Take pleasure in single-serve and full pot solutions in a marvelous machine.
You may want to take into account if you are choosing between a single-serve or a drip coffee maker, buying a dual coffee maker may be a good idea for you. These machines, which offer the convenience of brewing either a whole pot or a cup of java, fits in a user-friendly way. There will therefore be situations where you want to quickly get an afternoon pick-me-up for yourself or you are having a bunch of guests and you are able to always cater for everyone with the dual coffee maker.
Several of these are available in any style and sizes, starting with a small 5-ounce cup and going all the way to a full carafe and also all in between. Like most dual coffee makers that offer both drip and single-serve drinks, some bring additional drinks, coffee machine and espresso. Some are like coffee machines or K-Cup brewers as well. Leaving no stone unturned, these machines are incorporated with espresso-like shots, coffee grinders, and milk frothers. So, you can enjoy a range of coffee options according to your whims.
Thankfully, the dual coffee makers are the recent trend that allows people to switch between a barnyard-like full pot and an evenly balanced espresso, but single cup serving. Research and tests were carried out for premium devices, and we have sampled the best options that you can choose from below.
Best Espresso Machines | Best Latte Machines | Best Single-Serve Coffee Makers | Best Coffee Makers | Best Nespresso Machines | Best Coffee and Espresso Maker Combos
Our Top Picks:
1
Best Overall Dual Coffee Maker
Cuisinart 4-In-1 Coffee Machine
PROS | CONS |
1. Compatible with K-cups and Nespresso capsules 2. Brews hot coffee, Makes balanced, flavorful coffee | Control panel has a learning curve |
If your day starts with a hot chocolate or half-caf, this Cuisinart 4-in-1 coffee maker will be the perfect fit for you! When deciding on the best buy of the coffee makers, we focused on a feature that most coffee makers do not have. Almost all coffee machines require either K-cups or Nespresso capsules, which leaves you to opt for any of them you prefer.
The very idea of this model fits with these options as with either a K-cup or a Nespresso capsule. Testers were allowed to express their views on how flavorful this cleverness was, which gave it an award in the Kitchen Gear and Coffee and Tea category that represented the best products this year. On top of this, you also have the option of taking your own coffee that goes in the reusable filter cup.
It brews coffee straight in the carafe which is great for up to 12 cups of coffee. Also you can make your just perfect coffee single-serve of 6,8 and 10 ounces. The tester cup was steaming hot when it was run in our test. Additionally, critics pointed out that this device created coffee which tasted perfectly clear and delicious. The control panel we consider is not so intuitive that it needs a get-used-to process of around 10 minutes, but it allows information to be quickly obtained.
Drink options | Drip coffee, single-serve |
Brew sizes | 6, 8 and 10-ounce single serve or 12-cup carafe |
Dimensions | 11.88 x 12.88 x 16.75 inches |
Type of coffee | Ground, K-cups, Nespresso capsules |
2
Best Value Dual Coffee Maker
Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Trio 2-Way Coffee Maker
PROS | CONS |
1. Compatible with ground coffee and K-cups, Keeps coffee hot 2. Separate water reservoirs for single serve and drip coffee | Drip coffee water tank not removable |
The Hamilton Beach machine that brews a carafe of coffee up to 12 cups and makes a cup of coffee also at its single serve all for less than $100 it is awesome. Whether you prefer the convenience of using K-cups or you want to grind your coffee beans in your own reusable pod, you have the freedom to pick what you want. Drip coffee maker comes with a carafe pot at one side and an individual-serving option with their water stream, that way you don’t have to refill frequently.
These testers flavored the java maker because it was user friendly and its big buttons and easy to read markings were appreciated. In our tests, it was flawless as it brewed coffee well but within a short time. In our testing, this button had a keep warm feature, that was found to in fact made the coffee more hot after the two hour mark.
Coffee drink options | Drip coffee, single-serve |
Brew sizes | 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-ounce single serve or up to 10-cup carafe |
Dimensions | 11.7 x 12.3 x 13.7 inches |
Type of coffee | Ground, K-cups |
3
Best Dual Coffee Maker For Flavorful Coffee
Hamilton Beach 2-Way Programmable Coffee Maker
PROS | CONS |
1. Value for money, Easy to use 2. Programmable on both sides | Water reservoirs aren’t detachable |
While most of the models of dual coffee makers are a bit pricey than the average drip coffee maker, they are still available as budget price models that allow you to sip on every drop of coffee with a touch of the sweetness of their low cost. The one-half of the machine is the 12 cup glass coffee pot and the other can serve up to 14 ounces of single per serving. Both have up to 24-hour memory programming.
This can be a great feature as it permits you holding your coffee ready in the morning when the day start. The convenience of serving tea in a single cup for use at home or taking the travel tumbler with you is outstanding. It is mentioned in the specs that there is no travel mug associated with the package, not to the surprise of many people even after witnessing the travel mug in the product photos section.
Both sections contain the same two reservoirs though one of them is not even movable, this is typical for drip coffee machines. However, one should take this into account if you want to place your coffee maker below the kitchen cabinet, as it will be quite difficult to fill the reservoir and the filter.
It’s a pretty straightforward and easy to use control panel that has a dial on the front of the product. You switch between a single cup of coffee and a full pot when turning the dial. That’s where you’ll find a circle, besides to have stronger coffee, it will spice the flavorful and the body. From all of these, the machine is very user-friendly.
Coffee drink options | Drip coffee, single-serve |
Capacity | 60 ounces |
Dimensions | 11.08 x 12.23 x 13.9 inches |
Wattage | 950 watts |
4
Best Dual Coffee Maker and Espresso Machine
De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Maker & Espresso Machine
PROS | CONS |
1. Makes espresso for lattes, cappuccinos and more 2. Brews tasty drip coffee and espresso 3. Compact footprint for having so many drink options | Does not have a built-in coffee grinder |
The robust coffee maker and espresso machine of De’Longhi all-in-one coffee maker is a real multi-tasker in a basket. In this one machine you cannot only make automatic drip coffee but also espresso shots and even steam milk froth for lattes. It is featured with a double heating system, which enables you to brew coffee and directly pull an espresso shot simultaneously.
My teammates mentioned that one of our pros has been using this DeLonghi coffee maker for about a year now and she is happy with the quality of the coffee she gets. Our other experts also equated it with the flavorful drip brew and espresso that is smooth and has a nice even foam.
With no fear of getting cold coffee, this machine worked well for up to two hours and made it even hotter. The espresso side detaches from its own separate water reservoir, so you won’t stress yourself with frequent refillings. There is the choice of pre-ground beans that can be used to make an amount of espresso or ESE coffee pods. This machine doesn’t exist and that’s the only thing it doesn’t grind; therefore, you’ll need a separate coffee grinder.
Coffee drink options | Drip coffee, espresso |
Brew sizes | 10-cup carafe, espresso shot |
Dimensions | De’Longhi |
Type of coffee | Ground |
5
Best Design Dual Coffee Maker
Braun MultiServe KF9170SI Coffee Maker
PROS | CONS |
1. Multiple brew strengths and sizes 2. Removable water reservoir 3. Dispenses hot water for tea, Space to fill a travel mug | Carafe is hard to clean by handA little pricey |
To measure the design of a coffee maker, some things that need to be considered include the appearance and ergonomics of it. It can be as simple as the machine’s good looks in a kitchen or a bit more elaborate – like its ease of use and how the brewing system performs. In addition to being an excellent product of the Braun MultiServe in all these areas, thus it is the reason why we can advise it as a recommended home coffee maker.
It boasts a “chic and modern” design, easy-to-use functions, as well as creating tall, regular, and even iced coffee. There are seven variants, including the single-serve and a full pot option. A coffee dispenser is tall enough to serve both regular and travel cups. There’s an option for the fresh iced coffee as well as settings to prepare the coffee with a stronger or lighter tone.
One factor behind our hankering after this particular model, the KF9170SI, even over others in the Braun MultiServe Coffee Maker range is that it’s the only one that dispenses water at six different temperatures for tea. The slightly cheaper models in the range cannot perform this task. Every Braun MultiServe coffee maker, among which this one is one, is higher in price than common drip coffee makers, while being reasonably affordable.
The Braun MultiServe coffee machine is featured by Specialty Coffee Association’s Golden Cup certification. This essentially means that the machine has been through the grind of brewing coffee in the way it should because of the parameters used i.e. the operating time, temperatures, and solubility (the proportion of coffee extracts).
Drink options | Drip coffee, single-serve |
Capacity | 50 ounces |
Dimensions | 7.1 x 13 x 15 inches |
Wattage | 1,600 watts |
6
Best Design Dual Coffee Maker
Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System Coffee Maker
PROS | CONS |
1. Highly versatile, Easy to use 2. Compact design for a dual brewer 3. Thorough online recipe guide | Not the strongest frother |
No doubt, the Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System offers much more than a “duality” in coffee making. Instead of providing two serving sizes, this machine would have a total of 6 options which include a small cup (9.5 ounces), travel mug size (14 ounces), and, even, a full carafe holder (up to 10 cups). (Note that coffee brands typically use 5 ounces as a reference of “cup”, which gives a total of 50 ounces in this carafe.)
It doesn’t only prepare drip coffee, but also a lot of other drinks. Next sentence: Being carefully selected, the ingredients have the power to restore the sense of balance in such turbulent times and offer a moment of peace in the craziness. Cold brew mode adjusts time and temperature in order to serve up a stronger, smoother-tasting cold brew. In as much 15 minutes is required for cold brew extraction, against the one day brewing period in a conventional cold brew maker.
Furthermore, the machine comes with a fold-away milk frother that opens up a venue for lattes/cappuccinos. The frother, however, does not have as much power as the frother in more expensive espresso machines, nevertheless it does the job well. Along with serving up coffee, this Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System offers many more features for fans of tea beverages. It is equipped with a separate filter for loose tea leaves and a precise temperature controller to match the temperature for 5 types of tea phenomena.
With the wide range of its applications, being lightweight and a durable material, the cost is reasonable. It also has an advantage of being packed smaller than most dual coffee makers which means all drinks are served through the same shower head instead of them having two separate units.
Drink options | Drip coffee, single-serve, over ice, specialty concentrated |
Capacity | 50 ounces |
Dimensions | 10 x 11.8 x 15 inches |
Wattage | 1,500 watts |
7
Best Splurge Dual Coffee Maker
Breville Precision Brewer Coffee Maker
PROS | CONS |
1. Brews excellent coffee, Stylish design 2. Many customizable settings, Makes strong cold brew coffee | Lengthy setupLCD screen might require learning curve |
Breville almost put everything even the extra-ordinary coffee fan can wish to have into considering their Precision Brewer. We offer six brewing modes and the My brew option which gives users freedom to taste all kinds of coffee selections. It allows you to set brew duration, temperature and flow rate at your convenience. The other stations are Gold, Fast, Strong, Iced, and Cold brew. The automatic brewer comes with the quality-certified “Cup of Excellent” standard – a tessellated list of parameters endorsed by the Specialty Coffee Association. Also, this machine could be served as a primary one single-serving brewer.
We have test-driven it for ourselves and every different option leaves us with great tasting results. The settings are located on an LCD screen, which is controlled with a small button underneath. The coffee maker has two buttons, one for cold brew and the other to make coffee stronger. Brewing takes only 5 minutes.” This is just one of the rare issues we have, earlier use of the two buttons and several brewing options may seem confusing but that did not last longer.
The Breville Precision Brewer comes in two choices: a glass or thermal carafe of 60 ounces. Seasonal spell only a little more expensive but compared to the already high-end item, this is not a major one. It turned out that using the model ourselves, we ascertained the insulating properties well, which was remarkable. A brewer of this variety comes with a two year warranty, which is longer than other brands’ warranty on most, hence, would actively consider making this big a risk for you.
Drink options | Drip coffee, single-serve, Cold Brew |
Capacity | 60 ounces |
Dimensions | 12.7 x 6.7 x 15.7 inches |
Wattage | 1,650 watts |
8
Best Dual Coffee Maker Without Pods
Oxo 12-Cup Coffee Maker with Podless Single-Serve
PROS | CONS |
1. Brews single serve and carafe in the same basket 2. Makes nicely balanced coffee, Wide opening to pour water into reservoir | Does not have detachable water reservoir |
This Oxo coffee maker-like many other drip coffee makers- make single-cup coffee, it does not need a separate dispensing system. It saves the user from having to purchase numerous pieces and still remain compact enough to fit inside a single machine. It is available in large, or single-hull versions, that are placed the same way when you spot a place to make coffee.
With the amount of coffee you’re brewing in mind, you need to get the proper basket size to put inside the machine. This machine is also convenient because it does not require coffee pods, making it economical. It uses ground coffee and brews up to four cups of coffee directly into your cup. If you happen to be in need of more coffee or like to prepare a full yeast, using the larger one will do the trick. It will make only 12 cups of coffee.
The coffee-tasters preferred the coffee from this machine, they declared it as rightly balanced, without being overpoweringly bitter. This machine you could easily start up and use. The water reservoir cannot be removed, therefore you cannot fill it at the sink, but all the same, the opening is wide, so you can fill the reservoir without the risk of spilling.
Drink options | Drip coffee, single-serve |
Brew sizes | 2-4 cups single-serve or 5-12 cups in a carafe |
Dimensions | 12.25 x 8 x 14.5 inches |
Type of coffee | Ground |
9
Best Dual Coffee Maker With Grinder
Cuisinart Coffee Center Grind & Brew Plus
PROS | CONS |
1. Can grind and brew coffee from whole beans 2. Blade grinder is removable for easy cleaning 3. Single-serve side has separate reservoir | Single-serve side does not grind whole beans |
If you want a grind and brew dual coffee maker which only uses the freshest beans then the Coffee Center Grind and Brew Plus of the Cuisinart is perfect for you. Similar to other multi-beverage coffee makers, you can brew coffee for the whole batch or a single-serve of coffee. One of the special features of this dual coffee maker is that there is a built-in coffee grinder that takes whole coffee beans and grinds them right before bring people of coffee in a carafe, which are made from coffee brewed.
Hunger for beans goes on and on. So, you’ll need to transfer another batch of coffee beans whenever you decide to brew. There’s no such thing as a hopper. Nonetheless, the manual blade grinder, which comes with a dishwasher-friendly replaceable grinder, was quite easy to use as well as easy to clean since it was removable. Proceeding to do the coffee grinding will not be your problem also.
It makes instant hot coffee quickly and the coffee can maintain heat for up to two hours of the test period. On the other side, the coffee machine is for single serve. It actually works with both whole grounds and a Sectional single use pod or a Replaceable pod (sold separately). Single serve sizes options start at the 8-ounce or 10-ounce levels and it has a 40-ounce water reservoir, you’ll have less need to readjust.
Drink options | Drip coffee, single-serve |
Brew sizes | 6-, 8-, 10-ounces single-serve or 12 cups in a carafe |
Dimensions | 10.7 x 11.7 x 15.9 inches |
Type of coffee | Whole beans, ground, single-use pods |
What to Select for in a Dual Coffee Maker
Drink Variety
Dual coffee makers provide a wide range of drink options, from single cups to full pots. In addition to drip coffee, many models can also brew espresso, cold brew, or coffee for iced beverages. If you are interested in a dual coffee maker, it is likely that you appreciate having multiple drink sizes and types available. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the drink options offered by these versatile machines.
Size
Due to the combination of two devices in one, dual coffee makers are typically larger than standard drip coffee makers. With a split design featuring a coffee pot and a single-serve section, these machines can be almost twice the width of a regular coffee maker. If space is a concern in your kitchen, it is advisable to check the dimensions of the product before making a purchase.
Grounds vs. Pods
Single-serve coffee is commonly brewed using pods like K-Cups or Nespresso capsules, while a full pot of drip coffee requires ground coffee beans. If you have a preference for coffee pods, ensure that the dual brewer you choose accommodates them on the single-serve side. However, if you are open to both options, your selection of dual coffee makers will be more extensive.
FAQs
What grinding size should I use?
The medium grind is perfect for drip coffee, but please check instructions from your coffee maker manufacturer if the instructions specifically mention grind size. It provides the coffee enough flavor that it isn’t overpowered by the fineness of the ground coffee or is not diluted by the water with the coarser grind coffee. Again, if you choose a reusable coffee pod that can be used for individual servings you can stick with a medium grind as well. Thankfully, most of the bags of coffee contain medium-coarse grind.
How much caffeine is there in a cup of coffee?
The caffeine level is a factor that depends on the coffee bean variety, the number of spoons you are adding, and even on the coffee maker you own. On the other hand, an ordinary cup of instant coffee carries around 80 to 200 milligrams of caffeine. This spectrum varies but an ordinary coffee cup has its characteristics in the lower range of approximately 100 mg.
What’s descaling?
Descaling is defined as subjecting a machine to long time use of a mineral solution, which gets accumulated inside a coffee maker and the mineral residue formed sticks to various areas inside a coffee maker. When you don’t clean it, the coffee maker becomes frequently affected with different complications like too weak coffee or complete halt of the machine.
Frequently, the descaling is advised once in three months. Frankly, once a month is a lot, but every month is ok, and most people should manage within three months. Just check the manual of your product, which should be handed to you by the coffee maker manufacturer to know the time you should have your deep cleaning process. Some brands manufacture a cleaning product but just that a combination of hot water and soap to dissolve limescale will do you some good too.
What is the meaning of coffee concentrate?
Concentrated coffee is a higher potency and shorter serving of coffee, often to be replaced with the shot of espresso. Although coffee concentrate is by all means a handy replacement for espresso, it simply lacks in the areas of consistency, pungency and crema.
One of these factors is grinding pressure, flow rate, and amount of time. Espresso is produced by water that is forced at high pressure through finely ground beans which have been condensed. Coffee concentrate is not the same as coffee cold brew, and is brewed more like drip coffee with the water slowly filtered through ground beans that are coarser in texture. Consider coffee concentrate as a cross between drip coffee and espresso.
Is a thermal coffee pot superior to glass?
It is not always about which one is best—they are just different but they imply different benefits. The one strength of a thermal carafe is that it keeps coffee warm without a hot plate, as in classical glass coffee pots. In our case of two hours or so being on the hot plate, coffee tastes differently, This is because hot plate essentially reheats part of it As a result, coffee brewed in a thermal pot should better retain its original flavor compared to that brewed in a glass carafe that sits on a burner. Also, a thermal carafe is more durable than a glass one.
While the stainless steel option has some advantages, there is no denying that the single best feature a glass coffee pot can offer is total transparency. They are consistently less expensive, easier to clean and often, they also perform better than the thermal carafe to point. Furthermore, a pressure cooker is much more lightweight if you don’t want to drag around a heavy stainless steel cookpot.