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Ninja CE251 Coffee Maker Review for 2021

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Drinking coffee is a regular part of a routine for many. Some drink it to relax their senses while others use it as a kick-starter. Being an avid consumer of coffee, you will need a coffee maker with a decent brewing capacity. 

It needs to have a durable construction to handle day-to-day use. There are two different brew strengths available with an advanced boiler. That can prepare a perfect hot coffee cup for you and keeps it out for longer with a glass carafe. 

Furthermore, the machine features a 24-hour programmable delay so you can have your coffee ready whenever you need it. Keep reading to find out more about all these features that Ninja CE251 has to offer.

Pros

  • 12-cup capacity with 2 brew strengths. 
  • Glass carafe. 
  • 24-hour programmable delay. 
  • Lightweight construction. 
  • Advanced boiler for hotter brewing. 
  • Keep coffee warm for up to 4 hours.

Cons

  • Not highly durable due to plastic construction.
  • No frother.

Things to Consider before Buying a Coffee Machine 

This 12-cup coffee machine is not going to help keep a cup ready when you need it but can also serve other people as well. You won’t have to go through many refills in a day even if a couple of more people decide to join you. 

If you are looking for a machine that can work in an office environment, you might have to go for a few refills if there are few avid coffee lovers around. But it still can do a great job to handle a bit of high demand. 

However, you will need to go for a semi-automatic coffee machine if you want to brag about your coffee making skills. A fully programmable or an automatic coffee maker will not work for you in this regard. It is designed for a drinker who just needs a cup of coffee ready when s/he needs it, nothing more nothing less.

Here are some important things you need to keep in mind when looking for an automatic coffee machine:

  • Programmable features. 
  • A glass of metal carafe. 
  • Carafe capacity. 
  • Easy to access and user-friendly controls. 
  • Removable water reservoir and it’s capacity. 
  • Good taste. 
  • Keep-warm hot-plate. 
  • Different brewing options. 
  • Easy to clean quiet operation.

Ninja CE251 – Features & Benefits

Taste

One of the most important things associated with coffee makers is the taste they can produce. If it cannot produce the right kind of taste, it is not going to worth it. And the thing about automatic coffee machines is they cannot produce a great-tasting cup of coffee. 

This is especially the case of the coffee aficionados who like to get into those intricate details in their final cup of coffee. You can achieve those details with a semi-automatic or a manual machine. A fully automatic machine is for the convenience of the users. 

And similar is the case with the Ninja CE251. If you are in a hurry and want a quick cup of coffee then an automatic coffee machine like the CE251 is going to be a useful option. But you will have to compromise on the overall taste that it produces. 

Moreover, this coffee machine doesn’t come with a frother. So, if you are looking to get that exceptional tasting coffee, you will not hit the bullseye. But for an automatic coffee maker, the CE251 by Ninja does a fine job. 

You can’t control many aspects of your final cup but you can alter the taste with the help of the coffee beans’ quality and the grounds’ coarseness. You will need a good quality coffee grinder to work with this coffee machine by Ninja. 

It will not create anything extraordinary for the high-quality coffee fans, but will not disappoint anyone who just needs a cup to kick start their day. You also need to keep in mind it doesn’t have any frothing features either. 

Design

One of the best features of Ninja CE251 is its design. Despite being a 12-cup coffee maker, it has compact features so it is going to be a space saver in your kitchen. 

If you don’t have much space in your cabinet or on your counter, this machine is going to be a good option for you. Everything is very easy to access on this machine from the glass carafe to all its controls. 

The control panel is very compact but everything is there on it. The display digital timer is convenient to read and so are all the controls. You get the option of choosing between classic or rich brew and can go for small batches of coffee (up to 4 cups). Run the cleaning process with just the push of a button.

Due to the compact footprint, it can fit in in a tight space. Most of the machine is made of plastic so it is not going to be that heavy either. It also means you can conveniently move it around if you frequently use it at different places. 

However, you will have to keep in mind that the lids of the coffee pot and the water reservoir are on top of them so you will have to be careful because under a cabinet it will be very difficult to access and use the lids. 

Here’s a video that lists down some of the top features of this coffee maker in a nutshell:

Brewing 

This coffee machine comes with Hotter Brewing Technology. It means it features an advanced boiler that can easily make a hot cup of coffee. The area also features a flavor straw that circulates the coffee during the brewing process to make sure each cup of coffee is as hot and flavorful with consistency. 

You can also use the delay brew feature to get that brilliant tasting cup and program it at least a day in advance. Apart from that, you can also pour yourself a cup during the brewing process. 

So, this machine has made the brewing process very simple. You can conveniently go for customized brew strengths. 

Classic and rich are the two options for you. And the best part is the flavor is not going to go bitter. The entire brewing cycle lasts for about 12 to 15 minutes. If it takes longer, you will have to run a cleaning cycle. 

Custom Brewing Settings 

The coffee machine makes sure the coffee always remains flavorful and is never bitter. There are two options available; one is rich and the other is classic. You can go with strength according to your needs and preferences. 

There are small batch settings also available that are there for you to brew a small amount of coffee and it won’t be dull in flavor as compared to a full carafe. Within a small batch, you can easily make up to 4 cups.

Convenient programming 

The biggest advantage of using an automatic machine is, it is very easy to program. And similar is the case with the CE251 as well. Ninja has made this machine very easy to program according to your needs and requirements. 

You can easily wake up to a delicious tasting coffee that you can brew at least a day in advance. It has a hot boiler technology that can warm your coffee quickly and it stays warm for a longer period.

In addition to that, the flavored straw keeps stirring and circulating the coffee inside the carafe to ensure that the coffee remains flavorful and hot evenly. 

That’s not all:

If you are looking for a cup of coffee right away, you can always use the brew-pause feature. You will only have to pull out the carafe and start pouring your cup in-between for a mid-brew coffee.  

Reservoir 

The coffee machine features a water reservoir that comes with 60 fl. oz. capacity. The reservoir is entirely removable and if you are a frequent coffee drinker, this might be the ideal choice for you. 

A couple or more of your friends can also join in and you won’t have to go through any refills anytime soon. Even for an office environment, it is going to be a useful option but nothing extraordinary if you are looking to meet the demand of a large office. 

Cleaning 

This machine is for easy and simple maintenance and cleaning. As mentioned above, the brewing cycle only takes around 12 to 15 minutes; if it lasts longer, you need to run a cleaning cycle. Learning this machine is not that difficult either. 

You have to pour in some water and press the button saying “Clean” to start the cleaning process. It’s not very difficult and you can get rid of the water from the reservoir by removing it easily. The entire machine is made of plastic and with a few accents of stainless steel so it is dishwasher safe as well. 

You need to descale your coffee machine after a couple of months especially if you use your machine frequently. It will also significantly improve its overall durability and longevity. Descaling is simple and you just need to add the descaling solution because of the reservoir and start the cleaning process. 

Convenience and flexibility 

One of the best features of this coffee machine is, it is not going to need much descaling because there is a permanent filter present inside it. With that filter, you are not going to need a lot of descaling, and a lot less maintenance and cleanliness are needed. 

There are different brewing options and you can also opt for different serving sizes as well. So you get plenty of options to explore and use them in various ways. Here is a brief video to explain it all:

It has a warming plate that can keep your coffee warm, fresh, and full of taste. 

After the warming plate stops its operations, the machine can stay on for the next couple of hours. With the automatic shut-off features, it will shut off the machine to conserve energy. 

Another convenience that this machine has to offer is the shape and design of the water reservoir. This reservoir is designed for you to conveniently hold it in your hands and take it to your sink for emptying it. 

Accessories

Your Ninja coffee maker also comes with a tablespoon scoop that attaches to one side of your coffee machine. This scooper is very convenient and allows you to precisely use your measurements for the coffee in each of your batches. Apart from that, you will also get a bucket that you will use in your coffee pot. This bucket is very easy to clean, and you can easily replace it as well. 

FAQs for the Ninja CE251 Coffee machine 

Is anything that comes in contact with water is made of BPA-free plastic? 

The boiler that is present inside this coffee maker is made of aluminum. Additionally, anything that is made of plastic in this coffee machine is completely BPA-free. 

Can I use a regular paper filter inside this coffee machine? 

The Ninja CE251 coffee machine comes with a permanent filter that you don’t need to replace at all. However, if you want to replace it then you can use a #4 filter paper instead of this permanent filter inside this coffee machine. 

Is Ninja worth buying? 

Ninja is one of the top-quality brands in consumer appliances. Its partner brand is Shark that sells vacuums while NInja sells kitchen appliances. In terms of innovation and quality, these are one of the top brands on the market today and they are well known for the resilience and overall durability of their products. 

Furthermore, these products feature the most advanced modern technology and come at very affordable prices.

Is Ninja CE251 a good coffee machine? 

The best way to measure the performance of a coffee machine is by judging its taste. While automatic coffee machines are not great in terms of taste as compared to semi-automatic machines, the CE251 doesn’t taste that awful. You might not get a frother in this machine to make cappuccinos and espressos. 
But when it comes to a regular cup of coffee the CE251 is certainly not that disappointing. However, it is not going to satisfy a true coffee aficionado. If you’re not a coffee fanatic and just need a cup of good tasting coffee and crack on, this machine is the best option for you. 

Conclusion:

Ninja CE251 coffee maker is a good choice because it keeps things simple and comes with a huge capacity. But for anyone who likes an authentic tasting coffee this machine doesn’t produce any useful results. 

This machine will work for you if you have a very busy schedule and don’t have enough time to spend on the intricate details associated with your coffee recipe. Your CE251 Ninja will get your cup ready in time or you can make it before time, gulp it and get back to what you were doing. 

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