Image Source: ninjakitchen.com [1]

When the pandemic [2] started, I, like many people, started working from home full time [3]. And this very big change of pace quickly made me realize how much I missed one of the smallest joys in life: experiencing coffee outside the home. I missed grabbing a specialty beverage from a cafe or ordering a brew after a satisfying lunch with co-workers. Heck, I missed everything outside of the lackluster cup of joe my pod-based system was greeting me with every morning.

I'd been wanting to try the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker [4] ($170) for a while and reached out to Ninja for a sample for the purpose of this product review. Let's just say it was the best decision I have made in a long, long time. Hand to heart, this coffee maker has changed my life for the better. Here's how:

It Has Helped Me Reduce My Carbon Footprint

OK, I knew pods were bad, but I didn't realize just how bad until I switched to the Ninja and said goodbye to plastic pods for good. I produce so much less waste [5] using paper filters and sometimes I don't even use those! That's right — no filters. This coffee system comes pre-loaded with a reusable mesh filter, making your morning cup 'o joe much, much more eco-friendly.

It Makes Some Seriously Good Coffee

I didn't realize just how badly my old coffee system was burning my coffee until I started using the Ninja Specialty coffee system [6]. Using the included measuring scoop, I can brew the perfect cup (or travel mug or pot — the sky is the limit!) of java every single time. Life is too short to drink mediocre coffee [7].

It Has Elevated My Home and Made Coffee Brewing an Experience

It's been several months and I still look forward to making my coffee every single day. There's something special about the experience of deciding what kind of beverage I want (Cappuccino? Iced Coffee [8]? Latte? Rich brew with a splash of almond milk?) and crafting it myself. I love being able to choose the amount I'm brewing (down to the cup size) as well as the strength of the brew. The built-in milk frother alone has been a Godsend. Prepping the coffee is no longer a chore — it's an experience.

It's Saving Me Serious Money

Ditching my pod-based system was wallet blessing number one. The second was officially saying goodbye (well, more like, "see you less") to cafes and coffee shops [9].

While I received this product by reaching out to the brand directly, it's an appliance that I would buy again . . . and again and again. In fact, I'm already trying to figure out if there is anyone on my Christmas list who could use a new coffee system. While the price is a little more than some may want to spend on a coffee system, it's certainly an investment for your home and the atmosphere you're seeking to cultivate in your space. I know for me, the more joy I can bring into my home these days, the better.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Emilee Janitz [10]