You can get a single serving or a pot of coffee in under 5 minutes if you know what you’re doing. But a typical brew time will more likely fall in the 5-7 minute range. This well-designed coffee maker only has a few fallbacks in the quality department. For one thing, the built-in filter isn’t perfect, often leaving behind coffee “sludge” at the bottom of the pot. The inconsistencies in maintaining a hot temperature on both side of the coffee maker also detract from the overall score. Still, not many consumers have raved about the hot plate on the 12-cup side, so if you are looking to drink your coffee half an hour after brewing, this probably isn’t the machine for you.
“I look for a model that can get a good high temperature,” says Michael Phillips, director of global education and engagement at Blue Bottle Coffee. And for the freshest flavor, you’ll want a bean grinder and whole roasted beans. The Hamilton Beach 49980A offers a unique set of features that could make it the perfect coffee maker for your office or household. Capable of brewing up to a 12-cup carafe, it can caffeinate a crowd. But, if you’re interested in drinking a single serving of coffee and prefer to use your own ground coffee instead of K-Cups, then this coffee brewer still has you covered. On the note of preferences, the Hamilton Beach coffee maker also comes with two strength options, regular and bold, along with basic programming that allows for control over a 24-hour cycle.
The Cuisinart Coffee Center offers similar functionality to the FlexBrew, but it costs more and still isn’t as sought after as the Hamilton Beach model. That being said, let’s take a closer look at the FlexBrew options, especially since they’re such a popular model for Hamilton Beach. These days I like to avoid describing myself as “old” and say instead that I have been on this planet for a lot of years! …..it’s about one’s attitude, enthusiasm, wisdom but with a never ending curiosity and also never becoming judgmental. Do not use paper filters, because they contain chlorine and other toxic chemicals.
I brew test each coffee maker using a standard light roast coffee. I take note of how long it takes to brew, the water temperature, and the pressure. I also assess the quality of the brewed coffee, looking for any flaws in flavor or appearance. If you are always on the go, but can’t stand to compromise on the quality of your coffee, then the iCoffee Remote Brew is the coffee maker for you. The iCoffee allows users to customize their brew in a variety of ways, including choosing between four different brew sizes, four different strengths, and six different flavor settings. One particularly nice feature is the ability to set the brew strength – light, medium, or strong.
Therefore, single-serve brewing takes longer than two minutes from when you turn the machine on and press Brew Now. However, the FlexBrew gets 4 out of 5 stars since more user-friendly coffee makers have higher capabilities. Below is an overview of the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew user interface. I do know keurig single cup drip coffee makers that many coffee makers out there that had originally been manufactured in the U.S. ended up moving overseas…so I suppose the same is possible with this one. While we collate reviews from all across the web when writing our own coffee maker reviews, our opinion in the end is only one opinion.
Second, while there are no timer set options here, this Hamilton Beach coffee maker more than makes up for it with affordability. It’s a great option if you don’t have any extra money to spend on coffee. Of course, note that it’s specifically designed for use with Melitta coffee pods. No coffee grounds here, and no, K-Cups will not work, so you will have to invest in some new soft pods. When it comes to the top Hamilton Beach coffee maker, the Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way ($54.43) single-serve coffee maker is an easy recommendation for the busiest locations.
This is a great feature if you are someone who likes to have their coffee ready at a specific time. Some people swear by French press coffee, and if you want to see what the hype is about, you can’t go wrong with the Fellow Clara French Press Coffee Maker. Its removable drip tray leaves room for travel mugs over 7 inches tall, and the machine also alerts you when it needs to be descaled. The glass carafe has an ergonomic handle, dripless spout and knuckle guard, and the machine comes with a gold-tone filter, measuring scoop and paper coffee starter kit. It might not be the fanciest machine out there, but the Cuisinart Brew Central gets consistently positive reviews from buyers who love its adjustable features and say it lasts for many years. Hygiene is a vital aspect of coffee makers since we ingest what they generate.
In addition, by buying brewing ingredients and filters in bulk, you’ll save more money in the long run than using pods and K Cups exclusively. On top of that, you can use your own coffee or K Cups and pods to make your perfect morning cup. The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 2-Way Coffee Maker is one of the top-ranking coffee brewing machines the company makes.