I Wasn't Expecting to Like Ninja's Pod Coffee Machine – But It Saved Me From Holiday Morning Chaos with Drip Coffee, Espresso and Lattes for Everyone

The holidays tend to expose every weak spot in your kitchen setup, and in my house, coffee is always the first pressure point. You might own the best coffee maker for yourself, but when you have guests around, you'll find someone wants a strong filter brew, someone else wants a latte, and nobody wants to wait.

Enter the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System (sold as the Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System in the US). At its core, this machine is about ease and flexibility. It brews drip coffee into a glass carafe and keeps it warm with a smart, adjustable hotplate. Switch modes, and it produces quick espresso from the original Nespresso capsules in around two minutes, with the option to foam milk for lattes and cappuccinos.

I wouldn’t say the results are barista-level (you’ll want to look at the best espresso machines for that), but it’s consistently smooth, quick, easy to use, and great for a family of coffee drinkers with different tastes. Here’s what I uncovered during two weeks of testing over the holidays.

Design

I tested the Ninja Prestige DualBrew System in our UK test kitchen, then I took it back to my family’s home to test over the holidays. The UK and US designs differ very slightly, but the performance and functionality are nearly identical.

Out of the box, the machine isn’t huge, but it does have a presence on the counter. It’s not suave or sophisticated like an Italian-style espresso maker. It's more about functionality than aesthetics.

I found the controls intuitive, with clearly labeled buttons for drip coffee and espresso modes, and handy instructions taped to different elements. There’s a water tank at the back that slots in and out easily. At the side, you'll find the milk frother and measuring spoons. Finally, light-up controls that let you select the style of coffee you want to make.

On the drip coffee side, there’s a space for the glass carafe (which has a black plastic lid) and a hotplate to keep the coffee warm. There’s also a removable drip tray that makes it easy to switch between carafe and mug brewing.

On the espresso side, you can slot original-style Nespresso capsules (made by any brand of your choice) into the top, select your brew style, push the start button, and coffee pours straight out into your mug. You can adjust the height of the ledge depending on whether you're brewing an espresso, lungo, ristretto, or iced coffee.

Brewing Performance

For what it lacks in suave style, the Ninja Prestige DualBrew makes up for in functionality. On the drip side, it offers three coffee brew styles (Classic, Rich, and Over Ice) and can fill anything from a full 12-cup carafe to a single mug for yourself. Every cup I drank was balanced, hot, and never watered down or bitter.

I used the hotplate a lot to keep the coffee warm throughout the morning, so you can sip at your own pace instead of rushing through it. It has smart functions like Delay Brew, which helps you pre-program your morning coffee the night before.

I’m not the biggest Nespresso coffee drinker, but I like that you can pick up the pods at the grocery store and experiment with different flavors (the Rosso Café Holiday blends from Amazon were my go-to for the testing).

You can choose three espresso brew styles (Espresso, Lungo, and Over Ice). Every day, I popped in the capsule, and the 19-bar pressure system poured a smooth shot in little over 60 seconds. I’ve tested the best Nespresso machines, and none of them were as quick as this.

Another bonus that sets this Ninja coffee maker above a regular Nespresso machine is that it has a fold-away milk frother. It slides out from the side of the machine, avoiding the counter clutter of a separate appliance (see the photo below).

However, it's not perfect. You have to microwave the milk first before you can froth it and turn your espresso into a latte or cappuccino. I also found that the milk was very foamy and not that smooth to taste; I much prefer the quality from a proper milk steamer.

How Does it Compare?

Compared to traditional drip coffee makers, the Ninja Prestige DualBrew offers far more flexibility – but it doesn’t veer into gimmicks or sacrifice on quality for drip coffee lovers. It is certainly deserving of a place in our guide to the best drip coffee makers of 2026.

If you are cautious about the materials in your coffee maker, you might want to consider one of the best non-toxic coffee makers instead. I did notice black plastic on the lid of the glass carafe. Options like the stainless steel Aarke coffee maker if you are more cautious about material transparency.

If you are properly into espresso but still looking for ease, I’d consider the Ninja Luxe Café Pro instead. It is still quick and automated, but delivers a more authentic experience with a portafilter and freshly ground beans.

Our Verdict: Should You Buy it?

For me, the ease of use is one of the Ninja Prestige's strongest selling points. Switching between drip and espresso is almost effortless: choose your mode, select the size, and go. This is very well-suited to a family household where tastes vary, and patience is limited.

It’s not trying to replace a dedicated espresso setup or appeal to coffee purists. Instead, it excels at what most people actually want: reliably strong coffee, fast brewing times, and a calm start to the day. I loved testing it.

How We Test Coffee Makers

At Homes & Gardens, our product tests are standardized across each machine so that we can compare all of the products against each other, without bias. We’ve developed a barista-approved process for trialling coffee makes; you can read more behind-the-scenes detail on our dedicated page: how we test coffee makers.