There’s nothing quite like making coffee in your own home.

Why worry about take-out single-serve cups or bringing extra sugar packets when you can just pour coffee out on your favorite cup and enjoy? 

However, making the same old regular coffee can get dull, and most days you just don’t have the time to learn how to make a proper latte or cappuccino.

Some days you just want that specialty coffee right away.

Luckily, the Ninja Coffee Bar offers a solution to these woes by having standard, built-in coffee bar functions.

Pros

• Versatile, well-equipped, and user-friendly coffee maker.
• Has six (6) brew modes including hot, iced, and cold brew.
• Comes with a built-in milk frother.

Cons

• Takes up a lot of space to brew.
• No built-in heating for the milk frother.
• A coffee-serving as a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none.

Key Features 

• Water reservoir: 43 oz
• Cerafe: Either thermal or glass
• Weight: 11.4 lbs
• External Material: Plastic
• Coffee type: No pods or capsules, only ground coffee

Various Brew Sizes

The Ninja Coffee Bar proves up to six coffee brew sizes of 4.8 oz to 43 oz, which is perfect for varying preferences and needs.

This means you can choose that large cup of coffee in the morning, and then switch up to that small-sized cup of coffee in the evening.

1. Single Cup: 9.5 oz
2. XL Single Cup: 11.5 oz
3. Travel Mug: 14 oz
4. XL Multi-Serve: 18 oz
5. Half Carafe: 19 oz
6. Full Carafe: 43 oz

Multiple Brew Modes

The key element to the Ninja Coffee Bar’s versatility is the ability to automate five different brew modes.

All these coffee brew modes are specially programmed to fit into an array of different coffee drinks that will cater to your mood for that one cup; iced coffee, cold brew, or a standard single-serve can be selected.

While it doesn’t have an espresso mode, the Ninja Coffee Bar does feature something very close, if not similar to it.

The Cafe Forte is great for those who are looking for a strong, espresso-like coffee that you can then incorporate into other specialty coffee drinks.

Additionally, Ninja Coffee Bar can also create brews intended for cold coffee.

1. Classic: A classic, straightforward cup of coffee.
2. Rich: A thicker, richer texture than the classic cup of coffee.
3. Iced: Intended to be a thicker coffee brew so it can be diluted in ice cubes.
4. Specialty: A mode used when preparing for milkier coffee drinks like cappuccinos or lattes.
5. Cafe Forte: The richest texture of coffee brew there is.

Thermal/Glass Carafe System

One of the highlights of the Ninja Coffee Bar is its built-in Carafe System which can either be thermal or glass.

The Thermal Carafe System will keep your coffee nice and hot for up to two hours, as it features a 43 oz vacuum-sealed double-wall structure.

Safe to say, this thermal carafe can maintain hot and cold drinks – depending on which you like.

On the other hand, the 43 oz Glass Carafe System allows you to see your coffee brew as it comes out of the Ninja Coffee Bar.

To keep the coffee in the glass carafe hot, the glass carafe system comes with a warming plate.

Choosing between the thermal carafe and the glass carafe for your coffee is entirely up to you.

If you travel more, the thermal carafe is more useful because you can use it as a travel mug.

Meanwhile, the glass carafe is great for home use, and you can do better portions one cup at a time.

Milk Frother

A good latte requires a good frother and the Ninja Coffee Bar has two types; a mechanical frother and a hand-pump frother.

These frothers are a little different than the usual steam frothers of other coffee machines, as they don’t provide heat for the milk.

Nevertheless, these frothers will still get your milk frothy and make your latte a little bit more special. 

No need to worry about a flat, boring latte because these frothers can brighten up your cup of specialty coffee in a jiffy.

Ninja Auto-IQ Technology

This is by far the most convenient feature of the Ninja Coffee Brew machine because it basically does all the coffee-making for you.

You select your size, your brew, and then you watch as the coffee-maker Auto-IQ does the rest.

The Auto-IQ coffee machine portions theater from the water reservoir and figures out the correct ratio of your brew while you wait.

This is very useful if you’re making several single-serve cups of coffee for several people who all want the same exact coffee mix.

Fits In Any Home

The Ninja Coffee Bar is a large coffee machine but it’s pretty compact. 

It features a symmetrical, boxy build that you can simply set to a designated corner in the kitchen for easy access and organizing.

The machine maximizes counter space by making sure all parts are reachable.

This boxy build not only makes the Ninja Coffee Bar easy to use, but it’s also easy on the eyes.

This is common in most of the Ninja Coffee Maker models, with versions ranging in size while still keeping their compact shape.

Recipes To Try

Who is the Ninja Coffee Bar for?

Busy bodies and coffee addicts alike will love the Ninja Coffee Bar because it gives them instant specialty coffee with just a push of a button.

If you’ve ever found yourself craving coffee that isn’t an Americano, then the Ninja Coffee Bar will be a great addition to your home. Just make sure it has a spot of its own.

Potential Drawbacks

Instant coffee makers, especially automated ones that prioritize ease of use, can never be able to mimic the precision and skill of an actual barista.

That being said, while the Ninja Coffee Bar can deliver various coffee drinks, the machine’s built-in features fall short of customizability.

Some coffee enthusiasts may prefer richer brews, bigger cup servings, a larger water reservoir, or steamed milk on their home coffee makers.

If you don’t mind the extra steps, the Ninja Coffee Bar can be a useful specialty coffee machine.

The numerous features of the Ninja Coffee Bar are what make it a reasonable go-to coffee maker, but only if you’re not picky.

Also, the Ninja Coffee Bar can only make coffee over ice, and not iced coffee itself. 

Conclusion

Overall, this coffee machine is alright if you want to quickly appease those specialty brew cravings.

It prepares reasonably okay coffee – the type that you can get several cups of during an all-nighter, or when there are a lot of guests over.

The Ninja Coffee Bar offers a pretty decent selection and very convenient functionality.

Think of it as the coffee you can get at a convenience store – but instead, it’s from your own kitchen.

If you’re the type who isn’t so stingy about the specificities and technicalities of specialty coffee, then this machine is for you.

 

FAQs

Does the Ninja Coffee Bar make good coffee?

The Ninja Coffee Bar is an automated machine system that prioritized convenience and speed, which is why it only makes pretty decent coffee. Not bad, just decent.

Does the Ninja Coffee Bar Make Espresso?

No, but it does make something similar called “Specialty”, which is a built-in setting on the machine that makes thicker, espresso-like coffee brew.

How Good Is the Ninja Coffee Bar Frother?

The Ninja Coffee Bar frother is available in mechanical and hand-pump form and both do a good job at frothing up milk for your coffee. However, these frothers do not come with a steamer, so creating decently frother milk will require additional steps.

Does Ninja still make the Coffee Bar?

Unfortunately, Ninja Coffee Bar discontinued. Instead, they now have the Ninja Hot & Cold.

Does my ninja need a coffee filter?

The Ninja Coffee Bar comes with a permanent filter and so there is no need for a pod or paper filter. The system involved in making the specialty coffee ensures that the machine cleans itself, eliminating the need to use disposable filters.