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Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Review and Giveaway

A coffee maker that makes both a whole pot and a single serving? Come check it out and enter to win! Giveaway sponsored by Hamilton Beach.Hamilton Beach Collage

So I think it’s abundantly clear that I am a coffee fanatic. I’ve been drinking it since I was 14 years old and I have no intention of stopping. For me, there is nothing more glorious than that first sip in the morning. I love, love, love when I am up before the kids (and up before the dawn!), when the house is quiet and the coffee maker is dripping, doing it’s thang, making my heavenly dark liquid gold. I pour myself a good dollop of cream, and then pour in the coffee and watch them swirl together that that delightful fashion. And iced coffee on a hot summer day? Pure heaven.

My love for the stuff is so intense, I’ve even managed to turn my former coffee-teetotaler husband into a regular morning Joe drinker. He never really cared for it much and then a few years ago, he rather sheepishly informed me that he had begun drinking it at work on a regular basis. I confess that I felt rather victorious. When you have a passion for something, it’s so nice to be able to share it with your closest loved ones. This particular passion might help you understand why I accept almost any offer to try out or review anything relating to coffee. And a good coffee maker is extremely important to the morning coffee ritual.

Low Carb Mexican Coffee with Sugar-Free Coffee Liqueur

I’ve tried out a number of one-cup, single serve coffee makers in my time, both at home and when traveling. I think I like the idea of these things more than I like the actual maker for myself. It made good sense when I was working outside the home and could hardly manage to drink one cup while simultaneously juggling getting myself and small children ready and out the door. Now that I work at home, that single cup isn’t going to cut it. I need more, more, MORE! So it feels quite wasteful and expensive to use a single-serve maker and make 2 or 3 (or sometimes more) cups in a day. Plus, not wanting to get wildly over-caffeinated, I like to mix regular and decaf, and there aren’t too many pods or k-cups that do half and half. As cool as they are, single-serve coffee makers just aren’t right for me.

Now…enter the FlexBrew 2-way coffee maker from Hamilton Beach. This is a pretty revolutionary idea, a coffee maker that makes both a whole pot of coffee and allows you to make a single-serving straight into your mug. For those days when you are home all morning or making coffee for more than one person, the 12-cup pot is where it’s at. But for the days where you don’t have time for more than one, you simply flip the switch, pop in your k-cup and brew that single serving. The single-serve side also allows you to use the soft pods or your own coffee grounds. And it’s tall enough to fit most travel mugs (you can adjust the cup rest accordingly). It’s a very smart idea, no question.

hamilton beach 1

Hamilton Beach asked for my honest opinion of the product so I will give it. The idea is great and I love it, but there are a few inconvenient things about the maker itself. For one, the warming plate for the carafe side is hot even when you are just brewing on the single-serve side. They do warn you about that in the instructions, so there must be some sort of design issue that makes it so. Another issue for me was the fact that the single-serve side keeps dripping coffee for a few minutes after the beeps. They warn you about that as well, but it dripped for quite a bit longer than I expected. Also keep in mind that this is not a dedicated single-serve coffee maker so it does not have a reservoir with hot water at the ready. You need to pour in the right amount of water every time you want to use the single-serve side, and it takes a little bit to heat the water and brew the single serving.

All of that said, it’s a pretty great idea and definitely allows you the flexibility of choice. You just have to be aware of the little idiosyncrasies of the machine. And the reality is that I have not yet met a coffee maker that doesn’t have its own little idiosyncrasies that you have to learn to embrace.

And Hamilton Beach is kindly allowing me to giveaway one of these flexible coffee brewing machines! Check it out below.

Low Carb Homemade Caramel Frappuccino

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a FlexBrew coffee maker to review and Hamilton Beach will provide one to the winner of the giveaway. No other compensation was received.

 

Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them.I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Comments

  2. Bought this exact machine for my son for Christmas (his request). He loves it! It’s very easy to operate. Brew a pot of regular coffee and make singles of decaf. VERY convenient. I want one too!

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  3. I’m with you! Love coffee so much that I sometimes use the leftover coffee for an iced beverage in the afternoon. Can’t imagine not having a fresh brewed cup upon waking in the a.m. Love your website.

    Reply

  5. This is great! We’re having issues with our Kuerig. Not to mention,sometimes you want the ease of a pot of coffee!

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  6. LOVE this idea, because I currently have to coffeemakers on my counter. I small one for “just me” days and a larger “for company” pot for “other, too” days.

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  8. I use one for tea. As soon as my coffee pot bites the dust, I will replace it with this. We love ours and so does my daughter.
    Karen

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  9. I drink it black normally or with a spoonful of coconut oil.
    I love this concept, I’m one of those people that is always topping off my coffee to keep it hot but often take one to go.

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  10. Love this idea! With this I wouldn’t have to have two coffee makers on my counter. Looking forward to iced coffee ideas!

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  11. What a great idea! I love my single cup brewer, but there are day I want more or have people at my house, so the pot would be great for those times! Thanks for the giveaway!! 🙂

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  13. I LOVE coffee, hot or cold, with cream and almond milk and sugar substitute. I tend to drink it all day long.

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  17. Bout time someone came up with this concept. I never could give up the big pot for the single cup deal. This is the best of both. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  19. Love coffee (and tea) pretty much in any form. I have a regular drip and a one cup coffeemaker. I was curious about the machines that have both types in one.

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  20. I’m a total coffee addict and I love the idea of the flexibility especially as I live alone and often only need 1 cup at a time

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  22. I just love a huge mug of coffee with plenty of cream and some stevia or splenda. If I feel fancy, a drop of almond extract is delicious. My Keurig has given up the ghost and I’ve been having to buy cups of coffee every day. We desperately need a new coffee maker!

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  27. I have been eyeing this **exact** coffee maker for a while now. How exciting to have an opportunity to win one!! Thanks Carolyn!

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  28. I have one of these Hamilton Beach coffee makers. When using the single serve option, my warming plate under the full pot does not heat. I do not have a problem with that. It is so nice to have the options.

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  29. better question would be which coffee I don’t like– any coffee any time! Need a new maker too

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  32. Great idea!
    Now no need for 2 types of coffee machines.
    Nothing better than coffee throughout the day.
    I prefer a bit of sweetener and cream, sometimes even coconut cream.

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  34. This would be a pretty neat replacement for the ol’ Mr. Coffee 12-cup. I’m a coffee-guzzling machine and often go through most (or all) of a pot earlier in the day, but come evening I occasionally like just one cup more.

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  35. My favorite way to enjoy my coffee is the first hot cup in the morning with just some cream, it is heaven!

    I have to add that I have this coffee maker and love it! I really want to win one for my daughter as she’s been eyeing mine for a bit now. One of the things I do like the most about it is the fact you only add the water your going to use for that one cup. The Keurig machines that you fill a tank and that water sits within that tank never quite getting hot enough to kill the yuk that accumulates in those tanks over time just started giving me the creeps so I’m fine with having to add water to make only the cup I need.

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  36. I love coffee… (been looking at this machine for over a year) I enjoy it with my husband talking in the morning before we start our day… iced on a warm summer afternoon and to warm up in the winter. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂

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  37. I would love to have a nice coffee pot, please let me know if I win,,, Please Please Please…. Anne

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  41. My favourite way to enjoy coffee? Don’t laugh…

    1 tbsp of instant coffee powder, hit with ~1c of cold filtered water, a generous amount of heavy whipping cream, and lots of ice!

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  50. I don’t drink much coffee, just put a bit in my morning protein shake twice a week. So a single serve would be fantastic. My MIL comes to visit and has stashed an old style percolator in my garage, since she can’t go without coffee for a couple of days when she visits. It would be great to have a machine that could handle my needs for very little and her for a whole pot once in a while.
    k

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  51. My husband is a coffee drinker, and we do not have a machine. We rely on instant. This machine would really make his day!

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  58. Love the flex brew… My favorite way to make coffee is iced with lots of cream and sugar.

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  59. I love coffee with cream and my new favorite is putting a little Kerrygold unsalted butter and coconut oil in it – blending it with my immersion blender. Heavenly!

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  60. I love coffee! I froth vanilla almond milk in my capresso and make my morning cup fancy! I then throw the leftovers in the pot in the fridge for my pre workout protein shake. Chocolate or vanilla protein powder plus cold coffee and ice equals pumped for workout!

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  61. Cream, erythritol, and vanilla extract….In my *hopefully* Hamilton-made coffee!

    Thanks again Carolyn!

    (Admittance: I make excuses to go “visit” my in-laws just so I can use their highly heralded HB Flexbrew.)

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  67. I like a cup of coffee first thing in the morning while listening to some music. (usually classical)

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  71. This might be the way to get me away from my old percolator….yes, I still use one! It’s electric but it perks 4 cups in 4 minutes.

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  72. I could sign this article 🙂 I am a coffee lover, addicted person and I can say there is nothing among food/drinks I can live without, but coffee with cream!

    Reply

  74. I love coffee pretty much anyway black, “foo foo” coffee, but one thing better than the taste of coffee is the smell.

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  78. I have been a big coffee drinker for years- basically just coffee with some half and half. Not too big on sweetners or extra flavors.

    Love the idea of a coffee make you can use to brew a pot or a single serving!

    Reply

  80. Best way to enjoy coffee is black with a teaspoon of honey! And this brewer looks incredible! What a great opportunity 🙂

    Reply

  82. I love coffee! Doesn’t everyone? I love the idea of being able to make a full pot AND a single cup. Most mornings my husband will make a full pot and after getting ready for work and getting downstairs I’m lucky to get a cup before I leave. Sometimes I want a second cup but don’t want to make another pot and this would definitely solve my problem.

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  83. Love coffee anytime in anyplace! I am a mom and went back to school. If I didn’t have coffee, don’t think I’d survive.

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  85. I love to have a light style bullet-proof coffee (it’s a trimachinno by THM) every morning!

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  86. My favorite way to drink coffee is black, while sitting on the porch watching my two oldest boys playing outside and holding my 11 week old son in my arms.

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  87. Waking up and drinking my coffee (black, of course) while I’m doing my devotions is the perfect way to start my day!

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  88. Being Canadian, I love my Tim Horton’s coffee when out & about, but @ home, I enjoy my morning coffee(espcecially on the weekends when I don’t have to leave the house) with a couple of squirts of Skinny Girl and a bit of milk or cream.

    Reply

  89. My favorite way to enjoy coffee is Every.single.day. 🙂
    I love all the features built in to this machine, and it would be a great replacement for my old coffee pot that just died!

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  93. Love my coffee while looking up THM recipes on pintrest. My parents have this coffee maker and they LOVE it!!!

    Reply

  95. I love coffee in the morning and in the afternoon dark and hot — but lots of cream. However, in the summer I love iced coffee as well — still, lots of cream! I live alone so 1 cup is great (usually), but when friends or family come over – It’s great to make a pot with some yummy low-carb dessert-type snack!

    Reply

  98. This actually looks extremely convenient. I’d actually consider having one for work and home because I hate to make a big pot of coffee and I’m the only one drinking it. My favorite way to enjoy coffee is with 2tbsp of heavy whipping cream, 1-2 tbsp of sugar-free vanilla sweetener, and some Stevia for extra sweetness. I add all the ingredients to a nice big latte cup and pour in the coffee to stir it all around. It tastes REALLY good. To me, it’s like a dessert.

    Reply

  102. I love a cup of hot cup of black coffee. I also enjoy the occasional caramel or hazelnut frappuccino.

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  103. I have been tempted to just go buy a single serve machine but this is an amazing idea to have two in one! Not a huge coffee drinker but have people over frequently that drink by the gallon. I always try to be a gracious host

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  105. I’m with you about looking forward to your morning coffee. Sometimes, it’s what I think about before going to bed that makes me excited about the next day.

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  106. Love the space saving feature! Being able to have a large pot brewer and a mini in one would be ideal for small kitchens

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  107. My favorite way to enjoy coffee is hot w/ cream and sugar in the winter and iced with SFree Vanilla syrup and cream in the summer.

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  109. I love to get my kids off to school and then sit down on the sofa and drink a couple of cups of coffee and read before my daily gets into full swing…half and half and stevia.

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  111. I was looking at this same exact coffee brewer just last week for my husband. He lkes the strong brew and I prefer the K-cups so I would love to get this for him!

    Reply

  112. I think iced coffee is my fav, but then again it’s 80 degrees here now so I’m jonesin’ for a cool cuppa joe!

    Reply

  117. First thing in the morning—–gotta have my dark roast with 1/2 & 1/2 and some sugar!!

    And I agree with you. I was given a Keurig for Christmas and after the pods are done, I am going to get my Bunn out of the basement and go back to that—–UNLESS…….I win this new groovy machine!!!!!

    Reply

  119. I love my coffee. This would be perfect since most days I only need 1 cup. But when I have company I need to make more then one. Would be great to have one machine that does both.

    Reply

  120. My husband loves “Army” coffee and I like coffee I don’t have to chew! So this machine would be ideal in that he can have his pot of “coffee crude” and I could have my Hazelnut and coconut Stevia coffee!

    Reply

  123. This would be perfect for me. I also have been a coffee addict all my life, only I started when I was about 5 years old. It’s always been my “go to” drink, and I could never understand the obsession with soda. When I’m being bad, I even have coffee with my chips!

    Reply

  125. I’ve been on the hunt for a new coffee machine lately… I’m liking the looks of this one. Would love to try it!

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  126. My favorite way to enjoy coffee is Bullet proof coffee – 10 ozs strong coffee, 1 Tablespoon grassfed butter, 1 Tablespoon expeller pressed coconut oil and 1 scoop vanilla protein powder; blend with my immersion blender till frothy!

    Reply

  129. My favorite way to enjoy coffee is with a packet of Truvia and some half and half. In the summer, it’s an iced coffee with a sugar free syrup. This machine sounds like a brilliant idea, thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply

  131. ACK! My husband and I are always arguing about the benefits and drawbacks of single serve vs. whole pot… THIS would be great. Single serve weekdays when we are out the door and a whole pot on the weekend when we can drink it all!!!

    Reply

  134. I love this idea, very convenient! I don’t use K-cups because of the excessive packing. I like the reuseable cup idea. I come from a long history of excessive coffee drinkers, so I really like this.
    This is a great give-away!

    Reply

  144. Omg! This machine would be PERFECT for my house, single serve for the week & GIANT pot for the weekend!

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  154. I mostly drink black coffee, but occasionally will add some cream or flavored sweetener.

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  155. I like my coffee hot or iced with a packet of sweetener and cashew milk. This coffee maker looks awesome!

    Reply

  160. I became a coffee drinker only a few years ago after the birth of my 8 year old (youngest of 4) and don’t know how I managed before then! I love coffee with just half and half, prefer a flavored coffee (mocha latte is my go-to) but like regular coffee also. Also love, love, love that first sip of the morning, preferably in a still-quiet house. Mmmmmm…

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  166. I LOVE coffee anytime of the day! My new favorite way to have it is with a swirl of heavy cream! YUM!!

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  167. I pretty mucky love coffee any way I can have it. Most mornings it is with cream and sweetener, but I love it black and with all kinds of flavorings as well.

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  168. My favorite way to enjoy coffee is with Truvia & creamer. Sometimes I use a homemade flavor, too. Love coffee!!

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  174. I just started drinking coffee this year. I’m 56 yrs. old and was raised in a family of coffee drinkers but never liked it…until now. I drink it every morning with sweetener and fresh cream!

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  176. I so neeeed this!! I’m a coffee lover and LOVE to have coffee with my friends,,, but I’m having such a problem to make it cause I don’t have what I need for it,, I’ll be sooo happy if I win it!!!

    Reply

  178. Iced coffee is my very favorite! I don’t have a plug in coffee maker, and I like this design better than the pod style that holds a tank of water.

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  179. Love coffee-hot with cream when it’s cold outside, cold with ice & flavorings when it’s hot!

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  180. My new favorite way to enjoy coffee is with half and half, stevia, and a smidge of butter and caramel extracts! Reminds me of the coffee mate creamer

    Reply

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