Ninja Single-Serve Coffee Maker Review: Our Testing Team’s Favorite Single

The Ninja Single-Serve Coffee Maker stands out as our testing team’s top choice for a versatile, convenient brewer.

If you appreciate the ease of a Keurig but prefer using your own premium beans, the Ninja Single-Serve Coffee Maker is an excellent solution. It accommodates both K-Cups and loose grounds to prepare hot or iced beverages in moments, and it even includes an integrated milk frother for crafting lattes at home.

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The convenience of single-serve coffee machines is hard to beat. Simply insert a pod, hit a button, and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee before starting your day. It is the most efficient method for busy individuals who need a quick caffeine boost.

However, for those who have a favorite coffee brand, the wide variety of K-Cups available often cannot replace the quality of their preferred beans. This is where the Ninja Single-Serve Pods & Grounds—a machine compatible with both pods and grounds—proves its worth.

“Having the option to use a K-Cup or pre-ground coffee saves money and lets people customize their cup more to their taste,” says Sydney Manning, former barista and Editorial Coordinator on the Product Testing Team. But that’s not all this fancy barista-style brewer is capable of, and it’s why our Product Testing Team voted the Ninja Single-Serve Pods & Grounds our number one pick in our search for the best single-serve coffee maker. Here’s why we can’t get enough of our convenient morning sidekick.

The Ninja Single-Serve Pods & Grounds machine functions in two distinct ways. Primarily, it works like a standard Keurig, utilizing pods to produce a quick cup of coffee in seconds. Additionally, it offers a “bring-your-own-grounds” feature, allowing you to use your favorite pre-ground coffee to brew a personalized cup.

“Our team is a big fan of Ninja’s ingenuity in general, and this coffee maker is another on the long list of Ninja products we love,” says Annamarie Higley, head of the Product Testing Team. “It has a frother, cord management and iced functionality—all for a fair price.”

To identify the best single-serve coffee maker, our Product Testing Team evaluated 14 different machines in our lab. They conducted approximately 10 tests on each unit, brewing over 50 coffee drinks and gathering more than 450 data points for this analysis. The machines tested ranged from the feature-heavy Bruvi to the premium Nespresso Vertuo Plus. During our evaluation, we focused on the following criteria:

Setup and Assembly: Testers reviewed the user manual for clarity and ease of use. They then assembled and filled the machines, noting how simple the process was.

Specs, Construction and Appearance: We examined the build quality and aesthetic of each appliance, measured cord length, and checked the clearance height for mugs. Testers also documented the water tank capacity, interface buttons, and specialty features.

Performance: Testers brewed at least three drinks with each machine, utilizing various settings to understand the full range of capabilities. When possible, they prepared cappuccinos, cold brew, and standard coffee in different sizes using both pods and grounds. For simpler machines, they focused on brewing strong and regular cups of coffee.

Special Capabilities: For models featuring an iced coffee setting, we recorded the temperature immediately after brewing. Testers sampled each drink to assess quality and strength. We also evaluated accessories like milk frothers or on-unit storage.

Cleaning: Testers cleaned every machine, rinsing water tanks, removing grounds, and wiping down surfaces. We assessed the overall ease of maintenance and dishwasher compatibility.

Value: Testers compared the performance scores against the retail price to determine if the machine was a worthwhile investment. We also considered warranty information and identified the ideal user for each model, such as home baristas or those on a tight morning schedule.

To ensure consistent comparisons, all coffee drinks were prepared using Eight O’Clock Coffee medium roast grounds, medium roast K-Cups, and medium roast whole bean coffee. All tea was brewed using Twinings of London English breakfast tea K-Cups.

The Ninja Pods and Grounds coffee maker features an integrated milk frother for specialty drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. It offers a variety of brew sizes, ranging from a small six-ounce cup to a large 24-ounce serving that exceeds the size of a Starbucks Venti. Furthermore, the adjustable spout provides about eight inches of clearance, making it suitable for taller travel mugs.

The K-Cup setting, when used for a 10-ounce cup, provided a consistent stream with minimal splashing. The machine emits a beep once the brewing cycle is complete, which is helpful for those distracted by a busy morning. While the coffee was not watery, it lacked a bold, rich flavor, which is typical for pod-based brewing. Overall, it delivered a smooth taste that met our expectations.

We used pre-ground coffee in the reusable pod for the iced setting, again brewing a 10-ounce cup. During this process, we monitored the status bar to track the brewing progress. The cycle took longer, and the resulting coffee appeared darker and more concentrated, which is necessary because the ice dilutes the drink. Consequently, the machine dispenses slightly less than 10 ounces to maintain the proper flavor profile.

Finally, we tested the specialty drink setting, which produces a four-ounce cup. This serves as a concentrated base for specialty beverages. We frothed milk to create a latte, opting for a cold preparation to avoid heating the milk separately. While the frother created many air bubbles, this may have been due to our technique. The coffee temperature was 134°F before adding ice, which is significantly cooler than the standard coffee setting. Overall, we were impressed by this feature, as it allows for café-style drinks at home.

“No need to run to the local coffee shop with this machine in the house! This one does it all: iced coffee, specialty coffee and frothed coffee from grounds or pods,” remarks Sheri Kaz, our Product Tester. And she’s right—it truly is an all-in-one solution for budding home baristas.

Pros:
Multi-functional
Slim design
Frother included
Large water tank
Affordable price

Cons:
Frother isn’t as luxe as a coffee shop wand

While the Ninja Single-Serve Pods & Grounds is our top-rated machine, we still appreciate several Keurig models. We included a few Keurig options in our testing, such as the Keurig K-Elite, which we identified as the best choice for serving crowds. Similar to the Ninja, it features a large water reservoir and is reasonably priced. Although it lacks some of the more advanced features, it allows for size and strength adjustments, as well as hot water and iced coffee settings. Its primary limitation is that it is restricted to K-Cups, unlike the Ninja.

The Ninja Single-Serve Pods & Grounds is available through various retailers, including the official Ninja website, Amazon, Wayfair, and Walmart. Priced around $100, it is one of the more cost-effective single-serve brewers available. Whether you want a latte, a standard cup of coffee, or an iced beverage, this machine can handle almost any café-style request.

Yes! The Ninja Single-Serve Pods & Grounds brewer is compatible with both K-Cups and loose grounds, making it an ideal choice for those who want the flexibility of both options in one machine.

We appreciate both brands, but we selected the Ninja Single-Serve Pods & Grounds as the best overall single-serve coffee maker. However, we recognized the Keurig K-Elite as the best option for crowds due to its large water tank, strength control, and fast brewing capabilities. We also noted the Keurig K-Mini Plus for its variety of color options.

That honor goes to the Ninja Single-Serve Pods & Grounds.

After thorough testing, we are confident in the performance, design, and value of this Ninja coffee maker.

You can use any standard single-serve pods with this Ninja appliance.

Each test is conducted in our product testing lab under controlled conditions. Our Product Testing Team spent an estimated 30 hours on our search for the best single-serve coffee maker, including researching, sourcing, intake and testing the products. Our Product Testing and Shopping Teams have a combined decade of experience testing and evaluating products. As purveyors of everything from the best coffee subscriptions to the best coffee products, we are passionate about our morning brew. We also consulted Sydney Manning, a former barista, Editorial Coordinator and Product Tester.