Several months ago, our Keurig was on its last leg and my husband was on a fresh-ground coffee kick. We had TWO coffee machines on the counter and I was done with it. So, I went in search of an all-in-one dream machine. It took some doing, but I believe I found THE best dual-brew coffee maker for every home: the Ninja DualBrew Pro Coffee System.
With the Ninja DualBrew, you can be your own barista. This machine does it all so there’s coffee for everyone and every situation. My family has been using this brilliant brewer since February and we love it.
In This Post
- Why Get a Dual Brew Coffee Machine
- About The Ninja DualBrew Pro
- Features to Consider When Buying a Coffee Maker
- Coffee Accessories
Why Get a Dual Brew Coffee Machine
Why would you want a dual-brew coffee maker? I’m glad you asked. The beauty of the dual-brew, aka two-way or two-in-one, coffee machine is you can make a single cup of coffee (or tea) with a pod or a pot of drip coffee from grinds.
This type of coffee maker is ideal for families, couples or roommates sharing a single machine with different coffee preferences. For those living alone, it’s great when you entertain because you can offer a guest a cup of Joe or brew an entire pot for company.
About The Ninja DualBrew Pro
Its versatile functionality makes the Ninja DualBrew Pro (Model CFP301) stand out. There were other dual-brew coffee machines I compared it against, but each one came up short in comparison.
The features that nudged me toward the Ninja were: it accepts four different types of pods (not just K-cups), a small footprint, the ability to move the water reservoir location, a built-in frother (I fancy frothing), a built-in scooper slot for its own dual-ended grinds scooper, it makes coffee over ice, and, of course, the great reviews.
Fabulous Features
Below is a list of the many fabulous features that sold me on the Ninja DualBrew Pro Coffee Machine, Model CFP301. I purchased my coffee maker from Overstock but included the best prices I could find from additional vendors below.
The Ninja DualBrew Pro Coffee Maker makes coffee from single-serve pods and drip coffee grinds. There are nine grounds brew sizes (Small Cup, Cup, XL Cup, Travel Mug, XL Travel Mug, 1/4 Carafe, 1/2 Carafe, 3/4 Carafe, or Full Carafe) and four standard pod brew sizes (6, 8, 10, or 12 ounces). Plus, it’s programmable so a pot of coffee will be waiting for you in the morning.
Choose from four brew styles: Classic, Rich, Over Ice, and Specialty for your grounds or coffee pods.
You can even brew a super-rich coffee concentrate that can be used to create cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, and other coffeehouse-style drinks.
The Ninja DualBrew is capable of brewing a variety of pods, not just K-cups. Better still, it makes coffee from a pod faster than a Keurig.
The separate hot water dispenser has two temperature settings, hot and boil, and is excellent for making instant soups, oatmeal or hot cocoa. This feature eliminates cross-contamination so you don’t have to worry about your oatmeal tasting like coffee.
One of several clever features is the single-serve cup platform. It flips down to raise your cup about two inches closer to the drip so coffee or tea doesn’t splash or splatter.
The built-in, fold-away frother turns hot or cold milk or milk alternative into a fluffy foam. Afterward, it’s effortlessly removed with a twist for easy cleaning.
We love this feature, and not just because frothing is fun. For some reason, frothed milk makes the coffee taste better.
A very thoughtful feature is the multi-position, 60-ounce water reservoir. It can be positioned on the side or back of the machine to fit your space.
The other noteworthy feature of the water reservoir is the shape of the built-in handle. It feels comfortable and secure in one hand versus the Keurig water reservoir, which I always had to hold with two hands.
The backlit display is easy to read and the functions are intuitive to use. Just below the controls is the drip stop. Slide it closed to stop the drip basket from dispensing coffee at any time during a brew cycle. This is a useful feature when you want to pour yourself a cup of coffee mid-brew or to prevent a pod from dripping should you remove your cup too soon after it stops brewing (me).
I am smitten with the Smart Scoop. A duel-ended measuring spoon with a small scoop measure on one end and a large one on the other. It cleverly stores in its own designated spot on the side of the coffee machine so you always know where it is.
The Ninja DualBrew Pro (CFP301) is easy to clean thanks to a clean function, dishwasher-safe parts, and a removable pod adapter.
The coffee machine includes a Keep Warm function, Delay Brew, Fold-Away Frother, Paper Filter Kit, 12-Cup Glass Carafe, Ninja Pod Adapter, and Ninja Smart Scoop.
Images from Overstock
Pricing
The best price I could find as of this writing is $189 (reg $230) at Amazon where the Ninja DualBrew Pro (CFP301) has a 4.7-star rating from almost 4,500! It’s also $189 at Walmart and on sale at Overstock for $230 (reg $250). As you know, prices change regularly, so check all sites for the best price before you buy.
Buyer Beware
There is more than one Ninja DualBrew. The CFP201 does not make over-ice coffee and does not have a built-in frother. I have and recommend model CFP301.
Features to Consider When Buying a Coffee Maker
- How much coffee do you drink?
- Consider the number of serving options, from single-serve to 12 cups.
- How often do you drink coffee? Only in the morning or throughout the day?
- If you space out your cups, say morning and afternoon, you should consider a coffee maker with an insulated carafe or mug that will keep coffee tasting fresher for longer.
- Do you want a coffee maker that is programmable?
- I want my coffee ASAP in the morning and program my machine at night so my coffee is waiting for me or I make a K-cup. Some people are happy to wait for their coffee to brew.
- How much counter space do you have available for a coffee maker?
- Make sure the coffee maker will fit comfortably in the available space on your kitchen counter and be mindful of how tall the machine is in relation to the upper kitchen cabinets, if any. You may need to pull the coffee maker forward in order to open the top to fill the water reservoir.
- Do you want a cold-brew or brew-over-ice option?
- I love me some ice coffee in the summer, so this is a nice feature to me.
- What’s your budget and how long do you want the coffee maker to last?
- If you’re on a budget and living on your own for the first time, you’re probably not looking to spend much or expecting the coffee maker to last more than a few years. But if you’re making a sizable investment, you’ll want your coffee maker to last a long time.
Coffee Accessories
Because I am nothing if not thorough, here are some useful accessories for when you’re busy being a barista.
For More Of My Favorite Products
Here are a few more favorite products I have, love and recommend:
Please let me know if you have or get the Ninja DualBrew Pro and what you think.
All items are in stock and prices accurate as of this writing.
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