In this Hamilton Beach 49980A review you’ll learn all about a great drip coffee maker that won’t break the bank.
The Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-way brewer coffee machine can whip up an entire carafe of coffee – or a single serve – and using your own favorite coffee grounds.
(Updated 17th April, 2023)
TABLE OF CONTENTS – What’s In This Coffee Machine Review? |
Hamilton Beach 49980A Review : An Overview
Pros:
- brews a full pot or single serving
- can be programmed to start at a specific time
- accommodates cups/mugs of various sizes
- excellent carafe, no spills
- choice of bold and regular strength
- large water tank, removable
- easy to operate
- auto-off after 2 hours
- quick and convenient to clean after use
- good value for money
- BPA free material
- components are dishwasher safe
Cons:
- carafe is not insulated
- no reusable filter for carafe brewing
- weak hot plate
Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer Review
This is an excellent drip coffee maker from the Hamilton Beach family of coffee machines.
With its unique dual brew size option, mesh coffee filter, and affordable price, this 2-way brewer has delighted fans who love being able to make coffee for the entire family – or themselves alone.
You can
- brew an entire pot or a single mug,
- choose your brew strength, and
- pre-program the time it makes your coffee
Hamilton Beach 49980A Review
Design
The Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer isn’t a great looker. But it has a certain appeal that’s characteristic of many other Hamilton Beach appliances.
With a brushed steel and black plastic look it is sure to match most types of decor and fit nicely into a kitchen or office space.
An interesting design element is the choice to be minimalist. There are just a few buttons that control all functions. And the digital display is clear, bright, and easy to view.
It is also reasonably compact and saves space with a small footprint.
Hamilton Beach 49980A Review
Special Features
There are several interesting elements that make the Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer coffee maker special.
Single-Serve & Carafe-Full:
Of course, the big advantage is that you can use it to make a single cup of coffee – or brew 12 cups as a batch. The glass carafe comfortably holds 60 ounces.
And it’s nice to be able to make just a single cup of coffee when you crave a midday energy boost, than to have to wait for an entire carafe to brew.
Dual Brew:
Having a dual brew capability means that you can make separate beverages for those who prefer, say, decaf coffee and others who like java with a jolt of caffeine.
Spill-Free Spout:
An adjustable drip tray allows a range of mug sizes to fit comfortably beneath the spout.
Brew Strength Setting:
You can choose between regular and bold coffee. The difference is in how much water is used to brew, and the rate at which it is poured through the coffee grounds.
You might imagine bold coffee would taste better, but it isn’t always so. Take the time to try out various combinations to hit upon your preferred favorite.
Glass Carafe:
A 60 oz glass carafe is not insulated. But the coffee stays hot thanks to a hot plate that will warm up the carafe for upto two hours.
A downside from this is that the coffee tends to have a burnt taste after a while.
Coffee Pods:
You can use Senseo coffee pods to make a single serve coffee. This offers an alternative to the ubiquitous K-cups that are also compatible with the Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer.
Hamilton Beach 49980A Review
Ease of Use
The Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer is easy to use. It initially may take a while to get used to some nuances.
For one, you cannot brew both a carafe and single-serve at the same time. Even though it’s a dual brewer, only one side works at a time.
When you use the single-serve setting, the hot plate turns off. So plan to brew your coffee keeping this in mind. The single-serve side also uses a metal-mesh filter, but the carafe doesn’t.
This means your coffee is typically richer in flavor with a single serving than when you brew up an entire batch.
It’s convenient that a minimum and maximum line is clearly marked in the water tank. This means you’ll readily know how much water to fill, and how many cups of coffee you’ll be able to brew.
How It Works:
Brewing coffee on the Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer is easy.
Fill the tank with the right amount of water. Select the correct batch size. Turn the machine on.
You can pre-program brewing to start at a specific time, if you like. Just hold down the button and set the time. A green LED on the display indicates that your settings have been saved.
The machine begins to brew your coffee. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a hot, delicious drink.
Hamilton Beach 49980A Review
Clean Up & Maintenance
It’s easy to clean up the Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer because components are dishwasher safe.
The outer surface can be wiped down with a damp cloth.
Price
The Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer coffee machine offers good value for your money.
Instead of getting a single serve coffee maker and a larger 12-cup coffee machine separately, you get to combine the functionality of both in this model.
Although it is simple, the Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer has several useful features that add value to users.
Programmability, strength and size control, and a choice to brew single-serve or large batches of coffee are appreciated by most buyers.
Hamilton Beach 49980A Review
Alternatives To Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer
If you only need to brew large batches of upto 14 cups, a better choice might be the Cuisinart DCC-3000 coffee maker. It has more programmable functions and allows more flexibility over how your coffee tastes.
If you want the absolute best drip coffee maker, then other models like the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT or the Bonavita BV1900 are worth looking at.
And for a single-serve coffee machine, there are few better options than a Keurig coffee maker.
Hamilton Beach 49980A Review
Our Verdict
The Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer coffee maker has a set of unique features that are ideal for the right kind of buyer.
You’ll be able to make either a single serving or 12 cups at a time. And there are programmable functions, brew size and strength controls, and an elegant, simple interface that make it easy to use.
Clean up is simple, and the parts are dishwasher safe.
All of this, coupled with an affordable price, make the Hamilton Beach 49980A 2-Way Brewer excellent value for your money.