How to Properly Clean Your Ninja Coffee Maker

If you're here, chances are you've dreamed of enjoying café-quality iced coffees, lattes, macchiatos, and cappuccinos from the comfort of your own home. To make that happen, you upgraded to a coffee maker packed with features, like the Ninja® Specialty Coffee Maker or the Ninja® DualBrew Pro Specialty System.

But then, one day, your drinks taste off, and you're puzzled. The answer? It's time to clean your Ninja® Coffee Maker. Follow our guide below to discover how to properly clean this popular appliance and how to maintain its cleanliness for a longer-lasting performance.

How Often Should You Clean Your Ninja Coffee Maker?

After each use, discard the coffee grounds or pod. Rinse and wash the carafe, reusable filter, and milk frother whisk with warm, soapy water. Additionally, empty and wash the water reservoir weekly with warm, soapy water, or simply place it in the dishwasher for convenience.

Regular descaling is crucial for your coffee maker's performance. Aim to descale at least once a month to eliminate mineral buildup from water and the coffee oils that accumulate on the parts, which can negatively affect the flavor. Luckily, both the Ninja® Specialty Coffee Maker and Ninja® DualBrew Pro Specialty System feature buttons or screens that light up when it's time for a thorough cleaning and descaling.

What You'll Need

Tools and Equipment

Cleaning Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions

How to Properly Clean Your Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

Ninja offers a variety of specialty coffee makers, all of which can be cleaned by following these simple steps.

Clean Your Coffee Maker After Every Brew

• Allow the coffee maker to cool after brewing, then remove and dispose of the paper filter and coffee grounds.
• If using a permanent filter, empty the grounds and clean the filter with warm, soapy water.
• After each use, wash the milk frother whisk (if included) with warm, soapy water, or place it on the top rack of the dishwasher.
• Use a bottle brush or sponge to clean the carafe and lid with warm, soapy water.

Perform a Weekly Cleaning

• Empty the water reservoir and clean it thoroughly with warm, soapy water, or place it upright on the bottom rack of the dishwasher with the opening facing down.
• If you haven't cleaned the carafe after each brew, give it a thorough wash to remove any lingering coffee oils that might go rancid over time.
• Wipe down the main unit with a damp microfiber cloth to remove any splashes or spills.

Descaling Your Coffee Maker

• When the CLEAN button (located on the lower left of the control panel) lights up, it’s time to descale your coffee maker.
• Select the Full Carafe option and position the carafe below the brew basket.
• Pour 2 cups (16 ounces) of distilled white vinegar into the empty water reservoir, then top it off with distilled water to the Max Fill line.
• Press the CLEAN button. The cleaning cycle lasts approximately 60 minutes and will finish when the CLEAN light turns off.
• Once the cycle is done, empty the carafe and place it back under the brew basket.
• Refill the water reservoir to the Max Fill line with distilled water and run another Full Carafe brew cycle.
• When the cycle finishes, discard the water, wash the carafe with warm, soapy water, and rinse thoroughly before brewing a fresh pot of coffee.

How to Clean the Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System

The cleaning process for the DualBrew Pro System closely mirrors the steps outlined above, but with a few extra instructions to ensure thorough maintenance.

Clean Your Coffee Maker After Every Brew

• Follow the same cleaning procedures outlined for the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker above.
• If you're using pods instead of coffee grounds, remove the pod adapter and clean it along with the brew basket. Note that the pod adapter is not dishwasher safe, so be sure to wash it by hand using warm, soapy water.

Perform Weekly Cleaning

• Lift the hinged hood on top of the brewer by pulling up from the left side. Slide the back lid out and clean it by hand. After rinsing and drying, slide the lid back into place along the tracks and close the hinged hood.
• Open the handle to expose the needles and pod holder, then clean them with warm, soapy water. Be cautious around the needles. Once cleaned, close the handle and return it to the REMOVE position before reattaching.
• Clean the carafe, water reservoir, and exterior of the unit as instructed for the Specialty Coffee Maker.

Descaling the Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System

• The Intelligent Clean Cycle Indicator will light up orange automatically when it's time for a cleaning and descaling cycle.
• When this indicator appears, initiate a cleaning cycle in the mode you use most often (Grounds, Pods, Hot Water). This process will take approximately 75 minutes.
• Ensure the carafe is in place.
• Pour 2 cups (16 ounces) of distilled white vinegar into the empty water reservoir, then fill the rest with distilled water up to the Full line.
• Press the CLEAN button followed by the START BREW button. The cycle is complete when the unit beeps, the clock shows END, and the CLEAN light turns off.
• Empty the carafe and replace it under the brew basket.
• Refill the reservoir to the Full line with distilled water. For Grounds mode, run a Full Carafe Classic brew cycle. For Pods mode, run a 12-ounce Classic brew. In Hot Water mode, run a Full Carafe on BOIL.
• After the cycle finishes, dispose of the water, and thoroughly clean both the carafe and brew basket with warm, soapy water. Rinse them well and reassemble.

Proper Care for Your Ninja Coffee Maker

Taking good care of your Ninja coffee maker means you won’t have to spend extra time cleaning it. More importantly, your investment will be less prone to damage or malfunction, and you’ll consistently enjoy great-tasting coffee. Here are some tips on how to maintain your coffee maker, regardless of the model you own.

• After each use, leave the lid open once the components are removed for rinsing. This will ensure the interior dries fully, preventing the growth of mold or mildew.
• If you live in a hard water area, use distilled water or install a water-softening system in your home's plumbing to minimize scale buildup. If distilled water is unavailable, filtered water is an acceptable alternative.
• Do not neglect daily and weekly cleaning routines, as well as descaling reminders. Skipping these steps could result in malfunctions or negatively affect the taste of your coffee. For regular upkeep, run a plain water cycle twice a week if the machine is used daily.
• Never submerge the base unit in water, as this could damage the internal electrical components.
• Replace any worn-out parts as necessary. Reusable water filters should be replaced every 6-12 months, depending on usage; replace water filter cartridges as recommended, and replace the water reservoir seal if it shows signs of cracking.