VerdictAI
#4 in Best Coffee Makers

Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer, 2 Brew Styles, Adjustable Warm Plate, 60oz Water Reservoir, Delay Brew - Black/Stainless…

Best for

Best programmable

Amazon rating

★★★★★4.4(28,361)

Amazon aggregate — one input among many in the Verdict Score

Verdict scoreGood
79/ 100

Current price

$69.99

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Updated May 13, 2026 · 1 min read

Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer, 2 Brew Styles, Adjustable Warm Plate, 60oz Water Reservoir, Delay Brew - Black/Stainless…

The consensus

What reviewers found

Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.

The Ninja CE251 punches well above its $70 price. TechGearLab specifically called out its 'bright and balanced' brew and ranked it among the better drip machines they tested in the budget tier, while Coffeeness describes it as 'a step above other drip coffee makers' with a 24-hour delay brew and a removable reservoir that makes refilling painless. Walmart's verified-purchase reviews emphasize the same things: simple operation, durable construction, low price.

What reviewers liked

  • TechGearLab praised brew quality as 'bright and balanced' — uncommon at this price
  • Small-batch mode actually adjusts extraction for 1–4 cup brews
  • Two real brew strengths (Classic / Rich), 24-hour delay, adjustable warm plate
  • 28,000+ Amazon reviews at 4.4 with corroborating Walmart verified data

Where it falls short

  • Reddit reviewer flagged the menu as overcomplicated and the clock as unreliable
  • Plastic body — doesn't have the heft of the Cuisinart or Braun
  • No thermal carafe option; hot plate can degrade flavor over time
  • Cleaning cycle is mandatory and the indicator can be fussy

Across the reviews

Synthesis · not our verdict

The Ninja CE251 punches well above its $70 price. TechGearLab specifically called out its 'bright and balanced' brew and ranked it among the better drip machines they tested in the budget tier, while Coffeeness describes it as 'a step above other drip coffee makers' with a 24-hour delay brew and a removable reservoir that makes refilling painless. Walmart's verified-purchase reviews emphasize the same things: simple operation, durable construction, low price.

The interface is where it earns the 'Best Programmable' label — Classic and Rich brew strengths, a small-batch (1–4 cup) mode that adjusts extraction time so a partial pot doesn't taste watery, an adjustable warming plate, and full delay-brew programming. For people who set their coffee maker the night before, the feature set is hard to beat under $100.

We should note a contrary signal: a Reddit reviewer on r/carverscave griped that 'using it feels like programming a VCR in 1993' and that the clock drifts. That's one voice against thousands of satisfied buyers, but the menu system is genuinely busier than a Cuisinart or Braun. If you want something you can intuit in 30 seconds, look elsewhere.

Key specs

Source: Amazon listing
Feature 1
2 BREW STYLES: Classic or Rich, each brew is flavorful and never bitter with custom brew strengths.
Feature 2
12-CUP GLASS CARAFE: Brew small or large batches of coffee – perfect for day to day or entertaining.
Feature 3
HOTTER BREWING TECHNOLOGY: Delivers even saturation and temperature control for ultra-flavorful coffee.
Feature 4
SMALL BATCH FUNCTION: Ensure your coffee is never diluted when brewing a small batch (1-4 cups).
Feature 5
WAKE UP TO HOT COFFEE: 24-hour programmable delay brew allows you to prepare your brew up to a day in advance.
Feature 6
ADJUSTABLE WARMING PLATE: Keep coffee fresh and flavorful up to 4 hours.
Feature 7
REMOVABLE WATER RESERVOIR: Conveniently carry the 60-oz removable water reservoir to your sink for easy filling.
Feature 8
MID-BREW PAUSE: Pour yourself a cup before the brew is complete.

If the consensus convinced you

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