ConsFirst / Coffee makers / Compare
Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker vs OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on coffee quality, ease of use, easy cleaning. OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker wins on carafe & keeping warm, durability.
The biggest complaint about the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is stops brewing or leaks over time; for the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker it's owners say coffee isn't hot enough. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker | OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in coffee makers | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$$ |
| Type | Drip | Drip |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 10% | 22% |
| Overall score | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Coffee quality | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Brew temperature | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Easy cleaning | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Carafe & keeping warm | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 2.5 | 3.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $80 · $$ $80–200 · $$$ over $200. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
- Stops brewing or leaks over time
Reliability is mixed in Amazon's summary (1.5K mentions, some owners say it stopped brewing), and durability is a negative aspect. Wirecutter readers say their units died after 9-14 months or leaked from the bottom within about three years.
- Carafe breaks; screw-on lid
Amazon's summary says owners report the carafe breaking after about 10 months. Wirecutter disliked the screw-on lid with a built-in 'Flavor Straw', which is less convenient and harder to clean than a flip-top.
- Hot plate and interface quirks
Wirecutter found coffee turned a little acrid after two hours on the warming plate and that the machine doesn't remember your last settings. Serious Eats found its coffee leaned bitter next to Zojirushi's. A Wirecutter reader says the end-of-brew beep is loud and can't be turned off.
OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker
- Owners say coffee isn't hot enough
Temperature is a mixed aspect in Amazon's review summary (611 mentions). Several lowest-rated Walmart reviews say the coffee comes out lukewarm or goes cold in the carafe. This conflicts with Serious Eats and Wirecutter, whose carafe tests found it held heat best.
- Rubbery, chemical or bitter taste
Several 1-star Walmart reviews say the coffee tastes of chemicals, rubber or dish soap, and blame the internal rubber mixing tube. A Wirecutter reader says two units both brewed very bitter coffee. Wirecutter itself found the coffee pleasant but less nuanced than its other picks.
- Reliability and fussy cleaning
Reliability is mixed on Amazon, with some owners saying it stopped working after a few weeks, and a Walmart reviewer says it quit just after the warranty. Wirecutter says the narrow carafe needs a bottle brush and coffee gunk builds up in the lid's crevices.
Who should pick which
Pick the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker if
The best coffee under about $100
Filling the tank at the sink
Delay-brew mornings
Skip it if: You leave coffee on the burner for hours; You want a thermal carafe; You want something that reliably lasts many years
Pick the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker if
Waking up to coffee (auto-brew timer)
Keeping a pot hot for hours in a thermal carafe
People who like a clock and a descale reminder
Skip it if: You're sensitive to off-tastes from plastic or rubber parts; Your upper cabinets are low (it's about 17 inches tall); You want the most nuanced cup for the money
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