Hamilton Beach 49976 Review

Hamilton Beach 49976 Flexbrew Review | Expert Analysis

Coffee Queries is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

Hamilton Beach is a home appliance company that is very popular in the U.S.A. While the company is more famous for its other appliances, they have managed to pull off some fantastic coffee maker models over the years. Some of their coffee makers, such as the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 2-way 49976, are at par with coffee maker companies such as Keurig. In fact, the 49976 is one of the best coffee makers as well.

Quick Summary – The Hamilton Beach 49976 Flexbrew offers single-serve and 12-cup carafe options which makes it suitable for a family as well as a single person.  It comes with 2 water reservoirs and has plenty of smart features to quickly make a cup of coffee. There are options for brew strength control (strong and mild). It costs less than $100 and is one of the most durable coffee makers we have reviewed.

Let’s evaluate the specifications of this coffee maker. For a better understanding, refer to the following table. 

Technical Specifications of Hamilton Beach 49976 Flexbrew

Serving Types

Single serve (10 oz. – 14 oz.)

12-Cup Carafe

Number of Water Reservoirs

2 (Non-Removable)

Brew Strength Options

Bold, Regular

Dimensions 

11.4 x 12.2 x 13.7 inches

Weight

6 pounds

Number of Buttons

6

Material

Plastic

Water reservoir capacity

40 ounces

K-Cup Compatible

Yes

Coffee Grounds Compatible

Yes

Smart Features

Shuts off after two hours of inactivity.

Brew-Stop option.

Programmable up to 24 hours in advance.

Comes with a hot plate.

All About The Hamilton Beach 49976

Let’s dig deep into Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49976 and evaluate how good of a coffee maker this is. First of all, let us answer the first question. Is the Hamilton Beach 49976 a single-serve or a multi-serve coffee machine? The Hamilton Beach 49976 is a 2-in-1 solution. It offers both a single-serve side and a carafe side. 

Serving Size

There are two types of serving offered in this coffee maker. 

Single Serve

The single-serve side uses both K-cup pods and coffee grounds. Therefore, if you can’t find one, there is always a backup option. Even in the two serving options, you get further customization options. You can either get a 10 oz. Cup of coffee or fill a travel mug (up to 14 oz.). 

Carafe

The carafe allows you to brew 12 cups of coffee to keep you going throughout the day. However, upon a closer inspection of Hamilton Beach 49976, we found that it does not offer options for 6 oz, 8 oz, and half carafe serving. However, you can press the auto pause-and-pour option to stop the pouring midway and get less coffee.

Water Reservoirs

This coffee machine comes with 2 separate water reservoirs for the single-serve and carafe side. This separation is excellent because you can adjust the water quantity separately and make your own serving size. 

The water reservoirs can be filled conveniently. The carafe’s size is 40 oz. which is large enough to brew several cups without having to refill. Also, sometimes we tend to overfill the reservoir because we do not know how much water is already in the reservoir. Luckily, the FlexBrew has an easy-view water window to let you see the amount of water in it.

Brew Strength And Coffee Taste

While evaluating the Hamilton Beach 49976 Flexbrew, we found that there is no compromise on taste. If you feel like it will not meet the taste of a Keurig, you might be mistaken. The coffee’s flavor is never watered down. Still, if you prefer stronger coffee, the brew strength can be adjusted accordingly. This machine allows you to choose between “mild” and “strong” coffee strengths.

Brew Size Customized
Brew Size Customized

Components

The Hamilton Beach does not have any accessories, but the parts within the unit are of reasonably good quality, and most of them are easy to clean. 

Carafe

The carafe can store 12 cups of coffee. It has a robust and sleek handle that can withstand the load of 12 cups of coffee during brewing. The lid of the carafe also lifts upward for simple pouring and refilling of the carafe. Furthermore, it is dishwasher safe.

Funnel

The single-serve section has a black funnel that should be used to brew each single-serve batch of coffee. This facilitates the coffee filtering process during brewing and ensures that no stray coffee grounds end up in your finished beverage. 

Single-Serve Basket

The single-serve basket is used for placing ground coffee. It needs to be filled up with your favorite coffee grounds for a delicious single cup of coffee. If you wish to use disposable K-cups, remove the basket and replace it with a K-cup.

Size And Build

Hamilton Beach falls behind in terms of size and build. The machine’s dimensions are 11.4 x 12.2 x 13.66 inches. Most users feel like the machine could have been a little more compact since it is primarily for home and office use.  Also, it weighs 6.37 pounds which is just fine. Since it is made of plastic, it can be slightly more challenging to clean the exterior. However, you can easily clean this coffee maker without even using vinegar. Keep in mind that this coffee machine does not come with a beautiful finish that a glass coffee maker does. However, given the moderate price, dimensions and weight are not much of a problem.

Controls

There are 6 control buttons on the Hamilton Beach 49976. There is one “Brew Now” button to start the brewing process. Then there is a “Brew Strength” button that helps you choose between a bold and regular strength. Besides, there are “Carafe” and “Single” buttons that instruct the machine on which side of the machine should be used. 

The “Prog” button allows you to schedule a brewing time 24 hours in advance so that you can have a cup of coffee ready in the morning. The “Set Time” is for setting time according to your time zone so you can program the machine accurately. With so much convenience provided in the touch of a button, it is undoubtedly one of the Best Coffee Makers by Hamilton Beach.

Here is a table to help you understand the controls better.

Button 

Function

Brew Now

Begin brewing right away

Brew Strength

Adjust the brewing strength between regular and strong

Carafe

To use carafe and make large volume of coffee

Single Cup

To use single cup function and make coffee for one person

Prog

Program the coffee maker with timer

Set Time

Set the local time on your coffee machine

Additional Features

One major useful feature is the hot plate. Your coffee will remain warm for two hours if the carafe stays on the coffee podium. The hot plate turns off automatically after two hours. Some users have reported that the warmth time is too low. If you think the two-hour time is too less, then remember that coffee resting on a hot plate for too long gets bitter.

This coffee machine will shut off after two hours of inactivity. This feature should give you peace of mind if you are out of the house.  

Cleaning and Maintenance

The FlexBrew is extremely easy to clean because most of the components can be easily removed. Not only are the detachable carafe, drip tray, and K-cup brewing elements easy to clean, they’re also dishwasher safe.

Pros

  • It is affordable
  • It is easy to clean
  • It offers two ways to brew
  • It is very easy to use with only six controls
  • Coffee will stay warm for two hours
  • Two separate water reservoirs
  • Water windows included

Cons

  • Slightly heavy
  • No options for 6 oz, 8 oz, and half carafe serving sizes
  • Water reservoirs are not removable, so they are difficult to clean
  • If you don’t have guests around and live alone, the carafe option is useless

What do the Users Say about Hamilton Beach 49976 Coffee Maker?

Find out Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 2-way coffee maker reviews below for a much informed decision about the coffee maker. 

Positive Customer Reviews

Negative Customer Reviews

“I have only owned this coffee maker for 3-4 months now but I love this machine. Rated 5/5 Stars” – Jair (Source: Amazon)

“The carafe is poorly designed. It is hard to fill from a fridge water dispenser. Rated 3/5 Stars” – Flammable Bog Monster (Source: Amazon)

“This was the best gift I’ve ever given my momma. Not only can you do a single cup, or a travel size but you can do the carafe too. Rated 5/5 Stars” – Rebecca (Source: Amazon)

“The single cup side is indeed slower than a Keurig. It takes about 3-5 minutes to brew a cup. Rated 3/5 Stars“ – HayWayNB (Source: Amazon)

“A Moderately Priced Alternative to Expensive Individual Drinks. Rated 4/5 Stars” – Ember Leigh  (Source: Amazon)

“Not very easy to clean, but I’m kind of a germaphobe, so maybe it’s just me” – JR Seui (Source: Amazon)

“Great coffee. I enjoyed how quickly it came out and how little counter space it takes up. Rated 5/5 Stars” (Source: Walmart)

“The coffee maker is only 2 years old, and it leaks from the carafe side. Rated 1/5 Stars” – Catherine (Source: Walmart)

“I am a one cup coffee drinker. I love having the option to only brew one cup or if people are over I can brew a whole pot. Rated 5/5 Stars.” – Source: Hamilton Beach Official Website

“After 30 minutes in the unopened thermal carafe, I microwave my cup of coffee to get it hot. Since I like everything else, I’m buying it again with the glass carafe and heating pad. Rated 3/5 Stars” – Steve T. (Source: Amazon)

As you can see, most people did not have an issue about the kind of coffee it brews. Instead, the main issue highlighted by users is regarding the design of the Hamilton Beach 49976 Flexbrew. Based on the various issues the users were facing, Hamilton Beach improved the overall design and tubing of this coffee maker. 

Here is an official statement by the company after the design change. 

We have redesigned and improved this coffee maker’s internal tubing structure to eliminate potential leaking. Currently, all 2-Way FlexBrew units have implemented the new and improved design.” Source: Hamilton Beach

Who Should Buy The Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49976?

This machine is perfect for individuals, families, and office users. The best part of the Hamilton Beach 49976 is its dual operation that lets you brew single-serve cups as well as entire carafes. It is suitable for individuals because you can use the carafe side if you have guests. 

Moreover, if you consume more than 6 cups of coffee a day, you should be lucky to have the carafe side just in case because filling the reservoir for the single-serve side can be tedious. It is one of the top coffee makers for an office too as it offers both single-serve and 12-cup serving options. 

Recommended ForBest for Homes, Offices, and Everyday Use

Not Recommended ForSomeone looking for a portable and fancy-design coffee maker

Where Can You Buy Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49976 Coffee Machine?

You can get this coffee maker easily from Amazon or Walmart. However, our consultants found out that there are some discounts on Amazon.com and the price is lower. Therefore, we recommend buying from Amazon.com to save a few bucks. 

Our Take on Hamilton Beach 49976

The Hamilton Beach 49976 is a remarkable machine perfect for both homes and offices. It offers two brewing types and many other features that make it stand out from other coffee makers in its price range. If you are looking for a versatile and affordable coffee maker that lets you customize your brew, the 49976 could be the perfect choice for you. Based on our expert evaluation, The 49976 is one of the Best Coffee Makers by Hamilton Beach you can get with a low budget and top-notch features. 

Frequently Asked Questions – Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49976 Coffee Maker

Q1. Does the warmer of Hamilton Beach 49976 stay on while the coffee is brewing?

Answer – No, the warmer turns off automatically when you press the ‘Start brew’ option. After the brewing completes, the warmer will stay on for 2 hours and then automatically shut off.

Q2. What is the capacity of the single-serve water reservoir?

Answer- The single-serve reservoir has a capacity of 14 ounces which is enough for a large travel mug.

Q3. What size travel mugs fit on the Hamilton Beach 49976?

Answer – A travel mug up to 7 inches tall will fit perfectly on the Hamilton Beach 49976 single-serve side.

Q4. Can you use both the Carafe and Single serve options at one time?

Answer- No, you can only use the two options one at a time. There are two separate buttons for both options and once one side is brewing, the other side will not.

Q5. Is the single-serve side of Hamilton Beach 49976 programmable?

Answer – No, only the carafe side of the coffee maker is programmable.

 

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *