Brewing Tea Using Your Ninja Coffee Maker

Quick answer

• Yes, you can absolutely brew tea using your Ninja coffee maker.
• Use a separate basket for tea if your Ninja has one.
• Always clean your Ninja thoroughly before brewing tea.
• Start with a clean, fresh water source.
• Experiment with tea bag strength and brew settings.
• Don’t expect the same results as a dedicated tea brewer.

Who this is for

• Coffee drinkers who also enjoy tea and want to use their existing Ninja coffee maker.
• Anyone looking for a convenient way to brew a pot of iced or hot tea without a separate appliance.
• People who want to understand the limitations and best practices for brewing tea in their coffee machine.

What to check first

Brewer type and filter type

Your Ninja coffee maker likely has a reusable mesh filter. For coffee, that’s great. For tea, it can work, but it might let finer tea particles through, making your brew a bit silty. Some Ninjas come with a separate basket for tea. If yours does, use it. If not, consider using a paper coffee filter inside the mesh basket. This will catch more of the tea bits.

Water quality and temperature

This is crucial for any brew, coffee or tea. Use filtered water if your tap water is hard or has a strong taste. Bad water makes bad tea. Your Ninja’s heating element is designed for coffee temperatures, typically around 195-205°F. Most black and herbal teas do well at this temperature. Green and white teas prefer cooler water, often around 175-185°F. Your Ninja might not have a specific temp setting for tea, so you might need to let it cool a bit after brewing if you’re making delicate teas.

Grind size and coffee freshness

Wait, this is about tea. My bad. For tea, you’re not grinding anything. But you do need to think about the form of your tea. Loose leaf tea is generally preferred for quality. If using loose leaf, aim for a medium to coarse size. Tea bags are convenient, but check the quality of the tea inside. Old tea, like old coffee, just won’t taste great.

Coffee-to-water ratio

This is where it gets a bit different for tea. Coffee makers are calibrated for coffee extraction. For tea, you’ll need to adjust. A good starting point for a full pot is about 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea per 6 oz of water. For tea bags, use 1-2 bags per 6 oz of water, depending on how strong you like it. You’ll probably need to experiment.

Cleanliness/descale status

This is a big one. Coffee oils can linger in your Ninja, even after rinsing. These oils will transfer to your tea, giving it a weird, bitter taste. Make sure your machine is thoroughly cleaned and descaled according to the manufacturer’s instructions before brewing tea. A good cleaning cycle with just water can help flush out residual coffee flavors.

Step-by-step (brew workflow)

1. Clean your Ninja.

• What to do: Run a full cleaning cycle with hot water, or follow the descaling instructions if it’s been a while. Then, run a plain water cycle to rinse.
• What “good” looks like: No coffee smell or residue in the water reservoir or brew basket.
• Common mistake: Skipping this step and ending up with coffee-flavored tea. Avoid it by dedicating time for a good clean.

2. Add fresh water.

• What to do: Fill the water reservoir with cold, filtered water to the desired brew level.
• What “good” looks like: Clean water, no debris.
• Common mistake: Using hot water or water that’s been sitting around. Use cold, fresh water for the best taste.

3. Prepare the brew basket.

• What to do: If you have a dedicated tea basket, use it. Otherwise, place a paper coffee filter inside the mesh basket.
• What “good” looks like: The filter is seated properly, ready to hold the tea.
• Common mistake: Forgetting the paper filter if using loose leaf tea in the standard basket, leading to a gritty cup.

4. Add your tea.

• What to do: Add your loose leaf tea or tea bags to the prepared basket. Use the recommended ratio (e.g., 1 tbsp loose leaf per 6 oz water, or 1-2 bags per 6 oz water).
• What “good” looks like: Even distribution of tea in the basket.
• Common mistake: Overfilling the basket, which can lead to poor water flow and weak tea.

5. Select brew size and strength.

• What to do: Choose your desired cup size or carafe size. If your Ninja has a “Rich” or “Classic” setting, start with “Classic.”
• What “good” looks like: The machine is ready to start brewing.
• Common mistake: Using the “Rich” or strongest coffee setting, which might over-extract delicate teas.

6. Start the brew cycle.

• What to do: Press the brew button.
• What “good” looks like: The machine starts heating water and dripping into the carafe.
• Common mistake: Accidentally starting a coffee brew cycle if you have multiple buttons. Double-check your selection.

7. Monitor the brew (optional).

• What to do: If brewing a smaller batch, you can often pause the brew to let the tea steep for a moment before it finishes dripping.
• What “good” looks like: You control the steeping time for stronger flavor.
• Common mistake: Leaving the tea to steep too long in the hot water, leading to bitterness.

8. Serve immediately.

• What to do: Once brewing is complete, pour your tea into a mug or serving carafe.
• What “good” looks like: Freshly brewed tea, hot and aromatic.
• Common mistake: Letting the tea sit on the warming plate for too long, which can cook it and make it taste stale.

9. Clean up.

• What to do: Discard the used tea leaves or bags. Rinse the brew basket and carafe thoroughly.
• What “good” looks like: No lingering tea smell or residue.
• Common mistake: Leaving wet tea leaves in the basket, which can mold or create odors.

Common mistakes (and what happens if you ignore them)

Mistake	What it causes	Fix
Not cleaning the machine first	Coffee-flavored tea, bitter taste	Run a full cleaning cycle with hot water, followed by a plain water rinse.
Using tap water	Off-flavors, mineral buildup in the machine	Use filtered or bottled water.
Using the wrong filter	Silty or weak tea	Use a paper filter for loose leaf if no dedicated tea basket is available.
Incorrect tea-to-water ratio	Weak or overly strong/bitter tea	Start with 1 tbsp loose leaf per 6 oz water, or 1-2 bags per 6 oz water, and adjust to taste.
Brewing delicate teas at full temp	Scorched or bitter green/white tea	Let the brewed water cool for a few minutes before adding tea, or use a cooler brew setting if available.
Over-steeping in the basket	Bitter, astringent taste	Remove the tea leaves/bags promptly after brewing, or use the pause-and-drip feature judiciously.
Leaving tea on the warming plate	“Cooked” flavor, stale taste	Serve immediately or transfer to a thermal carafe.
Not rinsing the carafe thoroughly	Lingering coffee oils, off-flavors in next brew	Wash the carafe with soap and water after each use, and rinse well.
Using stale or low-quality tea	Dull, uninspired flavor	Use fresh, good-quality tea for the best results.
Not considering tea type	Inconsistent results	Different teas need different temperatures and steeping times. Research your specific tea.

Decision rules (simple if/then)

• If your Ninja has a dedicated tea basket, then use it because it’s designed for better tea filtration.
• If you are brewing green or white tea, then consider letting the water cool slightly after brewing because these teas can become bitter when brewed too hot.
• If you are using loose leaf tea and don’t have a tea basket, then use a paper coffee filter because it will prevent sediment from getting into your cup.
• If your tap water tastes bad, then use filtered water because it will significantly improve the flavor of your tea.
• If you notice a coffee taste in your tea, then thoroughly clean and descale your Ninja because coffee oils are likely lingering.
• If your tea is coming out weak, then increase the amount of tea you’re using or brew a stronger setting (if available) because the ratio might be off.
• If your tea is too bitter, then decrease the amount of tea or shorten the brew time because you might be over-extracting.
• If you want to make iced tea, then brew a double-strength batch and pour it over ice because the ice will dilute it to the perfect strength.
• If your Ninja has a “Rich” or “Classic” setting, then start with “Classic” for tea because “Rich” is usually optimized for coffee extraction.
• If you’re brewing a large batch of tea, then use the carafe setting because it’s designed for larger volumes.

FAQ

Can I use tea bags in my Ninja coffee maker?

Yes, you can use tea bags. Just place them in the brew basket, usually 1-2 bags per 6 oz of water, depending on your preference. Make sure the basket is clean first.

What about loose leaf tea?

Loose leaf tea works well, but you’ll likely want to use a paper coffee filter in the brew basket to catch finer particles. A good starting point is about 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea per 6 oz of water.

Will my tea taste like coffee?

It might, if you don’t clean your machine thoroughly. Coffee oils can build up. Run a cleaning cycle with just water before brewing tea to minimize this.

Can I brew green tea or white tea?

You can, but be mindful of the water temperature. These teas are best brewed cooler than black teas. Your Ninja might not have specific temperature controls, so you might need to let the hot water cool for a few minutes after brewing before adding the tea.

How much tea should I use?

This is highly dependent on the tea and your taste. A general guideline for loose leaf is 1 tablespoon per 6 oz of water. For tea bags, start with 1-2 bags per 6 oz. Experiment to find what you like best.

Is it better to use the “Rich” or “Classic” brew setting?

For tea, the “Classic” setting is usually a better starting point. The “Rich” setting is designed to extract more from coffee grounds and might over-extract delicate teas, making them bitter.

How do I make iced tea?

Brew a stronger batch of tea (use about double the amount of tea). Pour this concentrated hot tea directly over a carafe or pitcher filled with ice. The melting ice will dilute it to the perfect strength and chill it quickly.

What if my tea is too weak?

Try using more tea leaves or tea bags, or consider using the “Rich” setting if you’re brewing black tea. Ensure your water is hot enough, too.

What this page does NOT cover (and where to go next)

• Specific temperature controls for different tea types on your Ninja model. (Check your manual for any advanced settings).
• Detailed guides on the optimal brewing parameters for every single type of tea. (Look for specialized tea brewing resources).
• Comparisons between Ninja-brewed tea and tea brewed with dedicated electric kettles or tea makers. (Explore reviews of specialized tea brewing equipment).
• Advanced techniques like blooming tea or multi-infusion. (Search for advanced tea brewing tutorials).