Last Updated on May 21, 2022 by John Moretti
With the plethora of coffee makers currently available on the market, it can be exceptionally difficult to decide which coffee maker will best serve your individual purposes or that of your family. This decision between two coffee makers can be made even more difficult when choosing between two machines with extremely similar features.
The Keurig K-Duo and the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew coffee makers are two of the brands’ most popular machines and share many similarities. However, these two machines are sold at significantly different prices, and each boasts specific features that make a difference to their overall operation.
Both the Keurig K-Duo and the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew coffee makers have multiple functionalities that allow for great flexibility for their respective users. Whether making twelve cups or one cup, both machines will serve your needs effectively, ensuring a great quality cup of coffee every time.
Keurig Vs. Hamilton Beach Coffee Makers
The Keurig K-Duo and the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew are two machines that are often compared to one another. Both machines have several similarities that can make it difficult to know which machine is the better option. The differences lie in subtle details within each machine’s functionality.
In choosing the right machine for your circumstances, you will need to weigh up these differences and see which features are the most important for you to have in a coffee maker.
The main similarity between the two machines is the fact that they both have the ability to brew either a full-size carafe of coffee or a single serving whenever needed.
This flexibility of serving size makes these two machines a very attractive option for the home, allowing for ease of use whether you’re making coffee for the entire household or simply a single cup of coffee for yourself.
While the machines have many similarities and will generally be able to produce the same type of coffee, there are several differences that set the two machines apart.
Water Tank
The way in which each machine uses water makes a significant difference to the machines’ respective operations. The Keurig K-Duo makes use of a single water tank. The water from this tank is used for either the single-serve section of the machine or the carafe.
The machine makes use of pre-programmed water portions, automatically distributing the required amount of water irrespective of whether you’re making an entire pot or a single cup of coffee.
The Hamilton Beach Flexbrew, on the other hand, features two tanks. One tank is for the single-serve section, while the other tank serves the carafe. In order to make coffee in this machine, you only pour in the amount of water that you need, and the machine will use whatever amount is in the tank in order to fill up your cup.
This means that you will need to refill the tank with the required amount of water every time you need to make coffee. This can be somewhat of an inconvenience, especially if you use your coffee machine many times throughout the day.
Dishwasher Compatibility
For some reason, the individual parts of the Keurig K-Duo are not dishwasher friendly. This naturally makes it more difficult to keep the machine clean as handwashing is required. If handwashing is not an option for you, then this machine is not your best option.
The Hamilton Beach Flexbrew, on the other hand, has removable parts that can be placed in the dishwasher, ensuring that the cleanup process is extremely easy. This simple fact may be a major determining factor in any consumer’s choice of coffee maker.
Auto-off Function
While both machines feature an automatic turn-off function, the way in which these systems work differs slightly with each machine. The Keurig K-Duo will turn off its brewing function within five minutes of it not being used. The heating plate, however, will turn off after two hours.
The Hamilton Beach Flexbrew, on the other hand, will turn off everything after two hours. This is less desirable than the two-stage turn-off featured with the Keurig.
The auto turn-off feature will not only save electricity but will ensure that no disasters ensue from the machine being left on.
Drink Size
Drink size is another major consideration when comparing the two coffee makers. The Keurig K-Duo significantly outperforms the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew in terms of its flexibility with regard to drink size.
The Keurig has the option of producing single cups of coffee in sizes of 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces. When using the carafe, this coffee maker can brew 6, 8, 10, or 12 cups.
The Hamilton Beach Flexbrew, on the other hand, can make single cups of coffee of ten ounces when making use of the K-cups and cups of 14 ounces when using ground coffee. When using the carafe, this machine brews a fixed amount of 12 cups of coffee.
Storage Capabilities
The Hamilton Beach Flexbrew boasts the unique feature of built-in storage. This is particularly useful if your kitchen has limited counter space. Being able to store the smaller removable parts of your coffee machine within the machine also ensures that you’re able to keep all coffee-making parts together in one place.
The Keurig K-Duo does not have the built-in storage mentioned above, so this may be an important consideration.
Extra Parts
While the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew comes with all its necessary parts, the Keurig K-Duo does not. There are extra parts that must be purchased in order to make full use of the machine, and these parts include items such as the reusable coffee filter that comes in extremely handy.
Conclusion
Both the Keurig K-Duo and the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew are excellent machines that will brew the perfect cup of coffee every time.
The Keurig boasts several features that make it an extremely attractive option. The main issue with this machine is that the parts are not dishwasher safe while those of the Hamilton machines are.
If you are looking for a coffee maker that allows for easy cleanup, the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew is the better option for you.
