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Author:
Jessica Simms
The flexibility of two-way coffee makers gives them a convenience advantage over most other brewing methods. Brew up a full pot when you’re entertaining, or quickly grab a single cup in the morning—these brewers can do it all.
Let’s check out some of the best 2-way coffee makers you’ll find on the market now, so you can pick the perfect brewer for your home.
The convenience of the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew is its main advantage. On the carafe side, it has a programmable auto-start and a cup warmer with automatic shutoff, so your coffee will be ready when you want it and stay hot until you drink it.
The single-serve side brews from either grounds or K-Cups in just 3 minutes for a quick, easy cup of joe.
The user-friendly Cuisinart SS-15P1 makes it easy to brew coffee exactly the way you want it. You can customize both the strength and the temperature of your carafe brew. It’s also programmable, with both automatic brewing and an automatic shutoff.
We also appreciate the attention to detail on the Cuisinart SS-15P1. It comes with reusable filters ficed coffeeor both the carafe and single-serve brewer, which is better for both your wallet and the environment.
The built-in water filtration and removable water reservoir also make it easier to fill, clean, and maintain.
This stainless steel Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer is a great option if you want both flexibility and value. Switching sides and programming the auto-start are easy on the intuitive interface, and the drip tray on the single-serve side adjusts to the height of your mug to limit dripping.
Features like the strength selection and carafe warming plate make it a convenient choice for any kitchen.
This version of the FlexBrew from Hamilton Beach is a bit larger than the model above but has the added perk of a storage area for the K-Cup holder inside the single-serve cup rest. This makes it easy to keep everything together and out of the way when the brewer’s not in use.
It still has all the convenient features of the model above, including programmable brew start and a pause and pour function for the carafe.
The Ninja Specialty 2 Way Coffee Maker has fold-away milk frother, a feature you’d be hard pressed to find on drip brewers from any other brand. It also has an iced coffee option which gives you rich, delicious cold coffee, and can brew a range of batch sizes up to 50 ounces.
All told, it’s one of the most versatile 2-way coffee makers you’ll find.
To start, the Cuisinart CHW-14 is a versatile coffee maker, capable of brewing anywhere from 1 to 10 cups without any change in richness or flavor. Features like brew strength control and a programmable auto-start add to the convenience of the intuitive controls.
Along with that, this Cuisinart brewer has a hot water dispenser. This lets you make other drinks like tea and hot chocolate quickly and easily, making this a very handy all-in-one beverage station.
Keurig’s single-serve brewers have a reputation for making delicious cups of coffee quickly. With the K-Duo, they add a separate drip brewer onto their standard single-serve machine, allowing you to brew anywhere from 6 ounces to 12 cups at once.
You don’t have to use K-Cups to brew, either. It’s compatible with both paper and reusable filters.
Here’s another great choice from Ninja that’s ideal for users who want to make more than just coffee. It can make hot or iced coffee and tea, and comes with a unique brew basket designed for use with loose leaf tea or tea bags.
Along with that, you’ll get one-button milk frothing from the built-in frother. All of these features are easy to control, too, thanks to the Auto IQ intelligent touch technology.
This compact brewer from Sboly is an excellent choice for apartments and small kitchens. While it has a smaller capacity than larger brewers, it does still give you 5 cup size options, as well as the choice of brewing from K-Cups or ground coffee.
Its fast brew time and adjustable cup rest make it an ideal choice for commuters since it will brew straight into a travel mug while you’re getting ready for work.
The De’Longhi La Specialista has everything you need to make a range of delicious drinks built right in. This includes an advanced steam wand, a built-in professional burr grinder, and an on demand hot water dispenser. From lattes to Americanos to hot tea, you can do it all on this machine.
The level of automation is helpful, too. The smart tamping station and automatic frothing options mean you can make delicious drinks with this machine, even if you’re not a trained barista.
The carafe side of the Cuisinart Coffee Center is fully-automatic and super easy to use. It also ensures the best coffee flavor by including a thermal carafe, keeping your brew hot without burning it.
The single-serve brewer adds versatility and the convenience of a quick brew up to 10 ounces.
The Cuisinart Coffee Center is well-built and low-maintenance, too. Built-in filtration prevents build up so you don’t need to fully clean it as often.
When you do, it’s self-cleaning, with removable components that are quick and easy to wipe down.
The definition of “2-Way Coffee Maker” isn’t completely cut and dry. All of these brewers have one thing in common: they can do more than regular drip brewers.
Beyond that, you’ll find a lot of variation in the included features, style of brewing, and what kinds of drinks you can make with them.
While you’ll see a lot of different machines described as 2-way coffee makers, they can generally be broken down into 3 categories:
Carafe and Single-Serve Brewers
These coffee makers are equipped to brew two ways: drip and single-serve (also called pod or K-Cup brewing).
In many cases, the two brewers are side-by-side, though you’ll find compact options like the Sboly Single Serve Coffee Maker that do both from the same spout.
Quick brewing and versatility are the main advantages of this style of brewer. Many also include features like self-cleaning and programmability that make them even more convenient.
The main disadvantage is that most are on the larger side compared to other brewers, which could be an issue in small kitchens.
Coffee and Tea Brewers
While any coffee maker can theoretically dispense hot water, the lingering coffee oils in the machine will alter the flavor.
Coffee makers with a dedicated hot water spout let you make drinks like tea and hot chocolate without altering the taste.
Some models take this a step further and include special filters and settings for steeping loose-leaf tea.
Not all of these machines brew drip or single-serve coffee. Many espresso machines include a hot water dispenser for making Americanos and can fit into this category as well.
Café Beverage Stations
If you want to make drinks like au laits, lattes, and cappuccinos, you need some way to steam and froth the milk.
An espresso machine can do this, but you can also find drip brewers with this functionality, like the Ninja coffee makers reviewed above.
Versatility is the main advantage of these machines. Many have functions for making iced drinks in addition to hot brewing, giving you a broader range of choices than even the coffee and tea brewers above.
Step one is deciding which style of 2-way brewer you want from the types above. Once you know what kind of drinks you want to make, there are a few other factors to consider that will help you pick the right coffee maker:
Dual Coffee Maker: Brewing for You or a Few
https://www.roastycoffee.com/dual-coffee-maker/
Coffee Maker Buying Guide
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/coffee-makers/buying-guide/index.htm
How to Choose a Coffee Maker
https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/coffee-maker-buying-guide/
Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Coffee Maker
https://www.thespruceeats.com/coffee-maker-buying-guide-4175074
