July 30, 2020
Coffee Advice

Ninja vs Nespresso coffee machines

Are you the kind of coffee lover who dreams of waking up to the smell of fresh coffee in the morning? You’re not necessarily into the finer details of coffee brewing but you sure do love the taste. Well, you may have already got yourself an automatic coffee maker to take most of the work out of preparing professional-tasting coffee at home. But which one did you buy? Are you sure it was the correct one or are you keeping yourself awake at night worrying about Ninja vs Nespresso? Well, rest easy friend because in this post we’ll highlight the differences, explain the benefits and try to help reassure you that you made the right choice.

But if you’re still looking for the best coffee machine for your home then you’ve come to the right place. At Bushy Beard, we are dedicated to providing coffee lovers with the best coffee-related advice and helping diehard coffee lovers find the best coffee machine to suit their favorite coffee flavors, brewing habits, and lifestyle.

You may not have heard of the Ninja coffee bar yet but we’re sure you must have at least heard of the coffee brand Nespresso. Both Ninja and Nespresso have various coffee machine models on the market. These machines are almost always automated, user-friendly, and hands-off.

So if you are a person who enjoys the taste of coffee without wanting to get your hands dirty grinding coffee beans and using a manual brewing method then these coffee brands will have a selection of models that would fit nicely into your lifestyle. Just be prepared to pay a bit more.

In this blog, we will be taking a closer look at Ninja vs Nespresso so you can determine which of these coffee brands will give you the best coffee machine to suit your personal coffee taste and coffee brewing habits.

Nespresso vs Ninja – what are the differences

Of course, the most obvious difference starts with the maker itself. But that aside, the Nespresso machine is designed for espresso-type brewing (the clue’s in the name). Espresso machines are great because, in spite of this, you are not limited to making only one type of coffee – espresso. Espressos are used as the foundation of a variety of specialty coffees, including coffee latte, cappuccino, macchiato, mocha, Americano, black coffee, flat whites, etc.

Nespresso has a range of milk frothers that can help you create specialty coffees from the comfort of your own home with relative ease. Don’t think that you are limited in your options here.

Ninja manufactures a wide range of kitchen and cooking appliances, including a range of automated coffee machines that range in price. They have models that make both hot and cold brew coffees or iced coffees that you can enjoy from home. Their Ninja Coffee Bar model can produce rich, full-flavored cafe forte and go cold with over-ice brews, hot cappuccinos, and lattes. The coffee machine includes a micro-frother, permanent coffee filter, a warming plate, and a recipe guide for various coffee beverages. The coffee machine has mixed reviews, with some suggesting that the coffee machine stops working after a couple of years, so if you are looking for a coffee machine with a bit more longevity, you should perhaps consider a Nespresso coffee machine.

To Froth or Not to Froth

Both Nespresso and Ninja sell coffee machines that feature a milk frother or coffee creamer, and coffee makers that do not have this feature. Nespresso also sells coffee creamers/ milk frothers separately. So it’s up to you whether or not this is an important feature for you. Are you the sort of coffee lover who will drink strong black coffee, (check out our blog on how to brew strong coffee) or do you prefer the milky, creamy latte-style coffees with extra coffee syrup?

Both of these coffee machine brands can provide that frothy goodness to your cup of coffee. Don’t forget to factor this in when you are weighing up the cost and trying to make your final decision.

Concentrated coffee Or Espresso-style coffee

The Ninja Coffee maker comes with 4 brewing choices: rich, classic, specialty, and iced. If you are a big espresso fan, then you are better served by buying a Nespresso coffee machine, as this will be able to deliver the best coffee espresso flavor, where the Ninja cannot compete.

Ultimately, a Nespresso coffee machine will be better at brewing a cappuccino or a latte. That being said, the Ninja Coffee Bars coffee machine does brew a strong cup of coffee, and the caffeine concentration gives you a smooth coffee that is rich in flavor.

Coffee Pods vs coffee filters

Nespresso coffee bar serves the coffee using pods whereas Ninja Coffee Bar comes with reusable filters. Which is the best method, and how do they impact on the environment?

Nespresso machines use coffee pods to brew your coffee. These pods contain the coffee for your brew, and a new coffee pod must be inserted into the coffee machine every time you want a cup of joe. I know what you are thinking… That is a lot of waste.

Incredibly, Nespresso has been making its own fully-recyclable aluminum coffee pods since 2010. This is great news for coffee lovers who are concerned about the level of waste produced in brewing coffee at home.

However, in order to recycle the Nespresso coffee pods, they must be returned to Nespresso to be processed at the company’s own recycling facility because the coffee pods are lined with silicon, which means they have to go through a bespoke recycling process. It’s a bit of a hassle, but at least with a little bit of effort, you don’t need to be concerned about the amount of waste you’re producing with each brew.

Now that we know that these are environmentally friendly pods, you need to think about the costs involved. Nespresso coffee is delicious, and the coffee pods offer you a variety of different coffee blends, coffee roasts, and strengths, but the coffee pods can be a bit on the pricy side, and if you are a diehard coffee lover who drinks multiple cups a day, you’ll find you get through these pods quite quickly and see the cost add up.

The Ninja coffee bar provides you with a permanent coffee filter, but you’ll need to sit a paper coffee filter over this, which is only usable for one brewing and then will need to be replaced. It is harmful to the environment too, as you throw away multiple paper coffee filters per day, and although these are cheaper than the coffee pods, the pods include the cost of the coffee, which if you are using a Ninja coffee machine, will also need to be bought separately to the coffee machine and the coffee filters. Using coffee filters, and pods does make it easier to clean your coffee machine.

Easy to clean?

Keeping your coffee machine clean is essential to its longevity and its performance. If you don’t show your coffee machine the proper love it deserves then you’ll find it will start to malfunction or produce sub-par coffee, and who wants that.

We have written a couple of blogs on keeping your coffee machines and coffee makers in good condition with a guide on how to clean them using home remedies. To find out more, click the link below:

How to clean a coffee maker using baking soda

While both the Nespresso and Ninja coffee machines are relatively easy to clean, as they both feature a self-cleaning program and use filters and pods to keep coffee grounds separated from the rest of the coffee machine, one still outperforms the other in the easy-to-clean category.

Nespresso machines are easy to clean because you don’t need to dissemble while cleaning, this being the only difference between the coffee machines. Both coffee machines feature detachable components that are dishwasher-safe so you don’t need to get your hands soapy to get your coffee machine sparkly clean.

FAQs

Can you make espresso with a ninja coffee bar?

Ninja Coffee Bar is not an ideal option to prepare espresso. You’ll find the coffee it produces will lack the espresso’s real color, flavor, and taste.

Is Nespresso better than Starbucks?

The taste and flavor of these two coffee makers are quite good. But personally, the Nespresso beats Starbucks in coffee flavor and aroma, as Starbucks coffee brewing is less concentrated and provides you with a less flavorful coffee cup. This really comes down to personal taste and preferred brewing methods.

Is Nespresso worth the money?

It will save you money in the long run if you currently spending a lot of money on to-go coffee from various coffee houses. A Nespresso machine is an investment, but it’s one worth making if you are a coffee lover who wants to enjoy specialist coffee at home at the press of a button.

Is Nespresso stronger than coffee?

Nespresso will make you a stronger coffee than your average regular cup.

How long do ninja coffee bars last?

From the information, we have found, it appears that the ninja coffee bar will only last you a year or two before it starts malfunctioning. On the other hand, Nespresso coffee machines should continue to brew coffee for several years.

Final Words

From all of us at Bushy Beard, we hope you have found this comparative guide useful and brought you one step closer to deciding what kind of automatic coffee machine will suit you best.

At Bushy Beard, it is our mission to give you the best coffee advice we possibly can. Check out the following blogs below for more coffee-related advice.