How to Clean a Ninja Coffee Maker

By Robert Parsons June 17, 2021

Hello, fellow coffee lovers. Ninja Coffee lovers to be exact. Or maybe, you aren’t quite on that bus yet, but you are interested in a ninja coffee maker and want to learn more about the upkeep. Regardless, we are glad you’re here. 

Today we are going to show you how to clean a ninja coffee maker. Like all coffee makers, Ninja is no exception to needing to be cleaned every once in a while. This can be a huge headache and dreaded task, but don’t worry just yet. Luckily, it is a quick and easy process to clean a ninja coffee maker.

Step by Step

A huge perk of the ninja coffee makers is they come with a self-cleaning button. But there are a few more steps than simply clicking a button, so let’s dive in

First, we need to establish that contrary to most people’s belief, you do need to clean your coffee machine after every use. Now, this does not mean a full deep clean each time, but there should be a cleaning process after each use. It is also vital to give your machine a deep clean every so often to keep your ninja coffee maker running at its top potential. Here’s our quick and easy step by step of each:

Day to Day

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  1. Clear the filter. Pull the permanent filter out, be sure to wipe it down of all leftover coffee grounds before putting it back for the next cycle.
  2. Clean the filter holder. Don’t forget to wipe down the filter holder and remove any coffee grounds that stuck to it as well.
  3. Wipe down the outside. Deep cleaning can be a lot easier with small steps such as a quick wipe down of the entire ninja coffee machine after each use to prevent any coffee buildup and stains.
  4. Clean the carafe. This carafe can be washed as any other mug or cup. So if you prefer to hand wash or throw it in the dishwasher, both are good options to keep your ninja coffee machine up and running.
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Deep Clean

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  1. Finish each day to day cleaning task. Before deep cleaning, make sure you have already cleared the filter and filter holder, wiped down the exterior, and washes the carafe.
  2. Add vinegar to the water reservoir. Vinegar is a great cleaning supply, and we recommend using this to clean your ninja coffee maker. Simply pour a bit into the water reservoir. We used the travel mug line as a point of reverence. Then fill the rest of the reservoir up with fresh water.
  3. Run the cleaning cycle. Now is the time to take advantage of that clean button. This will begin the cleaning cycle and circulate the cleaning blend all through the pipes of the machine.
  4. Pause the cleaning cycle. After about a minute, press the clean button again. This will pause the cleaning cycle and allow the vinegar to sit on the inside of the machine to soften any built-up debris.
  5. Finish the cleaning cycle. After roughly 30 minutes, click the clean button again. Now the cleaning cycle will resume and make its way through the entire machine, flowing back into the water reservoir.
  6. Round two cleaning cycle. To remove the vinegar from the machine fully. Now we are going to refill the water reservoir with only freshwater. Start the clean cycle and let it run.
  7. Round three cleaning cycle. For safe measures, remove the water from the reservoir once more, fill it back with fresh water, and run the final cleaning cycle to fully rinse out the machine.

Now you are finished! While this can be an overlooked part of coffee machine responsibilities, it is a vital part to make sure our ninja coffee maker runs for as long as possible and as well as possible. Not to mention all the gross debris this cleaning routine will pull out of the machine. No one wants that going into their coffee.

Other Cleaning Options

There is another option for cleaning if vinegar is not your first pick. But other than these two options, do not venture into other cleaning options. Many cleaning substances could ruin your coffee machine or significantly taint its abilities.

Descaling solution will be the same process to clean the ninja coffee machine, but there will be a different ratio with fresh water. There are instructions for each type of descaling solution you could buy, so make sure to follow their instructions and you should be fine!

Other Parts to Clean

There are varying models of ninja coffee makers, so not every person’s cleaning process will look the same. Be sure to use your own common sense to see if other parts of the machine need cleaning. For example, those that have milk frothers attached will need to clean this out every use as well as deep clean this portion of the machine as well.

How Often Do I Clean the Machine?

Lastly, be sure to deep clean your machine every one to two months. Add it to your calendar or to-do list to make sure you are being the best coffee machine owner you can be. Happy Cleaning!