Our Review
The Ninja CM401 is another well-rounded coffee maker that showcases the qualities that make Ninja one of the most well-known brands in coffee aficionado circles. The CM401 comes at a reasonable price tag and packs all the features you would expect from a Ninja made coffee bar.
It comes with a complete selection of brewing styles from classic, rich, specialty, and over ice. It also manages to brew cold coffee without the flavor being diluted in the process, a must-have for coffee drinkers who enjoy their beverage in both hot and cold form.
The CM401 coffee maker also allows for a total of 6 brew sizes from a single cup to full carafe. Additional features include a fold-away frother that can process both hot and cold milk into a smooth and creamy froth. This coffee maker ultimately does away with the use of pods as well.
The Ninja CM401 coffee maker captures the traditional feel of first gen Ninja coffee bars. It is a reliable and well-constructed machine that should deliver what you need. For fussy drinkers, it might take a bit to figure out the right measurements, but that is also what makes the CM401 special – flexibility in coffee flavor.
Choosing a Ninja Coffee Bar
Ninja has grown in popularity with coffee enthusiasts for a very simple reason: versatility. When it comes to brewing options, Ninja coffee makers offer 4 to 5 different choices for coffee drinkers. By default, Ninja coffee makers can brew classic, rich, specialty, and over ice. Some models also offer a 5th option called café forte. Let’s take a quick lap through each option to introduce each to newbies around here, shall we?
- Classic Brew – Balanced and smooth. This is the most common and sought-after brew by coffee lovers.
- Rich Brew – As the name implies, this brew brings out more flavor to the coffee when compared to the classic brew method. Richly brewed coffee will also maintain its taste better even when mixed with milk.
- Specialty Brew – Do you love espresso and other latte beverages? The specialty brew is the best option for you.
- Over Ice Brew – How about a refreshing cup of iced coffee without diluting its rich flavor? Ninja coffee makers are ahead of the pack when it comes to offering cold brew coffee machines within a budget-friendly price range.
- Café Forte – The final brewing option is the café forte. This one is a rather new addition and is found in newer Ninja coffee maker models. In terms of brewing quality, this option is designed to maximize the flavor of your coffee.
Ninja Coffee Maker Features
All Ninja coffee brewer machines come with the manufacturer’s signature Auto-IQ One Touch Intelligence technology. This feature improves the user’s convenience when preparing their preferred type of coffee. With a couple of button presses, you can choose the type of brew you want, how much coffee will be brewed, and how many cups will be served.
The Ninja coffee maker will make the appropriate measurement to prepare the best tasting cup of joe; all you need to do after is wait for the machine to finish the brew. This eliminates the need to make precise measurements of the amount of water each time you prepare coffee, which is an excellent feature to have in today’s fast-paced world.
The machine also comes with an alert that will remind you when to clean the unit. It takes that a step further by also having a self-cleaning feature that will pretty much handle most of the mineral build-up inside the machine.
Ninja Coffee Bar Buying Guide
Before heading out to your appliance store, here are some essential factors that will help you narrow down your choices when buying a Ninja coffee maker:
Know how much coffee you will make daily. Do you brew one or two cups a day or an entire pot for multiple people? If it is only one or two cups a day, then go for the appropriate model to save cash.
Do you enjoy froth in your cappuccino? You will be happy to know that some Ninja coffee maker models have built-in milk frothers.
How much space can your countertop afford? Fortunately, Ninja coffee bars come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Make sure to pick the right unit size.
Conclusion
Ninja is one of the most versatile coffee maker manufacturers to date. While their units usually do not have that high-end flair, they do excel in providing versatility and convenience to their customers. If you are looking for a modern top-tier brand for coffee machines, Ninja is undoubtedly a name you should check out.