This article contains the FAQs for the CF090 Series Ninja Coffee Bar®. This supports the following product SKUs CF090, CF090A, CF090C, CF090CO, CF090C_CF4, CF090_CF4, CF091, CF091A, CF091C, CF091C_CF4, CF091_CF4, CF092, CF092C, CF092W, and CF092W_CF4.
The Over Ice Brew is designed to brew hot coffee over ice to lock in the flavor for rich, smooth iced coffee. Make sure your cup, travel mug, or carafe is filled all the way to the top with ice cubes. We strongly recommend ice cubes when making iced coffee. Shaved and crushed ice have different packing characteristics. Because of this, you should NOT use shaved or crushed ice as the vessel used may overflow once coffee is brewed over the ice. IMPORTANT: DO NOT use hot water in the water reservoir. We recommend cool, fresh, filtered water.
When you make hot coffee, the coffee grounds will absorb some of the water that is brewed, resulting in slightly less brewed coffee than the water used. The more coffee you use, the more water will be absorbed. Additionally, our wider bottom carafe holds most of the coffee at the base, which helps control the temperature more evenly. If you are experiencing inconsistent brew volume, we recommend you run a clean cycle. Please refer to the How to clean & descale your Ninja Coffee Bar FAQ. See flow chart for troubleshooting.
For best results and to create the most froth using hot milk, we recommend using whole milk. For cold milk, we recommend skim milk.
Your Ninja Coffee Bar will stay pre-heated for 72 hours unless you turn the brewer off by pressing the Power button.
Many variables go into brewing the perfect cup of coffee. Three of those variables, Temperature, Pre-Infusion, and Saturdation, are difficult to manage on your own. Our Thermal Flavor Extraction(R) Technology automatically controls them for you. How It Works: Temperature: Water is heated to the ideal temperature for coffee. Pre-Infusion: Grounds are evenly saturated then given time to 'bloom' Saturation: Grounds are saturated again for an even and consistent extraction
The only accessories that are microwave-safe are the Ninja insulated cups, mugs and tumblers.
Once the Ninja Coffee Bar has brewed the first cup, the brewer is pre-warmed. This enables any following brews to be slightly hotter. For a hotter first cup, after plugging in and turning on your brewer by pressing the Power button, allow 3 minutes for your brewer to pre-heat.
The Intelligent Warming Plate is a heater that will automatically turn on after selecting Half Carafe or Full Carafe on either the Classic Brew or Rich Brew setting. The Intelligent Warming Plate will adjust the heat it produces to avoid burning the coffee over time. You may also activate the Warming Plate by pressing the Stay Warm button, within 2 hours of the initial brew. The HOT SURFACE light is a safety feature that will illuminate when the warming plate is hot. If you leave your brewing vessel on the Intelligent Warming Plate for an extended period, the HOT SURFACE indicator may illuminate, even if the Stay Warm function has not been initaited. The HOT SURFACE light will remain on until the warming plate has reached a safe temperature. DO NOT touch the surface when this light is illuminated.
The Intelligent Warming Plate is designed to keep your coffee hot for two hours. After that, the warming plate will turn off automatically. If you would like to turn off the Intelligent Warming Plate sooner, you can"simply press the Stay Warm button. If you would like the Warming Plate to say on longer, you can program it to stay on up to 4 hours. Turn the Multi-Serve dial to Half Carafe or Full Carafe. Press and hold the Stay Warm button until the clock begins to flash the current time the warming plate will stay on for. Quickly press the hour or minute (H or M) to increase the time up to 4 hours. The time will lock in after 5 seconds or you can press the Stay Warm button. NOTE: The HOT SURFACE light will illuminate when the warming plate is hot. Do not touch the surface when thi s lightis illuminate.
The thermal carafe is designed to keep your coffee hot for up to two hours.
Each brew type is designed to make the strength you need using the volume denoted on the Ninja Smart Scoop (the scoop can be found on the side of your brewer). Each brew is optimized to make a stronger coffee without extra coffee grounds, so you do not need to change anything besides the button you press.
The Permanent Filter, Removable Filter Holder, Water Reservoir, Water Reservoir Flip Top Lid, Glass Carafe and Brew-Through Lid are all top-rack, dishwasher safe. For the Thermal Versions (CF097 and CF097W), the thermal carafe is not dishwasher safe.
Cleaning your brewer is very important to ensure you're receiving the best possible coffee from your Ninja Coffee Bar. Clean your brewer when the CLEAN button on your Ninja Coffee Bar illuminates.
To brew a half carafe or full carafe, place your carafe below the brew basket and fill the water reservoir with water. Then insert a #4 paper filter or the permanent filter in the brew basket, and add your favorite coffee using the Ninja Smart Scoop. After adding the water and coffee, choose a size and brew type. If you want to pour a cup of coffee before the brew is complete you can close the Drip Stop and remove your carafe to pour a cup. Remember to replace the carafe and open the Drip Stop when you're done. You can also use the Drip Stop to stop the brew basket from dripping coffee at the end of the brew. If you want to brew a travel mug, you can place larger cups and travel mugs directly on the base of the unit. If you want to brew a cup, lower the cup platform below the brew basket and place your cup on the platform, following the same instructions above.
The model number can be found on the back or bottom of your unit. The model number will begin with the letters 'CF'.
The white particles/film you are seeing may be mineral deposits coming from the water you're using. This is an indicator that your Ninja Coffee Bar needs to be cleaned. Follow the instructions on cleaning & descaling your unit in your instruction booklet, or under the 'How to clean & descale your Ninja Coffee Bar FAQ.
Specialty and Café Forte are one-touch brews, which means that no size selection is necessary as these brews deliver a specific amount of concentrated coffee for the perfect brew every time. The Specialty Brew delivers approximately 4 oz. of a strong coffee concentrate perfect for an iced blended coffee drink or milk-based specialty drink. Café Forte delivers approximately 8 oz. , and has a deep, full-bodied, and complex flavor that is rich and drinkable. It tastes great black " no milk or sweeteners needed.
The brew basket is designed to fit a #4 cone paper filter, or the gold Ninja Permanent Filter.
After turning on your Ninja Coffee Bar, the pre-heat notification will illuminate for 3 minutes as your brewer warms up. Once it has warmed up to the proper temperature, the pre-heat notification will turn off indicating it is time to brew.
After a brew you may notice leftover water in your water reservoir after filling to the minimum fill line of the size selected. The water reservoir markings are minimum fill lines that indicate if there is enough water for the proper brew size in the reservoir, but all brew styles use different amounts of water to create the proper flavor and concentration. Auto-iQ One-Touch Intelligence will only use the water needed for the brew size and style selected. Please note that the system is designed to always have water remain in the reservoir after a brew. This to protect the boiler from boiling dry, and helps extend the life of your machine.
The dimensions of the Ninja Coffee Bar are as follows: Imperial (inches): 8. 92(depth) x 12. 04 (width) x 15. 04 (height) OR Metric (centimeters): 22. 67 (depth) x 30. 59 (width) x 38. 19 (height)
Specialty and Café Forte Brew are Ninja's signature, one-touch brews designed to deliver the same volume each time. Regardless of what size selection is illuminated, your Specialty Brew will deliver approximately 4 oz. and Café Forte will deliver approximately 8 oz.
A medium grind coffee is recommended.
Café Forte is the newest brew type from the Ninja Coffee Bar and exclusive to the Ninja Coffee Bar System. Café Forte is a deep, complex flavor that brings out the nuances of your coffee for a full-bodied gourmet experience. It tastes great black and no milk or sweeteners needed. You will enjoy Café Forte if you favor strong, robust coffee.
The Intelligent Warming Plate plate is activated when brewing a Half Carafe or Full Carafe on either Classic Brew or Rich Brew. The warming plate adjusts how much heat is delivered to the carafe to keep your coffee hot without burning it, which would leave the coffee tasting bitter. These intelligent features will ensure the last cup tastes just as good as the first. The warming plate will automatically turn off after 2 hours, however you can enable the Stay Warm functionality for up to four hours, or as little as 15 mins. If you want to adjust your time to stay warm, simply press and hold down the Stay Warm button for 3 seconds and the clock begins to flash. Use the Hour button to toggle between 1 and 4 hours, and the Minute button to toggle in between 15 minute intervals. Once you have selected the desired Stay Warm time, please press the Stay Warm button again to activate.
To set up your frother, swing the frother arm from the back of the machine to the front until it is locked into place. Place the frother whisk onto the integrated frother by pushing up the whisk and rotating it counterclockwise. There is also PAD print lock signs on the frother whisk to indicate which way to lock in the frother. To remove the frother whisk, twist clockwise and pull down.
When you plug in your unit, the clock display will flash "12:00". Press the H (hour) and/or M (minute) button until you reach the current time. The AM or PM indicator will illuminate on the left side of the display as you are setting the time. To change the time once the clock has been set, press and hold the H (hour) button until the clock display flashes. Press the H (hour) and/or M (minute) button until you reach the current time. The AM or PM indicator will illuminate on the left side of the display as you are setting the time.
Power on the unit by pressing the Power button that is positioned to the right of the clock. Add the recommended amount of coffee to the brew basket for your brew size and brew type. Toggle the drip stop to the open position, denoted by a water droplet. Fill the reservoir with water up to, but not exceeding, the Max Fill line. Press the Delay Brew button. The Delay Brew button will illuminate and the clock will begin to flash "12:00" or the last delay brew time that was set. While the clock is flashing, press the H (hour) and/or M (minute) button to set the time that you would like the delay brew to begin. The AM or PM indicator will illuminate on the left side of the display as you are setting the desired time. Once the proper time has been set, select the size of the vessel that you would like to brew into. Then, press one of the five flashing buttons to select your brew type. When selected, your brew type button will be illuminated steadily. Once the time, brew size, and brew type have been set, allow the Delay Brew to flash and lock in, or press the Delay Brew button to activate the Delay Brew. When the Delay Brew is activated, the light on the Delay Brew button will illuminate and an audible signal will play to verify the Delay Brew is set. IMPORTANT : The unit must remain on in order for the Delay Brew function to work. Do not power off after setting Delay Brew. Also, make sure the Drip Stop is in the open position.
The carafe is designed to keep most of the coffee volume in the bottom so it will be closer to the Intelligent Warming Plate. This helps maintain the coffee at the ideal drinking temperature.
The Ninja Coffee Bar is designed to brew between 137 and 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Ninja Coffee Bar is designed to brew between 184 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hold the cup under the frother and submerge the whisk just below the surface of the milk. Press and hold the frothing button for 30 to 45 seconds. For hot froth, microwave the milk for 45-60 seconds in a microwavable cup and follow the directions above.
To ensure the best possible coffee, a new brew cycle is needed. Refill the water reservoir to correlating fill line for your brew size, or up to, but not exceeding, the Max Fill line. Empty the brew basket, and the brewing vessel. Return the empty vessel beneath the brew basket, and insert fresh coffee grounds in the brew basket and start your brew cycle again. For additional volume troubleshooting, see flow chart.
Yes, when the Ninja Coffee Bar is brewing, you will notice that the brew type you have selected will be illuminated and pulse on and off during the brew.
Yes, the glass and thermal carafes were specially designed for both hot and iced coffee. When making iced coffee in the carafe, fill it to the top with ice cubes and let your Ninja Coffee Bar do the rest.
The beeping indicates that your coffee is ready, ENJOY!
For the most effective cleaning, we recommend using a descaling solution specifically formulated for coffee maker cleaning. Alternately, fill the water reservoir to the travel mug line (16 oz. ) with only white vinegar. This method is effective for mildly scaled machines. See flow chart for additional troubleshooting.
No, however a medium grind coffee is recommended.
Yes, all of our cups, tumblers and Over Ice Carafe are BPA free.
We do not recommend adding water to the water reservoir while the Ninja Coffee Bar is in use.
We do not recommend brewing tea in the Ninja Coffee Bar because there are coffee oils and flavors that will be left in the brew basket. This may cause the tea to produce a flavor you may not expect.
Once a Café Forte Brew or Specialty Brew has started, you cannot change brew settings. For all other brews, you may select a different brew size or style. Results vary depending upon the status of the current brew cycle.
Yes, you can froth and brew at the same time. However, DO NOT reach across the top of the brewer to froth during brewing. Steam is released from vent on top of brewer and can result in a steam burn.
Yes. While we recommend dairy milk for best performance, you can froth both almond milk and soy milk. For better results, use soy milk heated.
Yes, you can program your Ninja Coffee Bar System by pressing the Stay Warm button. You can enable the Stay Warm functionality for up to four hours, or as little as 15 mins. If you want to adjust your time to stay warm, simply press and hold down the Stay Warm button for 3 seconds and the clock will begin to flash. Use the Hour button to toggle between 1 and 4 hours, and the Minute button to toggle in between 15 minute intervals. Once you have selected the desired Stay Warm time, please press the Stay Warm button again to activate.
Yes, with our stainless steel travel mug, the use of a metal spoon is okay and will not cause breakdown.
No, the Ninja Over Ice Carafe is made for the Over Ice Brew setting only. Do not press the Stay Warm button (if brewing a Half or Full carafe) when you brew into your Over Ice Carafe.
We strongly recommend ice cubes when making iced coffee. Shaved and crushed ice have different packing characteristics. Because of this, you should NOT use shaved or crushed ice as the vessel used may overflow once coffee is brewed over the ice.
Yes, we recommend using the brew-through lid as it helps maintain the carafe temperature, and deliver optimal flavor. Not using the brew-through lid, or not having the lid on properly, could allow heat to escape from the carafe causing the coffee to rapidly cool.
No, the paper filter and permanent filter should not be used together. Please use either a paper filter or the permanent filter when brewing coffee. Using a permanent filter in conjunction with a paper filter may result in the clogging and backing up of water and/or coffee in the filter basket.
Our integrated frother is capable of transforming hot or cold milk into a silky microfoam. For hot froth, the milk will need to be pre-heated either in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or simmered on a stove top. Cold froth is made with cold milk and is an excellent addition to iced lattes or frozen blended drinks. To froth, pour milk into cup, until it is about one-third full. (Use more or less milk depending on your preference. ) Microwave for 45 to 60 seconds for hot froth. Move the frother into the ready position by swinging the arm toward the front. Hold the cup under the frother and submerge the whisk just below the surface of the milk. This allows air to fold into the milk, for the frothiest results. Press and hold the frothing button for 30 to 45 seconds. You can easily remove the frother whisk by twisting it clockwise. To avoid spills, keep your cup below the whisk and carry it to your sink or dishwasher for cleaning. DO NOT reach across top of brewer to froth during brewing. Steam is released from vent on top of brewer and can result in a steam burn.
This brewer is designed to brew coffee grounds only. Do not insert pods or K-Cups.
To pause the brew cycle, simply move the the Drip Stop toggle to the closed position denoted by a water droplet with a slash. This stops the flow of coffee from the brew basket. After pouring your cup, quickly return the vessel and open the Drip Stop to continue brewing. CAUTION: NEVER open the brew basket while the Ninja Coffee Bar is brewing. Scalding may occur if the brew basket is removed during brewing cycles.
It's easy - simply turn the Multi-Serve size dial to Cup, XL Cup, Travel Mug, XL Multi-Serve, Half Carafe, or Full Carafe. The brew size icon will illuminate to show which brew size you have selected.
Cleaning your Ninja Coffee Bar is easy. Before cleaning, close the Drip Stop. After each brew is complete and the coffee grounds have cooled, discard the paper filter. If using the permanent filter, carefully remove and wash. Remove the filter holder from the brew basket, rinse, and wash with soap and warm water. After each froth, thoroughly rinse the frother whisk or place it on top-rack of dishwasher. Wash the carafe and brew-through lid with soap and warm water. Use a bottle brush or cloth to wash the inside of the carafe. DO NOT use a wire brush. Wipe machine down with a cloth and soap and warm water. Let the warming plate cool before cleaning with a cloth and soap and warm water. Clean the shower head, water reservoir shelf, water reservoir, flip-top water reservoir lid, and removable filter holder with soap and water. Do not immerse the base in water. NOTE: The brew-through lid, glass carafe, permanent filter, and water reservoir are top-rack dishwasher safe. The thermal carafe is NOT dishwasher safe. NOTE: For descaling troubleshooting, see flow chart.
To avoid drips and spills, hold the cup that you frothed in below the whisk while you carry it to your sink or dishwasher for easy cleaning. The frother whisk is top-rack dishwasher safe. We prefer you to either hand wash or place it on the top rack of your dishwasher. We do not recommend placing soapy water in your cup and cleaning the frother while still attached.
We recommend cleaning your carafe and brew-through lid with warm, soapy water, or placing in the top rack of your dishwasher. If you want to clean the carafe more thoroughly, we recommend using a soft foam brush. DO NOT clean carafe with abrasive cleansers, steel wool pads, or other abrasive material.
Before your first brew, we recommend running two Full Carafe, Classic Brew cycles with just water (no grounds) to prime your Ninja Coffee Bar. With your brewer plugged in and powered on, fill your reservoir with water up to, but not exceeding, the Max Fill line. Place the carafe under the brew basket, choose the Full Carafe setting, then press the Classic Brew button. When the cycle is complete, discard the water in the carafe and repeat. After you have completed two cycles, you are ready to use your Ninja Coffee Bar. NOTE: It is not necessary to run two full clean cycles.
To fill the water reservoir, use the hand grips to lift it to the right and up off the brewer. The water reservoir lid flips open for easy filling, and the entire lid is easily removable for quick cleaning. Add fresh, filtered water at or above the minimum fill line for your desired brew size. Do not exceed the Max Fill line. Return the water reservoir to the brewer by angling the reservoir into the holder and pushing in towards the brewer to lock into place. Do not fill water reservoir with any other liquids such as brewed coffee, carbonated beverages, etc. as other liquids may damage your brewer.
For milder coffee, try the Classic Brew setting using light roast beans and a paper filter in your brew basket (rather than the permanent metal filter). If you want an even milder flavor, you can put less coffee in the brew basket " just keep in mind that grounds do absorb liquid during the normal brew cycle, so you will wind up with a less concentrated, larger cup of coffee.
For stronger coffee, try the Rich Brew setting using dark roast beans and the permanent filter in your brew basket (rather than a paper filter). If you want an even bolder flavor, you can add more coffee grounds in the brew basket " just keep in mind that the additional grounds do absorb liquid, so you will wind up with a more concentrated, smaller cup of coffee.
Advise: This is commonly seen in areas where people have hard water. Hard water naturally contains higher levels of calcium and magnesium. This can easily be wiped away with a damp cloth.
Advise: If you used a cleaning solution not compatible with an aluminum boiler it may have reacted in such a way that resulted in the grey water you are seeing. It is always advised that Ninja Coffee Bar Descaling solution or a mixture of white vinegar and water be used when cleaning your machine. Run 2-3 carafes of water through the unit or until water runs clear and continue to use normally. Run 2-3 carafes of water through the unit or until water runs clear and continue to use normally.