Was replacing probably what has been the best coffee maker I've ever owned, have had a 12-cup Braun coffee maker for 20 years and finally the carafe has been broken. This Hamilton Beach Single Serve is a great replacement, I've gotten used to the paper filters for the Braun and even though it has it's own reusable, I prefer my coffee not to have that oil, film across the top and in the bottom of the cup, the paper filters get rid of that completely. The way I get around the residue with this coffee maker is to trim down the large round coffee filters, which are the cheapest I've found. Place the trimmed filter inside the bottom silver bowl, not inside or beneath the reusable filter, the coffee brews the best the way, at least for me it does, see the pics.
The bay can accommodate a 7-1/4" tall mug when the bracket is in it's lowest position, a 4-1/4" mug when it's in the highest position.
The coffee brews out plenty hot and fairly quickly, have seen some articles that says the HB doesn't get the coffee hot enough, it does for me. May help if you preheat the cup with some hot water before dispensing the coffee, I always do. I received the Kurig K55 coffee maker for Christmas and it does great too but I don't plan on putting all that money into K-Cup coffee. I used the reusable K-Cups as well, most don't work so good. If you like grinding your own beans, the course grind or French press grind is best for this maker. I have used some Peet's French Roast ground coffee with it, pressed the "Bold" button and it did great, that coffee is a very fine grind.
The ease of cleaning is a big plus! Simple to use and simple to clean, can't go wrong with that!
I was hesitant before ordering this coffee maker because the reviews are so mixed, but I've used it daily for a month and I am very happy with it. Before brewing the 1st time I filled it with white vinegar and ran it through a cycle, then 2 cycles of plain water to remove any residual plastic taste. I will also do this once a month for cleaning.
I have a damaged adrenal system so I cannot have caffeine so no coffee for me, but I can drink Teeccino Teeccino Variety Pack (Hazelnut, Mocha, and Java) Chicory Herbal Coffee, Caffeine Free, Acid Free, 11 Ounce (Pack of 3). I call it my Faux Coffee and you brew it just like coffee. I also needed a coffee maker for company and I wanted one that makes individual servings without those K cups. This is a simple machine that is easy to use & quick to clean.
It has 2 water levels 8oz and 14 oz clearly marked by 2 plastic parts that look like steps molded into the back wall inside the tank. The lower one reads 8 oz and the higher one reads MAX so you just fill up to those with water-no measuring cups needed. There are 2 filters so the 2nd mesh filter catches any tiny granules that may get through the metal filter. After brewing you push up the 3 parts-both filters and the drip cup, dump the grinds (I use the coffee grounds in my rose bushes, they love the acid) and rinse the 3 parts and either set aside to dry or make another cup. I like to leave the lid open to dry out inside. It looks like the silicone seal would pop off to clean but it hasn't gotten dirty so I haven't tried to do that yet. It does a great job on the Bold setting which drips a little slower than the Regular setting ( I actually haven't used it on Regular yet). When using a mug it can splatter a couple of drops on the sides or in front but no major mess.
I use a Takeya Iced Tea Maker Set 24 oz pitcher to brew in that is 6 1/2" high and it doesn't splatter. This holds 14 oz with enough room to add powdered Collagen & Goat's Milk and use my milk frother to mix it all up. Bean Envy Electric Milk Frother Handheld, Perfect for the Best Latte, Whip Foamer, Includes Stainless Steel Stand Using 14 oz water I get enough coffee for two 8oz mugs.
I like that it's a simple machine with basic parts so there's not a lot to go bad. The stainless is easy to wipe clean and it looks much nicer than most coffee makers. I like the quality of the stainless filter with a good sturdy metal handle so there's no chance of dropping it and making a mess with the grounds.
It takes up very little space on the counter, it's only 6 3/4"wide x 7 1/2"deep x 12 1/2" tall ( 17 1/4" with the lids open). In my photos I show it beneath my microwave oven which is set at a standard wall cabinet height. It will fit up to a 7 1/4" high mug or a 4 1/4" high mug with the metal shelf in position.
My only complaint is that the previous model came with an extra scoop/filter but now they only include one. I'd like to have an extra one.
TIP: Here's a little secret my Grandpa taught me...add a dash of Sea Salt (or Himalayan Salt) to the coffee before brewing. It sounds gross but trust me, just a dash & it enhances the flavor of the coffee, & no it won't taste salty! I also add a dash of powdered cinnamon to my mug (do not put it in the coffee machine!). It adds a yummy flavor.
This doesn't pertain to the function of the machine but I thought I'd include it in case anyone is interested...I wanted a pull out shelf but dislike those plastic ones so I made one out of an 8 x 10 tile and attached thick felt pads to the bottom. Now my coffee maker slides out to fill it up and then slides back against the wall. It works great as long as you have a smooth surface.
This is a great alternative to those expensive pods. The only thing that would make it better would be paper filters. I have started using Melitta singe serve size filters between the basket and the micro screen, this eliminates a lot of the sediment. I have added a photo of where I put the filter. I am saving lots of $$$ using this coffee maker!
Finally a hot cup of coffee! We had been using the Cuisinart SS-700 k-cup brewer for just over 3 years now and really enjoyed the convenience of the single cup brew. It started becoming erratic in all the ways the k-cup machines do, but the last straw was when it would only make room temperature coffee and no amout of cleaning and fiddling would fix it. We had been using our own coffee with a reusable filter anyway, so I started the search for a reliable single cup brewer that would use my own grounds and produce a hot cup of coffee. I'm so glad I found this little machine!
Pros:
1. Water in, water out. No large storage tank means the fresh filtered water that I dump in is the same water that makes my coffee. No large storage tank to clean, and the machine isn't heating water over and over in an internal tank to keep it hot. Also, no special charcoal filters to buy and remember to change.
2. Makes a decent, hot cup of coffee! Piping hot. Even after adding cream to the coffee it was burn your tongue hot. It took a few tries to figure out the right amount of coffee to water ratio, but once I got that right the coffee was as good as any drip coffee maker I've ever used, and better than the weak brew I would get using a reusable k-cup with the same coffee in my Cuisinart.
3. Smaller footprint and shorter height. Fits under my lowest kitchen cabinets and takes up less space on the counter. While it is a well built and a relatively rugged little coffee maker, it is small and without the big water tank it's light and easy to lift up one handed and clean under while wiping down the countertop.
4. Easier clean up between cups than reusable k-cups. Anyone who uses Ekobrew or Solofill reusable k-cup filters knows what a pain they are to clean the wet coffee grounds out between cups. They just don't rinse clean easily. I actually kept a toothbrush at my sink to scrub out the nooks and crannies on the insides as a rinse never got everything out. I was pleasantly surprised by the scoop coffee filter. The wet grounds tapped right out to almost clean and anything left behind rinsed out easily. The secondary filter was quick and easy to rinse too. I also like that the parts are dishwasher safe so they can be run through with the evening dishes for a deep cleaning.
5. It's old school. No bright glowing led screens/programmed selections/extra stuff. There is really no learning curve with this machine. You don't have to remember to select the correct brew size and there is nothing to re-program after a power outage. You won't overflow your cup if you use it to measure the water you dump in. And there is no annoying end of cycle beeping or low water flashing lights. It shuts itself off after the brew cycle and there is no heating plate to burn out or scorch the fingers of curious little ones exploring where they shouldn't be.
6. Speed. From shut off/cold to the first cup was around 2 minutes. The second cup was faster. The Cuisinart k-cup machine was a little faster both from cold/shut off and in standby, but also not as hot even when it was working properly. And let's be realistic here. Who can't wait two minutes for a cup of coffee?
7. Maintenance. The Scoop maintenance once a month is to run 1/2 cup of plain white vinegar and 1/2 cup of water through the brew cycle followed by two or three cycles of plain water and you are back in business, it takes maybe 5 or 6 minutes total. The Cuisinart required 50 oz of white vinegar run through the machine to the internal tank, then let it sit for a minimum of 4 hours. Then the rinsing. It took about 8 to 10 tanks of water to rinse the vinegar smell and taste out. This was an all day project, taking the coffee maker out of commission during this time, and if we didn't do this every six weeks at minimum, sometimes more often when the "de scale" sensor demanded it, the machine wouldn't work right. I don't know if all k-cup machines require this or if it was a Cuisinart thing, but this alone was enough of a reason to steer me away from this type of machine as a replacement when mine broke down.
Cons: I only have one. The splashing! Not really the coffee makers fault, more my choice in coffee cup. My cups are too tall for the drip tray in the short cup position, and too short in the tall cup position so there was quite a bit of splattering on the coffee maker and the counter. A quick fix was to leave the drip tray in the position for tall cups, then take a mini rubbermaid take along container (the three ounce size) with the lid snapped on and sit it lid down on the drip tray. When my mug was placed on top of that, it left only about a quarter of an inch of space between the top of the mug and the bottom of the brewer. Leaving the lid on the little container made it strong enough to support the coffee mug safely even when full. This virtually eliminated any splashing.
So far I am very happy with the performance of this coffee maker and recommend it to anyone looking for an alternative to a k-cup brewer.
So far so good! I received the coffee maker a few days ago and set it up in less than 5 minutes. It even came with a few paper filters for the carafe side so you don’t have to worry about having them on hand to start out. I brewed a full 12 cup carafe right away and it worked just as it said it would. No plastic taste to the coffee like other reviews have said. I programmed it so that it will brew a pot in the morning and that worked perfectly! I love waking up to fresh coffee and have the house smelling like a coffee shop! It is super easy to clean. The single serve filter and the carafe filter container as well as the carafe are all dishwasher safe, however I will probably wash them by hand just to be safe, I’ve read a lot of reviews about fragile carafes. With that said, my glass carafe was not damaged at all when it arrived. Amazon did a great job of packaging the product and I even received it in less time than I was supposed to. I ordered it around 3pm and received it the next day by 11am without paying for one day shipping! Gotta love Amazon! Lastly, the 2 hr automatic shut off is a wonder. I can leave the coffee on the warming plate without having to worry that I will forget to turn it off later. Overall this is a great coffee maker, I just hope it stands the test of time! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a coffee maker with single serve capabilities!
Feature Product
- BREW TWO WAYS: Enjoy either a single-serve cup (travel mug not included) or full pot of coffee with the 12-cup carafe.
- FULLY PROGRAMMABLE: Wake up to a hot cup of coffee with fully programmable functionality and auto-shutoff.
- ADJUSTS TO YOUR CUP: Can brew directly into the carafe, a travel mug (not included) or a short cup.
- CONVENIENT SINGLE-SERVE: Brew a cup for one using loose, ground coffee.
- SMART FEATURES: Includes brew strength selector (Regular or Bold), keep-hot warming plate and more.
Description
For all the coffee drinkers and aficionados in search of an affordable, low maintenance coffeemaker that can brew a basic or premium roast coffee in a fraction of the time and cost as the coffeehouse: Meet the Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer. Voltage 110 volts
We have been using this daily for two months and I like this- hubby likes to brew a full pot and then store it for drinking over the next two days- I hate the taste of old coffee and thought my only hope was an expensive Keurig and then found this little dream machine that does both. Like that I can use my regular coffee on the single brew side- very intuitive to work- still have not really needed to use the manual but will need to for the cleaning that is due. Can make a single serve big cup (cup not included with mine) or a regular coffee mug size with the metal filter that has suggested amounts in bumps of the side of the filter. Has a nifty series of stacking rings to raise the cup to the correct height- not electronic just stack em and go. Take up about the same room our old coffee maker used to take- important in my small kitchen. All in all please with the purchase and hope it works for a long time.
Very good coffee maker. I gave it 5 stars because there is nothing wrong with it. I have used single cup coffee makers that cost over $250. That is unbelievably expensive. This thing makes coffee just as good as my friends single cup maker that was about $290.
You cannot use the coffee cartridges in this machine. I don't use them any way. So my feelings are not hurt.
The only problem that I have had is that my travel mug is too tall for it. Once I removed the filter well the mug fit fine. The filter well is not needed. I need to leave the filter well off when I flip the stand for a regular mug as well.
I like this coffee maker because the stand is used at all times, you just flip it for your needs. It's not an extra piece that will be taking up space when not used.
The price has gone up $5 since I bought it. Hamilton Beach makes other single cup machines as well. If you are looking for a single cup machine, give one of these a try.
I had a first generation Keurig but wanted to finally stop using pods after learning that 9 BILLION k-cup pods ended up in the landfill last year alone! I tried their my-cup refillable coffee filter at $15 but it wasn't sealing correctly sending water all over so I started looking at other machines.
I checked some "best single serve coffee maker" lists on Google and, at $35, the Hamilton Beach Single Serve Coffee Maker was the best price out of all those on the market (some well over $100). I bought it along with some micro-filters and I'm glad I did! Let's break it down:
+ A great, clean cup of coffee: I've been used to the sludge at the bottom of my Keurig cup because of no filters, but I bought some Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Filters that fit in between the filter and the screen (another reviewer has a photo if needed) and I get a clean cup of coffee each time.
+ It's super fast: I had one of the original Keurig machines so I may be comparing new to old, but this machine creates a cup of coffee faster.
+ It looks great: Stylish stainless steel and black matches all my other appliances. It's small and lightweight.
+ I can easily make a single cup or a travel cup by flipping the metal stand, adding more water and more coffee. Simple.
+ You like a normal brew, hit the "brew" button. You want a strong cup, hit the "bold" button. Easy.
The best thing:
+ I'm saving money (K-cups cost so much comparably!) and not hurting the environment.
To answer some of the lower star reviews:
"Coffee stale and not hot" - their coffee must be old. I like my coffee lukewarm (people make fun of me how long I wait to drink my coffee) and I have to wait to drink this coffee so... maybe their machine is defective? I will say it doesn't come out scalding hot like my Keurig did, but that's a pro not a con (proper temperature, people).
"Flimsy" - Not flimsy at all. I have not once been afraid that something was going to tip over or otherwise.
"Messy Brew" - There's a button for normal/strong brew so use that. The marks aren't hard to read on the inside. They even have pictures of a cup/travel mug to help - turn on a light. I came to this machine after my Keurig spilled water everywhere and I can say this has a steady, clean stream of coffee. Perhaps he didn't flip the stand so the coffee travels too far to the cup?
I obviously have yet to test the long-term quality of this machine, but I assure you I am doing that and will update if it changes. For now, I'm drinking a wonderfully brewed cup of coffee and appreciating my purchase in spades.
First of all it’s really pretty. It makes a great cup of coffee too. We have only used the single serve side so far because there are three of us and we all leave st different times. Super easy and convenient and we all get a nice fresh cup in under 3 min!!! Another plus is the permanent filter for the single serve. Rinse it and it’s ready to go. Other reviews said they had issues with the grounds spilling over on the single serve side. There are two marks inside the filter. One is minimum fill line and duh the other is max. I’m willing to guess people didn’t read the instructions (because how hard can it be to make a cup of coffee) and over filled it. We have not had a problem. Can’t wait for the weekend to use the main pot. Only down side..... I wish it made a sound when the coffee was ready. My old one beeped three times. For some reason that really made me happy.
My old Hamilton Beach died on me. I was using the old one with jerry-rigged filters which were regular coffee filters with edges trimmed..worked like a champ for many years, then one day, dead. This is an improvement, for sure. The coffee basket has one of those fine metal filters, then BELOW the basket is a SECOND fine metal filter. Just scoop your coffee into it, and you have a choice of Bold or Regular...Bold is slower at releasing the water. Very tall...my tall insulated travel mug has over an inch of clearance. Can flip the bottom so a large ceramic cup will be closer to the spout. Great coffee maker!!
UPDATE:8 months later, not one single problem! Brews good and hot! If you use the cup or mug you're going to want the coffee in to fill up the water reservoir ( I use a tall theral mug, it brews to the top!) you'll put in exactly the amount of water you need. I use it once or twice a day, no problems at all!
0 comments:
Post a Comment