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Coffee and Dessert-A Perfect Pairing

Coffee and dessert go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly, night and day, or Thelma and Louise. I've teamed up with three blogging friends who love coffee and dessert as much as I do to bring you three of their favorite fall desserts to pair with three specialty coffee drinks I've made in the Ninja Coffee Bar System.

Dessert Coffee Recipes, Ninja Coffee Bar System Review

I was very excited to receive this Ninja Coffee Bar System (Model CF092) to review.  I am by no means a coffee snob but I do like a good cup of coffee.  I also like a coffee maker that is easy to use and can be depended on to produce a consistent cup of coffee day in and day-out.  In the past few years, I have used a Keurig single-serving system, a French press, and a Cuisinart drip coffee maker. The Keurig is sitting on a shelf in my basement, the French press is on a high shelf in the kitchen and the Cuisinart sits in my beverage center waiting for me to return to it while I take the Ninja Coffee Bar System for a test drive.  

I have been using the Ninja Coffee Bar System for four months and have been putting it through its paces.  It sure is a looker!  The combination of stainless steel, glass, and black looks very attractive on my kitchen counter.

Yummy Coffee Drinks to Pair with Dessert


This post includes a review of the Ninja Coffee Bar System which was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review.  (This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.  When you purchase using these links I earn fees that help support this blog.)

The Ninja Coffee Bar System
The Ninja Coffee Bar System in My Home

The Ninja Coffee Bar System is so versatile it boggles the mind.  You can make a full carafe, a half carafe, or a single cup, in five brew types using the permanent basket.   I love that no coffee pods are necessary.  The classic, rich, over-ice, cafe forte, and specialty coffee brew options mean that nearly everyone can find a brew that meets their fancy.  You do have to read the manual to choose the appropriate amount of coffee to put in the basket, but selecting the various brews takes just a push of a button.  I've fallen in love with the rich brew for a deep rich cup of coffee to start my day every morning.

Dessert Coffee Recipes

The built-in frother is handy to make a hot or cold froth to top your favorite coffee drink.  It detaches with a simple twist for easy cleaning.  You'll find the frother to be both handy and essential to making the fancy specialty coffees that go so perfectly with dessert, like cappuccino.  

Bestpresso Coffee and 20% Off for You

Whether you choose coffee pods or ground coffee for your morning coffee depends on your priorities.  I can't say coffee in pods is better than freshly ground coffee. If convenience and variety are important to you, coffee pods may be the way to go. However, if you prioritize customization and environmental impact, ground coffee may be a better choice.

The good news is if you're looking for a high-quality coffee option, Bestpresso is a brand to consider. I’m excited to share with you that I am an affiliate of Bestpresso and you can enjoy 20% off on anything from their website AND free shipping for orders over $21 with the code COFFEE20.  I enjoy the Keurig-compatible 96-pod variety pack so I can enjoy whichever flavor suits my mood. Check these links:
Bestpresso Ground Coffee
Bestpresso Coffee Pods
Espresso Capsules Get 30% off on the 120-pod variety pack. Use the code SLICK30.

Here are some reasons why I’d love for you to try Bestpresso Coffee, especially the pods.

Flavor and Freshness: Bestpresso Coffee Pods are made with 100% natural and high-quality Arabica beans from the best regions in the world. They are roasted and ground in small batches to ensure freshness and flavor.

Easy to Use: Bestpresso Coffee Pods are compatible with all Keurig 2.0 machines, as well as other single-serve brewers that accept K-Cups. They have a patented filter design that allows optimal water flow and extraction.

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Coffee and Dessert


Cappuccino
Cappuccino

Cappuccino

Makes one 12 ounce serving
  • 4 tablespoons of ground coffee, or 4 ounces of double-strength coffee
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • ground cinnamon for garnish

Directions
Place the milk into a large mug. Warm the milk in a microwave for 30-45 seconds.  Froth for 30 seconds.  If using the Ninja Coffee Bar System, set the mug with the frothed milk in place and brew a single cup of coffee using the Specialty button.  If not using the Ninja, brew 4 ounces of double-strength coffee. Sweeten and sprinkle with cinnamon for garnish. 

A cup of this cappuccino would pair nicely with Country Life City Wife's pumpkin cheesecake.  Pumpkin cheesecake is one of my favorite fall desserts!
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin Cheesecake

One of Hubby's favorite specialty coffees is a caramel macchiato.  With a nod to him, I'm including this recipe for a Salted Caramel Latte.  I think this recipe is a perfect dessert coffee with a touch of sweet caramel flavor. Hubby, on the other hand, thought it should be a bit sweeter.  So, if you like sweet, add an additional tablespoon of salted caramel topping to your drink.

Salted Caramel Latte

Salted Caramel Latte
Salted Caramel Latte
Makes one 12-ounce serving

  • 4 tablespoons of ground coffee, or 4 ounces of double-strength coffee
  • 2 Tablespoons salted caramel sauce (purchased)
  • 1/2 cup fat-free milk
  • additional salted caramel sauce in a squeeze bottle
Directions
Place the milk into a 2-cup measuring cup.  Stir the salted caramel sauce and milk together to combine.  Warm the mixture in a microwave for 30-45 seconds. Froth for 30-60 seconds, until at least double in volume.  If using the Ninja Coffee Bar System, brew a single cup of coffee using the Specialty button.  If not using the Ninja, brew 4 ounces of double-strength coffee. Holding back the foam, pour the milk mixture into the coffee.  Spoon the foam on top.  With the squeeze bottle, squeeze additional caramel sauce onto the foam in a decorative pattern.


This Salted Caramel Latte would pair very nicely with Little Feet Big Adventure's Cheesecake Sopapillas.  Yum!

Cheesecake Sopapillas


My third dessert coffee is my personal favorite, Kahlua Amaretto Coffee.  I order it in restaurants and love to make it at home.  For this recipe I changed the setting on the Ninja Coffee Bar System, using the cafe forte setting for a nice, dark brew.

Kahlua Amaretto Coffee

Kahlua Amaretto Coffee
Kahlua Amaretto Coffee
Makes one 12-ounce serving

  • eight ounces, dark brewed coffee
  • one ounce Kahlua
  • one ounce amaretto
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream, sweetened with 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • ground cinnamon
  • cinnamon stick
Directions
Brew strong coffee.  If using the Ninja Coffee Bar System, choose the forte brew.    Prepare the sweetened whipped cream or make it with the frother on the Ninja.  Pour amaretto and Kahlua into the hot cup of coffee.  Top with the sweetened whipped cream.  Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and garnish with a stick of cinnamon for a stirrer.

I'm pairing this Kahlua Amaretto Coffee with And Hattie Makes Three's Butter Cake.

Kahlua Amaretto Coffee will be Delicious with Gooey Butter Cake
Gooey Butter Cake

My Bottom-Line Review of the Ninja Coffee Bar System


I think you can see how great the Ninja Coffee Bar System is for making specialty coffees, but the real test for this coffee maker comes day in and day-out as a workhorse in the kitchen.   It makes really great one-cup coffee servings that are the perfect temperature every time.  It also makes half-carafes and 10-cup full-carafes.  It has a warming plate to keep the coffee in the glass carafe hot for two hours.  The list of reasons to like this coffee maker is long, but my top three reasons are:
  • I love the single-cup brew function without using coffee pods.  I like to control the quality of the coffee I use in my coffee maker.  I have been disappointed with coffee pods.
  • I love the ease of cleanup.  The coffee basket cleans easily under running water.  The frother attaches and detaches very easily and tucks away in the back of the coffee maker.  The scoops attach to the side of the coffee maker.
  • I love the versatility of the multiple brew settings.  
The one thing that doesn't work for me as well as I would like is specific to my kitchen design. The Ninja Coffee Bar System vents at the top of the coffee maker and can put out quite a bit of steam.  I have new cabinets in my kitchen and I am afraid of steam damaging the cabinets.  I designed a beverage center for my kitchen when we remodeled.  The depth of the counter in that space doesn't give me enough clearance to pull the Ninja far enough out from the cabinets to protect them from the steam.  That means I have to keep it in a spot on my counter that isn't ideal for me.  This might not be an issue for you at all.

All-in-all, the pluses of the Ninja Coffee Bar System far outway the one inconvenience I have found.  The Ninja Coffee Bar System is a welcome addition to the Just One Donna kitchen.  I know you will love it, too!

Essential Tools

Ninja Coffee Bar System
Great Coffee Mugs
Clear Coffee Mugs


Enjoy!


Comments

  1. These are fabulous recipes,thanks so much for sharing

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Christy. I hope to see you at the Twitter Party.

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  2. I love how the cup is elevated. Drip trays can be such a pain!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a great observation, Brandon. You are so right! There are some drips with this coffee maker, but there is also a drip stop switch to give you control. It doesn't bother me at all. As you note, the lack of a drip tray makes this few easy to clean.

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  3. I'm loving the ease of clean up! The frother and scoops that attach to the coffee maker is a great all in one, it's all together, plus storage. Genius! Thank you for a great review.

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  4. oh I am such a coffee lover, and dessert yes please! Anything chocolate usually is my fav desert. #peaches+salt

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  5. I lneed be the versatility of being able to make a cup or a carraf!

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  6. I'm impressed that you figured out how to make those drizzle patterns in the foam (seriously, I would love to do that).

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  7. I love the design on this machine. It looks versatile and easy to use.
    Mary Beth Elderton

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  8. I like that you can make one cup and don't need pods!

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  9. I love the built in milk frother! I'll take a latte any day! Thanks for the great review! Chat soon!

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  10. Love that I can make full carafe, a half carafe, or a single cup, in five brew types using the permanent basket!!! The design looks stunning too! It'd be perfect for serving all my guests this holiday season! It'd be sure to wow them with the ease of use and the delicious cappuccinos and lattes.

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  11. That salted caramel latte sounds so so yummy!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! I love coffee and trying different kinds of lattes and drinks!!!

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  12. So much deliciousness in the dessert and coffee. Both are great pairings to enjoy these holidays. Definitely want a Ninja Coffee Bar System and enjoy a cappuccino with pumpkin pie ! Yes !!

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  13. I love the built in frother! - @twodartmom

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  14. My sister really wants me to get her a ninja coffee bar for Christmas

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  15. I love how you can make a full carafe or just a cup! Really everything about it is amazing!

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  16. I love all these recipes. they looks so yummy. I like its ease of clean up.

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  17. I Love the fact that no coffee pods are needed!!!

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  18. The built-in frother is my favorite feature! So amazing!!

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  19. The stainless steel and glass give this coffee system a modern look that would go great in my kitchen. And no special coffee pods, how great is that!

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  20. O my gosh, I need this in my life! I love coffee in all shapes and forms. Your recipes have me craving a cup (and dessert) now!

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  21. I love the different brew settings and NO pods are needed!

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  22. Love how you can use it so many ways. The single cup option is awesome and totally need a cup now :)

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  23. I like that you can make a single cup and the built in frother.

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  24. I rather like the variety of ways it can be used and it looks cool as hell.

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  25. I love that you can make a full carafe & don't need to use pods.

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  26. wow the Salted Caramel Latte would go good with any cheesecake for sure this would be amazing to have the Ninja Coffee Bar system love it

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  27. Love the one cup or carafe but the frother rocks my world

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  28. Hi,
    I love coffee. Thank you for bringing your post to the Blogger's Pit Stop last week.
    Janice, Pit Stop Crew

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am absolutely in loveeee with this! It looks perfect for us mamas who need a little more coffee than other ;)

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  30. I love the built in frother and the multiple use settings! I been wanting one of these for awhile! Thanks for all the recipes too

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  31. This is one of the neatest products I have seem. I love my coffee, so I love all the amazing things you can make with this!

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  32. I wasn't going to come to the party, but after seeing your review I really want to win this thing! I thought it was like a Keurig, but it's not. Also my Cuisinart has spilled all over the counter this morning AGAIN. It now sits in a jelly roll pan to catch the coffee. Tired of cleaning out the cabinets and countertop. Kicking it to the curb. This looks amazing!

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  33. Love the design small but sleek!! Love it has differ brewing options as well so you don't have all the extra wasted coffee for just a cup or two! Fits to your needs!!

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  34. Ooh wow! I love this! I need a system that can brew 1 cup at a time when I'm home alone. I could make a latte with this! I've heard so many amazing things about the Ninja. I love the built in froth error and the multiple use settings. All I can say is WOW! I would be ecstatic if I won THIS!

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  35. Wow! This Ninja brewing system looks amazing! I love the 1 cup brewing feature and the built in froth error. With all the multiple use settings it's so versatile. I would be ecstatic if I won this! My old coffee pot takes forever to brew and it's literally about to fall apart. The Ninja would be an amazing Christmas gift!

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  36. I love the fact that you can make a whole carafe of coffee and a singl cup. Sometimes you only need a cup, sometimes you need more. Amazing!

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  37. The Ninja brewing system is completely awesome, I'd luv to be able to make some awesome latte's. But I'd just luv to see what all I can make w/it.

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  38. I love all the different kinds of drinks you can make with it!

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  39. 5 diff brewing option and a permanent basket are both great ideas. would love to have one

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  40. I like the built in frother! The multiple settings is a great feature also.

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  41. You can brew as little as a cup! That's great!

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  42. Love the built in frothier I love lattes!!!

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  43. I love the Ninja Coffee bar System and the easy way to clean it no dripping helps a lot

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  44. I love the versatility in the settings.

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  45. I love that it has multiple brew settings

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  46. Easy cleaning is a plus with me! It is versatile with five brew types and a permanent basket! This would be great for holiday entertaining! The Ninja is very attractive...love the stainless steel, glass, and black features!

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  47. I love the multiple brew settings.

    ReplyDelete

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