Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee vs Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee
Both made our Best Coffee Makers Under $100 shortlist, at #1 and #3. Here's how they differ and who each one suits.
- BuyOnceRight Research Desk
- Updated
- 4 min read
Quick verdict
Choose the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer if you want pre-infusion bloom evens out grounds saturation. Choose the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker if you'd rather have flat-bottom basket produces more even saturation than the cone filters common at this price. Overall we rank the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer higher: #1 versus #3 in our Best Coffee Makers Under $100 list.
Winner overall: Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer
Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer vs Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker compared
Every difference that matters, in one table.
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Our ranking | #1 of 10 in Best Coffee Makers Under $100 | #3 of 10 in Best Coffee Makers Under $100 |
| Pick label | ||
| Brand | Bonavita | Ninja |
| Key features | SCA-certified 198°F to 205°F brew temperature; Pre-infusion bloom mode; Stainless steel thermal carafe | Flat-bottom filter basket for even extraction; Fold-away milk frother for latte-style drinks; Rich/Classic brew-strength selector |
| Biggest strength | Pre-infusion bloom evens out grounds saturation | Flat-bottom basket produces more even saturation than the cone filters common at this price |
| Main trade-off | No programmable timer | Not SCA-certified and brews below the 195°F floor in Classic mode |
| Best for | Most buyers | Most buyers |
Which should you buy?
#1 pick
Choose the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer if…
- Pre-infusion bloom evens out grounds saturation
- Thermal steel carafe holds heat without a warming plate
- One-button operation with nothing to program incorrectly
Prefer the alternative? See the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker section.
#3 pick
Choose the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker if…
- Flat-bottom basket produces more even saturation than the cone filters common at this price
- Built-in milk frother adds latte-style drinks without a separate device
- Freshness timer is a genuinely useful touch most budget machines skip
Prefer the alternative? See the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer section.
Pros and cons of each
Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer
Pros
- Pre-infusion bloom evens out grounds saturation
- Thermal steel carafe holds heat without a warming plate
- One-button operation with nothing to program incorrectly
Cons
- No programmable timer
- 8-cup capacity is on the small side for larger households
- No strength or brew-mode adjustment
- Utilitarian plastic-and-steel design lacks the polish of the Technivorm or Breville
Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker
Pros
- Flat-bottom basket produces more even saturation than the cone filters common at this price
- Built-in milk frother adds latte-style drinks without a separate device
- Freshness timer is a genuinely useful touch most budget machines skip
- Rich/Classic strength selector actually changes flow rate, not just water volume
Cons
- Not SCA-certified and brews below the 195°F floor in Classic mode
- Glass carafe sits on a hot plate rather than a thermal carafe
- Frother wand requires manual cleaning after every use or milk residue builds up
- Plastic construction throughout
Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer vs Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker: common questions
Which is better, the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer or the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker?
Choose the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer if you want pre-infusion bloom evens out grounds saturation. Choose the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker if you'd rather have flat-bottom basket produces more even saturation than the cone filters common at this price. Overall we rank the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer higher: #1 versus #3 in our Best Coffee Makers Under $100 list.
What is the difference between the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer and the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker?
The Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer stands out because pre-infusion bloom evens out grounds saturation, while the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker stands out because flat-bottom basket produces more even saturation than the cone filters common at this price. The trade-offs differ too: the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer's main caveat is that no programmable timer, and the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker's is that not SCA-certified and brews below the 195°F floor in Classic mode.
Is the Bonavita BV1901TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Brewer worth it over the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker?
For most buyers, yes: it's our #1 pick. Consider the Ninja CE251 Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker instead if no programmable timer is a deal-breaker for you.