Disclaimer: Please note that this article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of the links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please rest assured that I only write reviews for products that I have personally used, and I will give you my honest opinion on them. For more information, please visit my Disclaimer page.
The Ninja DCM201BK XL 14 Cup Coffee Maker Pro
I've been meaning to get a new coffee maker because my old one was getting a little too ehhh.... old and it was just time for a change. On the days that I go to work, I always just brew about 4-6 cups of coffee and I wanted something that was made for brewing smaller batches but can still do big brews when I'm at home relaxing on my off days! This is why I was looking at the Ninja XL 14 Cup Coffee Maker Pro because it has a small-batch option and a huge carafe for those days of relaxation!
Features
This Ninja Coffee Maker Comes with an exceptional 14-cup carafe which is great for the family or if you're entertaining folks that need a good pick-me-up. This coffee maker also comes with an XL Showerhead as well as a function called the Pre-Infusion Cycle which starts the brewing process and then stops for a short time and then continues, these two features are put in place for a more even and consistent brew and flavor profile!
The removable water reservoir comes in handy and I like that the coffee scoop has an insert on the very top so you don't have to find a place for the scoop. There is also an option for delayed brewing time which you can set within 24 hours so you can wake up to fresh brewed coffee every morning. The Ninja Coffee Brewer also comes with a permanent filter if you do not want to buy the paper ones ( # 4 paper cone filter)
Now let's go over the carafe, it has a large brew-thru lid which allows coffee to evenly flow into the carafe so every cup tastes amazing from the first to the last! It also has a locking feature on the top which is a nice touch. If you're impatience like me you can just pull the carafe out and pour yourself a cup and not have to worry because of the mid-brew pause.
Have you ever wondered how long that coffee's been sitting in the carafe? Well, they have a button that tells you how long since it was brewed (it's the alarm clock-looking button)! The last feature I'm going to go over is that the heating plate is very customizable with three different levels of heat and being able to set the hot plate to run from 0-4 hours!
The Good And The Bad
First, Lets go over the things that I found that I did not care for very much just to get those outta the way. First off I don't really like having to take off the reservoir to fill it up, maybe I'm just used to it but I prefer using the carafe to do it but unfortunately the carafe has no measure on it. That's kinda frustrating but you can work around it by using the measure on the reservoir though. Then there is the carafe itself I don't like the pour, I miss the spout that the majority of the carafe have and I have spilled coffee a few times using this one. I'm sure I'll get used to it with time but it's just something that bugs me right now.
The features that I have found that are a great boon to this product are much more plentiful than the negatives for sure! Firstly I really like that it has a small-batch brewer option and it gives you the ability to customize the warming plate from temperate to time. If you bump the warming plate timing up it's always nice to have the button to tell you how long the coffee has been stewing inside the carafe for sure. The coffee that comes out regardless of which setting you use tastes amazing which I think is because of the shower head, Pre Infusion cycle, and the brew through carafe all working together. The temperature that it brews in is very hot which makes a great cup of coffee. I've never had any issues with the # 4 cone filter folding in this coffee maker and letting coffee grinds get into the brew. With my old drip coffee maker that used the basket coffee filter, I always had that issue so much so that I started wetting my filters before use. The brewing system with the cone filters has not once let me down yet and that is a fresh breath of air because nothing is worse than taking a sip of coffee and getting all that grit!
Design
The design is very functional and yet very compact for being an XL 14-cup brewer, The Ninja Coffee Brewer is very slender at 7.87" in width which means it doesn't take up a lot of counter space. The stainless steel gives it a nice sleek appearance and the button layout is very easy to use. The carafe is rather big but fits inside the slender body perfectly so it doesn't stick out. It's perfect for those who are looking for a drip coffee maker that doesn't take up all that space!
Brew Styles
The Ninja XL 14 Cup Coffee Maker Pro has 2 brew style options and those are Classic and Rich. I tried them both out and I feel like the classic is more up my alley. The classic is more mellow, smooth, and crisp while the Rich I find more robust and bolder. So honestly it really comes down to what you like in your coffee a swift kick in the rear or a nice mellow smoothness.
Cleaning Cycle
This Ninja comes with a cleaning cycle which is a nice mode to have in a brewer. The manual says you can either use a descaling solutions made for coffee brewers or if you don't want to use that you can use a mix of white vinegar and water. Once you fill the reservoir with either one you hit the clean button which takes about an hour to go through the cycle. The next step is to pour out the carafe and then clean the reservoir. Add clean water to it but do not exceed the max fill line and run it on classic brew cycle to clean out the system. Then I would clean the removable brew basket and the carafe so there is no residue left to change the flavor of your next brew! To find out more information on the clean cycle look at the manual that comes with it!
Conclusion
The Ninja XL 14 Cup Coffee Maker Pro is a great coffee maker that will meet your needs for drip coffee and then some. Just like most things, there are some negatives but most of the ones that I found can be easily overcome and the positives definitely win out. So if you're looking for a great sleek and slender coffee maker with the ability to make small batches of coffee just as well as large amounts. A coffee maker that is great at what it does and that is making a great cup of joe look no further than The Ninja XL 14 Cup Coffee Maker Pro
Disclaimer:
All articles on the website from reviews to information are for entertainment purposes only and not advice from professionals or experts. These are my views and opinions and the information given is accurate to the best of my abilities and as such may have errors, mistakes, and/or missing some key information. These reviews and information are my opinions and do not reflect the opinions of those I may be affiliated with. For more information please visit Disclaimer Page.
For more Reviews on products click on Product Reviews
Comments