Top Dual Coffee Makers: Unveiling the Best Two-Way Coffee Brewer Reviews
Are you surrounded by a bustling household or work in an office where everyone has different coffee preferences? If you enjoy the excitement of switching between various coffee styles to keep things interesting, a dual coffee maker can be your ultimate savior. The convenience of brewing coffee in multiple ways using just one machine is undeniable.
However, with many options available, finding the perfect two-way coffee maker can pose a challenge. To simplify your life, they have meticulously tested and handpicked the finest drip coffee machines for you to choose from. Now, all that's left is to select the dual coffee maker that suits you best.
Let's explore a handful of possibilities that are sure to bring a smile to your face:
1. Ninja Hot And Cold Brewed System
1. Brewing Options: iced tea, iced coffee, single-serve (grounds), carafes, tea, iced tea, frothy drinks.
2. Carafe Type: glass.
3. Capacity: 10 cups.
4. Dimensions: 11.81 x 10.01 x 15 inches.
The Hot and Cold Brewed System offers an exciting coffee experience, catering to all preferences. Whether you're a fan of carafes, single-cup brews, soothing teas, frothy cappuccinos, or invigorating iced coffees, this versatile coffee maker has covered you.
Made with durable ABS plastic, it features two separate baskets for ground coffee and loose or bagged tea, ensuring the authentic flavors are never compromised. With its intelligent basket recognition, it effortlessly adapts to your brewing needs. Indulge in satisfying everyone's unique preferences or unleash your creativity with delightful coffee creations.
When it comes to customizability, you can choose from 5 unique brew styles and strengths: classic, rich, over-ice, cold brew, or specialty. You can also have the option of 6 sizes, ranging from a single cup to a travel mug to a full carafe. These choices will make you question how you settled for just one type of "regular coffee."
Thanks to the convenient fold-away cup platform, you can easily switch between smaller mugs and the large glass carafe. Adjusting the settings is a breeze with the intuitive display, and if you decide to brew tea, the temperature and steeping time will be adjusted automatically. Within moments, you can enjoy refreshing iced brews, indulgent frothy drinks, and a variety of hot coffee styles.
Furthermore, this coffee maker boasts a removable water reservoir that is easy to refill, and it even includes a smart scoop that can be conveniently stored within the machine.
If you're intrigued by this description and want to explore more Ninja coffee makers, check out the Ninja review roundup for a comprehensive overview.
2. Hamilton Beach Two-Way Brewer
1. Brewing Options: Single Cup, Carafes (Grounds)
2. Type of Carafe: Glass
3. Capacity: 12 cups
4. Dimensions: 14 x 15.5 x 11.75 inches
It is an impressive machine that offers a range of convenient features in a compact design, all at an affordable price. Made from BPA-free plastic with sleek stainless steel accents, it is available in black or white, both exuding an elegant charm. At first glance, you may not expect this coffee maker to be budget-friendly.
This versatile machine allows you to brew a full 12-cup glass carafe of drip coffee or a cup of delicious coffee using fresh grounds. Unlike the Hamilton FlexBrew coffee maker, it does not support K-Cups. This deliberate choice by the brand gives you more options when selecting your coffee.
The Hamilton Beach Two-Way Brewer has earned its place on the list of the best coffee makers with timers due to its impressive programmability, especially considering its affordable price. Users can program the brewing process 24 hours before and choose between regular and bold strength settings. It also includes a pause-and-serve feature, allowing you to grab coffee before filling the carafe. Additionally, it has a convenient 2-hour automatic shutdown for peace of mind.
3. Keurig K-Duo
1. Beverages: Single servings, carafes (ground coffee or K-Cups)
2. Carafe material: stainless steel
3. Capacity: 12 cups
4. Dimensions: 15.9 x 7.7 x 14.9 inches
Keurig is renowned for its single-serve machines, but they have also recognized the growing demand for dual coffee makers. The top choice is the Keurig K-Duo Plus, a compact marvel that measures less than 8 inches wide.
This model is a game-changer for those who want to maximize their countertop space. What sets it apart is the versatile 60 oz water reservoir, which can be positioned on the right, left, or back of the machine, allowing you to customize the coffee maker to fit your kitchen layout. Moreover, the reservoir is compatible with Keurig Water filters, ensuring the highest quality water for your coffee.
This compact dual coffee maker includes a gold-tone mesh filter for full-carafe brewing and single cups. With the K-Duo, you can brew various quantities, from 6, 8, 10, to 12 cups in a carafe, and 6, 8, 10, to 12 oz single servings. The K-Duo also features a convenient pause-and-serve function, allowing you to pour a cup of coffee before the entire carafe is ready.
With the user-friendly interface on the top of the brewer, you can easily select your desired coffee strength and program your brew up to 24 hours in advance. Additionally, the K-Duo boasts an energy-efficient auto-off feature that activates 5 minutes after your last brew.
Experience the best of both worlds with the Keurig K-Duo Plus - a perfect blend of functionality and space-saving design.
4. De'Longhi COM532M
Bages: espresso, latte, Carafes, cappuccino
Type of carafe: Glass
Capacity: 10 cups
Dimensions: 14.52 x 11.02 x 12.79 inches
Regarding espresso machines, the name De'Longhi is synonymous with quality. This coffee maker brews with an impressive 15 bars of pressure, surpassing the minimum requirement for espresso. Its patented system expertly extracts flavors and aromas, producing a rich and robust shot. Not only does it excel at making espresso, but it also serves as the perfect foundation for your favorite bubbly beverages. With its steaming wand, you can effortlessly craft delightful cappuccinos or lattes.
But that's not all; the drip side of this machine is equally remarkable. It includes a 10-cup glass carafe and a hot plate, ensuring your coffee stays piping hot. The fully programmable brewing feature allows you to set it to start brewing at a specific time, adjust the strength of your coffee, and even program the automatic shutoff.
If you're searching for a versatile dual machine that can brew espresso and filter coffee simultaneously, look no further! The De'Longhi model even boasts a dual heating system, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds. However, if espresso is your main focus, they recommend checking out the dedicated De'Longhi roundup review.
5. Cuisinart SS-15
1. Bages: Single-serve, Carafes (pods, ground coffee, and K-Cups )
2. Type of carafe: Glass
3. Capacity: 12 cups
4. Dimensions: 10.13 x 10.38 x 14.25 inches
The Cuisinart SS-15 is a dependable dual coffee maker that consistently produces high-quality cups of coffee. With its 3-year warranty, you can trust this machine for long-lasting performance. You can choose the version that complements your decor in black, silver, copper, or white.
Experience the convenience of drip coffee and quick single-cup servings with the Cuisinart SS-15. It offers three sizes: 6, 8, or 10 oz. While this machine is compatible with K-Cups and other coffee pods, they recommend using the included reusable filter, allowing you to use your coffee grounds. The bold feature delivers a stronger brew, while the removable drip tray accommodates larger travel mugs.
The Cuisinart SS-15 is a fully automatic and programmable coffee maker offering advanced customization options. You can schedule brewing up to 24 hours in advance and personalize the coffee strength and temperature to your liking. With an energy-saving mode and a self-clean feature, it provides convenience in every aspect. The 40-oz removable reservoir is easily accessible and equipped with a charcoal water filter to enhance the quality of your coffee.
This machine is perfect for those seeking customization and a wide range of options while embracing the classic filter-coffee experience. If you're a fan of the Cuisinart brand, don't miss the review roundup of Cuisinart coffee makers.
6. Cuisinart CHW-12
1. Beverages: teas, carafes, cocoa, instant coffees, and other hot drinks
2. Type of carafe: glass
3. Capacity: 12 cups
4. Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.5 x 14.3 inches
The Cuisinart CHW-12 not only excels at brewing carafes of coffee but also offers a convenient and versatile hot water dispenser. This multifunctional coffee maker is perfect for those who enjoy a variety of hot beverages beyond filter coffee.
With the CHW-12's Hot Water System, you can effortlessly brew tea or prepare instant coffee, soups, hot cocoa, and other hot drinks in under a minute. This remarkable machine offers customization options, featuring a sleek brushed stainless-steel main panel and a choice between a black or red BPA-free plastic finish. Both options include a 12-cup glass carafe, but if you opt for the black version, you can choose between the 12-cup glass carafe or the 10-cup thermal carafe.
Notable features of the CHW-12 include a water reservoir with a charcoal filter, ensuring clean and fresh-tasting water. The brew-pause feature allows you to grab coffee before the full carafe has finished brewing. Additionally, the carafe temperature control and auto-on/auto-shutoff features provide convenience and peace of mind. Furthermore, the CHW-12 has a self-clean function, making maintenance hassle-free.
Experience the excellence of the Cuisinart CHW-12, where brewing your favorite hot beverages becomes effortless and enjoyable.
7. Hamilton Beach 49976 FlexBrew
Brewing Options: Single-Cup, Carafes (K-Cups, Grounds, and Pods)
Type of Carafe: Thermal
Capacity: 10 cups
Dimensions: 13.6 x 14.5 x 15.13 inches
The Hebrew line from Hamilton Beach has garnered immense popularity among consumers for a good reason. It seamlessly combines affordability with robust construction and, as you may have guessed, offers a wide range of brewing possibilities.
One standout feature of the model is the choice between a glass or thermal carafe. However, they highly recommend the thermal version every time. Its ability to keep your coffee warm without the risk of it sitting on a scorching hot plate is truly invaluable. Trust them; the slight additional cost is well worth it. Not to mention, this machine is virtually indestructible.
The 49976 FlexBrew allows you to brew a 10-cup carafe or a single serving of up to 10 ounces. You can use ground coffee with the included filter basket, a K-Cup, or any other K-cup-style pod. The removable drip tray allows you to brew directly into a regular ceramic or tall travel mug. As mentioned earlier, this machine is renowned for its adaptability.
And it doesn't stop there – FlexBrew's programming capabilities are equally impressive. With the user-friendly Easy-Touch programming design, you can set it to brew on a timer. Additionally, you can choose between regular or bold-strength coffee, catering to your preferences.
8. Mr. Coffee Space-Saving Combo Brewer
Brewing Options: Single Cups, Carafes (K-Cups, grounds, and pods)
Carafe Type: Thermal
Capacity: 10 cups
Dimensions: 15.16 x 7.36 x 15.43 inches
For those seeking brewing flexibility with limited counter space, consider the ingenious design from Mr. Coffee. It offers a 50% smaller footprint than traditional coffee machines while still providing the versatility to brew a full carafe or a single cup.
With a compact size of just a little over 7 inches wide, this marvel of engineering surprises with its exceptional functionality. It accommodates pods and ground coffee, allowing you to brew a generous 10-cup carafe or a customized amount using the Select-A-Cup feature. Plus, its programmability adds convenience, allowing you to set a later brewing time. Unlike most dual coffee makers, this option caters to carafe and single-cup modes.
Featuring a thermal carafe, this brewer ensures optimal coffee quality and eliminates the need for a hot plate and its accompanying electronics, thus keeping its footprint compact. They were equally impressed by including an advanced water filtration system, which is a rarity in affordable brewers. This system guarantees the finest water quality, producing a delightful cup of morning java.
9. CucinaPro Double Coffee Maker
1. Brews: Carafes
2. Type of carafe: Glass
3. Capacity: 2 carafes, each holding 12 cups
4. Dimensions: 16 inches in length, 17 inches in width, and 23 inches
The CucinaPro Double Coffee Maker is a versatile appliance that combines the convenience of two coffee makers in one. With two water reservoirs, each featuring a water-level viewing window and two hot plates, this coffee maker allows you to brew two 12-cup pots of coffee simultaneously. It comes complete with two filter baskets and two brewing switches, including two coffee scoops.
Instead of purchasing two separate coffee makers, this double coffee maker offers a cost-effective and space-saving solution. It is especially ideal for households or offices where individuals have different coffee preferences. Many customers appreciate its ability to brew a pot of decaf and a pot of regular coffee at the same time. Alternatively, it can cater to those who enjoy dark and light roasts.
While the CucinaPro double brewer is larger than a standard coffee maker, it is still more compact than having two separate units. However, measuring your available space before making a purchase is advisable.
One drawback of this model is its lack of programmability. You cannot schedule it to brew coffee at a specific time, and adjusting the coffee strength relies on altering the amount of ground coffee used.
Overall, the CucinaPro Double Coffee Maker offers convenience and versatility, making it an excellent choice for coffee lovers who seek efficiency and variety in their brewing experience.
How To Choose The Best Combination Coffee Maker
Please take a moment to explore our comprehensive buying guide and thoughtfully assess your requirements for the best combination coffee maker. While they may not deliver the same coffee excellence as SCAA-approved or other high-end models featured in this list, they provide unmatched convenience if you choose one with the right features.
What Type Of Dual Coffee Brewer Do You Even Want?
Commonly, the term "dual coffee maker" refers to machines that can brew 2 different types or quantities of coffee. Some dual coffee makers are designed to produce large pots of coffee or single servings. Others offer the versatility to brew espresso carafes and filter coffee, and some even include a hot water dispenser for instant coffee or tea.
When deciding which type of dual coffee maker to purchase, it is important to consider your coffee preferences and how you typically adjust your brew. This thoughtful approach will ensure you find the perfect fit for your brewing needs.
Do You Brew With K-Cups Or Ground Coffee?
Certain dual coffee makers offer the option to use either ground coffee or K-Cups for brewing. While coffee capsules provide convenience, they often contain stale coffee, are excessively expensive in the long run, and harm the environment.
It's crucial to remember that quality should always take precedence over convenience when it comes to exceptional coffee. Although they've mentioned pod machines in this discussion, they strongly recommend investing in a pod filter instead of selecting single-use capsules. By doing so, you can enjoy the freshness of ground coffee, save money, and contribute to a more eco-friendly coffee experience.
Is Customization Important To You?
Do you enjoy the simplicity of pushing a button and eagerly awaiting your favorite cup of coffee effortlessly appear before you? If so, there's no need to splurge on a dual coffee brewer with many customization options.
However, if you take pleasure in fine-tuning the strength of your coffee or programming the machine for delightful frothy drinks, they offer a selection of machines that are ready to deliver your perfect cup. When considering a more versatile coffee maker, it's important to understand the unique features of each model, avoiding any potential confusion or dissatisfaction with a machine that may seem too basic.
Thermal Vs. Glass Carafe
As proud members of the thermal squad, they have curated a comprehensive list and provided reviews of the finest coffee makers equipped with thermal carafes. Stainless steel carafes not only offer durability compared to glass but also excel in preserving the heat of your coffee for an extended period without compromising flavor or wasting energy.
If you find that a full carafe of coffee hardly lasts more than 10 minutes in your home or office, a glass carafe can be a suitable and cost-effective alternative. Some of the coffee makers they feature offer both options, allowing you to choose according to your preference.
How Much Space Do You Have?
Investing in a top-notch combination coffee maker can revolutionize your brewing experience. With the convenience of dual functionalities packed into one sleek unit, it not only saves precious counter space but also elevates your coffee game. However, it's worth noting that certain models might be bulkier. To avoid any surprises, it's always wise to double-check the dimensions before finalizing your purchase.
The Verdict
The Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System stands out as the most exceptional coffee maker of 2021. Its versatility surpasses that of a typical dual coffee maker. Beyond brewing carafes and single-serve cups, this brewer allows you to indulge in refreshing iced coffee, delightful iced tea, and even bubbly milk beverages like cappuccinos.
However, if your preference is solely coffee and you want to save some money, the top budget pick is the Hamilton Beach Two-Way Brewer. This fully programmable coffee maker excels in producing a delectable carafe and a single cup while being gentle on your wallet.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean my coffee maker?
We recommend cleaning your coffee maker at least once a month. It ensures you have a fresh cup of coffee every time and prevents flavor contamination when using different beans or grounds. Additionally, it's important to describe the machine's interior regularly to keep it running efficiently. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper cleaning and maintenance.
Can I use a travel mug with my coffee maker?
Many dual-combination coffee makers are designed to accommodate travel mugs or larger containers. When choosing your machine, check the capacity of its carafe compared to the height of your desired cup or mug. That way, you can avoid.
What is the best type of coffee for a dual coffee maker?
Generally, medium roast beans such as Colombian, Guatemalan, and Brazilian make the most delicious coffee using a dual combination brewer. These roasts have high levels of flavor but are not overly acidic or bitter. Dark roasts such as Italian and French can be used for those who prefer bolder coffee. Try different types to find what works best for your taste buds.
Does my dual combination coffee maker need filters?
Yes, most machines come with filter baskets that require paper filters, while some models have built-in mesh filters that can be washed and reused. Check the manufacturer's instructions for properly using and maintaining your machine's filter systems.
Is it possible to adjust the strength or temperature of my dual combination coffee maker?
Yes, most models offer adjustable settings for strength and temperature. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions to learn how to adjust these settings for the perfect cup of coffee. You may also need to experiment with different roast levels and grind sizes to get the ideal flavor.
How often should I descale my machine?
Descaling your dual combination coffee maker is essential for keeping it in good condition. Depending on the quality of your water and how regularly you use the machine, descaling should be done at least once every three months. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for further details on correctly doing this. Moreover, check that all the components are clean before and after each use for better flavor in your cup of coffee.
Can I make espresso using my dual combination coffee maker?
Most models have an espresso setting that allows you to create flavorful espresso shots. To get the best results, use finely ground espresso beans and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the optimal grind size and brew time. If your machine has a built-in steam wand, you can enjoy creamy cappuccinos and lattes.
Can I use pre-ground coffee with my machine?
You can use pre-ground coffee with your dual combination coffee maker if it is a coarse grind. Finely ground coffee can clog the filter or cause an overflow, so be sure to avoid using this type of grind. Use freshly ground whole beans to ensure the most flavor in your cup for the best results.
Check out Lifeboost Coffee Automatic Pour Over Coffee Machine.