Drip coffee or espresso shot? Or perhaps both? Previously, if you had different brew preferences, you would have to invest in both drip coffee machines and single-serve machines. However, that is no longer the case and that’s where dual coffee makers come into play.
Whether you call it a dual coffee brewer, combination coffee maker, two-in-one, or a two-way coffee maker, the idea is the same: a multitasking machine capable of brewing a single cup to a full pot of coffee.
For those who want the best of both worlds or live in a household with a couple of coffee drinkers, a dual coffee maker can be an absolute lifesaver. With a two-way coffee maker, you not only get twice the use because of functionality but can also maximize your countertop space while saving some bucks.
Dual coffee machines take the versatility of coffee machines to the next level with a lot of customizable options like adjusting your brew strength, temperature, or size to suit your liking. Most of these are compatible with K-cups, pods, and ground coffee to serve the needs of coffee lovers.
Read on to discover the best dual coffee makers for the year 2022 in the market today and check out what all the fuss is about.
Best Dual Coffee Makers To Buy In 2022
With a great dual coffee maker, you can make big carafes of drip coffee, single cups, espresso shots, or hot water; the benefits are obvious. Consolidating your counter space down into a single product will allow you to ditch the clutter. Having the best dual coffee maker is not only convenient but economical as well.
This guide will break down each of the best dual coffee makers you can buy right now with the pros & cons of each. Picking the right one will not only save you money in the long-term but also give you the peace of mind that comes with trusting your gear and brewing a perfect cup of coffee.
Now let’s check out some of the best dual brew coffee makers on the market.
1. Best Overall: Ninja Hot and Cold Coffee Maker (CP307)
Specs: Brand: Ninja | Color: Black | Capacity: 10 cups | Material: Plastic, Metal, Rubber | Weight: 11.73 Pounds
Topping our list is the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System. You won’t feel bored with this incredibly versatile coffee maker. As the name suggests, this hot and cold brew maker is capable of making an array of hot and iced beverages using its five brewing styles between ‘classic’ and ‘rich’ options. Not only that, you’ll be able to brew much stronger, highly-concentrated coffee for specialty drinks like lattes or macchiatos.
- Classic: For a balanced and flavorful cup of joe.
- Rich: For a more bold and intense flavor.
- Over Ice: For authentic flavored iced coffee with the right amount of liquid that won’t be watered down.
- Cold Brew: Brews a smooth, naturally sweet cold brew by using a lower temperature and less water.
- Specialty: For a smaller, stronger brew for lattes and other complex drinks.
Quite impressive! Right? To top it off, this machine also includes Delay Brew (if you’d like to have a fresh pot of coffee first thing in the morning) and a Drip Stop button (if you want to take that first sip of your coffee before brewing a whole pot). It also houses a built-in milk frother, special basket filter for tea plus storage for the included Ninja Scoop. Not to forget there is a recipe book available in the package as well.
Thankfully, due to its 10-cup thermal carafe, you won’t have to worry about risking a nasty aftertaste. You can also save about $20 by opting for a glass carafe with this Ninja dual maker.
Reasons To Buy
- Useful smart features
- Milk frother included
- Glass carafe available
- Incredibly versatile coffee maker
Reasons To Avoid
- Overkill for casual drinkers
- Limited brew controls
- Milk frother only froths milk & doesn’t heat it up
2. Runner Up: Hamilton Beach Flexbrew Coffee Maker
Specs: Brand: Hamilton Beach | Color: Black | Capacity: 12 cups | Material: Plastic | Weight: 6.4 Pounds
Say hello to Hamilton Beach’s FlexBrew Two Way coffee maker. The main perk of this high-end coffee maker is its versatility. With its ability to brew both coffee grounds and K-cups and pods, two automatic brewing styles, and two water reservoirs, this duo coffee maker is a prime example of ingenuity within the coffee industry.
The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew also has an auto-pause and pour feature which lets you pour a cup before the cafe is full. It also features a Select-a-Brew option that lets you customize how strong you want your brew to be. Either bold or regular coffee. The Hamilton comes in three different styles including a classic black and a retro-style white. This brewer has a user-friendly design with see-through chambers to let you know what you’re working with.
Another great thing about this brewer is its compact size. About 13 inches tall and 12 inches wide, this compact machine will keep your countertop looking neat and clean. A storage compartment is present inside the single-serve drip-tray stand, which is also removable, making it easier for you to brew into a taller travel mug or a thermos.
With its most parts being easily removable, the Hamilton is easy to clean. With a removable drip tray, carafe, and K-cup brewing pieces, all pieces are easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
So if you’re in need of caffeine as you rush out the door, just pop the coffee in, and at the push of a button, you have your cup of delicious joe ready to be sipped on!
Reasons To Buy
- Different carafe options
- Two water reservoirs
- BPA Free Plastic
- From Hamilton Beach
Reasons To Avoid
- Slightly noisy
- Single-serve not programmable
- Takes longer to brew the single-serve than a regular Keurig
3. Most Programmable: Cuisinart SS-20 With Thermal Carafe
Specs: Brand: Cuisinart | Color: Silver | Capacity: 10 cups | Material: Plastic | Weight: 14 Pounds
The Cuisinart SS-20 Coffee Maker is a fully automatic and uniquely programmable coffee maker with a single-serve brewer with 3 different single-serve sizes: 6, 8, 10 oz on one side and a 10-cups thermal carafe on the other side. This BPA-free coffee maker comes in black and silver and has different carafes; the stainless steel model holds 10 cups, and the glass carafe holds 12 cups of coffee.
What sets this appliance apart from other coffee makers in the market is that it comes with fully programmable features, including self-cleaning (which is a blessing), 24-hour brew start, ready alert and, brew-strength control function, which will allow you to brew according to your preferred brew type. If you want a stronger coffee flavor, all you have to do is to select BOLD.
It also features a brew pause feature that allows you to sneak a cup of coffee before the brewing ends. This coffee maker has an easy-view water window so you can keep an eye on the amount of water in the reservoir.
Additionally, this dual coffee maker has a charcoal water filter keeping the machine clean and free of impurities and enhancing the taste flavor of your coffee.
You can remove the drip tray easily for cleaning or brew into a travel mug. You can also activate the energy save mode without worrying about high power bills regardless of how often you use it. This coffee maker is also aesthetically pleasing. What is more amazing is that it comes with a 3-year warranty.
Reasons To Buy
- BPA-free
- Tons of automatic feature
- Brew pause feature
- Energy Save mode
Reasons To Avoid
- Relatively Small Reservoir
- Thermal Carafe makes it hard to see the leftover coffee
4- Best For K-Cups: Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker
Specs: Brand: Keurig | Color: Black | Capacity: 12 cups | Material: Plastic, Metal | Weight: 16.01 Pounds
Let the Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker turn your kitchen into a full-on cafe. Although Keurig seems synonymous with their single-serve coffee makers, they managed to offer their customers dual coffee makers to brew everything from single cups to full carafes. Keurig K-Duo coffee maker is a modern all-in-one machine capable of brewing either single-serve coffee or full carafes up to 60 oz.
With its sleek, compact design, you can maximize your countertop space while satisfying your coffee cravings, among other things. It has a smooth, seamless metallic finish. This modern yet functional model will get the job done with its many functions and features, from fresh ground coffee to k-cup. You can adjust different brew strengths according to your liking. It offers a thermal carafe with a heating plate, that keeps your coffee warm for a maximum of two hours to keep you worry-free all the time. There is a drip tray, a filter basket, and a funnel, among other accessories as well.
Thanks to the 60-ounce single water reservoir, not only can you brew large servings of coffee, but you can also remove it easily for fuss-free refilling. You can also adjust it right, left, or on the back according to your kitchen’s layout. Finally, It houses the gold-tone mesh filter for the grounds as well.
Reasons To Buy
- Multi-position 60 ounces, Water reservoir
- 12 cup thermal carafe
- Programmable carafe auto-brew
- Pause & Pour feature
Reasons To Avoid
- Not really compatible with reusable k-filters
5. Best For Coffee & Tea Lovers – Cuisinart 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
Specs: Brand: Cuisinart | Color: Black/Stainless | Capacity: 12 cups | Material: Plastic, Stainless Steel | Weight: 10 Pounds
Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Maker is fairly priced with some cool features. It has a 12-cup carafe so that you can make plenty of java for your whole household. It also lets you brew from either fresh grounds or Keurig k-cup pods.
The Cuisinart is equipped with a hot water dispenser, a handy feature making it possible to enjoy tea, oatmeal, instant soup, hot cocoa, instant coffee, and more in less than a minute. It also has a self-clean function.
To smoothen your experience with espresso, it features a charcoal water filter and gold-tone filter to remove impurities that may lessen the taste of your espresso. Additionally, indicator lights remind you when water is hot and ready to dispense and when it’s time to refill. However, few customers complained that it started blinking despite being full.
Aside from brewing carafes of coffee, other key features include the brew-pause option, which lets you grab a cup of coffee before the full carafe has brewed, auto-on/off features, BPA-free plastic finish, a carafe temperature control, removable drip tray, and 24-hour programming. Handily, the Cuisinart comes with a three-year warranty.
To put it simply, the CHW-12 is perfect for you if you want to have other hot drinks beyond filter coffee.
Reasons To Buy
- BPA free
- Temperature knob of the carafe
- Separate Hot Water System
- Self-clean function
Reasons To Avoid
- Light error with “add water” tab
What to Look for in a Best Dual Coffee maker?
Don’t be fooled, not all dual brew coffee machines are the same. In order to reap the benefits of a smooth, velvety coffee of your preference, there are a few features you should look for when purchasing a dual coffee maker.
1- Decide what type of Dual Coffee Brewer you want.
First and foremost, you need to check the brewing options the dual coffee maker of your choice is offering. This is because the main purpose of buying the dual brewer is to consolidate multiple machines into a single versatile appliance.
The term ‘dual coffee maker’ refers to coffee machines capable of brewing two types or different quantities of coffee. Hence, be sure to look at the versatility of the dual coffee maker of your choice. But if it isn’t versatile enough to suit your coffee needs, you’ll end up in over your head or disappointed with a machine regardless of the price. Think about what kind of coffee you prefer, as well as the method you use to brew your coffee.
Most dual coffee makers can brew a full carafe of coffee and single-serve coffee. Some machines have integrated frothers allowing you to craft those creamy espresso-based drinks like lattes, macchiatos, and cappuccinos. Some models also accept coffee pods and ground coffee. Others feature a hot water dispenser for hot beverages like tea or instant coffee.
We’ve included an array of machines in this post so you can find something that tickles your fancy.
2- Decide which kind of carafe you want.
Thermal or glass carafe? I am on the thermal squad. There’s more than just a visual difference between them.
The glass carafe uses a hot plate, which adds in heat overtime to keep your coffee warm. It is a better choice for those who drink their coffee shortly after it is finished brewing. Glass carafe can be placed into the dishwasher. Due to its transparent nature, the site of coffee dripping will amaze you. As it is open-air, you can also feel the fresh aroma of coffee dripping from the ground. If you love the ritual of coffee-making, you will never get tired of the smell of coffee.
If you prefer the ease of handling and love the smell of coffee, you should consider a glass one. The only downside is that it can leave a burnt taste in your coffee if left on for more than 30 minutes.
On the other hand, the Thermal carafe uses insulated stainless steel with a double-walled design to keep the heat from leaving in the first place. They are more durable than the glass alternatives and keep your coffee hot for an extended period without over-extracting it or wasting electricity. Thermal carafes are not dishwasher friendly, so they have to be cleaned by hand. They are more costly than glass alternatives as well.
If you want your coffee to be warm and fresh-tasting for longer and avoid the potential for that burnt coffee taste, then a thermal carafe is probably a better idea.
3- Think about how much space you have.
You need to take into account the size of the machine itself. Think about how much coffee you consume a day, as well as the amount of your counter’s available space.
If you are buying a dual coffee maker for the sake of saving some valuable space on the countertop, make sure to check the dimensions of the model you’re willing to buy. It’ll be an unpleasant surprise for you to end up with a bulky machine eating up the whole kitchen counter.
Likewise, ending up with an excessively tall model, whose lid hits the bottom of your upper cabinets before it can open all the way for you to add the coffee, might also not be a good deal. Be sure to consider the height of the machine too.
4- Consider the customization options.
If you have to go through a lot of hoops to make a single cup of coffee and that involves an inappropriate amount of waiting time, that might not be ideal. But if you enjoy tweaking coffee strength to match your exact palate, consider buying a more customizable coffee maker.
While purchasing, make sure to check if the appliance offers easy handling and you understand all of its features. You don’t want to end up with a coffee brewer you didn’t like, so it’s smart to buy one that you feel comfortable with.
Final Verdict
With that said, our detailed guide to the best dual coffee maker has come to an end. Whether you want to brew a single cup or a full pot for all your household members, a dual coffee brewer has it all. Our choice for the best dual coffee maker is Ninja Hot and Cold Coffee Maker due to its array of 5 brewing styles including Classic, rich, specialty, cold brew and over ice, 6 brew sizes, and inclusion of a fold-away hot and cold frother, perfect for cappuccinos, flat whites, and more.
Hamilton beach flex brew coffee maker takes second place on our list. This compact coffee maker is not only kind to your wallet but it also comes with some useful and programmable handy features.
A die-hard coffee aficionado, Habiba has been crazy about caffeine for almost as long as she can remember. For her morning brew, she relies on a French Press, which is a part of her daily morning ritual that also involves grinding and meticulously weighing coffee and water for the perfectly crafted morning cup. To better inform this article, she included insights from various coffee experts.
