I Replaced My Old Keurig with the Ninja Pods and Grounds Coffee Maker, and as an Iced Coffee Addict, I Couldn’t Be More Pleased

As its name suggests, this nifty appliance can make a cup of joe from both coffee grounds and pods—the latter being a must for my family after years of relying on the simplicity (and instant gratification) of using a Keurig. And yes, the Ninja single-serve is compatible with standard K-Cups. Now, while this particular point of versatility is a big draw for most people, what really sold me was, of course, the fact that it features a brew over ice function, which is designed to deliver “freshly brewed iced coffee that is not watered down” (per the user’s manual). But that’s not all. The Ninja offers four brewing styles in total—in addition to over ice, there’s classic (self-explanatory), rich (meant to intensify the flavor) and specialty (a 4-ounce concentrated brew for espresso and specialty sips like cappuccinos and lattes).

It also offers an impressive range of brew volumes via its 56-ounce water reservoir, attached at the back. There’s the 4-ounce specialty brew, along with options for 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, 18- and 24-ounce cups—if you’re using coffee grounds, that is. If you’re using a coffee pod, you can only choose up to 12 ounces (the larger sizes actually won’t light up on the display). This is fine by me, since it prevents the possibility of getting a yucky, watered-down sip.

Lastly, this model of the Ninja Pods and Grounds also comes with an attached frother whisk, which swivels out from one side and starts whisking with a press of a button. While I’m a black coffee drinker all the way, I’ve had plenty of fun using it to make foam toppers for my friends and family.

Fast Facts

• Modes: classic, rich, over ice, specialty
• Capacity: 56 ounces
• Brew Volume: up to 24 ounces
• Pod Compatibility: K-Cups

First things first, I took note of the appliance’s assembly process, considering the ease of setup and how long it took between getting it out of the box and getting it to make my first brew (spoiler alert: about 20 minutes).

Then, over the course of three weeks, I tested the machine by using it to make classic brews, rich brews, specialty brews and, no surprise here, a ton of over-ice brews, alternating between K-Cups and coffee grounds to get a feel (well, taste) of everything this baby has to offer. As I mentioned, I’ve also used the frother attachment to whisk up milk to foamy, fluffy perfection to top drinks.

During this period, I have cleaned most of the machine’s removable parts and accessories multiple times, including the water reservoir, brew basket, smart scoop, coffee ground filter insert, pod adapter insert, frother whisk and cup tray, all of which are dishwasher-safe but just as easy to wash by hand.

Everything about this coffee maker is user-friendly and intuitive. The initial setup is quick and simple (all you have to do is run a 24-ounce brew cycle using only water to get it primed), and the light-up display panel on the top is clear and easy to read. To choose between size and brew settings, you press the button for each until you land on your selection. The machine senses whether you’ve put in the pod adapter or the coffee ground filter insert, so it lights up either a coffee bean or pod cup on the display, and automatically gives you the right volume options.

Aesthetically, this guy is shiny, sleek and super slim. Because the water reservoir is attached at the back, it is a bit longer, but it takes up a lot less space widthwise than my old, bulky Keurig. For someone with a small Brooklyn kitchen, getting that bit of counter space back is a plus. I also love that it has built-in storage and organizational features—for example, there’s a drawer at the bottom that stores whichever filter insert you’re not using, while the included coffee ground scooper clicks into a designated hook on the side of the machine so it’s always within reach.

As far as I can tell, all of the Ninja’s brew modes do what they say they do. The rich setting creates a flavorful, and visually deeper and darker cup than the mild-yet-balanced classic (as you can see in the photos below—the rich brew is on the left), while the specialty setting provides a small, more potent sip.

While this simple and straightforward coffee maker may not have a ton of bells and whistles, it certainly offers plenty of functionality for its size and price point. My fellow iced coffee loyalists will appreciate the quality of its over-ice brews, while fancy coffee drinkers will no doubt have a blast frothing their milk for luxurious lattes and other specialty drinks. And you just can’t beat the fact that it uses both pods and grounds. All that’s to say, I think it’s absolutely worth upgrading to if you’re in the market for a new single-serve.