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been in these shoes …my old coffee maker didn’t really catch fire, but it definitely died in a pretty dramatic way… and after using a few different ones, I’d say just stick with a simple, solid drip machine with buttons and a removable tank …those tend to be the least annoying long-term… sth like a [Ninja CE251 12 Cup Coffee Brewer](https://docs.google.com/document/d/12koC0j0kEEYYAMlhs_yreHHumkT_MbUSC-_fHnuqjyU/edit?usp=sharing) is honestly still a really safe pick, …it’s cheap, makes good coffee, has a removable reservoir…and doesn’t try to be fancy for no reason . If you wanna switch brands just for peace of mind, people also seem to like Cuisinart or even basic DeLonghi drip machines since they’re pretty simple and usually come with auto shutoff which really helps with the *“not burning the house down”*... From what I’ve seen on Reddit, a lot of folks still recommend Ninja or Cuisinart for this exact use…Personally, I’d avoid anything with touch screens or too many features, those tend to be more annoying than helpful over time. ..If it were me buying again, I’d just grab a basic programmable drip machine with buttons, auto shutoff, and a removable reservoir and call it a day, may sound boring, but it works and doesn’t try to kill you…
This is what I have: [Ninja Hot & XL Coffee Maker](https://www.target.com/p/ninja-hot-38-iced-xl-coffee-maker-with-rapid-cold-brew-cm371/-/A-90649436). If you don’t need the multiple cup sizes then they also have this one: [Ninja 12 Cup Coffee Maker (w/4 cup setting)](https://www.target.com/p/ninja-12-cup-programmable-brewer-ce251/-/A-76618536)
I got the Ninja at Costco. You can either make a whole pot, or make single cups with a k-cup.
Ninja CE251 with reusable filter and OXO burr grinder for me.
Ninja CE251 is my go-to. Been using it for almost 5 years.
Ninja CE 200 by a country mile. Why are you thrown off by the use of a #4 cone filter?
My pleasure! 😊 I've owned both the Ninja CE251 and the Bonavita Enthusiast--they both make great coffee! The Bonavita is fast and more compact than the Ninja. I also own that KitchenAid grinder--it's a great grinder, especially for the $99 price of the certified refurbished model. It's better than a Baratza Encore, IMHO--superior workflow and great anti-static performance. Grind quality is very good. It's just a question if you want a really nice SCA brewer now and better grinder later, or a good brewer (Ninja) and better grinder now.
No problem! ☺️ The Ninja CE250/CE251 is generally considered the best auto drip brewer under $100. You can get it from [Walmart for $65](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ninja-12-Cup-Stainless-Steel-Coffee-Maker-Glass-Carafe-CE250/997508948?classType=VARIANT&athbdg=L1200&from=/search). It does a very good job, and is better than many auto drip brewers that cost twice its price.
You’re welcome! The Ninja CE250/CE251 is a capable enough machine if you choose to dip your toes into better coffee and grinding whole bean down the road as well. There’s nothing wrong with taking baby steps!
Ninja CE251 if you're on a budget. For under $60 it's honestly hard to beat. Nothing fancy but it just works
Awesome, the drop 12 cup maker I bought last week isn't even on either list. :D But for under $100, the Ninja 12-cup is meeting our needs very well.
I'm a budget good-coffee person and use a K6 hand grinder and Ninja 12-cup Programmable. For something I can grind and set the night before, and wake up to hot coffee for my wife and I, we've been really pleased with it. It's currently only $69, but has the features people talk about here. High temps, nicely distributed water over the bed, down spout in the carafe and comes with a gold mesh filter that's easy to rinse out.
I’m perfectly happy with my $70 Ninja 12 Cup and it has an auto start timer. Use it every single night and it’s ready in the morning. Full 12c of water in the hopper. 70g of Lavatza dark roast from Costco. 90 clicks on a Kingrinder K6. Pretty good is good enough for us.
good call setting constraints up front i’ve done this exact exercise and it keeps this decision sane. If you want simple and reliable on a budget, [Ninja CE251 Programmable Coffee Maker](https://featherab.com/shopit?Ninja+CE251+Programmable+Coffee+Maker) is a safe default for straightforward 12-cup batches and low-fuss daily use. [Cuisinart DCC-3200P1](https://featherab.com/shopit?Cuisinart+DCC-3200P1) is useful when you want steadier extraction control without too many extra bells and whistles, and [Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Coffee Maker](https://featherab.com/shopit?Hamilton+Beach+12+Cup+Coffee+Maker) stays simple with enough capacity for your morning iced routine. Start with one small batch test each and focus on brew temp consistency, bloom behavior, and pour-off taste before adding more variables. i’d avoid the ultra-cheap no-name models here because thermal swings and weak components usually ruin flavor more than a minimal feature set ever saves.
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