Nothing is more frustrating than seeing your Ninja coffee maker leaking water, the possible problems include worn-out water tank outlet, drip stop issues, and coffee grounds leaking water in the basket.
This is a common issue but there is not much information on the internet about this. I have a Ninja dual brew, and it started leaking a year ago, the problem was with a worn-out water tank outlet leaking water during the brew cycle.
The simplest fix is to place the correct o-ring and food-grade sealant at the bottom of the water tank to give it a tighter fit. The best way to prevent this is to always pour the water into the tank without constantly removing it while refilling.
This is not the only issue that can cause the water tank to leak, read this detailed guide to know about the other possible causes and fixes if your Ninja coffee maker is leaking water.
| Drip Stop | Drip stop in ninja is a known issue that causes the water to build up inside the machine. Ensure the drip stop is not blocking the flow of coffee |
| Water tank leakage | Sign of badly positioned water tank. Don’t remove the water tank constantly. Fix this by using an O-ring or sealant grease or replace the water tank. Can also try using sealant or gasket hose till you hear a distinct “click”. |
| Issue in Coffee grounds basket | Ensure the ground basket is not full, there aren’t any leaks/cracks in this tray. If this is the case, it needs to be replaced. |
Main reasons for a leaking Ninja Coffee maker
NinjaCFP variations (this includes the new dual brew model) are more prone to water leakage due to the placement of the water tank.
The main reason for a leaking Ninja coffee maker is often a siphoning effect, which can occur when the machine’s internal components, such as the pump’s O-ring, start to wear down or disintegrate over time. This can cause water to be drawn out of the system unintendedly, leading to unwanted drips and spills.
If you use the more recent Ninja models, another common culprit is an improperly closed or positioned drip stop. Models like Ninja coffee bar, and Ninja single-serve dual brew models include a drip stop near the brew head to prevent coffee from dripping after a brew is completed. This small but crucial component is responsible for sealing the brew basket and preventing water from escaping during the brewing process. If it’s not closed tightly or positioned correctly, water can find its way out of the machine.
Additionally, if any of the internal components within the Ninja coffee maker are not properly assembled or in their correct positions, it can create gaps and openings that allow water to leak out.
Drip stop should be closed
The Drip Stop function allows you to pause the brewing process to pour some coffee into a cup, even when the full quantity of coffee has not finished brewing yet.
Some Ninja coffee maker variants have this drip stop, often a push slider near the nozzle. Make sure it’s closed tight. Sometimes, it might seem closed, but a small opening is letting water escape.
Check If All Components Are Properly in Place
When I use my Ninja coffee maker, I always make sure to inspect all the different parts closely. I’ll check the water reservoir, the brew basket, and the carafe to ensure everything is properly seated and locked into place. One thing I’ve found helpful is to listen for that distinct “click” when I’m putting the water reservoir back on. That lets me know it’s set correctly and should help prevent any annoying leaks. Taking those few extra moments to thoroughly inspect the machine goes a long way in keeping it working smoothly.
Clean or Replace the O-Ring on the Water Reservoir Outlet Spout
Using a more recent Ninja coffee maker? Then the water tank is improperly locked in place, or the sealant has worn out.
The simplest fix is to use an O-ring that is typically 9/16 x 3/4 x 3/32 in size on the outer knob of the water tank. This should arrest the water leakage immediately.
The primary purpose of the o-ring is to create a tight, watertight seal between the reservoir and the spout. When this seal is compromised, it can result in leaks, drips, and even complete failure of the water delivery system. Despite its importance, the o-ring is an inexpensive and easily replaceable part that is often ignored until it’s too late.
- The first thing to do is remove the water reservoir to inspect the bottom walls of the tank.
- If it looks worn out, then it is time to use an o-ring to arrest the water leakage.
- Luckily, replacement O-rings are inexpensive and easy to find, available on Amazon
Seal the Bottom of the Water tank
If the O-ring does not work out immediately, don’t worry, some food-grade silicon gel to close the gaps if there are micro-cracks can be your next move.
Older Ninja coffee makers might start leaking due to the worn-out tank basement. When I was using my Ninja coffee maker a couple of years ago, I noticed it started leaking water from the bottom. The culprit was a gap or opening in the base of the water tank that was allowing water to escape.
Read More: Leaking water issue with Nespresso | One simple fix
Seal the bottom of the coffee maker with a sealant made specifically for kitchen appliances. You can apply this on top of the O-ring (or without it as well). Apply the sealant both on the water tank and the base of the machine (input spout on the machine).
This helps create a tighter seal and prevents any water from leaking out. It’s a quick and inexpensive solution that should solve the problem. I prefer this food-grade sealant, and it seems to do the job properly
This is also a sign to replace your Ninja coffee maker if you cannot seal this leak after all these steps. Sometimes the leak can be also a breakage on the nose of the water tank.
Full grounds basket
Overfilling the coffee grounds tray is another common culprit that can lead to leaks in your coffee maker. When you add too many coffee grounds or the tray becomes saturated with water, it prevents proper drainage and starts leaking outside.
Firstly check if coffee grounds are still inside your tray and clean it properly. Check for any debris blocking the drainage holes and clear them if necessary.
Improper ground size
Using finely ground coffee can cause brewing issues with your coffee maker. If the grounds are too fine, they can clog the brew basket and lead to annoying leaks. If you use Ninja Luxe or the older variants that include a grinder, you can set the grinder to a coarser setting.
If not choose a grind that is coarse enough, typically, Lavazza espresso or Lavazza Super crema ground coffee. This is the best ground size in my opinion for coffee makers, for anything finer, you need to start using espresso with 9 bar pressure to pull the coffee.
This allows water to flow through the grounds more easily during brewing and helps prevent messy leaks. It’s a simple adjustment, but it can make a big difference in getting a smooth, drip-free brew from your coffee maker.
Clogged ground basket
Using a more recent Ninja coffee maker? Then a blocked or clogged brew basket can also contribute to those pesky leaks. Be sure to thoroughly clean the basket to ensure proper water flow and prevent any issues.
As I mentioned earlier, the chances of clogging are higher with prolonged Ninja coffee maker use. Maintain a good cleaning schedule to prevent further damage to the machine.
Descaling Your Machine
Descaling your Ninja coffee maker is an essential maintenance task that is not followed by the users. This can cause bad-tasting coffee, water leakage, and damaging the internal thermostat. As a preventive care, try this once before you contact customer support.
Read more: Why you should descale your Keurig properly | Improve coffee taste by 10X
Over time, mineral deposits from your water build up inside the coffee maker. These deposits, mainly calcium, and lime, can clog up the works and increase the pressure build-up.
Now, how often should you descale? It depends on your water hardness and how frequently you use your machine. As a rule of thumb, descaling every 3 months is a good starting point. But if you notice your coffee tasting off or the machine running slower, it might be time to descale sooner.
Here’s a quick tip: if you’re using a newer Ninja model, it might have a descale indicator light. When that lights up, it’s time to get descaling!
For the actual process, you’ll need a descaling solution or a tablet (I prefer the tablets because it is easy to store). Mix it with water (usually a 1:1 ratio), and run it through your machine as if you’re brewing coffee. After that, run a few cycles with just water to rinse everything out.
What if nothing works?
Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for assembling and storing your Ninja coffee maker to ensure proper alignment and sealing of all components.
To contact Ninja customer support, call 1-800-365-0135 or reach them online for warranty here.
Once you are sure that you tried to verify,
- Worn-down O-ring – This seems to be the most common issue with Ninja coffee makers leaking water.
- Improperly closed/positioned drip stop – Latest Ninja models like CFP301 suffer from this issue, a design error in my opinion. Check if the drip stop is fully open.
- Worn-out water tank basement – Older models develop gaps or openings in between the water tank and the base. This can be stopped using an O-ring or sealant to allow for tight fitting with the water tank.
- Overfilled coffee grounds tray can be another cause for concern
- Improper grind size – Often not an issue if you are using a coarser grind.
- It can also mean a clogging in the Ground basket. Clean the basket and try again.
- Internal leaks are very difficult to find. Run a descale cycle once to figure out if the leaks are internal or are temporary due to scale build-up inside the tubes.
