Are you in search of a two-in-one coffee maker also known as a dual coffee maker? Dual coffee makers can produce two cups of fresh coffee at the same time. They’re perfect for households who have different brewing needs and can solve problems with family members that drink coffee at different times.
*Our Favorite Dual Brewer*
Favorite Dual Coffee Maker: the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49976
We cut right to the chase with this one. No need to wait. We will just let you know right off the bat that we love this brewer. It is affordable and has 3 different ways you can brew.
- Using a K-Cup Pod
- A Single Cup or Travel Mug
- An Entire Pot (12 cups)
You can please all your friends and family members with this one. It comes with two water reservoirs and a water window to peek at your levels. You can also brew your joe as regular strength or bold. We love the flexibility of choosing a K-Cup pod or freshly ground coffee (which is always the way to have coffee). By the way, the single serve side can brew in under 3 minutes.
Why Buy a Dual Coffee Maker?
Two way coffee makers are great options for versatility and ease. You can brew a single cup if you get up first and let the automatic feature brew the carafe for the rest of the family, this way their coffee will be fresh too. It’s kind of like buying two separate brewers in one.
You could also use the single side for your everyday brewing but use the carafe side when you have guests over.
Not everyone likes to collect coffee brewing equipment like I do. By getting a dual coffee maker, you can cut out the need for all the extra devices like a gooseneck kettle, a V60 dripper, or a french press that take up precious counter space.
I do however recommend that everybody grind fresh beans right before you brew to make sure you get to drink the freshest, best-tasting coffee possible.
Things to Think About
Before you purchase a dual coffee maker, you should consider a few things. With so many options out there, you need to know what will suit your needs the best.
- What kind of Coffee you will brew?
- Freshly Ground or K-Cup?
- How easy is it?
- How much it holds?
- The size of the brewer.
What Kind of Coffee will you Brew?
You need to first decide how you like your coffee? Do you love drip or espresso?
If drip is your jam then you won’t have a problem finding a machine that works for you.
If espresso-based drinks are your thing, you will need to search for an option that can deliver for you like the Delonghi BC0430.
Freshly Ground or K-Cup
The majority of the two-way coffee makers let you brew drip on one or both sides. But do you prefer the ease and simplicity of brewing with pods?
If this is something that is important to you, you will need to pick one that is compatible.
How Easy is It?
Simplicity and ease of use could be at the top of the list for features and if this is true, you will need to rule out any machines that don’t fit that bill. If you pick a machine that’s hard to use or difficult to clean, it will more than likely end up under your counter shoved to the back of a cabinet.
The best brewers give you push-button brewing ease and a pot warmer to keep things hot. You should also look for one that can be programmed for fresh coffee to brew before you wake up.
Freshly Ground or K-Cup
The majority of the two-way coffee makers let you brew drip on one or both sides. But do you prefer things to be simple and easy like brewing with pods?
If this is something that is important to you, you will need to pick one that is compatible.
How Easy is It?
Simplicity and ease of use could be at the top of the list for features and if this is true, you will need to rule out any machines that don’t fit that bill. If you pick a machine that’s hard to use or difficult to clean, it will more than likely end up under your counter shoved to the back of a cabinet.
The best brewers give you push-button brewing ease and a pot warmer to keep things hot. You should also look for one that can be programmed for fresh coffee to brew before you wake up.
How Much Can it Brew?
Most dual brewers can hold 10 to 12 cups of coffee on one of their sides. You should also look into how much water the tank holds before you will have to refill it. I would look for tanks that are greater than 40 ounces or dual tanks like the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew.
The Brewers Actual Size
You should take into consideration how big the brewer is and make sure it’s not going to require too much of your precious counter space. Now, do keep in mind that if you are getting two or more brewers in one machine, it is going to be larger than some of the brewers on the market like the Keurig Mini.
Our Favorite Dual Brewers
1. (Favorite) Hamilton Beach Flex Brew
As we have gone over already, this is our favorite because of its affordability and versatility. It lets you brew with K-Cups or ground coffee in 3 different options. (single serve k-cup, single-serve ground, or carafe ground)
It has 2 separate water reservoirs and the carafe holds 12 cups. It’s programmable, too.
Measurements: 13.7″H x 12.2″W x 11.4″D
2. Cuisinart SS-15 Coffee Center
This two-way brewer can make a 12 cup pot of ground coffee or a single-serve cup with a reusable single-serve filter cup or using a coffee pod. It has 24-hour programmability, temperature control, a bold brew option, and a self-cleaning feature. The 40-ounce water reservoir and drip tray can be taken off for refilling or cleaning.
Measurements: 14.25″H x 10.38″W x 10.13″D
3. Ninja Hot & Cold System
This dual brewer is a little pricier than most but it lets you choose between 6 different cup sizes and 5 different brew styles. It doesn’t have two sides like other machines but it’s so much more versatile.
You can choose which strength you prefer: Classic, Rich, Over Ice, Cold Brew, or Specialty. It makes tea as well, with a separate tea basket for the leaves. There is a fold-away frother that can foam milk perfect for cappuccinos and more.
There is also the Advanced Thermal Flavor Extraction Technology feature with Auto iQ. This uses precise temperature, variable blooming, and steeping with even saturation.
Measurements: 15″H x 10″W x 11.8″D
4. Hamilton Beach 49980A
The Hamilton Beach 49980A is for people looking for an affordable way to brew a carafe and a travel cup. The carafe holds 12 cups and can brew 2 strengths. It also has a mesh filter.
Measurements: 12.5″H x 10″W x 15″L
5. Keurig K-Duo
The Keurig K-Duo is for pod lovers. You can make a 12 cup carafe or a single cup. The water reservoir holds 60 ounces. A feature that I love is that you can pause it for 20 seconds allowing you to pour from the carafe without it making a giant mess. You can use ground coffee if you prefer by getting the reusable K-Cup attachment.
Measurements: 12.92″H x 10.94″W x 12.76″D
6. Delonghi BC0430
This is the most expensive of the dual coffee makers we have gone over. It has the ability to make espresso and a carafe pot of coffee. It has a milk frothing arm as well. The 15 bar pump gives you a pretty nice espresso. The water reservoir is 40 ounces and it has its own carbon filter to give you better tasting water for your brew. It also has a cup warmer on the top.
Measurements: 12.9″H x 14.52″W x 11.02″L
Should You Choose a Glass Carafe or a Stainless Steel
I personally prefer a stainless steel carafe. Thermal pots can insulate better than glass and keep your coffee hot for longer. My drip-maker has a stainless steel pot and it can keep my coffee ready to drink for hours. Plus, glass is more likely to break but that might be why it’s cheaper.
A thermal carafe’s main purpose is to keep your coffee from being exposed to heat after it’s brewed. This will continue the extraction process and can give you a bitter, burnt-tasting cup after a few extra hours.
Conclusion
After this overview of two-way brewers, you should know now if you need one and which one you are going to buy. By taking care of two brewing needs in one, it’s pretty much a no-brainer for coffee lovers that need options but don’t want to take up tons of space.
If you have a particular dual coffee maker you prefer, leave it in the comments below. We love hearing from you. You can also follow us on Pinterest for more coffee info.
See this post: White Coffee vs Black Coffee.
