Ninja Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Brewer

3.8

(7)

Verdict

A strong budget-friendly 12-cup drip brewer for households or small groups that want simple controls, programmable keep-warm, and a consistently good “Rich” brew. Expect some fit-and-finish quirks (drippy spout, lid annoyance) and only average filtering, but the value-for-money remains the main reason to buy.

Pros

Scoop-storage convenience 5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 5.0
Value & Price 4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.8
Overall user experience 4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.3

Overall usability is praised for transparent, button-driven controls and a convenient removable reservoir; the experience stays beginner-friendly, though users are advised to pay attention to beeps/indicator lights and expect a few minor quirks like dripping and lid fussiness.
Capacity 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.2

This brewer is positioned as a true crowd-pleaser, centered on a full 12-cup output with a large 60-oz glass carafe for serving groups rather than specialty single-serve flexibility.
Water system, maintenance & descaling 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.2
Design, ergonomics & footprint 4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 7 reviews 4.2
Brewing performance & consistency 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.1

Reviews describe a consistently enjoyable cup with the Rich mode strongly recommended; the longer brew cycle is framed as helping thorough infusion, with heat and flavor staying balanced through the last pour, aided by the carafe’s flavor-straw circulation.
Assembly & Setup 4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.1
Accuracy of marketing claims 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0

Marketing around delivering a properly hot cup largely held up in testing, with brew water observed around 200°F and generally consistent temperature regulation during brewing.
Cable management convenience 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0

A rear cord storage compartment helps keep the countertop tidy and improves day-to-day convenience.
Cup, tray & carafe handling 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 4.0
Accessories 4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.0

Accessories are basic but practical: an included permanent filter and an integrated measuring scoop cover essentials, while the carafe’s flavor-straw is highlighted as a functional add-on; compared with newer models, there are fewer extras in the box.
Heating-element power 3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 6 reviews 3.8

Heating performance is mixed: the keep-warm system avoids scorching the coffee over hours, but heat retention lags some competitors, with coffee dropping to around 159°F after a couple of hours.
Filter 3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 3.6

The included permanent gold-tone filter keeps day-to-day brewing simple, but filtering performance is criticized as subpar in this review, making the filtration setup a notable weak point despite otherwise good brew results.
Warranty & Customer support 3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.5

Cons

Pot function 3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 3.5

The warming plate is programmable and precise, with keep-warm duration adjustable up to four hours; daily use is straightforward, with a reminder to let the plate cool before cleaning around it.
Build quality & durability 2.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 2.9
Design flaws 2.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 2.7

Key drawbacks called out include slow full-pot brew times, the lack of a thermal carafe (it relies on a glass carafe and hot plate), and only moderate heat retention on keep-warm despite avoiding burnt flavors.
Recognition & certifications 2.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.5

The CE251 is explicitly not SCA certified, with the review citing an approximately 15-minute full-pot cycle that exceeds SCA time guidelines and attributing the longer process to a pre-infusion stage.
Speed & time-to-cup 2.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 2.4