How to Use
Fill Water Reservoir
Use cold, filtered water to the desired line
Tip: Cold water is essential - don't use hot
Add Coffee Grounds
Use coarse grind, fill to marked line in brew basket
Tip: About 1 cup of coarse ground coffee
Select Cold Brew Mode
Press cold brew button on machine
Tip: Make sure machine is in cold brew, not espresso mode
Choose Strength
Select Light, Classic, or Rich
Tip: Start with Classic, adjust based on taste
Wait for Brew
Machine brews in 10-20 minutes depending on setting
Tip: Much faster than traditional 12-24 hour steep
Serve Over Ice
Pour over ice, add milk/sweetener as desired
Tip: Concentrate (Rich) should be diluted 1:1
vs Traditional Cold Brew
Brew Time
Ninja: 10-20 minutes
Traditional: 12-24 hours
Winner: Ninja (much faster)
Flavor Profile
Ninja: Smooth but slightly different extraction
Traditional: Classic cold brew sweetness
Winner: Traditional (slight edge)
Convenience
Ninja: Push button, done in minutes
Traditional: Plan ahead, steep overnight
Winner: Ninja
Yield
Ninja: ~4 servings per batch
Traditional: 4-8 servings (larger batches possible)
Winner: Traditional (more flexible)
Equipment Cost
Ninja: $349-399 (multi-function machine)
Traditional: $15-50 (dedicated cold brew maker)
Winner: Traditional (if only cold brew)
Recipes
Classic Iced Cold Brew
Ingredients: 6oz cold brew (Classic setting), ice, splash of milk
Method: Pour cold brew over ice, add milk to taste
Vanilla Cold Brew
Ingredients: 6oz cold brew, 1 pump vanilla syrup, ice, oat milk
Method: Add syrup to glass, pour cold brew, add ice, top with oat milk
Cold Brew Concentrate Latte
Ingredients: 4oz cold brew (Rich setting), 4oz milk, ice
Method: Fill glass with ice, add milk, pour concentrate over top
Mocha Cold Brew
Ingredients: 6oz cold brew, 1 tbsp chocolate sauce, milk, ice
Method: Mix chocolate with small amount of cold brew, add rest, ice, milk
Troubleshooting
❌ Cold brew tastes weak
Cause: Grind too coarse or setting too light
Solution: Use finer grind or switch to Rich setting
❌ Cold brew tastes bitter
Cause: Grind too fine, extracting too much
Solution: Use coarser grind, switch to Light setting
❌ Cloudy cold brew
Cause: Fine particles passing through filter
Solution: Use coarser grind, ensure filter is clean
❌ Machine not brewing
Cause: Wrong mode selected
Solution: Ensure cold brew mode is selected, not espresso
The Verdict
Pros: Fast, convenient, integrated with espresso machine
Cons: Not as nuanced as traditional 24-hour steep
Recommendation: Great for convenience, not for cold brew purists
