If you and your partner or roommate can’t agree on whether you want pods or grounds, or if you like the flexibility of having both options then the Ninja® PB051 Pods & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker can’t be beat. The ability to brew either pods or grounds — and brew them both well — is not something you see in most machines. Add in the 4 oz. specialty option and the milk frother, and you have a machine that can do it all. Cuisinart also has its own K-cup compatible coffee maker, the Cuisinart Coffee Center Coffee Maker & Single-Serve Brewer, which also has a convenient side-by-side build. While its design just doesn't feel as sleek, it has two separate water reservoirs as if two coffee machines were combined together. Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System: our verdict To make life easier, the water tank tells you how high to fill it for each size brew, showing you the same symbols on the control panel. It also slides off the base to fill up at the sink. Don’t be afraid to fill the water tank up all the way, even if you’re just brewing a cup, as the machine does the water measurement when brewing for you. It's also pretty tall on a countertop, so you might be better off with a more compact coffee pod machine like the Nespresso Vertuo Next if you have low cabinetry. Should you buy the Ninja DualBrew Coffee Maker?

Ninja DualBrew Pro review: almost all-in-one perfection Ninja DualBrew Pro review: almost all-in-one perfection

I'd prioritize it for someone who's most likely to brew single-K-cup pods more often than 12-cup carafes. This is because the K-cup adapter must be removed (and stored). In the case of my family, who is utilizing the 12-cup carafe, more often than the individual k-cup pods, removing the adapter is both an extra step and required having a place to store the extra adapter. One of the most intriguing features of the Ninja DualBrew is the specialty brew style, which is meant to mimic an espresso for specialty coffee drinks. Using the Ninja Smart Scoop, I measured out two large scoops, as instructed, and placed them in the brew basket with a filter, like when brewing normal coffee. I adjusted the brew style to specialty, and the brew size was automatically changed to 4oz. However, this method didn’t stand up as a replacement for my espresso machine because it didn’t have a robust enough flavor, though the brew was stronger than a classic brew overall. The classic brew style tastes rich without being overpowering, and the over ice option prepares a stronger brew so it doesn’t get watered down when prepared over ice. Overall, the Ninja DualBrew Pro brewed a consistent cup of coffee every time, and you can turn off the brew at any point if you choose the wrong size. Cleaning And MaintenanceThe rich setting definitely amped up the brew strength. It does make slightly less coffee, however, the dial will reflect just how much will brew. As a fan of iced coffee, it was a nice touch to have an Over Ice feature when I didn't have a batch of cold brew coffee prepared. The warming plate turns on and stays on for two hours if you’re brewing at least ¼ of a carafe on classic or rich brew, and will be off automatically otherwise. The warming plate can also be turned on manually for up to four hours using the “Keep Warm” button at the front of the coffee maker for up to, and you’ll know the warming plate is on when the triangular icon at the base of brew is illuminated. The specialty brew is an ultra-concentrated 4 oz. serving of coffee designed to mimic espresso, and uses two large scoops or 4 Tbsp. While not quite espresso, it is smooth, bold, and intense. We probably wouldn't opt to drink it on its own, but it pairs nicely with the milk frother to create your own latte. The serving is not adjustable, and you can not brew multiple servings at the same time. This was the biggest pain point for me with the specialty brew because if I wanted to brew multiple servings of the specialty coffee for more than one person, I'd have to take the time for the brew basket to cool and clean the wet grounds from the permanent filter. You can also use a K-cup and choose the Specialty brew option too. After 3 minutes, it finished brewing and had a temperature of 110°F / 43°C. That was slightly colder than I expected, but that could’ve been due to the vessel I put it in. You can also use K-cups with the specialty brew setting, and it yields similar results. As someone who owns a Breville espresso machine and uses it regularly, this espresso-type brew doesn’t compare. There was no golden crema on top - not that I expected there to be. It also didn’t have the same robust, bold flavor I expect from espresso. Instead, it just tasted slightly stronger than normal coffee. However, if you're looking for a machine that does not require the extra step of removing and storing the K-cup adapter, we'll discuss some alternatives later. Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System: Specs

Ninja Single-Serve Pods and Grounds Specialty Coffee Maker Ninja Single-Serve Pods and Grounds Specialty Coffee Maker

Operation: How easy is it to use the machine? Are the prompts/buttons legible? If the machine makes a sound, is it clear to understand what is happening? However, the real star of the show is the control panel. The Ninja DualBrew has many more settings than your average coffee maker, so it may take a couple of extra minutes to get used to. After three weeks of use, I’m a pro. Cleaning and descaling: How easy is it to provide maintenance for the machine? This may involve anything from removing coffee stains to getting rid of limescale.

Knob to switch from coffee to hot water with Ninja Smart Scoop and milk frother (Image credit: Future / Danielle Abraham) The slim profile also makes it a no-brainer for small space dwellers. You can’t beat its space-saving ways. Is there anyone who wouldn’t like it? If hot steamed milk is critical to your morning coffee or you prefer a true espresso, then this might not be your machine. Adjusting the amount of time the warming plate stays on is simple. You just hold down the keep warm button with the dial illuminating the amount of time set. It can stay on for up to four hours and is adjustable by 15-minute increments. You can also opt to turn on the warming plate without brewing a carafe. I did this for hour four of my full carafe brew, and the coffee was still 135°F / 57°C. However, the plate will stay warm for over 30 minutes after you turn it off, and a light on the base of the brewer will illuminate to indicate it’s hot. It's no surprise that this Keurig coffee maker sits at the top of our single-serve coffee maker list.It works with K-Cup pods, which offer a dizzying array of coffee options, as well as specialty tea and hot chocolate options, too.Plus, it brews a batch of coffee in under one minute. Oh, and it's nice and compact if you have a small kitchen or minimal countertop space. It's well-suited for smaller sized kitchens that don't have space for two, three, or even four coffee makers as well as those that value a machine that counts drip coffee, single-serve coffee, iced coffee, and specialty lattes among its features.

Ninja DualBrew Pro review: an advanced pour over coffee maker Ninja DualBrew Pro review: an advanced pour over coffee maker

And then there’s the footprint. This slim machine barely takes up any room on my countertop, so not only did I get to trade in several machines for one, but I also saved space. Even the frother folds in, saving even more space. When you have a small kitchen, you know that every inch matters, and it feels like whoever designed this knows the tiny space life. Ninja's new DualBrew Pro is one of the most luxe options out there, with special features like the ability to brew a specialty brew, iced coffee, fold-out milk frother, built-in measuring spoon, and a hot water spout, all in a narrow, space-saving footprint. But let's be clear — it's big. The Keurig K-Duo is perhaps the first that comes to mind, straight from Keurig itself. The boxy side-by-side model has its standard K-cup brewer on one side, and a 12-cup carafe and heat plate for drip coffee. They both share the same 60 oz. water reservoir and switching between brew settings are as simple as selecting a cup or carafe. Why settle for a basic coffee maker, when you can have an entire caffeine system at your fingertips? If you’re brewing pods, you can remove the used pod from the Ninja pod adapter and then remove the adapter from the brewer. The Ninja DualBrew Pro is made with modular parts that can be easily removed, so it’s easy to remove Ninja pod adapter, frothing tool, and water reservoir for cleaning. They're all dishwasher safe, saving you from washing it by hand. How does it rate online?

A filter and K-cup coffee maker delivering variety to your brew

Overall, I found that the frother made cold almond milk creamer pretty bubbly and sweeter but not foamy, so this machine isn’t replacing my reliance on Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother for cold foam. However, this frother was much more effective with oat milk. The milk frother also won’t heat up the milk, so you’ll need to do that on your own first. Test 4: Hot water Beyond the Ninja DualBrew Pro, there are a few other options on the market when it comes to coffee makers with K-cup integrations. The DualBrew Pro appears to have the most options and versatility when it comes to brewing. It's an extension of the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker, which my family was using every day up until I unboxed the Ninja DualBrew Pro. On the first reaction, the DualBrew Pro looks like a high-end upgrade in a slightly smaller, sleeker bundle, finished off with a touch-screen display. Both offer several customizations from cup size to brew style with special conveniences like a built-in milk frother and intelligently adjusting warming plate. I tested the other two brew styles: rich and over-ice using the exact same settings and grind measurements as my classic brew. When using the rich brew style, it actually makes slightly less coffee, so my 8oz brew became 7oz. It took slightly under 3 minutes to brew and was 145°F / 62°C. After tasting the coffee, there wasn’t a noticeable difference from the classic brew. I ended up testing on larger size settings with similar results. At first, I grappled with the fact that you had to take the adapter out to brew a carafe, or put it in when you wanted to use a pod... the point of view changes depending on which brew method you use more. But, I found, you're likely to choose one option more often than the other as you settle into a routine, and while there are "side-by-side" options from Keurig and other companies, none of them offer the features and versatilities, or even the swanky looks of the Ninja Dual Brew Pro.

Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System review - Real Homes Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System review - Real Homes

Stylish and sophisticated, we have found in the Ninja DualBrew Pro a machine that seems to do it all. Whether you're tight on space or like the idea of a drip coffee maker that can do more than just normal coffee (and be good at those things too) the Ninja DualBrew Pro will be your countertop companion, with a narrow footprint. Cup options: Keurig K-Cup, Cup, XL cup, travel mug, XL multi-serve, half carafe & full carafe, plus four pod optionsFill up your favorite cup (or the glass carafe) with ice cubes and select the Over Ice button to brew. The cycle brews slower than hot and will start and stop for a short period before beeping to end. Ninja said this is to ensure all the coffee grounds are evenly saturated. I commonly used this feature with a travel-sized mug, and then would top it with cold-frothed milk. Divine! This machine doesn’t come with a coffee grinder, so you’ll need to grind your own coffee beans or buy grounds. If you’re brewing coffee grounds, use the included Ninja Smart Cup to measure coffee grounds and follow the guidance for the number of scoops for each brew size, which can be found on the handle of the Smart Scoop. Most reviewers are full of praise for this coffee maker. They love the ability to make drip coffee as well as use K-cups in a single appliance. Most comment on the fact that it keeps partners happy - everyone gets their favorite type of hot drink without arguments. Most users love the taste of their coffee and plenty of people think that toying with the different flavor setting has led them to get even more out of their favorite pods.