Ninja CE251: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-19

Summary

Leaking is the most common owner complaint, and some long-term owners see water temperature and flavor decline after 2–4 years; the glass carafe is fragile and replacements can be hard to find. Recurring costs are coffee, descaler and optional paper filters, with no pod lock-in. It is strong value at $70 or less and weak above $90.

Common problems and fixes

Leaking — the most commonly reported problem; it can come from the reservoir seal or gasket, internal hoses, scale buildup or the brew basket valve. Descaling with a vinegar-water solution or a commercial descaler helps with scale; the 1-year limited warranty does not cover wearable parts such as the carafe, reservoir or brew basket. [3][12][5][4]
Declining performance over time — a long-term owner reported water temperature dropping with each pot after about 3.5 years and eventually stopped using the machine; run a clean cycle when brewing slows past 12–15 minutes. [4][12][2]
Fragile carafe — the glass carafe breaks easily and replacements can be hard to find; a Best Buy Q&A user reported the reservoir showing as unavailable for months. [5][4][6]
Slow, inconsistent brew times — TechGearLab measured an average of 7 minutes 48 seconds (range 7:00–8:18), while other testers report 12–15 minutes for a full carafe. [1][7][8]
Brew group lid seepage — the lid does not seal tightly, so some seepage during brewing is normal. [11]
Stiff power button — a long-term owner calls it notably hard to press. [4]
Noise — described as noisy during brewing by Coffeeness and Owly Choice. [11][5]

Parts and consumables

Yearly running cost

The recurring costs are coffee, descaler and optional #4 paper filters; there is no pod lock-in and no subscription. [2][5]

When it is a good buy

$70 or less — strong value: Wirecutter’s top cheap coffee maker pick, a Forbes value award, pre-infusion, a removable reservoir and a warming plate that runs to 4 hours. [13][8]
$71–80 — still good; the feature set exceeds most competitors at this price.
$81–90 — fair; machines with a thermal carafe, SCA certification or metal construction come into reach.
Above $90 — weak; compare SCA-certified brewers such as the Technivorm Moccamaster or Breville Precision Brewer, or machines with thermal carafes and longer warranties. [1]

Store prices: Best Buy lists it at $69.99 against an $89.99 reference, Home Depot at $89.99, Abt at $89.99 MSRP, Walmart at $65 (2026), Forbes at about $80 (2023-01), Tom’s Guide at $69 (2023-03) and TechGadgetsCanada at about $79 (2023-08). [16][14][15][12][8][17][7]