Unable to decide between a carafe drip brewer and a single-serve coffee maker? A dual coffee maker is also known as a two-way coffee maker is the best of both worlds.
In this article, we will explain what a dual coffee maker is, the different types, and our top 5 best dual coffee makers. We also included information on features to consider before you go shopping for a dual coffee maker.
What is a Dual Coffee Maker?
A dual coffee maker is a machine that can brew full carafes and single-cup servings. They are ideal for households that frequently require different brew capacities for different occasions. It is perfect for households that have early risers and late risers. For instance, the first person up in the morning can brew a single cup without having to commit to a full pot that will be stale and burnt when the late risers get to it.
If you live by yourself and only have a single cup coffee maker, it can be inconvenient if you need to make coffee for visiting guests. A dual coffee maker solves this problem by giving you the flexibility to brew different capacities to match any occasion.
Best Dual Coffee Maker Reviews
1. Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer – Best Budget Dual Coffee Maker
Features:
Capacity: 1-12 Cups
Material: Stainless Steel / Plastic
Dimensions (L x W x H): 11.08 x 12.23 x 13.9 inches
Warranty: 1 Year
PROS
CONS
The Hamilton Beach 49980A is an affordable coffee maker with a single serve option. The carafe can brew 12 cups, making it easy if you plan to brew for a crowd. If you are looking to brew just for yourself, flip a switch to single-serve, and you can brew right into a tumbler or a mug. The single-serve fits a 14 oz travel mug and adjustable to fit a small cup.
The large water reservoir is easy to fill with the carafe and features a window with indicators that help prevent overfilling. There is a smaller reservoir that is used for brewing single servings. You measure the amount of water using your cup or tumbler and pour directly into the reservoir. We really liked having a separate water reservoir for single-serve brewing as it ensures we never brewed more than our tumblers can hold.
Another nice to have is the reusable mesh filter for single-serve brewing. It is also designed to be used as a measuring scoop for your grounds, how neat is that! If you prefer, this machine is also compatible with soft pods that you find in your grocery aisle. On the carafe brewing side, the brew basket uses paper baskets, but you can always buy a GoldTone reusable filter to eliminate the need for paper filters.
This dual coffee maker is fully programmable. Set the timer for when you want your coffee and let it do the rest. This is a nice feature for those who like waking up to the smell of fresh coffee. You can select regular or bold for the strength of your coffee.
This Hamilton Beach dual coffee maker is budget-friendly, well built, and easy to use. It brews quality coffee in both carafe and single-serve capacities. If you are looking for an affordable dual coffee maker that is versatile, this machine offers a lot of value at this price point.
2. Hamilton Beach FlexBrew – Best For Coffee And Tea Lovers
Features:
Capacity: 1-10 Cups
Material: Stainless Steel / Plastic
Dimensions (L x W x H): 13.60 x 14.50 x 15.13 inches
Warranty: 1 Year
PROS
CONS
The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew is a very popular choice for anyone seeking a two pot coffee maker. And there is are good reasons for this. It is versatile and can brew a full pot or a single cup using coffee grounds or k-cups. It comes with attachments that allow you to switch between K-Cups or a reusable single-serve pod. Although not advertise, you can also use the single-serve brewer to brew tea with K-Cups.
This brewer has large and easy to operate buttons. There is also two separate water reservoir with water windows. A nice feature that helps prevent overfilling. The thermal carafe is sturdy and keeps your coffee hot without burning it, a problem we often see with glass carafes. Hamilton Beach also has a version that comes with a glass carafe that is a little cheaper. We still recommend the thermal version as the incremental cost comes with much more value.
This machine is a little bulky, so make sure you take note of the dimensions and ensure you have enough counter space. From our test, this two-way coffee maker brews a little slower than other machines. It is noticeable but we did not find this to be much of a problem.
This Hamilton Beach double coffee maker is a reliable and versatile machine. We enjoy the versatility of being able to brew coffee grounds and K-Cups. If you are looking for a dual coffee maker with K cup compatibility, we are confident this machine will serve you well.
3. Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker CM407 – Best Dual Coffee Maker
Features:
Capacity: 1-10 Cups
Material: Stainless Steel / Plastic
Dimensions (L x W x H): 11.99 x 8.75 x 15.04 inches
Warranty: 1 Year
PROS
CONS
The Ninja CM407 is a specialty coffee maker that offers ultimate versatility and functionality. This sleek-looking machine is certified by the Speciality Coffee Association. This means the Ninja CM407 has gone through rigorous testing and meets strict coffee brewing requirements set out by coffee experts. It is a safe bet that any machine certified by the SCA will brew an amazing cup of coffee.
In terms of versatility, this machine can brew 6 different sizes. Ranging from a single cup or tumbler to half carafe or full carafe. You can switch between sizes with a simple turn of a dial. The base of the machine fits a variety of cup and tumbler sizes. There is also a handy flip-out stand for brewing smaller cup sizes. The thermal carafe can serve 10 cups of coffee and can keep your coffee hot for up to 2 hours.
With one tank and one brew basket, you will be able to customize your coffee with a diverse set of preset brew styles (classic, rich, over ice, specialty). A unique feature not offered on any of the machines we reviewed is the fold-away milk frother. Craving for a latte or a cappuccino? Flip the milk frother out from the side and in a few minutes, you have foamy milk for specialty coffee drinks.
Unlike other dual coffee makers, the Ninja only brews ground coffee. This is a pod free machine, giving you the ability to explore a variety of coffee beans that are often limited by pod selections.
The Ninja CM407 is one the most innovative and best dual coffee maker.
This is an SCA certified brewer that offers amazing versatility to brew different sizes and drinks for any occasion. It is not the most budget-friendly option, but if you are looking for a quality dual coffee maker that can brew a quality cup of joe, this might just be the one.
4. Braun MultiServe Coffee Machine – Most Versatile
Features:
Capacity: 1-10 Cups
Material: Stainless Steel / Plastic
Dimensions (L x W x H): 13 x 7.1 x 15 inches
Warranty: 3 Years
PROS
CONS
The Braun MultiServe is a sleek and modern looking dual coffee maker worth putting on this list. Aside from its great looks, this machine is an SCA certified coffee maker, so you can rest assured that this machine will brew a quality cup of coffee.
It is a flexible machine that can brew 7 different sizes, ranging from 5oz to a full carafe. It can accommodate various cup sizes and tumblers and it even has a flip-out shelf for your small cups. Simply turning the large dial lets you switch between brew sizes. The glass carafe holds 10 cups and is great when you need to brew for a crowd. Braun’s drip lever lets you pause mid-brew to sneak a cup without making a mess.
In terms of functionality, this machine offers 4 brew styles (over ice, light, gold, Bold). Our go-to setting for this machine is the gold brewing preset. This brews an SCA certified cup of coffee by delivering optimal brewing temperature, speed, and precise water flow. It honestly brews a solid cup of coffee and makes us wonder why light and bold are even offered as an option. Though, this is still a nice feature to have if you prefer tweaking your coffee to match your taste buds.
Brewing ice coffee is quite simple, select the over ice setting, fill the carafe with ice and let the machine do rest. The Braun MultiServe will automatically adjust brewing parameters to ensure your iced coffee is not diluted. Another neat feature is the dedicated hot water dispenser, something that can come in handy when the occasion calls for tea or hot chocolate.
The Braun MultiServe is very versatile and will be able to entertain for many different occasions. Its modern design and SCA certification make it a worthy dual coffee maker to invest in.
5. Cuisinart SS-20 – Best K-Cup Dual Coffee Maker
Features:
Capacity: 1-10 Cups
Material: Stainless Steel / Plastic
Dimensions (L x W x H): 10.75 x 12.75 x 16.5 inches
Warranty: 3 Years
PROS
CONS
The Cuisinart SS-20 is a coffee maker with K-cup option. It brews coffee grounds on the carafe side and K-Cups on the single-serve side. This machine is ideal for anyone looking for a combination coffee maker to save space and eliminate the need for multiple coffee makers.
On the carafe brewing side, the thermal carafe serves 10 cups and will keep your coffee hot without the need for a heating element. The buttons are large and offer a minimalistic approach that is easy to use. In terms of programmability, you will have the option to set a brew 24-hours in advance. The back-up system is useful as it keeps all your programmed settings if you ever lose power.
The single-serve brewer uses K-Cups and will serve 3 different sizes (6, 8, or 10oz). Included with this brewer is Cuisinart’s HomeBarista Reusable Filter pod, this is a nice to have if you fancy brewing your own coffee. The drip tray is also removable for cleaning and to accommodate travel mugs. The water tank is also removable, making refills a simple task.
The machine we initially tested had a major defect. The tank on the single-serve side leaked even when we weren’t brewing, leaving an unexpected puddle on our counter. Luckily the 3-year warranty covered this and the new machine we received did not have this problem.
The Cuisinart SS-20 is a decent machine that is versatile in terms of being able to brew both coffee grounds and K-cups. We humbly believe at this price point there are more affordable machines that offer similar features like the Hamilton FlexBrew. However, if you are looking for a more polished looking dual coffee maker and willing to invest. This Cuisinart is a solid choice.
Other things to consider
Coffee Grounds vs Pods
Do you prefer to use your own grounds or coffee pods? In our opinion, fresh coffee grounds is the best way to brew and enjoy coffee. Pods are convenient and easy to clean up but comes at a higher cost on your wallet and environmental footprint.
Some dual coffee makers brew using both coffee grounds and pods. In these machines, coffee grounds are used for batch brewing, and pods are used for single-serve brewing. Some machines strictly brew coffee using grounds or pods. Consider whether or not you care for pods’ convenience, as this will ultimately affect how you will brew your coffee every day.
Capacity
Consider how many servings you would like when brewing a batch in the carafe. Are you buying this machine for home use or at the office? How would you be using this machine?
Determine how many servings you normally need and ensure you get the best dual coffee maker that suits your needs.
Use the measurements as a guide to help you decided how many cups you need:
- Typical coffee mug holds 8-12oz
- 1 cup = 8 oz
- 12 cups serve 8 mugs
Machine Size
The size of the machine is an important factor to consider when you are picking out a dual coffee maker. You want to make sure whatever machine you choose, it would fit on your countertop. This is especially important for anyone of you that are limited to countertop real estate.
Make sure you measure the height available under your cabinets if you plan to store it underneath.
For your convenience, here are the measurements for the machines we reviewed in this article:
| Model | Dimensions (Length, Width, Height) |
| Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer | 11.08 x 12.23 x 13.9 inches |
| Hamilton Beach FlexBrew | 13.60 x 14.50 x 15.13 inches |
| Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker | 11.99 x 8.75 x 15.04 inches |
| Braun MultiServe Coffee Machine | 13 x 7.1 x 15 inches |
| Cuisinart SS-20 | 10.75 x 12.75 x 16.5 inches |
Features: what do you really need?
Dual coffee makers offer great flexibility in brewing different capacities. Some machines offer auto-brewing that lets you set the machine to automatically brew 24 hours in advance. Another common setting is brew strength, this option allows you to choose between strong, medium, and mild brews.
Every machine offers something a little different. There isn’t a perfect combination, you should consider what features matter most to you and what you see yourself using the most. Through our reviews, any of the 5 machines we revied in this is article would be a solid choice. Just keep in mind, the best dual coffee maker is the one that meets all your day-to-day brewing needs.
Thermal vs Glass Carafe
When it comes to choosing whether you want a thermal or glass carafe, consider how quickly you would drink a batch of coffee. Here at the CoffeeCoterie, we always opt for a thermal carafe when the option is available.
First off, the majority of us here are clumsy and have our fair share of broken mugs under our belts. A thermal carafe is way more durable and can take a few bumps without shattering. We also prefer the heat retention of a thermal carafe as it does not require a heating plate. With glass carafes, a heating plate is used to keep the carafe hot and ready. This heating method can often leave you with burnt and bitter coffee if you leave it on the heating element for too long.
The majority of dual coffee makers come with glass carafes. Fortunately, this should not be too much of a problem with combination coffee makers. As you will have the option to brew a single cup, which should negate over brewing a whole pot that would eventually burn on the heating element if left unattended for too long.
Verdict
We’ve looked at both basic and feature-packed dual coffee makers. Each one of them offers something a little different. The best one for you is honestly the one that fits your bill and provides you with the features that are important to you.
Here at the Coffee Coterie, our favorite dual coffee maker is the Ninja CM407. It is a versatile machine that brews for a variety of sizes to accommodate any occasion. The diverse set of brewing mode gives us the ability to brew a variety of drinks, from SCA certified coffee to cappuccinos. The innovative design ditches the need for separate water tanks and brew baskets. At this price point, we believe it provides the most value and is the best bang for your buck.
