Hamilton Beach 2-Way 49980RG Best Overall
- Brew Formats
- 12-cup carafe or single serve
- Brew Settings
- Bold or regular
- Footprint (D X W X H)
- 11.1 x 12.2 x 13.9 in
- Single-serve Capacity
- Up to 14 oz
Two machines in a body 12.2 inches wide: a 12-cup glass carafe on one side and a single-serve basket on the other that fills a mug or travel cup up to 14 ounces. That's the pair most households actually alternate between, and this is the least expensive way to get both here - which is why it's our top pick.
The routine is what sells it. Load the carafe basket in the evening, set the timer, pick bold or regular, and the pot is waiting when you get up. In the morning you can slide a cup under the spout mid-brew with AutoPause & Pour and leave the rest of the pot alone. We like that the single-serve side takes a mesh scoop of grounds rather than a capsule - about the same effort as a pod, minus the foil lid, the wrapper and the waste.
Two things to weigh before you buy. Pods and capsules aren't part of the design on either side, so a house that runs on K-Cups should look at the Ninja DualBrew Pro or the Keurig K-Duo instead. And the single-serve side is a basket brewer rather than a pressure machine, so it's the slower half of the pair; if your morning is timed to the minute, that's the trade you're accepting for the price.
One detail worth knowing: the brew basket is sized for standard #4 paper filters, so if you'd rather not rinse the included reusable basket every morning, paper is an option and the grounds go straight into the trash.
What We Like
- 12-cup carafe and single-serve side in one body
- Programmable timer with bold and regular settings
- AutoPause & Pour lets you pull a cup mid-brew
Worth Noting
- No K-Cup or capsule brewing at all
- Single-serve side brews slower than a pod machine
This is the one we recommend to most people: a pot for the household and a mug for the road, with no capsules to keep buying.
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