Ninja Pod & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker

Curated from 65 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: February 17, 2025

Ninja Pod & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker

Brand: Ninja
Price: $99
Snoop Score:
7.6
Sentiment
7.8
Popularity
8.3
Technical
7.7

Snoop's Take

The Ninja Pod & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker is a versatile brewing machine designed to accommodate both coffee pods and grounds, providing users with a range of brewing options. It features multiple brew sizes and styles, including a built-in frother for creating coffeehouse-style drinks at home, making it a great choice for coffee enthusiasts. Consumer feedback highlights its functionality, with one user stating, "The frother works so well and has allowed me to make specialty coffees at home and they are better than store bought," underlining its effectiveness in delivering quality coffee. However, some users express concerns about the machine's size and setup complexity, suggesting that while it excels in brewing quality, potential buyers should consider their specific needs before purchasing. Overall, the Ninja Pod & Grounds Specialty Coffee Maker is recommended for those looking for a feature-rich coffee machine that provides excellent coffee and versatility in brewing options. With its compact design and positive user experiences, it stands out in the single-serve coffee maker category.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Single Serve Brewers

The frother works so well and has allowed me to make specialty coffees at home and they are better than store bought.

Positive Feedback

it’s 100% capable of bringing out the berry flavors in natural processed light roast coffees, and you’ll realize quickly that your brew quality is now grinder-limited where before you seriously weren’t extracting all the flavors from your grounds.

Negative Feedback
Product
7.6
Ninja Pod & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker
Busy Mornings at Home
3 / 10
Iced Coffee Enthusiasts
9 / 10
Office or Shared Spaces
5 / 10
Travel Mug Convenience
9 / 10
See how this compares to all Single Serve Brewers

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Good functionality and versatility
The frother works so well and has allowed me to make specialty coffees at home and they are better than store bought.
Let me know if you want to know anything else about it. Super happy so far.
What do you guys recommend?
Convenient for limited coffee consumption
I can't speak to its single serving option, because I use other things for that, but from what I've read people seem to like it.
Great iced coffee
Makes great iced coffee! Easy to setup up and use and the frother works great!
Versatile brewing options
Yeah I like the ninja cause I can do a pot of coffee or a large tumbler
it seems the k-cup pods are to blame. Some of them are just made like shit and blow out.
Compact design suitable for small kitchens
Why dont they make single serve coffee makers that produce enough coffee to fill a 16oz-24oz travel mug?
Easy to use with versatile options
Is the ninja coffee maker worth it? Thinking about buying the ninja coffee shop but want some opinions.
My parents have one and theirs is fine. They also use filtered water and keep it clean regularly.
Brews excellent coffee with multiple options
It also just makes good coffee, with easy options for a little more concentrated, or a little less.
Honestly I love mine. If I’m in a hurry or have my family over it gets the job done
Good temperature for brewing coffee
The drip is solid at 205°, which is on par with what SCA makers are going to give you.
Effective brewing modes for different tastes
What do the different brew modes of the Ninja Coffee Bar actually do?
It just depends on how long the coffee brews. The specialty takes the longest, and it’s the “thickest” (yes I’m sure that’s not the right terminology, but let be honest, I own a ninja because I like coffee and I’m not capable of the patience required to make an exquisite cup of coffee).
Easy to clean
Very easy to clean.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Durability concerns
it’s 100% capable of bringing out the berry flavors in natural processed light roast coffees, and you’ll realize quickly that your brew quality is now grinder-limited where before you seriously weren’t extracting all the flavors from your grounds.
Complicated setup and operation
We shall see.
Large size may be unnecessary
So think about if you really need all these features as this machine is large vs. getting something more compact.
Pods can burst and leave grounds in coffee
Overall happy with the machine, but playing coffee ground roulette is not the morning pick me up I was hoping for.
My Ninja can use pods or grounds so I just going to stick to grounds.
Limited cup size for stronger coffee
To have a decently strong cup of coffee you need 14-18 mL of water per gram of coffee.
Single serve are made for your 6 ounce cup.
Misunderstood capabilities regarding espresso
I think any “hate” just comes from the misconception that it makes espresso - because Ninja itself promotes making lattes and cappuccinos and such.
Cold brew functionality not meeting expectations
I'm not a big fan of the warm cold brew they make for that reason.
Skepticism about Ninja product quality
Ninja products always seem to have some kind of gimmick that sounds good on paper but in reality is much worse than whatever leading competing brand they're going up against.
They both look like they have the same functions (Ninja one might have even more) but coming from someone who might know a little more than I, which one would should I buy?
Based on how their air fryers and ice cream makers go there is a high chance it catches fire too haha.

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

Product NameImagePriceScoreCompareSee DetailsBuy Now
Ninja Pods & Grounds Single-Serve Coffee MakerNinja Pods & Grounds Single-Serve Coffee Maker$99
9.0
DetailsBuy
Ninja Pod & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee MakerNinja Pod & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker$99
7.6
DetailsBuy
Keurig K-Supreme Single Serve Coffee MakerKeurig K-Supreme Single Serve Coffee Maker$112
7.5
DetailsBuy
Horavie Mini Single Serve Coffee MakerHoravie Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker$39
6.8
DetailsBuy
Elite Gourmet EHC114 Personal Single-Serve Coffee MakerElite Gourmet EHC114 Personal Single-Serve Coffee Maker$19
6.8
DetailsBuy
Keurig K-Compact Single-Serve Coffee MakerKeurig K-Compact Single-Serve Coffee Maker$89
6.8
DetailsBuy
Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced Coffee MakerKeurig K-Duo Hot & Iced Coffee Maker$146
6.6
DetailsBuy
Amazon Basics Single Serve Coffee Maker K-CupAmazon Basics Single Serve Coffee Maker K-Cup$39
6.2
DetailsBuy
Keurig K-Slim Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee MakerKeurig K-Slim Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker$89
5.6
DetailsBuy
Hamilton Beach 47621 The Scoop Single Serve Coffee MakerHamilton Beach 47621 The Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker$38
5.6
DetailsBuy
Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Coffee MakerKeurig K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker$79
4.7
DetailsBuy
Keurig K-Iced Coffee MakerKeurig K-Iced Coffee Maker$69
4.6
DetailsBuy
Tastyle Single Serve One Cup Coffee MakerTastyle Single Serve One Cup Coffee Maker$45
4.0
DetailsBuy
CHULUX Single Serve Coffee MakerCHULUX Single Serve Coffee Maker$36
3.8
DetailsBuy
Keurig K-Express Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee MakerKeurig K-Express Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker$69
3.2
DetailsBuy
SHARDOR Single Serve Coffee Maker 2.0SHARDOR Single Serve Coffee Maker 2.0$59
2.8
DetailsBuy
Keurig K-Classic Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, BlackKeurig K-Classic Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, Black$99
1.2
DetailsBuy

Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Mention of grind size as a variable affecting coffee quality.
I think the grind would be the biggest variable.
Discussion about varying coffee maker capacities
The Bella coffee maker I have does that. It makes a 20 ounce mug from normal coffee grounds.
General discussion about Ninja products
I don't have one, but have a few friends that do and they love it and I enjoy the coffee when I go over.
I actually really love my ninja blender. I use the pitcher attachment and get great blended coffee out of it for work regularly.
Discussion about the extraction rate and brew time
the ceiling is much lower than manual methods, even for much better, more expensive machines.

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Personal anecdotes and experiences
Plus I read that bonavita and technivorm can be difficult to do less than a full pot, and the bonavita apparently doesn’t even automatically pre-infuse.
Really a simple coffee drinker but why not get something "better" as I'm working from home.
Tips on how to adjust brewing techniques for better coffee.
the MM has a narrow rectangular spray arm that doesn't evenly saturate the grounds without mixing, which could be responsible for your weak coffee.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Discussion about the importance of using good water for brewing coffee.
Getting great coffee from an Oxo 9-cup
Mention of alternative brands
Look at Bonavita. Fewer bells and whistles but better coffee.
Discussion around comparing Ninja with Breville espresso machines
We recommend first checking out the [Espresso Aficionados buying guide](https://espressoaf.com/recommendations) for some of the more popular machines and grinders at different price points.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Discussion about alternative brands
Just a heads up, the Braun is cheaper on BB&B and on the Braun website but doesn't have the "hot water" function.
Experiences with different coffee makers and their effectiveness.
My wife calls it bean-water. I know the MM is great at producing an overall balanced cup.
It's so simple even my Keurig-loyalist dad can make good coffee in it when he visits.
Comments on user experiences with Ninja products
I mainly use blenders for making whole fruit green smoothies and ended up with unblended bits in the Ninja compared to Vitamix.

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