Diagnosis
The leak is likely caused by one of three things: the drip-stop valve is in the "open" position, the brew basket is overflowing due to a blockage, or there is a failure in the internal seals/gaskets.
How to Fix It
If water is dripping steadily from the bottom of the basket area during or after brewing, check the drip-stop mechanism:
- Locate the drip-stop lever located on the front of the machine, directly beneath the brew basket.
- Ensure the lever is pushed fully to the "Closed" position. If it is partially open, water will bypass the filter and leak from the housing.
- Verify that the brew basket is seated firmly and clicked into place; if it is tilted, the seal will not engage correctly.
If That Didn't Work
If water is overflowing from the top of the basket or leaking over the sides, you have a drainage issue:
- Check your grind: If you are using an espresso-grade (ultra-fine) grind in the carafe brew, the water cannot pass through quickly enough. Switch to a medium-coarse grind.
- Avoid "Double Filtering": Do not use a paper filter inside the permanent gold-tone filter. This restricts flow and causes the basket to overflow.
- Adjust for Decaf: Decaf beans are more porous and absorb more water. Reduce your coffee scoop count by 10-20% when brewing decaf to prevent overflow.
- Clean the Basket: Remove the permanent filter and scrub it with a brush to remove accumulated coffee oils and fine sediment that may be clogging the mesh.
Heads Up
If water is pooling on your countertop from the very bottom of the machine's chassis (rather than the basket area), this indicates an internal hose leak or a cracked reservoir. Stop using the machine immediately and contact Ninja Customer Service at 1-877-646-5288, as this is a hardware failure and not a user-serviceable part.