Ninja Coffee Bar Vs. Keurig: Which One Fits Your Taste?
While most people are familiar with Keurig coffee makers, the up-and-coming Ninja Coffee Bar System by SharkNinja is making waves. As a coffee lover who wants to have a full-service coffee maker at home, you might be struggling with which one to choose.
In this article, we're going to take a look into each of these coffee maker products and how well they stack up against each other. In the end, we'll see which one comes out on top in the battle between the Ninja Coffee Bar vs. Keurig.
Let’s Take a Look at the Contenders
In the world of coffee, Keurig is a name that needs no introduction. They are known for making some of the most popular single-serve and one-touch coffee makers in both home and office settings, and since they offer dozens of different models, you can be sure that you will find a Keurig machine that will fit your budget and brewing needs.
Ninja has been slowly making a name for itself, particularly when it comes to making your customized brews at home. It surged in popularity after the company released its commercial where actress and brand ambassador Sophia Vergara (yes, of Modern Family fame) sings her praises of the coffee system. Comparatively, Ninja makes far fewer models than Keurig. They only have four models available on the market.
In this article, we’re going to compare the specs, performance, and value for money between the most popular model for each brand. For Keurig, we’re going to use their K575 model, while for Ninja, we’re going to look at the Ninja Coffee Bar.
Both models are advertised as do-it-all coffee machines that can make both espresso and drip coffee, making it easy to compare their various features, accessories, and performance.
Let’s dive in!
Pods vs. Grounds
The most significant difference between the Ninja Coffee Bar vs. Keurig is how they use coffee grounds. Everyone who has ever used a Keurig machine is familiar with their patented K-cup: a coffee pod that contains coffee grounds. These pods are designed for easy use – simply pop in a pod, choose your desired brew strength and size, and push start. However, the K575 can only be used with K-cups, which means that you will be limited to the flavors and brew styles produced by Keurig.
The Ninja Coffee Bar System uses grounds instead of pre-filled pods. You will be able to select your own grounds so that you can fully customize your brew. You can play with the combination of different blends, grinds, and roasts to produce your perfect cup.
In this aspect, we have to give the point to the Ninja Coffee Bar system because of the wider range of variety that you can enjoy.
Brewing Methods
Since the Ninja Coffee Bar System is advertised as a "café experience that you can enjoy at home," it should come as no surprise that the system allows you to experiment with different brews as well! You can choose one of four options:
- Classic – a balanced flavor of your brews, similar to what you would find in a coffee shop.
- Rich- a more intense and deeper flavor, designed for espresso and espresso-based drinks with milk such as cappuccinos and lattes.
- Iced- brews are designed to taste strong even if ice is added, and brew becomes watered down.
- Specialty/ Café Forte – brews will release subtle flavor notes.
The Ninja uses it’s Auto IQ One-Touch Intelligence system to scan your grounds and measure the right amount of water to achieve your preferred result.
Keurig, on the other hand, does not allow you to customize your brews as much. For the K575, you can only control the temperature, strength, and size of the brew produced. It uses the Keurig 2.0 Scanning Technology to analyze your pod and measure out the exact amount of water needed.
If you love being able to make your own coffee exactly to your taste, the Ninja Coffee Bar System is the clear winner. However, the customization features of the Ninja Coffee Bar mean that it is a bit difficult to operate. Thus, if you’re looking for something quick and easy to use, the K575 wins out over the Ninja Coffee Bar.
Brand Value and Customer Service Support
There’s a reason why the Keurig has maintained its status as one of the most popular coffee machine makers in the world: they have a trusted brand! Keurig machines are known to be strong and durable, offer great value for money, and come with a great customer support system for their products. Most of their machines have at least a 2-year warranty, and they even offer an extendable warranty for others.
Ninja, on the other hand, is not as well-known and popular compared to Keurig. While they have an impressive warranty policy that can range from 1 year to a lifetime warranty, you might have trouble getting customer support if you live somewhere without a SharkNinja local office.
When it comes to brand name value and customer support, we prefer the established and trusted Keurig.
Size, Weight, and Portability
The Keurig K575 is a compact and sleek package that looks great in your home or office. It can fit on any countertop and does not take up a lot of space. Considering its wide range of features, the lightness and size of the machine are impressive.
The Ninja Coffee Bar System does not shy away from its size and weight. If there’s one downside to this machine, it’s the space that it will eat up on your countertop. If you have a small kitchen or a small breakroom, you might want to think twice before getting the Ninja Coffee Bar System. However, for a large breakroom or even an outdoor lounging area, it would be a great addition. Find out more about keurigs.
Some Final Thoughts from the Earl
There you have it – a quick and easy breakdown between the top models of both Ninja and Keurig. For speed, convenience, and great customer support, Keurig is the top choice. However, for those who want to make their perfect cup of coffee, Ninja wins this fight. Whichever you choose between the Ninja Coffee Bar vs. Keurig, you can be assured in knowing that you’ve chosen a great coffee maker for your home or office.