A 14-cup carafe that can also brew a small batch of one to four cups is what Ninja built into the FreshBrew CE451, a programmable drip coffee maker with two brew styles. Ninja lists it at $119.99 on its US store as of 2026-11-02.
What is the Ninja FreshBrew Coffee Maker CE451?
Ninja describes it as a 14-cup programmable drip coffee maker that brews hot, flavorful and never bitter coffee. You pick Classic or Rich and use fresh grounds in the permanent filter. Thermal Flavor Extraction is the technology Ninja names for a balanced, full-flavor cup at the right temperature, and it adds a 24-hour programmable delay brew, an adjustable warming plate and a 70 oz removable water reservoir. The color is Stainless Steel and the warranty is one year.
It is a plain drip brewer with no pods, no cold brew and no frother. That keeps the controls short: two strengths, a batch size, a timer and a warming plate. Ninja adds that the small batch mode lets you expect the same taste from one to four cups as from a full carafe, which is Ninja's claim and not something tested for this site.
Ninja FreshBrew CE451 specs
| Spec | As published |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 14-cup glass carafe |
| Brew styles | Classic and Rich |
| Small batch | 1 to 4 cups |
| Delay brew | 24-hour programmable |
| Warming plate | Adjustable, keeps coffee fresh for up to 4 hours |
| Water reservoir | 70 oz, removable |
| Filter | Permanent filter |
| In the box | Carafe, Smart Scoop, reservoir, permanent filter |
| Weight | 4.41 lbs |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Warranty | One year limited |
Ninja does not publish a wattage, a usable dimension set or a dishwasher-safe parts list for this model. Ninja prints placeholder dimensions on the product page, not a real measurement, so the size of the machine is unknown. The 4.41 lbs weight is what Ninja prints, though it looks light for a 14-cup brewer with a glass carafe, so confirm it before you plan around it.
How the Ninja FreshBrew brews: Classic, Rich and small batch
There are two brew styles. Classic is the standard setting, and Rich is the second style. Ninja does not describe the difference in temperature or time, so treat the names as strength choices and not as promises about extraction. Both apply to whatever batch size you pick.
The small batch setting is the useful part for anyone who does not brew a full pot. A brewer sized for 14 cups is more than most people need for one or two mugs, which is the case this setting is for. Ninja says you can brew one to four cups and get the same great taste brew after brew. Whether that holds in your kitchen is something only a test can settle, and this one has not been tested here.
Grounds go in the permanent filter, so there is nothing to buy but coffee. The Ninja Smart Scoop comes in the box to measure the grounds. Because there is no paper filter step, cleanup is rinsing the filter, though Ninja does not say whether it is dishwasher safe.
Ninja FreshBrew CE451 delay brew and warming plate
The delay brew is a 24-hour programmable timer. You fill the reservoir and the basket the night before, set the time, and the machine starts on its own. The warming plate is adjustable and, by Ninja's description, keeps coffee fresh and flavorful for up to four hours. An adjustable plate is a better arrangement than a fixed one, because you can turn the heat down if you leave a pot sitting. Ninja does not say how many heat levels there are on this model.
A glass carafe on a warming plate keeps heating the coffee as long as it sits there. If you pour a cup every hour, that is fine. If you want coffee to hold heat for the whole morning without a plate, a thermal carafe is the other design, and this is not one.
What is in the box and how to clean it
Ninja lists four items in the box: the 14-cup glass carafe, the Ninja Smart Scoop, the 70 oz removable water reservoir and the permanent filter. The reservoir lifts out, so you can fill it at the sink instead of pouring from a jug into the machine. Ninja gives no cleaning or descaling instructions on this page, so check the owner's guide for the routine and for which parts go in a dishwasher.
Ninja FreshBrew CE451 vs Ninja CE251
The Ninja CE251 is the nearest Ninja drip brewer on this site. It lists $89.99, a 12-cup glass carafe, 1,100 watts, Classic and Rich styles, a small batch setting for four cups or fewer, a 24-hour delay brew, and a warming plate that holds for two hours and extends to four. The CE451 lists $119.99, so it costs $30 more, and it adds two cups of carafe, an adjustable warming plate and a 70 oz reservoir.
The price gap buys capacity and a warming plate you can adjust. Both are one-year warranties and both use a permanent filter. If you rarely brew past eight or ten cups, the CE251 is the cheaper way to get the same two styles and the same small batch idea.
Ninja FreshBrew CE451 vs Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable is the plainest rival at the same capacity. It lists $84.99, 1,100 watts, a glass carafe and a three-year warranty. It costs $35 less than the Ninja and carries two more years of coverage. The Ninja counters with a small batch mode, two brew styles, a delay brew you set up to 24 hours ahead, and an adjustable warming plate.
If the aim is a 14-cup pot at the lowest price with the longest warranty, the Cuisinart makes the stronger case on paper. If the aim is a small batch setting and a Rich option, the Ninja has them and the Cuisinart lists neither. For comparison with a Ninja that brews cold coffee too, see the Ninja CP307, which has a thermal carafe and five brew styles.
Is the Ninja FreshBrew Coffee Maker CE451 worth it?
At $119.99, it is a mid-priced drip brewer with a feature list that reads well: two styles, small batch, delay brew, an adjustable warming plate and a 14-cup carafe. The honest limit is that this is a glass carafe drip machine with a one-year warranty, and cheaper brewers cover the basics. What you pay extra for is the small batch setting and the adjustable plate.
Nobody has tested it for this site. Claims about never bitter coffee and the same taste brew after brew are Ninja's, and the missing wattage and real dimensions are the gaps worth checking before you buy.
Who should buy the Ninja FreshBrew Coffee Maker CE451 (and who should not)
Buy it if you brew both a mug or two and a full pot, if you set a timer for the morning, or if you want a Rich setting without moving to a more complex brewer. It suits a household that does not want pods or cold brew and just wants a programmable drip machine.
Skip it if you want a thermal carafe, cold brew or iced settings, if you want a published wattage and dimensions before you decide, or if the lowest price matters more than the features, since a basic 12-cup brewer costs a good deal less.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cups does the Ninja FreshBrew CE451 make?
It has a 14-cup glass carafe. Ninja also lists a small batch setting for 1 to 4 cups.
What brew styles does the Ninja FreshBrew CE451 have?
Two: Classic and Rich. Both use fresh grounds in the permanent filter.
Does the Ninja FreshBrew CE451 have a timer?
Yes. It has a 24-hour programmable delay brew, so you can set it ahead and wake to fresh coffee.
How long does it keep coffee warm?
Ninja says the adjustable warming plate keeps coffee fresh and flavorful for up to 4 hours.
How big is the water reservoir?
It is a 70 oz removable reservoir, about 2.07 litres.
Does the Ninja FreshBrew CE451 need paper filters?
No. It ships with a permanent filter, and a Ninja Smart Scoop for measuring grounds.
