This article contains the FAQs for the CF085 Series Ninja Coffee Bar®. This supports the following product SKUs CF085, CF085C, CF085Q, CF085REF, CF085W, CF085Z, CF086, CF086C, CF087 and CF087W.
The Over Ice Brew is designed to brew hot coffee over ice to lock in the flavor for rich, smooth iced coffee. Make sure your cup, travel mug, or carafe is filled all the way to the top with ice cubes. We strongly recommend ice cubes when making iced coffee. Shaved and crushed ice have different packing characteristics. Because of this, you should NOT use shaved or crushed ice as the vessel used may overflow once coffee is brewed over the ice. IMPORTANT: DO NOT use hot water in the water reservoir. We recommend cool, fresh, filtered water.
The model number can be found on the back or bottom of your unit. The model number will begin with the letters 'CF'.
Many variables go into brewing the perfect cup of coffee. Three of those variables, Temperature, Pre-Infusion, and Saturdation, are difficult to manage on your own. Our Thermal Flavor Extraction(R) Technology automatically controls them for you. How It Works: Temperature: Water is heated to the ideal temperature for coffee. Pre-Infusion: Grounds are evenly saturated then given time to 'bloom' Saturation: Grounds are saturated again for an even and consistent extraction
Once the Ninja Coffee Bar has brewed the first cup, the brewer is pre-warmed. This enables any following brews to be slightly hotter. For a hotter first cup, after plugging in and turning on your brewer by pressing the Power button, allow 3 minutes for your brewer to pre-heat.
The thermal carafe has double-walled insulation, which keeps heat locked inside. The insulation barrier means the heat from the warming plate will not reach inside the carafe, nor affect the temperature of the coffee.
Start by adding 6 oz. or less of cold milk to the glass jar. For cold froth, skip to Step 2. For hot froth, see instructions below. Microwave milk warming times:700-900 watts: 60-75 seconds1000-1200 watts: 45-60 secondsIMPORTANT: Remove black frother press prior to placing the glass jar in the microwave. CAUTION: Glass surface will be hot to touch after heating the liquid in the microwave. Use care when handling the jar. Place the frother press into the glass jar and secure the lid. NOTE: Ensure the pouring holes are turned away from spout lid when frothing to prevent milk splashing out. Pump the frother press for 20 to 30 seconds to create velvety-smooth micro froth for your specialty drinks. For best results, keep the bottom end of the frother press submerged below the surface of the milk while pumping. Pour micro froth into your mug or drinking glass. Top make a layered drink, pour the micro froth first and then brew over it. For more of an integrated drink, brew coffee first then add micro froth. Enjoy your frothed milk or cream in your favorite Ninja Coffee Bar beverages.
To keep your Ninja Easy Frother looking and working its best, hand wash in warm, soapy water before first use and after each use. Unscrew the micro frother to separate the components for cleaning. Dry all components completely before reassembling and storing. Prior to next use, examine the glass to ensure it has not chipped. If glass is chipped, do not use.
The Permanent Filter, Water Reservoir, Water Reservoir Flip Top Lid, Glass Carafe and Brew-Through Lid are all top-rack, dishwasher safe. For the Thermal Versions (CF085, CF086, CF087), the thermal carafe is not dishwasher safe. The brew basket is NOT dishwasher safe.
Cleaning your brewer is very important to ensure you're receiving the best possible coffee from your Ninja Coffee Bar. Clean your brewer when the CLEAN button on your Ninja Coffee Bar illuminates.
To brew a half carafe or full carafe, place your carafe below the brew basket and fill the water reservoir with water. Then insert a #4 paper filter or the permanent filter in the brew basket, and add your favorite coffee using the Ninja Smart Scoop. After adding the water and coffee, choose a size and brew type. If you want to pour a cup of coffee before the brew is complete you can close the Drip Stop and remove your carafe to pour a cup. Remember to replace the carafe and open the Drip Stop when you're done. You can also use the Drip Stop to stop the brew basket from dripping coffee at the end of the brew. If you want to brew a travel mug, you can place larger cups and travel mugs directly on the base of the unit. If you want to brew a cup, lower the cup platform below the brew basket and place your cup on the platform, following the same instructions above.
The only accessories that are microwave-safe are the Ninja insulated cups, mugs and tumblers.
Your Ninja Coffee Bar will stay pre-heated for 72 hours unless you turn the brewer off.
For original units (DC5415 and earlier), there is no 'off' feature on the CF085 series and CF085 series. However, on the multi-service dial on newer units there is an 'off' selection.
The white particles/film you are seeing may be mineral deposits coming from the water you're using. This is an indicator that your Ninja Coffee Bar needs to be cleaned. Follow the instructions on cleaning & descaling your unit in your instruction booklet, or under the 'How to clean & descale your Ninja Coffee Bar'FAQ.
The brew basket is designed to fit a #4 cone paper filter, or the gold Ninja Permanent Filter.
After turning on your Ninja Coffee Bar, the pre-heat notification will illuminate for 3 minutes as your brewer warms up. Once it has warmed up to the proper temperature, the pre-heat notification will turn off indicating it is time to brew.
After a brew you may notice leftover water in your water reservoir after filling to the minimum fill line of the size selected. The water reservoir markings are minimum fill lines that indicate if there is enough water for the proper brew size in the reservoir, but all brew styles use different amounts of water to create the proper flavor and concentration. Auto-iQ One-Touch Intelligence will only use the water needed for the brew size and style selected. Please note that the system is designed to always have water remain in the reservoir after a brew. This to protect the boiler from boiling dry, and helps extend the life of your machine.
The dimensions of the Ninja Coffee Bar are as follows: Imperial (inches): 10. 827 (depth) x 10. 354 (width) x 14. 764 (height); OR Metric (centimeters): 27. 5 (depth) x 26. 3 (width) x 37. 5 (height)
Specialty Brew is Ninja's signature, one-touch brew designed to deliver the same volume each time. Regardless of what size selection is illuminated, your Specialty Brew will deliver approximately 4 oz.
A medium grind coffee is recommended.
When you make hot coffee, the coffee grounds will absorb some of the water that is brewed, resulting in slightly less brewed coffee than the water used. The more coffee you use, the more water will be absorbed. Additionally, our wider bottom carafe holds most of the coffee at the base, which helps control the temperature more evenly. If you are experiencing inconsistent brew volume, we recommend you run a clean cycle. Please refer to the How to clean & descale your Ninja Coffee Bar FAQ. See flow chart for troubleshooting.
To set the clock, simply press the H (hour) and/or M (minute) button until you reach the current time.
Power on the unit then press the Delay Brew button. Add the recommended amount of coffee to the brew basket for your brew size and brew type. Toggle the drip stop to the open position, denoted by a water droplet. Fill the reservoir with water up to, but not exceeding, the Max Fill line. The Delay Brew button will illuminate and the clock will begin to flash "12:00" or the last Delay Brew time that was set. While the clock is flashing, press the H (Hour) or M (Minute) buttons to set the time you would like the Delay Brew to begin. The AM or PM indicator will illuminate on the left side of the display as you are setting the desired time. Once the desired time has been set, select the size of the vessel that you would like to brew. Select the Brew Type that you desire from the four flashing buttons. The selected brew type will be illuminated. Once the time, brew size, and brew type have been set, allow the Delay Brew button to stop flashing, or press the Delay Brew button to activate. When the Delay Brew is activated, the Delay Brew button will illuminate and an audible signal will play to verify the Delay Brew is set. Place the appropriate sized vessel under the brew basket. IMPORTANT : The unit must remain on in order for the Delay Brew function to work. Do not power off after setting Delay Brew. Also, make sure the Drip Stop is in the open position.
The Ninja Coffee Bar is designed to brew between 137 and 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Ninja Coffee Bar is designed to brew between 184 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
To ensure the best possible coffee, a new brew cycle is needed. Refill the water reservoir to correlating fill line for your brew size, or up to, but not exceeding, the Max Fill line. Empty the brew basket, and the brewing vessel. Return the empty vessel beneath the brew basket, and insert fresh coffee grounds in the brew basket and start your brew cycle again. For additional volume troubleshooting, see flow chart.
No, the thermal carafe is safe to leave on your table and countertops.
Yes, when the Ninja Coffee Bar is brewing, you will notice that the brew type you have selected will be illuminated and pulse on and off during the brew.
Yes, the glass and thermal carafes were specially designed for both hot and iced coffee. When making iced coffee in the carafe, fill it to the top with ice cubes and let your Ninja Coffee Bar do the rest.
The beeping indicates that your coffee is ready, ENJOY!
For the most effective cleaning, we recommend using a descaling solution specifically formulated for coffee maker cleaning. Alternately, fill the water reservoir to the travel mug line (16 oz. ) with only white vinegar. This method is effective for mildly scaled machines. See flow chart for additional troubleshooting.
No, however a medium grind coffee is recommended.
Yes, all of our cups, tumblers and Over Ice Carafe are BPA free.
We do not recommend adding water to the water reservoir while the Ninja Coffee Bar is in use.
We do not recommend brewing tea in the Ninja Coffee Bar because there are coffee oils and flavors that will be left in the brew basket. This may cause the tea to produce a flavor you may not expect.
Once a Specialty Brew has started, you cannot change brew settings. For all other brews, you may select a different brew size or style. Results vary depending upon the status of the current brew cycle.
(Only Provide if Consumer Inquires) -Yes, with our stainless steel travel mug, the use of a metal spoon is okay and will not cause breakdown.
Yes, we recommend using the brew-through lid as it helps maintain the carafe temperature, and deliver optimal flavor. Not using the brew-through lid, or not having the lid on properly, could allow heat to escape from the carafe causing the coffee to rapidly cool.
No, the paper filter and permanent filter should not be used together. Please use either a paper filter or the permanent filter when brewing coffee. Using a permanent filter in conjunction with a paper filter may result in the clogging and backing up of water and/or coffee in the filter basket.
This brewer is designed to brew coffee grounds only. Do not insert pods or K-Cups.
To pause the brew cycle, simply move the the Drip Stop toggle to the closed position denoted by a water droplet with a slash. This stops the flow of coffee from the brew basket. After pouring your cup, quickly return the vessel and open the Drip Stop to continue brewing. CAUTION: NEVER open the brew basket while the Ninja Coffee Bar is brewing. Scalding may occur if the brew basket is removed during brewing cycles.
It's easy - simply turn the Multi-Serve size dial to Cup, Travel Mug, Half Carafe, or Full Carafe. The brew size icon will illuminate to show which brew size you have selected.
Cleaning your Ninja Coffee Bar is easy. Follow the instructions below . Before cleaning, close the Drip Stop. After each brew is complete and the coffee grounds have cooled, discard the paper filter. If using the permanent filter, carefully remove and wash. Remove brew basket from the brewer, rinse, and wash with soap and warm water. Wash the carafe and brew-through lid with soap and warm water. Use a bottle brush or cloth to wash the inside of the carafe. DO NOT use a wire brush. Wipe machine down with a cloth and soap and warm water. Let the warming plate cool before cleaning with a wet cloth and soap and water. DO NOT immerse the base in water. NOTE: The brew-through lid, glass carafe, permanent filter, and water reservoir are top-rack dishwasher safe. The thermal carafe is NOT dishwasher safe. NOTE: For descaling troubleshooting, see flow chart.
Before your first brew, we recommend runing two Full Carafe, Classic Brew cycles with just water (no grounds) to prime your Ninja Coffee Bar. With your brewer plugged in and powered on, fill your reservoir with water up to, but not exceeding, the Max Fill line. Place the carafe under the brew basket, choose the Full Carafe setting, then press the Classic Brew button. When the cycle is complete, discard the water in the carafe and repeat. After you have completed two cycles, you are ready to use your Ninja Coffee Bar. NOTE: It is not necessary to run two full clean cycles.
We recommend cleaning your carafe with warm, soapy water. If you want to clean the carafe more thoroughly, we recommend using a soft foam brush. NOTE: Do not place the thermal carafe in the dishwasher. DO NOT clean carafe with abrasive cleansers, steel wool pads, or other abrasive material.
To remove the water reservoir from the base, hold the reservoir by the grip, and twist counterclockwise. Either flip the lid top over or remove lid by twisting counterclockwise. Fill with water up to, but not exceeding, the Max Fill line (43 oz. ). To replace the water reservoir, place on top of the base and twist clockwise until you feel the reservoir lock into place. NOTE: Depending on the size and brew type, you may have water left in the reservoir.
For milder coffee, try the Classic Brew setting using light roast beans and a paper filter in your brew basket (rather than the permanent metal filter). If you want an even milder flavor, you can put less coffee in the brew basket " just keep in mind that grounds do absorb liquid during the normal brew cycle, so you will wind up with a less concentrated, larger cup of coffee.
For stronger coffee, try the Rich Brew setting using dark roast beans and the permanent filter in your brew basket (rather than a paper filter). If you want an even bolder flavor, you can add more coffee grounds in the brew basket " just keep in mind that the additional grounds do absorb liquid, so you will wind up with a more concentrated, smaller cup of coffee.
Advise: This is commonly seen in areas where people have hard water. Hard water naturally contains higher levels of calcium and magnesium. This can easily be wiped away with a damp cloth.
Advise: If you used a cleaning solution not compatible with an aluminum boiler it may have reacted in such a way that resulted in the grey water you are seeing. It is always advised that Ninja Coffee Bar Descaling solution or a mixture of white vinegar and water be used when cleaning your machine. Run 2-3 carafes of water through the unit or until water runs clear and continue to use normally. Run 2-3 carafes of water through the unit or until water runs clear and continue to use normally.