Top 6 Best Dual Coffee Makers Reviewed

Quick summary

Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Dual Coffee Maker For all types of coffee from fresh grounds to K-Cup pods, the FlexBrew 2-way Coffee maker gives you the full options. 5 best overall Check Price

Ninja Hot and Cold Coffee Maker This machine gives you the ability to brew hot, flavorful cups of coffee and tea or over-ice beverages, all powered by Advanced Thermal Flavor Extraction Technology. 4.5 Check Price

Cuisinart SS-20 with Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker A fully automatic thermal coffeemaker and a single-serve brewer that it’s always easy to enjoy the gourmet taste you expect from a dual coffeemaker. 4.5 Check Price

The 6 Best Dual Coffee Makers - Our Picks

“To me, the smell of fresh-made coffee is one of the greatest inventions.”

— Hugh Jackman

100% agreed!

Like the smell of roses and the moist earth after it rains, coffee is one of those smells you can’t get enough of. You feel like inhaling it until there’s nothing left. It lifts your spirits and brings back memories.

If you want to enjoy fresh coffee on your own or with someone else, look no further than a dual brew coffee maker. Dual means you can brew a hot cup of single-serve coffee, or a nice big pot to share.

Let’s look at our top-6 picks and then discuss what to look for.

Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Dual Coffee Maker

• Type of Dual Coffee Maker: Thermal carafe + Single-serve
• Supports K-Cups: Yes
• Programmable: Yes (brew strength, auto start, shutoff)
• Carafe Capacity: 50 oz (10 cups)
• Dimensions: 13.6 x 14.5 x 15.13 inches

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A 2-in-1 coffee maker that will make your life way easier. Brew a single-serve coffee or a full pot whenever you feel like it. Also includes the option of using K-Cups or ground coffee for single-serve.

The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew has a 10-cup stainless steel thermal carafe, separate water reservoirs, programmable features (timer, auto-pause, auto-shutoff). It also accommodates a large travel mug and has a removable cup rest, where you can conveniently store the filter basket.

The FlexBrew lives up to its name. Your coffee the way you want it when you want it. At just over $100, this dual drip coffee maker is a steal.

Ninja Hot and Cold Coffee Maker (CP307)

• Type of Dual Coffee Maker: Thermal carafe + Combo Tea & Coffee Maker
• Supports K-Cups: No
• Programmable: No
• Carafe Capacity: 50 oz (10 cups)
• Dimensions: 11.81 x 10.01 x 15 inches

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If you’re looking for the best rated dual coffee maker with the most versatility — the Ninja Hot and Cold Brew System is unbeatable. No other coffee maker that we know of brews hot & cold coffee and tea.

The Ninja comes with two filter baskets for tea and coffee, has six brew sizes (single-serve, XL single-serve, travel size, XL travel size, half carafe, and full carafe), and five brew styles (classic, rich, over ice, cold brew, specialty). Also, it has a foldaway hot and cold frother.

The machine recognizes which filter basket you insert (tea or coffee) and gives you the appropriate choice of settings. And while it lacks K-cup support and programmable features, it makes up for in versatility and a sleek design.

Cuisinart SS-20 with Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker

• Type of Dual Coffee Maker: Thermal carafe + Single-serve
• Supports K-Cups: Yes
• Programmable: Yes (brew strength, auto-start, auto-shutoff, self-clean)
• Carafe Capacity: 50 oz (10 cups)
• Dimensions: 10.75 x 12.75 x 16.5 inches

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With a cool name like Coffee Center, you expect a lot. Cuisinart’s $200+ dual coffee maker delivers a dual-reservoir, 3-serving size single-serve, K-Cup compatible, programmable coffee powerhouse.

This model would’ve been a contender for a higher spot on our list if it didn’t have the hefty price tag. But, factoring in the energy-saving mode, charcoal water filter, and the permanent coffee filter, it may be exactly what you need.

One thing to note: there have been a few complaints of leaking issues with this machine. It seems that not all units are affected, so keep an eye out for any leakage if you go with this one.

De'Longhi BCO430 Combination Brewer

• Type of Dual Coffee Maker: Thermal carafe + Espresso machine
• Supports K-Cups: No
• Programmable: Yes (auto-start, auto-shutoff)
• Carafe Capacity: 50 oz (10 cups)
• Dimensions: 14.5 x 11 x 12.8 inches

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After checking out the De’Longhi, you can say you’ve seen it all. It’s a dual coffee espresso maker and 10-cup auto-drip machine. A 15-bar pump espresso or a cup of tasty drip coffee — choices, choices. And the fact that you have this choice when you get up in the morning is a testament to Italian engineering.

Instead of a top-loading coffee and water reservoir, the De’Longhi has front-loading reservoirs (they swing out to the right). It also includes 24-hour programmable auto-start and auto-shutoff features, and amazingly, it has a milk frother. So you can have milky lattes and cappuccinos whenever you want!

K-Duo Plus Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker

• Type of Dual Coffee Maker: Thermal carafe + Single-serve
• Supports K-Cups: Yes
• Programmable: Yes (auto-start, auto-shutoff)
• Carafe Capacity: 60 oz (12 cups)
• Dimensions: 15.88 x 7.68 x 14.9 inches

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At first glance, this doesn’t look like anything “dual.” It surprised us with how efficiently it uses space. Instead of a side-by-side carafe and single-serve, the K-Duo Plus has a streamlined, single-cup/pot rest. This makes it a great option if you need to save space on your countertop.

Keurig makes quality appliances, and their K-Cup selection is out of this world. But you can also save money and use off-brand K-Cups. K-Duo Plus gives you four size options for single-serve and carafe and an option to brew stronger coffee by pressing the “Strong” button.

It’s a Keurig, so it's priced accordingly. At around $200, it’s great for people that value quality, elegance, and versatility.

Keurig K-Duo Dual Coffee Maker

• Type of Dual Coffee Maker: Thermal carafe + Single-serve
• Supports K-Cups: Yes
• Programmable: Yes (auto-start, auto-shutoff)
• Carafe Capacity: 60 oz (12 cups)
• Dimensions: 12.92 x 10.94 x 12.76 inches

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The K-Duo is very similar to the newer K-Duo Plus. The biggest difference is that the older model has a side-by-side design. The K-Duo comes with a glass carafe instead of the K-Duo Plus stainless steel carafe. And finally, the K-Duo has a warming plate, which the Plus lacks.

As you can see, there are some tradeoffs. The K-Duo has a 12-cup glass carafe, a removable reservoir, and is compatible with K-Cup and off-brand pods. But it doesn’t include a permanent filter.

The Duo is a solid machine with a multi-year track record of making great coffee, both single-serve and drip coffee in a carafe.

Things to Consider For Choosing the Best Dual Brew Coffee Maker:

Any purchase, big or small, takes up mental energy. Instead of stressing out and falling victim to marketing hype, consider what you need in a coffee maker.

After doing extensive research, we identified the following critical questions you can ask yourself when choosing a best rated dual coffee maker:

• What type of dual machine do I want?
• Do I want to use it with K-Cups, ground coffee, or both?
• Which features do I need?
• Should I get one with a thermal or glass carafe?
• What brew options do I want?
• Will it fit on my countertop?

Let’s answer these questions one by one.

What Type of Dual Coffee Brewer do you want?

Most machines combine thermal carafe (10-12 cups) and single-serve brewing capabilities. There are also some specialty coffee machines. For example, if you have tea drinkers in your family, our #2 pick, The Ninja, will be perfect. Or, if you or someone in your family loves homemade espresso, our #4, the De’Longhi, will have you covered.

The second biggest distinction is whether the dual carafe coffee maker supports K-Cup pods, ground coffee, or both.

K-Cup Pods or Ground Coffee

K-Cups are individual coffee servings that are sold in pods. Keurig created them, but many off-brands have popped up in recent times since the Keurig patent has ended.

If you want to have the option of using K-Cups and ground coffee, look for a machine that has both. Remember, you can use any type of ground coffee as long as it has the drip coffee grind (medium to medium-coarse).

K-Cups not your thing? Then you have more options available to you.

Customization & Features

Another important consideration is additional features. If you need a programmable dual coffee maker that you can set and forget 24 hours in advance, get a coffee machine with an auto-start (aka timer) feature.

Conventional dual machines don’t have cool toys like milk frothers, unlike The Ninja and De’Longhi. Also, consider if the machine includes a permanent coffee filter or not. If it doesn’t, you’ll have to buy paper filters or opt for a separately sold filter.

Thermal vs Glass Carafe

Thermal carafes are made of plastic, stainless steel, or both, while glass carafes are made with thick glass. We haven’t tested this ourselves, but the consensus is that thermal carafes keep coffee hotter for longer.

If you need to keep your coffee hot, look for a machine with a warming plate. Most coffee makers have a 2-hour warming cycle that you can reset to extend the time. Judging by what’s on the market, thermal is the more popular choice for manufacturers and consumers.

Brew Options

More brew options aren’t always better. You may not need six different brew sizes or fancy frothers and other bells and whistles. Evaluate your (household’s) coffee drinking habits to get a clear picture of what to look for.

Also, some coffee makers have a “Bold” or “Strong” button, which is great if you need an extra kick of caffeine, or just like your coffee bold and strong :)

Coffee Machine Size

One thing dual coffee maker reviews tend to gloss over is the machine’s size. This can either make or break it for many people. Counterspace is limited, so measure twice and buy once if you don’t want to lug around the machine first thing in the morning.

Another important note related to size: many machines have a reservoir lid that swings up. Check the product dimensions carefully to avoid banging the lid on something in your kitchen.

FAQ

• How do you clean a dual coffee maker?

  Every appliance maker has cleaning instructions you can find in the user manual. We would not recommend using methods that are not approved by the manufacturer.

• What's the difference between K-Cups, Soft Pods, and Loose Grounds?

  K-Cups are plastic-enclosed single-serve coffee pods made by Keurig. Soft pods are coffee pods with a softer outer shell (e.g., teabag-like).

• Are there dual coffee makers with grinders?

  Yes, for example, the Cuisinart DGB-550BKP1 Grind & Brew Automatic Coffeemaker has a 1-4 cup single-serve option in addition to a 12-cup carafe and a built-in grinder.

• Does Keurig make a dual coffee maker?

  Keurig makes two dual thermal coffee makers — the K-Duo and K-Duo Plus. See our #5 and #6 picks above for more info.

• What is FlexBrew?

  Hamilton Beach makes a range of products under the FlexBrew name. FlexBrew means the coffee maker has 2+ different ways of brewing coffee (e.g., single-serve ground coffee + K-cup compatible pods)

• What is the best dual coffee maker at a reasonable price?

  Depends on what reasonable is to you. Most dual coffee makers are $100-200.