Birch Natural mattress: two-minute review

The Birch Natural mattress is a latex innerspring hybrid mattress made with organic, non-toxic materials. It has an organic cotton cover followed by organic fire retardant wool. Organic birch wool comprises the comfort layer, natural Talalay latex is used in the pressure relief layer, and up to 1,000 individually wrapped coils make up the support layer. Lastly, a second layer of fire retardant wool is used in the base layer.

The Birch Natural is very breathable and cool to the touch, which is why we specifically recommend it for hot sleepers. (When shopping for a new mattress, don’t forget to consult the TechRadar best mattress buying guide for must-know insights.)

This organic mattress clocks in at around 6 to 7 on a scale of 10 for firmness, making it medium-firm to firm. These firmness levels are best suited for back and stomach sleepers to promote spinal alignment. Side sleepers will prefer a softer mattress to prevent pressure buildup, though the Birch Natural might prove to be an adequate enough fit for average to heavier weight sleepers.

The Birch Natural mattress is bouncy, which can be an attractive feature for combination sleepers in particular, as it enables them to switch positions throughout the night with ease. (Absorbent memory foam, for instance, can make moving around a bit more challenging.) However, this quality has the potential to be disruptive for co-sleepers—namely if one or both co-sleepers wake easily and/or are fidgety. Lastly, although it isn’t cheap, the Birch Natural offers a good value for what you pay. 

Keep reading to find out more details on this highly rated organic mattress and if it could be a good fit for your needs. We tested it in all major areas of performance—rating how it stacked up in terms of pressure relief, motion isolation, edge support, cooling, and ease of set up.

Birch Natural mattress review: price

• Offers chance to save hundreds of dollars
• Free ground shipping across the US
• Two free pillows with each purchase

The Birch Natural is the brand’s most popular mattress—though the only other one currently offered (aside from the kids’ version) is the Birch Luxe Natural.

Since it’s organic, you can expect to pay more than you would for a conventional mattress with similar features otherwise. At full MSRP, it comes within the premium price range. Fortunately, the mattress is often sold at a promotional price—typically 20% off—which brings the cost down to the upper-mid range in the wider market. (When I tested the Birch Natural for this review, savings of $250 to $438 were on the table, based on your chosen mattress size.) Don’t forget to consult TechRadar’s mattress sales guide, which is updated regularly to help you score the best deal on your new mattress of choice.

Promotional pricing aside, the value of your purchase is boosted by free ground shipping in all 50 states. Birch also entices potential buyers with two free Eco-Rest pillows. These offers combined can wind up saving you hundreds of dollars.

Here’s what you can expect to pay for the Birch Natural, whether for full MSRP or at the usual sale price:

• Twin size: MSRP $1,248.80 (regular sale price $999)
• Twin XL size: MSRP $1,311.30 (regular sale price $1,049)
• Full size: MSRP $1,561.30 (regular sale price $1,249)
• Queen size: MSRP $1,811.30 (regular sale price $1,499)
• King size: MSRP $2,186.30 (regular sale price $1,749)
• Cal King size: MSRP $2,186.30 (regular sale price $1,749)

Birch Natural mattress review: specs

Birch Natural mattress review: materials and design

• Latex innerspring hybrid mattress
• Organic, eco-friendly, non-toxic materials
• Multiple breathable layers assist with cooling

Birch takes pride in using safe and organic  materials that are good for sleepers and the environment alike. Many of the materials used also boast third-party certifications to back up their quality and eco-friendliness.

The soft organic cotton cover is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified. Organic wool in the following layer provides protection against fires. The comfort layer uses organic birch wool to maintain the shape of the mattress as well as help with temperature regulation. The pressure relief layer uses natural Talalay latex, which is eco-INSTITUT certified and provides extra give to help alleviate pressure points in standard areas like the shoulders, back, and hips.

The support layer limits motion transfer and bolsters the body via individually wrapped coils (which, as we’ll cover later, are thicker lengthwise along the sides to amplify edge support). Finally, the base consists of another layer of fire retardant wool to help the mattress hold up with nightly use over the years.

Ahead, I’ll get into how these materials and design elements can help make or break a good night’s rest.

Design score: 5 of 5

Birch Natural mattress review: comfort

• Average firmness of 6.5 out of 10
• Extra bounce makes it great for combination sleepers
• Side sleepers may not experience adequate pressure relief

According to the brand, the Birch Natural clocks in at 6 to 7 out of 10 for firmness. After testing it for the full period (and in light of other mattresses I’ve reviewed within similar ranges), I think an average 6.5 out of 10 fits best. However, some customers believe it leans much further into firm territory, even suggesting it’s an 8 out of 10.

You won’t find a hugging or cradling feeling laying atop the Birch Mattress, as you would with a memory foam mattress. Instead, it’s taut and offers the sensation of being lifted, rather than sinking in, via innersprings. However, it doesn’t feel hard or uncomfortable, and rather provides slight conforming to your body’s curves and a mild amount of give.

To measure pressure relief, I put a 55-pound kettlebell in the middle of the bed, which mimics sinkage from a sleeper’s weight. The amount of sinkage was about 2.5 inches, which also helped inform my 6.5 out of 10 firmness rating.

I’m a combination sleeper (under 130 pounds) who mainly gravitates toward side sleeping, followed by back sleeping. However, I tried out all sleeping positions to see how comfortable the Birch Natural mattress was in each. I felt best while back sleeping, followed by stomach sleeping. I felt mild contouring and the Birch Natural helped to keep my spine aligned in these positions. That said, I found it most impressive when switching from one position to another throughout the night. The springy nature of the mattress allowed for minimal effort and a great deal of ease to move around.

I found it less ideal (but not downright uncomfortable) for side sleeping. This makes sense since softer mattresses offer extra cradling to minimize pressure buildup along the side body in this position. However, I found it to be more comfortable than other firm mattresses I’ve reviewed for side sleeping, which I don’t want to discount.

I asked a tall, average weight sleeper to share her insights on comfort in all sleeping positions. She found it more comfortable for side sleeping than I did, but agreed with my findings in the other positions.

All things considered, the Birch Natural is likely to be most comfortable for back and stomach sleepers, and especially combination sleepers who switch off between these two positions. Average weight and heavier sleepers will like the support this mattress provides—though as a lighter weight sleeper myself, I found it to be comfortable in most regards as well.

Comfort score: 4.5 out of 5

Birch Natural mattress review: temperature regulation

• Worthy pick for hot sleepers
• Materials and design elements boost breathability
• Cool to the touch

TechRadar already deems the Birch Natural mattress to be the best organic mattress for keeping sleepers cool, and I was pleased to discover that it didn’t disappoint when I tested it for myself. I sometimes run hot at night, so I was looking forward to this feature most.

The Birch Natural lives up to the expectation thanks to its materials and design throughout several layers. The organic cotton cover is breathable, the organic wool is naturally moisture-wicking, the Talalay latex enhances ventilation, and the innerspring coils permit a high degree of airflow.

While testing the mattress—which is cool to the touch—I never woke up from overheating or found myself sweating due to trapping heat. I enjoyed cool, more restful nights thanks to its prime temperature regulating abilities, and recommend it for hot sleepers seeking the same relief.

(Note: I tested the Birch Natural mattress at the start of spring in Los Angeles. Nightly temperatures averaged in the low 50s Fahrenheit. I slept on bamboo sheets, a down alternative comforter, and a bamboo duvet.)

Temperature regulation score: 5 out of 5

Birch Natural mattress review: motion isolation

• Doesn’t absorb motion as well as alternatives with similar firmness
• Not ideal for certain co-sleepers

Motion isolation in a mattress is very important for co-sleepers especially. If one or both co-sleepers move around during the night and/or wake easily, sleep quality can be an issue.

To objectively find out how well the Birch Natural performs with motion transfer, I put a wine glass in the center of the bed. From there, I dropped a 10-pound kettlebell at 4, 10, and 25 inches away to notice how much it moved and see if the glass would tip over. This test helps gauge the likelihood and extent of a sleeper feeling another’s movement while in bed.

When I dropped the weight 4 inches away, the wine glass fell over most times. It recovered its position when I dropped the weight 10 inches away, but looked as though it was about to fall. When I dropped the kettlebell 25 inches away, the wine glass moved slightly.

Although the glass only fell from 4 inches away, there’s a chance that one or more co-sleepers could experience waking throughout the night if someone moves or fidgets a lot. I hadn’t yet seen a wine glass fall from this experiment with other medium-firm to firm mattresses, which also informed my final rating. 

Motion isolation score: 3.5 out of 5

Birch Natural mattress review: edge support

• Impressive lengthwise edge support
• Whole surface area of mattress is sturdy and usable and sturdy

Edge support is an important consideration in a mattress since it increases the overall usability of the sleeping area. Strong edge support can also help you sit sturdy and upright on the perimeter of the bed and prevent the sides from early wear and tear (namely sagging).

The Birch Natural is impressive in terms of edge support. The support layer has thicker coils along the sides of the mattress, and its medium-firm to firm construction also contributes to its sturdy surface.

I didn’t experience any issues getting into or out of bed, and was able to rest comfortably along the sides of the bed without thinking I’d roll off. To measure edge support more objectively, I placed the 55-pound kettlebell on the sides to measure sinkage. At just shy of 2.5 inches, it was very close to the sinkage I measured at the middle of the mattress, which confirmed how sturdy the side edges truly are. However, you’ll need to upgrade to the Birch Luxe Natural for stronger edge support along the top and bottom of the bed.

Edge support score: 4.5 out of 5

Birch Natural mattress review: setup

• Mattress vacuum-packed and rolled in a box
• Free ground shipping
• Wheezes upon unboxing but off-gassing isn’t an issue

Those who purchase the Birch Natural will appreciate the free ground shipping to all 50 states. Although you won’t be able to select your delivery date and time window, you can track your shipment with tracking information provided via email. White glove delivery isn’t currently available.

The product page reads that it takes 3 to 10 business days to ship the Birch Natural. I was surprised to find that I received my shipment in less than 3 days. Moreover, I was pleased to see that it arrived at my apartment doorstep rather than in my lobby, which made maneuvering it into my home much easier.

The Birch Natural arrives vacuum-sealed and rolled in a box with three plastic layers. There was a mild hissing sound that lasted for about 2.5 minutes upon unwrapping the first layer. However, since it uses organic materials, you don’t have to worry about off-gassing hazardous chemicals. I also didn’t observe bad smells throughout the process, though others have reported this (and that it dissipated within 24 hours).

I found it easy enough to place the mattress on my bed frame on my own when it was still folded. From there, I cut through the remaining layers of plastic. Upon scanning the QR code on the info card, I read that the mattress takes 1 to 2 hours to unwind and expand entirely—yet it appeared as though it expanded significantly within the first few minutes.

Setup score: 4.5 out of 5

Birch Natural mattress review: customer reviews

• 4.7 out of 5 stars (average) from 1,800 reviews on website
• Callouts for comfort and pain relief from back and stomach sleepers
• Disparities on actual firmness level and some complaints about motion isolation

While writing this review (mid-April 2023), the Birch Natural has an average of 4.7 stars out of 5 across 1,800 reviews on BirchLiving.com. You can buy the mattress at CB2.com, but it currently doesn’t have any reviews published.

A few common trends stood out across the many reviews I filtered through and scanned. Happy customers felt pressure relief and fewer aches and pains while sleeping on the back and stomach. Other reviewers praised the Birch Natural’s cooling properties and strong edge support. Many reviewers were happy with their purchase, writing the organic mattress offered a good value for the investment.

On the other hand, other customers were dismayed, stating the mattress was too firm (and sometimes even too soft) for their needs. (Of course, perceived firmness can vary based on your weight and sleeping position. It can also take time to adjust to a new mattress, particularly if it differs significantly from your former one.) Some co-sleepers thought it fell short for motion isolation, and others simply found that there was nothing too impressive with the mattress.

Should you buy the Birch Natural mattress?

I believe that the Birch Natural is worth buying if you run hot at night and are a combination sleeper (flipping between back and stomach sleeping) in particular. If you’re set on buying an organic mattress but need to narrow down your choices, these are two important callouts that may bump it to the top of your list. That said, back and stomach sleepers of most weights can also appreciate the Birch Natural. The value-adds—including regular promotional pricing, free ground shipping, and two free pillows—are also attractive and can end up amounting to hundreds of dollars in savings.

The organic, non-toxic materials are also compelling for those who are concerned about chemical exposure and prefer to support businesses with eco-friendly initiatives.

While I don’t fully advise against co-sleepers buying this mattress, it’s important to note that motion isolation can potentially be an issue. Moreover, side sleepers tend to prefer softer mattresses to mitigate pressure buildup, so they too may want to consider other options.

Birch Natural mattress review: Also consider

How I tested the Birch Natural mattress

I slept on the Birch Natural mattress for three weeks in early spring in Los Angeles, where average nightly temperatures were in the low-50s Fahrenheit. I used bamboo sheets and a bamboo duvet to cover an alternative down comforter. 

I asked a taller, slightly heavier sleeper with similar sleep preferences as mine to provide her opinion on comfort and pressure relief in order to bolster this review with an additional perspective. 

Since several markers of mattress reviews can be subjective, I performed standardized tests with weights to objectively assess softness, edge support, and motion isolation.

Two-minute review

The Ninja DualBrew does a whole lot more than just brew your typical carafe of coffee. You can set the machine to make smaller amounts of coffee for individual servings, or it’ll make a specialty espresso-like brew. That’s not all it’s capable of, as you also get a K-cup pod adapter to use K-cups with the coffee maker rather than coffee grounds and a filter. To top it off is a hot water feature and a milk frother to make foam for drinks. 

This isn’t Ninja’s first foray into the coffee maker game. The brand that’s synonymous with making quality and affordable smaller kitchen appliances has ventured into the territory before. The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker, for example, offers most of the DualBrew’s features but doesn’t work with K-cup pods, and it’ll set you back $169.00. There’s also a relatively similar model to the DualBrew, the Ninja Espresso and Coffee Barista System, for espresso capsules rather than K-cup pods. It costs slightly more than the DualBrew at $249/£200.  

After testing the DualBrew, I can confirm it makes a great cup of joe relatively easily, whether you're using the traditional grind and filter method or slotting in the K-cup pod adapter to brew that way. The control panel is more complicated than some, but most should get the hang of it after a few brews. There’s plenty of size variety when brewing, and you also get to choose from different brew styles: classic, rich, over-ice, and specialty. I didn’t notice much of a taste difference between the classic and rich brews.  The over-ice option did succeed in making a less watery iced coffee. However, the specialty brew, which makes a 4oz espresso-like coffee, didn’t come close to espresso quality, though the brew was stronger than typical coffee. 

Some special features on the Ninja Dual Brew are worth noting. First, it can dispense hot water, and there’s no coffee taste whatsoever as a completely separate water line is used. A milk frother, though it doesn’t heat the milk, does a solid job of making lasting foam to put on lattes and cappuccinos. Its water tank can also be easily moved from the side to the back of the machine, giving you a better fit depending on your space. 

If you’re someone who loves options when brewing coffee, the Ninja DualBrew is for you. It may be expensive, but the different sizes and brew styles keep up with some of the best coffee makers around.  The K-cup adapter also makes it easier for individuals that want to be less involved in the coffee-making process from time to time and have an easier clean up. No matter how you use the machine, you’re almost guaranteed to have a good cup of coffee. 

Ninja DualBrew Pro review: price and availability

• List price:  $229.99 / £200
• Only available in the US

You can purchase the coffee maker direct from Ninja or various third-party retailers, including Amazon and Target for a list price of $229.99 / £200. There are a few variants, like an option that includes a permanent filter on Amazon for $239.99 / £192 or another from Best Buy for $249.99 / £200 with a thermal carafe rather than the traditional glass, keeping your coffee warmer longer. 

You may think paying over $200 / £160 for a coffee maker is a bit excessive, but it’s a whole lot more than just a coffee maker. It keeps up with Keurig machines, delivering single-serving pod coffee. Of course, there’s a variety of other brew sizes using traditional grinds and even an espresso-like option for specialty drinks. Something like the Cuisinart Coffee Center 2-in-1 offers similar functionality for $199.95, but you’ll lose features like the separate water line for hot water and a milk frother.

The Ninja DualBrew Pro is only available in the US.  

• Value score: 4.5/5

Ninja DualBrew Pro review: specifications

Ninja DualBrew Pro review: design and features

• Adjustable water tank  
• Extensive, easy-to-use control panel 
• Variety of brew size options 
• Foldaway milk frother 

The Ninja DualBrew is slightly larger than your average coffee maker, measuring 15.5 x 9.08 x 11.18in / 39.37 x 23 x 29.9cm (h x w x l), with the 60oz / 1.7 litres water tank installed on the side. Its 15.5-inch height could prove to be a problem for those with lower cabinets, as when lifting the lid of the K-Cup adapter to add a K-Cup for brewing, it would hit the top of my cabinets. This wasn’t an issue with coffee grinds, as the lid actually slides back into the coffee maker.

This machine is built mostly of sturdy black plastic with stainless steel accents. Your typical appliance look, but the stainless steel managed to be full of my fingerprints within the first few minutes of being out of the box. The setup is simple though, as the Ninja DualBrew came fully assembled sans the milk frother tip, which just locked into place in 2 seconds.

If you’d rather add more bulk to the back of the machine, the water tank can be easily installed in the rear with no tools, making it a slimmer 15.5 x14.26 x 7.08in / 39.37 x 36.2 x 17.9cm (h x w x l). It just requires removing a small plastic tab and swinging the base around. Be sure to remove the water tank before doing this.

To make life easier, the water tank tells you how high to fill it for each size brew, showing you the same symbols on the control panel.  It also slides off the base to fill up at the sink. Don’t be afraid to fill the water tank up all the way, even if you’re just brewing a cup, as the machine does the water measurement when brewing for you. 

You want to be sure there’s space on the side of the Ninja DualBrew to make use of the milk frother and the coffee grind measuring scoop. The milk frother hinges out when in use and folds back into the machine when you’re finished. Its tip is also removable for cleaning. The Ninja Smart Scoop is easy to take off and on, and it even tells you how many spoonfuls of grinds are needed to make different brew sizes. The smaller end of the scoop measures out to be about about one tablespoon, while the larger end is just under three tablespoons. 

However, the real star of the show is the control panel. The Ninja DualBrew has many more settings than your average coffee maker, so it may take a couple of extra minutes to get used to. After three weeks of use, I’m a pro.

An LCD display is located on a large dial, telling you the ounces of your brew - or time when not in use. The brew sizes range from 4oz to 55oz, depending on settings. Just above the dial are symbols, including a coffee cup, XL travel mug, and carafe, along with indicator lights to give you a general idea of the brew size.

Above the dial is a delay button, which lets you set a specific time to have your coffee brew, and on the opposite side is a brew button to select from brew styles that include: classic, rich, over ice, and specialty - a 4 oz size for an espresso-like brew to use in lattes or cappuccinos. Your selection will be lit up, making life easier. Under the dial is a simple feature, but it might be my favorite part of the whole machine, a notch that you slide to open or close the brew basket, preventing drips after your coffee is finished brewing.

For a regular cup of joe with traditional coffee grinds, you’ll use the brew basket and #4 paper cone filter. The Ninja DualBrew Pro does come with five filters to get you started. After the brew is complete, you can slide the lid open and easily remove the brew basket and filter for cleaning. A coffee grinder would’ve been a nice addition, but you’ll have to use a separate mechanism or purchase pre-ground coffee.

With larger coffee brews that use the carafe, a warming plate automatically turns on, staying warm from 15 minutes up to four hours. Its factory keeps the plate on for two hours, but it’s not difficult to adjust that time setting. If you’re making a smaller brew, it’s not required to use the carafe. A regular coffee mug will do, and there’s a single-serve platform that hinges down to rest the mug on, preventing any spills or splashes.

The carafe is built of solid glass with a plastic rim and twist-on lid with a long straw-like appendage to deliver the coffee to the bottom of the vessel. I’m not going to lie, I often struggled to get the lid on correctly, but it does help keep the coffee warmer longer and prevent spills.

When you want to brew a cup of coffee using a K-Cup pod, there’s an adapter that has to be put in place right on top of where regular grinds brew. Be sure to leave the brew basket installed, but you don’t need a filter. The DualBrew automatically recognizes when the adapter is installed. It’ll automatically limit your settings, preventing you from making a coffee larger than 12 oz. The adapter is also different than a regular Keurig, as it has three wider “needles” that puncture the top of the pod compared to the typical one, helping better saturate the coffee.

The machine is full of labels informing you of how to insert and remove the K-cup adapter, among other things. Those labels are easy to remove after you figure everything out. When it comes to the K-cup adapter, after removing and inserting it a few times, it became second nature. However, there’s nowhere to store the bulky adapter other than keeping it inserted in the machine in place of using regular grinds.

You aren’t limited to brewing coffee. The DualBrew also dispenses hot water when you move the knob on the side of the machine from the coffee bean to the water droplet. The control panel will change instantly, giving you similar size options as the coffee mode, only this time, there’s a boil or hot water temperature selection button. You can also dispense slightly more water than coffee, a full 60oz, making it simple to make everything from instant oatmeal and mac and cheese to tea and hot cocoa. The water also dispenses from a separate water line, so there’s no coffee cross-contamination.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System review: performance

• Flavorful, rich coffee
• Warming plate keeps coffee hot for up to 4 hours 
• Specialty brew style lacks most espresso attributes 

If you’ve brewed coffee in a traditional coffee maker before, you should have no problem using the Ninja DualBrew. In fact, even though it has more functionality, it might be easier than some because everything is so well labelled. Your first cup should be brewed in a matter of minutes. In the three weeks I’ve been using this coffee maker, I’ve tested almost everything it has to offer.

To begin, I brewed a traditional 8oz cup of coffee with regular coffee grinds. It was simple enough to put the filter in place, and I used the Ninja Smart Scoop on the side to measure the ideal amount of coffee and slid the lid close. Next came the water tank, which easily comes off the base to fill at the sink. I turned the dial on the control panel to the 8oz setting and ensured the classic brew style was selected. I popped the single-serve platform down, added my mug, and pushed the dial-in to begin the brew. After just over 3 minutes, there was a fresh cup of coffee at slightly too hot 140°F / 60°C to immediately drink.

As the coffee was brewing, the same indicator lights that let you know the size selection before starting the brew would light, letting you know how far along you were in the brewing process. This function is especially handy for bigger brews, as they take longer. As the coffee was brewing, it was quiet, averaging about 55 dB which is an equivalent noise level to a normal conversation between two people. After it finished, there’d be a relatively loud beep and a good deal of dripping. Luckily, the notch just below the dial closes the brew basket to keep messes at bay. The coffee itself was rich with no burned taste.

I tested the other two brew styles: rich and over-ice using the exact same settings and grind measurements as my classic brew. When using the rich brew style, it actually makes slightly less coffee, so my 8oz brew became 7oz. It took slightly under 3 minutes to brew and was 145°F / 62°C. After tasting the coffee, there wasn’t a noticeable difference from the classic brew. I ended up testing on larger size settings with similar results.

For the over-ice brew, Ninja says that it’ll produce a more concentrated brew and suggests that you fill whatever vessel the coffee is dispensing into full of ice. I followed the instructions and made the same 8oz brew, which took just under 3.5 minutes. Some of the ice melted, while the drink’s temperature immediately after brewing was 42°F / 5°C. As an avid iced coffee drinker, I really wanted this feature to work great, and to my surprise, it did. Unlike when you throw ice cubes in hot coffee, it wasn’t watered down, plus it was cool and refreshing as soon as it finished brewing.

The Ninja DualBrew has a warming plate, but it only turns on after brewing ¼ carafe sizes or larger. I brewed a full carafe to see how warm it would stay across several hours. It took 8 minutes to brew a full 55oz carafe, and immediately after finishing, the coffee was 170°F / 76°C. Two hours later, it was still 160°F / 71°C, not a significant drop in temperature, and the coffee had no burned taste. The warming plate was supposed to turn off after two hours, as I did not adjust any of the settings, but it stayed on for another hour. At hour three, the coffee was 140°F / 60°C, still hot enough to enjoy with no burned taste.

Adjusting the amount of time the warming plate stays on is simple. You just hold down the keep warm button with the dial illuminating the amount of time set. It can stay on for up to four hours and is adjustable by 15-minute increments. You can also opt to turn on the warming plate without brewing a carafe. I did this for hour four of my full carafe brew, and the coffee was still 135°F / 57°C. However, the plate will stay warm for over 30 minutes after you turn it off, and a light on the base of the brewer will illuminate to indicate it’s hot.

Given the DualBrew name, this coffee maker also works like a Keurig machine, brewing K-cup pods. You do need to insert an adapter into the space just above the brew basket. It’s a bit confusing at first, but after doing it a few times, I got the hang of it. The control panel automatically recognizes the adapter has been inserted and will limit your brew size from 4 to 12 oz.

I did the same testing as the 8oz brew with traditional grinds, and it yielded similar results when using the classic, rich, and over-ice brew with the K-cup pods. However, since you’re using pods over grinds, starting the brew and cleaning up after is a bit easier, as you don’t need to deal with filters or measurements. You just simply pop open the top of the adapter and take out or put in the pod.

One of the most intriguing features of the Ninja DualBrew is the specialty brew style, which is meant to mimic an espresso for specialty coffee drinks. Using the Ninja Smart Scoop, I measured out two large scoops, as instructed, and placed them in the brew basket with a filter, like when brewing normal coffee. I adjusted the brew style to specialty, and the brew size was automatically changed to 4oz. 

After 3 minutes, it finished brewing and had a temperature of 110°F / 43°C. That was slightly colder than I expected, but that could’ve been due to the vessel I put it in. You can also use K-cups with the specialty brew setting, and it yields similar results. As someone who owns a Breville espresso machine and uses it regularly, this espresso-type brew doesn’t compare. There was no golden crema on top - not that I expected there to be. It also didn’t have the same robust, bold flavor I expect from espresso. Instead, it just tasted slightly stronger than normal coffee. 

This specialty brew is definitely not something you want to sip on like a traditional espresso, so I made an oat milk latte with it. Its flavor wasn’t as strong as I like,  but still enjoyable to drink - and make - thanks to the milk frother. 

The milk frother on the Ninja DualBrew hinges right out from the machine and works great, though it doesn’t heat the milk. If you want your milk warm, you’ll have to put it in the microwave before frothing. Using the frother is as simple as placing it in the milk and pressing the button on top, and the results were better than I expected. After 30 seconds of frothing oat milk, you get a ton of thick, velvety foam to throw on top of a cappuccino or latte. Using 2% milk, I had similar results.  And the foam held its shape for a good 10 minutes after initially frothing it. 

If you want to make something other than coffee, the Ninja DualBrew also offers hot water by turning a knob on the side. The hot water comes from a separate water line than the coffee, and I can attest that there’s no coffee taste whatsoever. There are two heat settings, boil and hot. When using the boiling setting, hot water came out after just a few seconds. However, the water wasn’t actually boiling, as it measured at 180°F / 82°C, but still worked for steeping my tea. The hot setting dispensed water at 160°F / 71°C, which could work for making hot cocoa or a hot water bottle.  

When it comes to cleaning after brewing a coffee, it’s fairly simple. The entire brew basket easily lifts out of the machine, so you can toss out the filter and grinds without getting dirty. You just rinse the brew basket in the sink, and you should be good to go for the next round of coffee. As I mentioned earlier, the clean-up after using the K-cup adapter is even easier, you’ll just occasionally want to wash the pod adapter and needles for the best performance. If you used the milk frother, you can remove the tip and clean that in the sink as well. 

You’ll want to deep clean and descale the machine once in a while when performance isn’t up to par or you notice calcium build up. A light will automatically illuminate orange, letting you know if the machine feels like it’s time for a cleaning. After three weeks of heavy use, the indicator light still hasn’t come on, so I haven’t tested the cleaning mode.

There are clean cycles for each mode: grounds, pods, and hot water. For grounds, make sure the coffee maker is in that mode and the brew basket is installed. You’ll fill the water tank with a descaling solution or white vinegar, and the carafe should be placed below to hold the dirty water. You just press the clean and start brew buttons and let the machine do its thing. It should take about 75 minutes. You’ll want to run a classic brew with just water to rinse out the machine after, and you’ll be good to go. The same steps are taken with the pod mode, only the K-cup adapter will be installed. For the hot water mode, ensure you’ve got the knob on the side switched to the water droplet. That’s it for maintenance, making for super manageable upkeep.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should I buy the Ninja DualBrew Pro?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

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If you’re not sure about a pour over coffee maker, here are a couple of other options to consider...

How I tested the Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System

• Tested over three weeks 
• Made at least one drink from the machine per day 
• Replaced my Breville espresso machine 

I tested the Ninja DualBrew over three weeks, brewing at least one cup of coffee from the machine per day, and testing out different settings, sizes, and brew styles. It was easy to adjust to using the Ninja DualBrew, as I’ve used plenty of coffee makers before. The control panel is a bit more high-tech than some, though it’s simple to understand and enjoyable to use. 

The Ninja DualBrew didn’t require me to make many changes to my home. I just put it where my Breville espresso machine was. It had around the same footprint as the Breville when the water tank was installed on the side, but putting the water tank on the back did free up more counter space which was handy. 

Read more about how we test.

[First reviewed May 2023]