Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer, 2 Brew Styles, Adjustable Warm Plate, 60oz Water Reservoir, Delay Brew - Black/Stainless…
Best for
Best smart drip
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Current price
$89.99
Updated Jun 27, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
11 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Ninja CE251 12-Cup Programmable is one of the better-tasting affordable drip machines. The high-trust testing site techgearlab.com is notably warm on it, saying it "brews bright and balanced coffee" that earns an "Ahh" after the first sip, and its Classic vs. Rich brew-strength options plus small-batch mode draw praise across YouTube hands-on reviews and r/BuyItForLife, where one user notes it heats water to just above 200°F with an adjustable warming plate.
What reviewers liked
- High-trust techgearlab.com praises "bright and balanced" brew quality
- Classic/Rich brew-strength settings and small-batch mode add flexibility
- Strong verified-purchase base (4.4 across 28,000+) and r/BuyItForLife temperature praise
Where it falls short
- r/carverscave reports the clock/display element burning out within a year
- Retailer feedback aggregated by Target described as mixed
- No WiFi/app; "smart" means scheduling and strength settings only
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Across the reviewers we read, the Ninja CE251 12-Cup Programmable is one of the better-tasting affordable drip machines. The high-trust testing site techgearlab.com is notably warm on it, saying it "brews bright and balanced coffee" that earns an "Ahh" after the first sip, and its Classic vs. Rich brew-strength options plus small-batch mode draw praise across YouTube hands-on reviews and r/BuyItForLife, where one user notes it heats water to just above 200°F with an adjustable warming plate.
The disagreements are about longevity and polish. An r/carverscave owner running one for years reports the clock/display element burned out early, disabling delay-brew, and Target's aggregated guest feedback is described as "mixed." As with the other drips, the smart features here are scheduling and brew-strength rather than connectivity.
For buyers who want better-than-average drip flavor with delay brew and a removable reservoir at a mid-budget price, the consensus is favorable, with durability of the display being the main watch-out.
- 2 Brew Styles
- Classic or Rich, each brew is flavorful and never bitter with custom brew strengths.
- 12-Cup Glass Carafe
- Brew small or large batches of coffee – perfect for day to day or entertaining.
- Hotter Brewing Technology
- Delivers even saturation and temperature control for ultra-flavorful coffee.
- Small Batch Function
- Ensure your coffee is never diluted when brewing a small batch (1-4 cups).
- Wake Up To Hot Coffee
- 24-hour programmable delay brew allows you to prepare your brew up to a day in advance.
- Adjustable Warming Plate
- Keep coffee fresh and flavorful up to 4 hours.
- Removable Water Reservoir
- Conveniently carry the 60-oz removable water reservoir to your sink for easy filling.
- Mid-Brew Pause
- Pour yourself a cup before the brew is complete.
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Works great honestly. The only thing is that the clock element started burning out early, after 1 year, so the time is unreadable and thus delay ...
8 out of 10 times it has blown up the pod. It is super slow brewing as a regular coffee maker. I would recommend this machine to anyone.
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“Ninja 12” · Cup Programmable Coffee Maker Review
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