Compare Coffee Machine
Which scores higher on safety? R3 breaks it down.
The most important dimensions, side by side.
The reservoir is labeled BPA-free, which removes one concern — but the exact replacement polymer is not specified, leaving some questions about long-term safety.
The 60-oz removable reservoir is confirmed BPA-free, which is reassuring. However, Ninja doesn't disclose the specific plastic type used, so we can't fully evaluate what your water is in contact with before brewing.
The manufacturer explicitly declares BPA-free construction for water-contact components — a meaningful commitment to reducing hormonal disruption risk.
Ninja explicitly declares the reservoir and carafe components BPA-free — a clear commitment to reducing chemical exposure in your daily brew.
This machine carries third-party electrical safety certification, meaning an independent lab has verified it meets fire and shock prevention standards.
This machine carries UL certification, meaning an independent lab has verified it meets rigorous electrical safety standards for fire, shock, and overheating protection.
Brews within the optimal temperature range for full flavor extraction — you get the complete spectrum of coffee aromatics and oils in every cup.
At 200°F, this brewer hits the sweet spot for coffee extraction — your grounds release full flavor without bitterness, producing a rich, well-balanced cup every time.
Stainless thermal carafe keeps coffee hot for hours without a warming plate — no continuous reheating means your coffee tastes as good at the bottom of the pot as it did at the top.
The glass carafe sits on an adjustable warming plate, which keeps coffee hot but continuously degrades its flavor. The adjustable temperature helps a bit, but coffee left on the plate for over 30 minutes won't taste as fresh.
The carafe is dishwasher safe — easy, thorough cleaning without hand-washing after every brew.
The glass carafe and reservoir are both dishwasher-safe, making daily cleanup genuinely effortless — no hand-scrubbing required.
The water reservoir lifts out for easy filling at the sink and periodic deep cleaning — no awkward pouring or spillage.
The 60-oz reservoir detaches completely so you can carry it to the sink for filling — no awkward pouring from a pitcher or positioning the machine near the faucet.
Programmable auto-brew lets you wake up to fresh coffee — set it the night before and your morning routine starts itself.
Set the 24-hour delay brew the night before and wake up to a fresh pot — it's the kind of feature that quickly becomes indispensable in a busy morning routine.
Requires paper filters for every brew — an ongoing cost and environmental consideration.
The permanent screen filter means no paper filter runs — just rinse and reuse. You can also swap in paper filters if you prefer a cleaner cup.
Priced at $399.95 — recorded for reference but does not affect the overall R3 score.
At $90, the CE251 offers exceptional convenience features — removable tank, permanent filter, delay brew — at a very competitive price point for a 12-cup brewer.
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Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You prioritize material safety and want a machine with transparent, well-documented water-contact materials.
You prefer a thermal carafe that keeps coffee hot without a warming plate degrading the flavor over time.
You want coffee brewed at optimal temperature for full flavor extraction from specialty beans.
You want programmable auto-brew so coffee is ready when you wake up or get home.
You want the most convenient daily brewing experience with a removable tank you can fill at the sink
You value programmable delay brew to have fresh coffee waiting when you wake up
You're looking for a feature-packed 12-cup brewer under $90 that includes a permanent filter
You drink your coffee within 30 minutes of brewing and won't leave it sitting on the warming plate
The main thing to know
The water reservoir uses plastic (labeled BPA-free but without specific polymer identification) — water sits in this material before and during every brew cycle.
The glass carafe on its warming plate continuously degrades your coffee's flavor — if you don't drink the full pot within 30 minutes, the taste noticeably declines compared to thermal carafe models.
Skip this if you...
You are budget-conscious — this machine is priced above $350, which pushes into diminishing returns for home drip coffee.
You need specific features not offered by this machine — review the specs above to compare with alternatives.
You need full material transparency about what type of plastic contacts your hot water before brewing
You want your coffee to stay fresh for hours without flavor degradation — a thermal carafe model would serve you better
You want full material transparency about what type of plastic contacts your hot water before brewing
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Coffee Machine options at every price pointEvery Coffee Machine in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Fellow and Ninja across 3 independent criteria: Safety (72%), Efficacy (23%), Usability (4%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
Both scored close to 8.3/10, so the better choice depends on your priorities. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy (23%), and usability (4%). Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Coffee Machine across Safety (72%), Efficacy (23%), Usability (4%) using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects our weighted rubric, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the value scores and prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
