Ninja · Frozen Treats & Drink Makers · Reviewed by Kelsey Storrer · Published 2026-03-16
Based on a review by Kelsey Storrer (accessed 2026-03-16).
This page converts Kelsey Storrer's review of the Ninja Ninja Thirsti Ultimate Drink System into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.
Product Evidence hub pending. This is currently the only analysed source for this product. A full evidence hub becomes available once a second qualifying source is processed.
The reviewer concludes that the Ninja Thirsti Ultimate is a faster and upgraded machine, but personally prefers her modified original model due to its existing modifications for cheaper CO2 and custom pods. She states she would only replace her current machine with the Ultimate if her original one breaks, suggesting the upgrades, while nice, aren't compelling enough to justify an immediate purchase if you already own and have customized the original.
This video reviews and compares the Ninja Thirsti Ultimate Drink System with the original Ninja Thirsti model. The reviewer highlights design differences, new features, and conducts a side-by-side speed test to determine if the Ultimate model is significantly faster, as well as discussing pod compatibility and pricing.
The Ninja Thirsti Ultimate Drink System is a significant upgrade over the original, primarily due to its vastly improved dispensing speed. It dispenses a 12-ounce drink in 38 seconds, which is less than half the time of the original model's 1 minute 16 seconds. While the Ultimate introduces a new larger pod for real sugar flavors, the reviewer still recommends refilling pods with preferred concentrates for better taste and cost savings. If you prioritize quick beverage preparation and modern design, the Ultimate is a worthwhile investment. However, if budget is a primary concern, the less expensive original model remains functional, especially with user-made modifications for CO2 and flavors.
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reviewer_claimpositivet=00:26–00:36
The reviewer states she has consistently used her original Ninja Thirsti from the day she bought it 2.5 years ago, indicating its utility and reliability.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
reviewer_claimpositivet=00:44–00:52
Despite reading online complaints about clogging or leaking, the reviewer has experienced zero issues with her original Ninja Thirsti, even with frequent use.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
hands_on_demopositivet=00:52–01:21
The reviewer shows her original Ninja Thirsti hooked up to a 5-lb CO2 tank, which costs about $15 to exchange and lasts a long time, addressing the complaint about expensive proprietary CO2 canisters.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
hands_on_demopositivet=01:28–02:08
The reviewer demonstrates refilling empty Ninja Thirsti pods with her own flavorings, like Kool-Aid, to save money and improve taste compared to Ninja's proprietary pods.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
visual_inspectionneutralt=02:18–02:22
The reviewer states that the Ultimate and Original machines are almost identical in size despite their different appearances.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
specification_claimneutralt=02:22–02:35
The Ultimate model is priced at $179, while the original model varies from $100 to $150, making the original considerably less expensive.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
reviewer_claimneutralt=02:51–03:07
The Ninja Thirsti Ultimate only dispenses in 12 oz and 24 oz sizes, omitting the 6 oz and 18 oz options available on the original.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
visual_inspectionneutralt=03:26–03:52
The Ultimate introduces a larger pod size, designed for new soda flavors containing real sugar, which are not compatible with the original machine.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
visual_inspectionneutralt=04:09–04:21
The Ultimate has a simpler drip tray design that adjusts for cup size by sliding forward, whereas the original requires removing and repositioning a tray.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
measurement_testpositivet=05:14–05:19
The Ninja Thirsti Ultimate completed a 12 oz sparkling drink in 38 seconds, demonstrating its speed.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
measurement_testnegativet=05:32–05:39
The original Ninja Thirsti took 1 minute and 16 seconds to dispense a 12 oz sparkling drink, exactly double the time of the Ultimate model.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
measurement_testpositivet=06:29–06:33
The Ninja Thirsti Ultimate finished dispensing a 24 oz drink in 1 minute and 14 seconds.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
measurement_testnegativet=06:55–07:01
The original Ninja Thirsti took 2 minutes and 30 seconds to dispense a 24 oz drink, which was 1 minute and 15 seconds longer than the Ultimate.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
specification_claimneutralt=04:47–04:59
The new Ultimate model is available in three colors: cyberspace (gray), teal (blue-green), and pink, while the original came in black and gray.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
reviewer_claimneutralt=08:14–08:29
The reviewer explicitly states that the video and her reviews of Ninja products are not sponsored by Ninja and reflect her honest opinions.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAE6ZZEeK58
The reviewer conducted side-by-side speed tests, finding that the Ultimate took 38 seconds for a 12 oz drink compared to the original's 1 minute 16 seconds. For a 24 oz drink, the Ultimate finished in 1 minute 14 seconds, while the original took 2 minutes 30 seconds. This demonstrates a substantial speed improvement with the Ultimate.
The reviewer successfully modified her original Ninja Thirsti to use a standard 5-lb CO2 tank, which is much cheaper to refill than proprietary canisters. She also refills her own flavor pods with options like Kool-Aid, stating they taste better and are more cost-effective than Ninja's offerings. These modifications require a separate cord for CO2 and refilling empty pods, and a hole needs to be drilled in the original machine's door for the CO2 tube.
Unlike the original model which offered 6, 12, 18, and 24 oz sizes, the Ultimate streamlined its options to just 12 oz and 24 oz. The reviewer notes that 6 oz was often too small and 18 oz was awkward, suggesting these changes might align with common user preferences.
The Ultimate is priced at $179, while the original can be found for $100-$150. The reviewer suggests buyers consider if the significant speed increase and the ability to use Ninja's new larger, real-sugar flavor pods (which are incompatible with the original) justify the higher cost. She personally would only upgrade if her modified original machine breaks.
The Ultimate features a redesigned pod slot to accommodate new, larger Ninja flavor pods that offer real sugar soda options. This is a key difference, as these larger pods are incompatible with the original Thirsti machine. This caters to consumers who prefer real sugar over artificial sweeteners.
100/100 source quality
Kelsey Storrer provides an honest review of the Ninja Thirsti Ultimate Drink System, comparing it directly to the original model she's used consistently for 2.5 years. She highlights significant design changes, differences in drink dispensing sizes (Ultimate only does 12 and 24 oz), and the Ultimate's compatibility with new, larger pods containing real sugar. A key focus is a speed test, where the Ultimate proved to be significantly faster in making both 12 oz and 24 oz drinks. While acknowledging the Ultimate's improvements, Kelsey notes her personal preference for her modified original machine due to its cost-saving custom CO2 and flavor pod setup.
Full transcript is not redistributed here to respect the original creator’s rights.