Ninja Pods & Grounds Single-Serve Coffee Maker is an excellent choice. After using this coffee maker for a while, I can confidently say that it has become an essential part of my morning routine. Whether you prefer using coffee grounds for a full-bodied flavor or the ease of coffee pods, this machine handles both effortlessly. In this review, I’ll share my experience with this coffee maker, highlighting its key features, benefits, and why it stands out from other single-serve machines.

Versatile Brewing Options

One of the standout features of the Ninja Pods & Grounds Coffee Maker is its ability to brew both coffee pods and coffee grounds. Unlike many single-serve machines that restrict you to one option, this coffee maker allows you to switch between pods and grounds, giving you complete control over your coffee experience. I personally love having the choice because some days I crave the deep, rich flavor of freshly ground coffee, while on busier mornings, a convenient coffee pod saves me time without sacrificing quality.

Customizable Brew Sizes and Styles

This coffee maker offers multiple brew sizes, ranging from 6 ounces to 24 ounces. Whether you want a small cup to start your morning or need a large travel mug full of coffee, this machine adapts to your needs. Additionally, it features three distinct brew styles: Classic, Rich, and Over Ice. I especially appreciate the Over Ice option, which allows me to make iced coffee without it becoming watered down. With this feature, I can enjoy a refreshing cup of iced coffee without losing the strong, bold taste I love.

Compact Design with Large Reservoir

Despite its powerful capabilities, the Ninja Pods & Grounds Coffee Maker has a sleek and compact design. Measuring just 13.07 inches deep, 5.31 inches wide, and 13.31 inches high, it fits easily on my kitchen counter without taking up too much space. The 56-ounce removable water reservoir is another major advantage. I no longer need to refill the tank every time I brew, which makes my mornings even more convenient. The ability to brew multiple cups before refilling is a feature I truly appreciate.

Exceptional Coffee Flavor

One of the reasons I love this coffee maker is its Thermal Flavor Extraction Duo technology, which ensures even saturation and precise temperature control. This results in a consistently flavorful cup of coffee, whether I’m using pods or grounds. I’ve noticed that my coffee tastes richer and more balanced compared to other single-serve machines I’ve tried in the past.

Easy Maintenance and Cleaning

Cleaning is always a concern when it comes to coffee makers, but the Ninja Pods & Grounds Coffee Maker makes it easy. It has dishwasher-safe parts, which means I can quickly clean the removable brew basket and permanent filter without any hassle. The included storage drawer for the brew basket and pod adapter helps keep everything organized, making it a neat and tidy addition to my kitchen.

Why I Recommend This Coffee Maker

After using the Ninja Pods & Grounds Coffee Maker, I can confidently say that it is one of the best single-serve coffee machines I’ve owned. Here’s what I liked most:

• The ability to use both coffee pods and grounds for maximum flexibility.

• Multiple brew sizes, accommodating everything from small cups to large travel mugs.

• The Over Ice brewing option, which keeps iced coffee flavorful.

• A large, removable water reservoir that reduces the need for frequent refills.

• Compact design that doesn’t take up too much counter space.

• Easy-to-clean, dishwasher-safe parts.

• Rich and consistent coffee flavor with every brew.

If you’re someone who loves variety in your coffee routine and values convenience, this coffee maker is an excellent investment. It outperforms many other single-serve machines by offering customization, strong coffee extraction, and easy maintenance. Whether you’re brewing a quick cup before heading out the door or taking the time to enjoy a carefully crafted cup of coffee, this machine delivers exactly what you need.

Final Thoughts

The Ninja Pods & Grounds Single-Serve Coffee Maker is a great addition to any kitchen, especially for those who enjoy high-quality coffee with the flexibility of using both pods and grounds. Its versatile brewing options and compact design make it a standout choice for coffee lovers. From my experience, this coffee maker consistently delivers delicious coffee with minimal effort. If you’re in the market for a reliable and convenient coffee maker, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

Top reviews from the United States

• 

  Meri H.

  5.0 out of 5 stars Coffee just like an expensive coffee shop!

  Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025

  Color: Stone

  The best coffee maker I’ve owned! Rich, strong coffee like a coffee shop. It takes its time and shows the progress of the brew being made. It’s a quality cup of coffee. Hot and amazing! Rich, bold flavor. Wow! I love the ice coffee too! It makes any size and is better than anything I can get in a store.
  The water tank in back gives this machine a slim profile. Love all the setting choices and sizes. Love the frother and the storage drawer for the pod holder or grounds basket. So intelligently designed.
• 

  C. Blaney

  5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, well-made, versatile coffee-maker

  Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2025

  Color: Stone

  I love my new coffee maker! I was a reluctant convert to single-cup coffee makers when my kids got me one for Christmas about 8 years ago. It was convenient, though, and once I found the gadgets you could use with real coffee I got used to it and even replaced it several times when they leaked and simply quit. However, when the last one died I was fed up and went looking for something different. The Ninja is great, smaller, brighter looking, bigger water reservoir, more versatile AND it makes great coffee! It takes both pods or ground coffee and supports a wide variety of cup sizes with a handy cup platform that moves up to keep the cup close to the nozzle and reduce splashing. I even like the little storage thingy in the base to keep the carrier and nozzle cleaner neatly stored. I've tried all the features and different coffee drinks (including an espresso-style one) now and love it! Very good price, too. I highly recommend it. One other thing, I recently got some small filters that fit the ground coffee permanent filter and they work beautifully. Best coffee I've made at home in years. Worth getting!
• 

  Amazon Customer

  5.0 out of 5 stars Love the iced coffee option and convenience of the small footprint.

  Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025

  Color: Stone

  This is our second Ninja coffeemaker, and we are addicted to the iced coffee option! Saves us money not stopping to buy at coffee shop and is quick and efficient. It uses K-cups and also comes with a reusable cup to use your own ground coffee. You need to manually fill the water carafe but that ensures I empty it out and clean it more frequently. Great machine with a small footprint. Easy to use and has signal beeps for start & end of brew. Has many cup-sizes and settings, plus dark brew, regular or iced. We've had the first one for a year without any issues and ordered this second one for the RV. Highly recommend this item.
• 

  P.J.

  5.0 out of 5 stars Makes good, hot coffee. Much better product than my last two brands of coffee makers.

  Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024

  Color: Stone

  I've used a Keurig & a Cuisinart for years. Both were dependable, but the coffee they made (pods or grounds) was always just "ok", and never really hot enough.
  This Ninja makes a far richer & hotter cup, and is especially good with grounds, which is what I most often use. It comes out of the machine at around 195F, and is around 175F in your cup when finished. Just right for me.
  It doesn't have a selection for just 'hot water', but all you have to do is put the (empty) brew basket in and hit 'brew' (You can also make a decent cup of hot tea by placing a tea bag in the brew basket.)
  I use coffee and chicory, which is already stronger than 'regular' coffee. For my first 'test cup' I followed the recommended # of scoops (3), which is probably on point for regular coffee grounds like Folgers, MH, etc. My advice? Use only 1 good scoop with coffee and chicory! It's definitely all you need for a good, strong, cup - and that was using the 'classic' setting.
  The 'rich' setting was too strong with my coffee brand (Cafe du Monde), but that setting definitely works as advertised.
  With the other maker brands I had to fill the brew basket, and the coffee was never strong enough. Not so with this machine. I'll save $ by having to use about 2/3 less coffee per cup.
  I like having the convenience of being able to use pods, when I'm lazy or in a hurry, but I really wanted a machine that would make coffee from grounds that tasted like brewed coffee, and this Ninja does it. Not to mention the pods are so much more expensive.
  I have the model without the frother, so I can't comment about that feature.
  The appliance looks good, has a very slender footprint (long, but skinny) and it fits under my standard kitchen cabinets, even with the 'lid' fully open. I can even fill it using a pitcher without having to slide it out from under my cabinet, which is really nice. It's close, but it can easily be done.
  I've only had it a short time, so I can't speak to how well it'll hold up, if it'll start clogging, etc. But so far, it's the best coffee maker I've had of this type.
  It takes a bit longer to brew than my previous makers, but as a result the coffee tastes like real coffee. It's worth waiting an extra minute or so.