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We’ve been using this Ninja coffee maker for about a year, and I still like the coffee it makes. I usually drink black coffee, and taste is the main reason the machine has worked well for me. Even Folgers tastes less bitter than I normally expect when I brew it in this machine.
The CFN601 handles both ground coffee and compatible espresso capsules. According to the seller listing, the ground-coffee side offers up to nine sizes, ranging from a single cup or travel mug to a 12-cup carafe. The listed brew styles are Classic, Rich, and Over Ice. I normally make a larger amount, but there is also a platform that supports a regular coffee cup when brewing a smaller serving.
The removable water reservoir is easy for me to handle. It has an area where I can place my fingers for a secure grip, and a slot helps me line it up when returning it to the machine. I demonstrated filling it with filtered water before making a capsule drink.
Using a capsule is straightforward. I place it in the capsule compartment, close the lid, choose a drink, and press Start Brew. The seller lists three capsule settings: Espresso, Lungo, and Over Ice. I usually choose Lungo. In my demonstration, the machine heated the water, brewed into a clear cup, and produced a drink with visible layers and a frothy top.
After brewing, lifting the capsule handle drops the used capsule into a removable container. I can then pull out that container and empty it into the trash. The removable pieces shown in the video can also be washed. There is a small drip tray beneath the cup area, which we clean periodically.
The front controls may look complicated at first, but I find them easy to operate. For ground coffee, I select that side, rotate the control to the desired brew size, and press Start Brew. The brew-style button cycles through Classic, Rich, and Over Ice. On the capsule side, I can select Espresso, Lungo, or Over Ice. I can also cancel a selection with the power button.
There is a delay function for scheduling ground coffee. The process shown involves setting the clock, selecting Delay, choosing the desired time and brew size, and pressing Start Brew. A measuring spoon stores on the side of the machine, where the markings provide guidance for different brew sizes and scoop amounts.
The machine also has a fold-away frother. The seller describes it as a built-in frother for milk drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes. We rarely use it because I drink my coffee black, so I cannot offer a detailed assessment of milk texture or frothing performance. I did show how the attachment twists off for rinsing, reattaches, and folds against the machine when it is not needed.
For my routine, the main advantages are the coffee flavor, the range of serving options, and the ability to switch between a pot of ground coffee and a capsule drink. My experience supports those practical points, while the seller’s broader performance claims, including its description of a 19-bar pressure system and Barista Plus Technology, were not independently tested for this review.