The Hamilton Beach 2 Way Flexbrew series of coffee machines are dubbed ‘flex’ for a reason. These are the machines to go for if you want an inexpensive model that lets you use K-cups, coffee pods or fresh grounds, and brew into a cup, tumbler, or carafe.
Despite their versatility, these units also boast the lowest price on Amazon for 2-in-1 coffee makers. So, if you are in the market for the most affordable coffee machine in 2020, this Hamilton Beach 2 Way Flexbrew review is for you.
Now, of the 5 variations that fall under the Flexbrew collection, the 49980A and 49950C are the most popular. These two literally fly off the shelves and for good reasons.
If you are on the fence about getting either, here are the reviews of the two coffee makers and the differences between them.
These 2-way coffee makers will interest:
- Coffee lovers who want an inexpensive coffee maker.
- Households with coffee snobs who prefer using both fresh grounds and K-cups/soft pods (49980A uses pods)
- Those who want the versatility of brewing into a cup, a travel mug, or a full carafe.
- Coffee snobs who don’t mind waiting for 2-3 minutes for a hot cup of Joe.
☕️ Hamilton Beach 49950C Flexbrew Review
This model is the most recent release and it’s a few bucks pricier than the 49980A. It might, therefore, interest coffee lovers with a liking for newer models.
Unboxing and Set up
As with most new coffee machines, the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew will not require any form of assembly upon arrival. Before brewing, though, it’s essential that you cleanse the pack holder, single-serve k-cup holder, and the carafe. Also, don’t forget to run a hot water cycle on the carafe side and single-serve side to rinse out any dirt that may have settled in the system during storage.
Here’s what you’ll get
Before delving deeper into this Hamilton Beach Flexbrew review, it’s important to know what you are getting. The package will include;
- Coffee maker
- 12-cup glass carafe with a sturdy handle and lid
- Black funnel- goes on the single-serve side. It accommodates single-serve basket and K-cup basket and prevents loose grounds from getting into your coffee
- Single –serve basket- it goes inside the black funnel and holds coffee grounds
- K-cup basket- fits K-cups of almost all sizes
Construction Materials and Color Options
As you’d expect in a budget coffee maker, the Hamilton Flexbrew 49950C is mainly made of plastics and some touches of stainless steel. Its build is comparable to most Keurig coffee makers. Although the perception of construction quality is subjective, we didn’t see any complaints concerning the build materials from the reviews on Amazon.
Having options is a good thing in life, and the 49950C offers you a choice of 3 colors; black and silver, black, and white.
49950C Design Review
The Flexbrew rarely misses a slot in most reviews of the best single-serve coffee makers for 2020. It will also grace any collection of the best carafe coffee makers as it combines these 2 systems in one unit.
Each of these sides has a dedicated brewing head as well as a water reservoir. The two water tanks are filled independent of each other, and both of them have a water window that lets you see how much water is in the tank.
Unfortunately, and perhaps as a way of making this coffee maker affordable to everyone, the carafe system, and single-serve side share one water pump system. This means that you cannot brew into the carafe and make a single-serve shot simultaneously. While this versatility would have been a nice addition, it’s hard to complain, considering that you are getting what is probably the lowest price on Amazon.
49950C Size and Space Considerations
This affordable combination coffee maker has a depth of 10.5’’, a width of 10’’, and a height of 13.5’’. So, yes, it will undoubtedly occupy a considerable amount of space on your counter-tops. It’s not the bulkiest coffee machine that we’ve reviewed so far, though. If anything, we believe its 2-in-1 design will occupy much less space compared to what a separate single-serve coffee maker and carafe machine would take.
49950C Key Features
Drip coffee and single serve brewers
The key highlight of the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew is its 2-in-1 design that lets you brew drip coffee as well as single-serve cuppa. For such an inexpensive machine, this is an unbeatable versatility that brings incredible flexibility to your coffee experiences.
If you are anything like most of us and can gulp down several cups of coffee in one sitting, the carafe side will be your best spot. This system can brew a full carafe (12 five-ounce cups) in around 13 minutes.
Besides offering an unbeatable convenience when entertaining guests, this also makes it possible to enjoy cups of Joe one after another without the need for brewing each cup separately. Previous buyers who have reviewed this machine confirm that the temperature of the brew is around 162-165 degrees F.
Automatic ON/OFF Hotplate
This feature is available on the carafe side only. After brewing the coffee, the Hamilton Beach 2 way Flexbrew 49950C will automatically turn ON the hotplate to hold your coffee warm for 2 hours before turning off.
Hint: If you’d prefer a coffee maker with a carafe that keeps its contents warm without the need for continuous heating, consider one of our recommendations for the best thermal carafe coffee makers.
Auto-pause
Perhaps the most significant drawback of the Hamilton Beach 2 way Flexbrew coffee maker is the inability to brew coffee on both sides concurrently. This is made worse by the lengthy time that it takes to brew a full carafe. Luckily, you don’t have to wait for the entire pot to brew.
If you can’t wait to have your cup, this coffee maker offers you a 20-second window to pour a cup mid-cycle. It has an auto-pause feature that temporarily stops the brewing process as soon as you lift the carafe from the plate. Note that you have restore the pot within 20 seconds, or the coffee will be brewed on your surfaces.
Use coffee grounds, K-cups, or soft coffee pods
A critical feature in this Hamilton Beach 2 way Flexbrew review is the option to use coffee grounds, K-cups, or soft coffee pods. Whether you need 12 cups of coffee to sip on for the next 2 hours or you came across a new brand of K-cup that you are dying to try out, you can do all that in one machine.
The single-serve side also allows you to make a cup real fast when in a rush. Since these 2 sides use the same heating system and pump, the temperature of the brews tend to fall within the same range.
Storage area under cup rest
Under the cup rest on the single-serve side of the Hamilton Beach 2 way Flexbrew 49950C, there is a small compartment that can hold your K-cups or pods. You can also use it to store either the K-cup holder or single serve holder when not in use. This is a thoughtful idea that complements the convenience that the single-serve brewing system is intended for.
When the cup rest is in place, you can use mugs up to 5 inches on the single serve section. When you remove, it offers enough clearance to fit travel mugs up 7 ¾ inches tall.
It’s fully programmable!
Nothing beats the convenience of waking up to a piping hot carafe of freshly brewed coffee. Despite its relatively lower price tag, the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew single serve and carafe coffee maker offers this function. You can set it to start brewing, for instance, at 5:45 AM if you take your coffee at around 6 in the morning.
The single serve is not programmable. It takes utmost 3 minutes to make a cup of coffee on this side. So, the option to program a single serve cycle may not be necessary.
49950C Pros & Cons
Pros 👍
✔ Use grounds, coffee pods, or k-cups
✔ Programmable carafe system
✔ Straightforward operations
✔ Brews really hot coffee
✔ Has auto-pause
Cons 👎
✘ Can’t use both sides concurrently
✘ Single-serve takes up to 3 minutes
✘ You have to refill tank each time
49950C Specs Overview
| Brand | Hamilton Beach |
| MPN | 49950C |
| Size depth | 10.5’’, width 10’’, height 13.5’’ |
| Weight | 7.7 pounds |
| Coffee Type | Compatibility Loose grounds, soft Pods, and K-cups |
| Heating elements | 1 |
| Water tanks | 2 (one for each side) |
| Removable water reservoir | No |
| Size of carafe | 12 (5-ounce) cups |
| Beverage | Type Coffee, Ice Coffee, hot chocolate, cocoa, and tea |
| Price | Budget |
| Programmable | Yes (24 hours) |
☕️ Hamilton Beach 49980A Flexbrew Review
The Hamilton Beach 2 Way Flexbrew 49980 has been in the market for quite a long time now. The thousands of reviews on Amazon say it all. This machine says ditto to most of the features that we’ve highlighted on the 49950C review above. However, as you are about to find out in this rundown, there are several key differences between the 2 machines besides the design.
Assembly and Set up
Similar to its younger sibling, the Hamilton Beach 2 way Flexbrew 49980 does not require any advanced assembly. Set up is a breeze, too, and basically involves the same steps that you’ll be using when brewing your daily cup of Joe.
What you’ll get with the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49980 coffee maker
- Coffee maker
- 12-cup glass carafe
- Black funnel- holds loose grounds filter on the single serve side
- Filter- this is a permanent filter that also acts as a scoop on the single serve system
- Pod bracket- it holds soft coffee pods and can also be used with cocoa and tea pods
- Hamilton Beach Flexbrew manual
49980A Design Review
A popular model in most Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 2 way coffee maker reviews, the 49980 is a two-in-one machine that makes coffee in 3 ways.
Just like the newer model, this coffee maker will allow you to make a single serve shot of cuppa on one side, and a 12-cup carafe on the other side. Each of these two systems has its own reservoir that needs to be filled whenever brewing. You can’t make a single cup while brewing a carafe, though. This is because the two sides share one pump.
As far as appearance is concerned, we feel that its all-black design and stainless steel accents do a good job of masking its low price tag. Basically, the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49980 is a machine that you won’t mind leaving on your kitchen tops for your guests to see.
Construction materials- how is the build?
The Hamilton Beach 2 Way Flexbrew 49980 is made of a combination of plastics and stainless steel. It doesn’t feel as sturdy as an all-metal coffee maker would. However, unless you drop it around (which we bet you won’t), this coffee machine should last for years.
49980A Size and Space Considerations
This coffee maker has a length of 11.50’’, a depth of 13.76’’, and a height of 15.24’’. Although not as compact, this size is pretty much what you’d expect when a small footprint single-serve model and a drip coffee maker are married. For homeowners who are worried about their low-lying kitchen shelves, this coffee machine’s height makes that a non-issue.
49980A Key Features
2 Distinct Brew Options
Similar to most machines in Hamilton Beach Flexbrew series, the 49980 allows you to brew into a 12-cup carafe on one side, and make a single serve on the other side.
This model works just like the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49950C. First, you can’t use the 2 systems together. Secondly, the pump ejects all the water in the reservoir for every brewing cycle. You also have 2 options in terms of brew strength; regular or bold.
When brewing into the carafe, you don’t have to wait for the cycle to end. Lifting the carafe from the keep-warm plate will activate the pause function, which allows you 20 seconds to grab a cup before the cycle ends.
Unlike with the Hamilton Beach 2 Way Flexbrew 49950, the 49980 version uses a slightly different multilevel cup adjuster for the single serve side. A cup under the drip tray can be placed upside down to raise smaller cups.
No K-Cups for this one, but still very versatile!
The Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49980 review does not come with a bracket to support K-cups. That’s a clear sign that this model wasn’t designed for k-cup coffee lovers. However, to make up for that, it has a coffee pod/pad holder.
The incompatibility with k-cups and compatibility with soft coffee pods can be both a blessing and a curse depending on how you look at it. On the one hand, K-cups come in an impressive wide selection of coffee blends, varietals, and coffee flavors. However, some people claim that the plastics used for K-cups not only mean more waste in our landfills, but it also alters the taste of the brew.
On the other hand, there are not as many soft coffee pod varieties and blends as there are K-cups. However, coffee experts argue that pods lead to better coffee extraction and more aroma during the brewing process.
Without forgetting, remember that you can use chocolate, cocoa, and tea soft pods when you need a hot beverage other than your usual shot of coffee.
Automatic Coffee Brewing
Using the program button on the control panel, you can set this coffee maker to make drip coffee automatically up to 24 hours later. This is one of the most cited benefits in most Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 2 way coffee maker reviews. It will definitely add a lot of convenience during those times when you are too busy to start measuring water and coffee grounds, especially in the morning.
There’s no need to worry about your coffee getting cold thanks to auto on/off warm plate. On the same note, the Hamilton Beach 2 Way Flexbrew 49980 will switch off automatically after 2 hours.
49980A Pros & Cons
Pros 👍
✔ Breezy operations
✔ Unique all-in-one scoop
✔ Customizable coffee strengths
✔ Uses loose grounds and pods
✔ Programmable
Cons 👎
✘ Can’t brew on both sides concurrently
✘ Not compatible with K-cups
✘ Requires refilling each time
49980A Specs Overview
| Brand | Hamilton Beach |
| MPN | 49980A |
| Size | Width 11.50’’, depth 13.76’’, height 15.24’’ |
| Weight | 7.4 pounds |
| Coffee Type Compatibility | Loose grounds, soft Pods (coffee, chocolate, and tea) |
| Heating elements | 1 |
| Water tanks | 2 (one for each side) |
| Removable water reservoir | No |
| Size of carafe | 12 (5-ounce) cups |
| Beverage Type | Coffee, Ice Coffee, hot chocolate, cocoa, and tea |
| Price | Budget |
| Programmable | Yes (24 hours) |
📝 49980A vs. 49950C Review Verdict
Having reviewed the 2 most popular Hamilton Beach Flexbrew single serve and carafe coffee makers, which model carries the day?
Well, in our opinion, either of these units will fit the bill for coffee lovers on budget. The 49980A is often available at a cheaper price in most online stores, including Amazon, and on the Hamilton Beach website. So, folks looking for the most affordable Hamilton Beach Flexbrew coffee maker in 2020 tend to lean on that side.
Keep in mind that the Flexbrew 49980A does not accommodate k-cups, though. If you are K-cup coffee enthusiast, the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew 49950C is probably what you need.
Hamilton Beach Flexbrew Cleaning
Both of these coffee machines are generally very easy to clean since most of the parts are removable. You can remove the carafe, all the components that make the drip tray, K-cup holder, loose grounds filter, and soft pod bracket. To make the cleaning process even easier for you, all of these pieces are dishwasher-safe.
It’s recommendable to deep clean the coffee brewing system at least once per month. To deep clean and descale the Hamilton Beach 2 way Flexbrew;
- Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the water reservoir on the carafe side and put the carafe in place.
- Press ON, followed by the Brew Now button. After around 30 seconds, switch off the machine.
- Let the vinegar stay in the internal tubes and heating components for at least 30 minutes. As the vinegar stays in contact with the tubes, it will remove scale deposits, thereby enhancing the durability and efficiency of these components.
- After 30 minutes, switch the machine back on again to complete the cycle and eject all the vinegar. Run 2 or more clean water cycles to rinse the inner workings of all vinegar waste.
❔ Frequently Asked Questions
If your coffee maker has started leaking, the issue is very likely caused by a loose connection on the tube that takes water from the heating element to the sprayer at the top. The joint where this tube connects to the sprayer is strengthened by a little wire clamp that gets loose with time, thereby causing leakages. This tube is located at the back. To access it, you’ll need to remove the bottom panel followed by the side panels, then the back panel. You’ll also need to replace the substandard wire clamp with a regular hose clamp that goes for around 70 cents.
These coffee makers don’t come with the paper filters. However, you can purchase them from Hamilton Beach’s official website or on Amazon.
Yes. Amazon has several options. Before ordering, ensure that it will fit your specific Hamilton Beach Flexbrew coffee maker. The manufacturer has done an excellent job of listing all the compatible models for each carafe. Here is the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew replacement carafe 49976.
- ☕️ Hamilton Beach 49950C Flexbrew Review
- 49950C Design Review
- 49950C Size and Space Considerations
- 49950C Key Features
- 49950C Pros & Cons
- 49950C Specs Overview
- ☕️ Hamilton Beach 49980A Flexbrew Review
- 49980A Design Review
- 49980A Size and Space Considerations
- 49980A Key Features
- 49980A Pros & Cons
- 49980A Specs Overview
- 📝 49980A vs. 49950C Review Verdict
- Hamilton Beach Flexbrew Cleaning
- ❔ Frequently Asked Questions