Ninja DualBrew Pro review: A versatile coffee maker for easy specialty drinks and rich drip coffee

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If your coffee order changes based on the day, your mood, or the weather, you need a coffee maker that offers plenty of possibilities. In our guide to the best coffee makers, the Ninja DualBrew Pro is our top pick for drip and pod brewing. It's highly customizable, allowing you to use K-Cup pods or coffee grounds to brew single-servings, full pots, specialty drinks, and more.

I've tested numerous small appliances, including nonstop brewing to find the best budget coffee makers. The Ninja DualBrew Pro is my favorite versatile machine, and I appreciate its simple, modern design that works in any kitchen. Read on to find out why the Ninja DualBrew Pro is the best option for single-serve and large-format brewing.

Design and specs

The Ninja DualBrew Pro is a sleek black machine with stainless steel accents, standing just over 15 inches tall and about a foot wide. The touchscreen display and control panel light up once the coffee maker is powered on.

The dual coffee maker brews everything from a 12-cup carafe to a concentrated 4-ounce cup. You can adjust the settings to fill a large travel mug of coffee or make just a half pot. For single-serve drinks, you can use your favorite coffee grounds or the best K-cup coffee pods.

The 60-ounce water reservoir is removable; depending on your counter space, you can choose to have it in the back or on the right side. On the left side is a fold-out frothing wand, along with a toggle for the hot water setting. If you're making tea or hot chocolate, the hot water comes from a separate line, so there is no flavor crossover.

How it works

Brewing with coffee grounds

The Ninja DualBrew Pro is a drip coffee maker at its core, just with added bells and whistles. You place a brew basket (not a gold filter) in the machine before brewing starts. Brewing a standard pot of coffee takes nine minutes and results in a well-balanced brew. If the first pot isn't to your taste, try the rich or over-ice settings.

It is easy to select the precise size and strength of the drink you want. For a concentrated coffee similar to espresso, there is a specialty option that brews a strong 4-ounce cup. This has been my favorite feature throughout testing, allowing me to make a homemade latte with robust coffee paired and frothy milk. (True espresso requires one of the best espresso machines.)

K-Cup pods insert

To use a K-cup coffee pod, you slot a separate insert into place inside the brew basket. A key highlight of this mode is the ability to change the drink size and choose a rich brew, which provides a more robust flavor even from a standard pod. On the classic setting, I often feel like pods brew too light, but this bold option makes it more similar to a drip cup of coffee.

Many of the best Keurigs feature size and strength customization, so we appreciate that this feature carried over to the Ninja.

Programming options

With the programming settings, you can wake up to any drink at a precise time, whether you want to prep a whole post-dinner party pot or have a travel mug of coffee ready when you head out the door. The warming plate helps to keep a pot hot and can stay on for up to four hours before automatically switching off.

With all of these options, I did have trouble using the coffee maker at first. I needed to fully read the manufacturer's instructions to get the hang of it. Once I did, it was smooth sailing, but keep in mind that this isn't for someone who wants to push one button and be done. For simplicity, we recommend a pod machine like the best Keurig or something simple like the Black and Decker Single Serve Coffee Machine.

Cleaning

After brewing with grounds or a pod, clean-up is simple. The grounds insert can be removed, dumped, and cleaned either by hand or in the dishwasher, and the glass carafe is dishwasher safe. The system is also equipped with a cleaning cycle that helps descale the machine and remove hard water stains over time.

Frother and specialty drinks

The built-in milk frother folds out on the left side of the machine, easily accessible even while your coffee is brewing. You attach the included whisk frother to the arm. Since the frother does not heat, you can either microwave the milk first or enjoy cold foam over an iced latte. Once the frother is inserted into milk, you'll have incredibly frothy foam in 30 seconds.

Making specialty drinks is a choose-your-own-adventure. The specialty brew function will produce a 4-ounce cup of concentrated coffee, similar to espresso. From there, it's up to you to add flavors or foamed milk. You can prep a cup full of ice ahead of time with flavored syrup, brew straight into the cup with the over-ice option, and top it with cold-frothed milk for an iced vanilla or caramel latte. Or, you can craft a cappuccino-style beverage by frothing plenty of warm milk in a mug and using the 4-ounce brew option.

Ninja DualBrew Pro vs. Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

Ninja makes several other coffee makers, including the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker. This coffee maker offers the option for a full 10-cup pot and single-serve beverages, with a classic, rich, over-ice setting and a specialty option for concentrated drinks. It also includes the folding milk frother.

The key difference is that the Ninja DualBrew Pro allows you to brew with coffee pods in addition to grounds. The DualBrew Pro also has the option for hot water dispensing and a touchscreen design. Ultimately, the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker is ideal for someone who wants single-serve beverages but doesn't like to use K-cups.

Cons to consider

Overall, the DualBrew Pro's design isn't as seamless as I'd like. Swapping a larger piece any time you want to brew a single-serve coffee pod versus grounds isn't ideal, especially for people with smaller kitchens and less counter space. You'll always end up with a loose piece that doesn't have an easy storage spot. That's the trade-off in exchange for all of those brewing possibilities.

Another minor con to this coffee machine is that you have to pay extra for a reusable gold filter.

What are your alternatives?

At $180, the Ninja DualBrew Pro is a bit of a splurge, but it functions as a few appliances in one. For a more budget-friendly, multi-use coffee maker, the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew Trio offers the choice to brew with either grounds or K-cups. However, it's very bulky and does not have as sleek of a design as the Ninja. It also doesn't offer a specialty coffee setting, built-in milk frother, or dedicated hot water line.

If you don't want to use K-cup pods, our top pick for the best coffee maker based on testing is the Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker. It comes in at a slightly higher price point but offers a supreme brewing experience and flavor. It boasts a sleek design and can brew either a full 10-cup pot or a single-serve cup. You can also change the brew strength and temperature and brew using filtered water thanks to the built-in filtration system.

The bottom line

After weeks of testing the Ninja DualBrew Pro, I fully recommend it as the ultimate option for customization under $300. The Ninja Dualbrew Pro is excellent for those who love endless coffee possibilities, want to make homemade lattes, or for those in a multi-person household with different preferences.