Ninja CE251 vs Mr. Coffee 12-Cup: what the extra money buys on a budget machine
Updated by Isadora Venn. Links to Amazon earn us a commission (how that works).
Both are 12-cup programmable drip machines with glass carafes. The Ninja CE251 vs Mr. Coffee 12-Cup choice is about whether a few more features, and some outside praise, are worth a step up from the cheapest option.
Short answer
Ninja CE251 or Mr. Coffee 12-Cup? Buy the Ninja if you'll use what it adds: an adjustable plate and a Rich brew, plus a small-batch mode. Buy the Mr. Coffee if the budget is firm, or if you want a listing sold directly by Amazon.
Neither is SCA certified or publishes a brewing temperature. That's normal under $100, where makers compete on timers, strength buttons and carafe shape rather than on lab results, so the honest way to choose between these two is by the features you'll use and by how confidently you can buy each one. Tasting Table named the CE251 its best affordable coffee maker in 2023; we found no independent test of this Mr. Coffee model.
Side by side
| Spec | Ninja 12-Cup CE251 | Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Drip Amazon listing | Drip Amazon listing |
| Capacity | 12 cups; 60 oz reservoir Amazon listing | 12 cups, 60 fl oz (5 oz per cup) Amazon listing |
| SCA certified | Not on the list SCA certified list | Not on the list SCA certified list |
| Carafe | Glass on an adjustable warming plate, up to 4 hr Amazon listing | Glass on a warming plate, off after 2 hr Amazon listing |
| Grinder | None Amazon listing | None Amazon listing |
| Water path (maker) | Not listed Amazon listing | Not listed Amazon listing |
| Height | 14.6 in (10.5 x 9.9 in footprint) Amazon listing | 13.54 in (8.89 x 11.69 in footprint) Amazon listing |
| Warranty | 1 year Amazon listing | Not listed Amazon listing |
| Full pot time | Not listed Amazon listing | Not listed Amazon listing |
| Water temp | "Hotter brewing" boiler (maker claim) Amazon listing | Not listed Amazon listing |
| Single cup | Small-batch setting, 1 to 4 cups Amazon listing | No Amazon listing |
| Buy | See Ninja 12-Cup CE251 on Amazon | See Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable on Amazon |
Both listings are complete now. The Mr. Coffee states its cup size, dimensions and plate shut-off; the new CE251 listing logged Oct. 28 adds a 14.6 in height and a 1-year warranty.
Which one
Choose the Ninja CE251 if
- You add milk and want a stronger Rich setting.
- You sometimes brew just a few cups.
- You want control over the warming plate.
Choose the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup if
- The budget is under $40, no exceptions.
- You want dishwasher-safe carafe and basket.
- You prefer buying from a listing sold by Amazon.
Where they differ
Strength. Ninja has Classic and Rich. Mr. Coffee has a Strong Brew mode. Both work. Both answer the common budget complaint that the coffee tastes weak.
Warming plate. Ninja's is adjustable for up to four hours. Mr. Coffee's switches off at two. Lower heat for longer is kinder to the coffee than high heat, so the Ninja wins if your pot sits; the Mr. Coffee's shut-off is the safer default if you forget it's on.
Small batches. This matters more than it sounds for anyone who brews a full pot on weekends but only two or three cups on weekdays, because big machines often rush a small batch through the grounds and leave it thin. The CE251 listing describes a small-batch setting for 1 to 4 cups. The Mr. Coffee listing doesn't mention one.
Buying. This used to favor the Mr. Coffee. On Oct. 27, 2026 the CE251 turned up only as a renewed unit, and a related CE201 listing was a 240 V model from a third-party seller. By Oct. 28 Amazon was selling a new CE251 directly, so both are now easy to buy new. Renewed Ninjas still appear in search results; check the condition line.
Worries both answer
Will a hot plate make it taste burnt?
Both use glass on a plate, so both cook coffee that sits. Ninja lets you lower the heat; Mr. Coffee shuts off sooner.
Ninja CE251: adjustable plate up to 4 hours. Mr. Coffee 2247213: plate off after 2 hours (Amazon listings).
FAQ
Ninja CE251 vs Mr. Coffee 12-Cup: which makes hotter coffee?
Neither publishes a temperature. Tasting Table's 2023 review noted the CE251's coffee came out hot.
Mr. Coffee 12-Cup vs Ninja CE251: which is easier to clean?
The Mr. Coffee, because its carafe and basket are top-rack dishwasher safe per the listing.
How big is a cup on these machines?
Mr. Coffee states 5 fl oz per cup, 60 fl oz total. The Ninja's reservoir holds 60 oz.
Is the Ninja worth the extra money?
If you'll use the Rich setting or small batches, yes. If not, the Mr. Coffee does the basics for less.