Best Dual Coffee Makers

It’s no secret that I love coffee and a good bargain at the same time, so today I decided to rank the best dual coffee makers on the market. 

But what is a dual coffee maker? Let’s not overcomplicate it. What they mean by this is a machine that can brew two different quantities of coffee. Usually, they’ll have a carafe that brews in the same way as a drip coffee maker. But they’ll also be able to brew a single cup, espresso, filter pod coffee, or just a hot tap for brewing tea. 

In my years as a barista, I’ve used many different coffee machines, and dual coffee makers are some of my favorites. They’re simple to use, versatile and easy to get a good quality cup of coffee, providing you know what you’re looking for. 

So I’ve used this experience, as well as plenty of research, to definitively say that I’ve put together the list of all the best dual coffee makers on the market. 

As I went about my research, I very quickly identified the Cuisinart SS Coffee Center to be the best choice. It just does everything you need it to do plus lots of amazing features to really fall in love with.

But what if you’re on a tight budget? What if you’re looking for something super simple, with no frills or bows? I’ve got you covered.

So let’s make a start.  

1. Cuisinart SS-15P1 Coffee Center – Best Overall

This high-tech dual coffee maker can transform your laborious morning coffee routine into the simple push of a button without taking up a whole section of counter space.

The Cuisinart SS-15P1 offers a high-quality, fully automated coffee service. The device provides 24-hour programming, so you can set a time to fill your coffee pot without having to get up super early. 

Cuisinart’s dual coffee also has a temperature control option and a bold setting so you can choose how hot your coffee gets for how long and the richness of coffee flavor you want.

If you don’t like to brew a full pot but still want a substantial-sized fill for your single cup, you can choose between six, eight, and 10 ounces. 

When you’ve had enough, you don’t have to tear the machine apart to clean it up either–even though it has a removable tray and water reservoir. You can use the device’s self-clean option to filter through any build-up within the machine.  

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2. Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker – Best Budget

The Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer makes coffee more effortless than ever while still providing more expensive coffee makers’ much-desired functionality.

The machine is equipped with a programmable option to specify your desired brew time so you can have a full pot waiting for you and the family before you get up. 

Even if you brew a pot before you need it, the machine’s hot plate will keep it warm for you to maintain freshness.

If you prefer your coffee a certain way while the rest of your family likes it another, you can use the single-serve option to fill your mug with your choice of bold or regular drip coffee. 

You also won’t have to worry about programming shut-off or remembering to turn the machine off when you don’t need it anymore because the Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer has an automatic shut-off feature.

This machine is definitely worth more than its price point, which makes it my best budget dual coffee maker! 

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3. Keurig K-Duo Coffee Maker – Best for Pods & Simplicity

Unlike the traditional single-cup Keurig machine that requires pods, the Keurig K-Duo gives you the option of either a k-cup pod or ground coffee because it offers brewing for a single coffee cup and a full carafe.

The single-fill feature is ideal for those who want to get coffee as they need it, while the full-fill option is best for multiple cups and presetting. 

You can program the full-carafe option to brew 24-hours in advance, making it ideal for early mornings and before work because you won’t have to bother with waiting around for a cup before you bolt out the door. 

If you can’t wait for the carafe to fill before you want your cup, the Keurig K-Duo has a pause and pour feature that allows you to pause the filling process to stream what’s there into your cup. Then, you can replace the carafe and let it continue filling. 

This machine is also relatively compact, making it great for maximizing your counter space rather than taking up a large area with all of your coffee equipment. 

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4. Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker – Best for Specialty Brews

The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker provides the ultimate all-in-one device for specialty brews, single cups, half and full carafes for a coffee enthusiast.

The machine has six different brew sizes to choose from, such as a single cup, travel mug, extra-large single, half-carafe, full carafe, and extra-large travel mug, all of which satisfy any coffee drinker. 

While slightly larger than a standard coffee maker, the machine offers a variety of brews to choose from as well. You can make lattes, macchiatos, iced coffee, and regular drip, to name a few.

It also comes equipped with a milk frother and various brewing specifications, such as stay warm and delayed brewing. 

These settings will benefit you if you want to keep a pot hot throughout the day or if you want to schedule a carafe to fill before work.

The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker has a digital clock you can set for specific brewing times along with the delayed brewing option. 

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5. Braun Multi-Serve – Best for Speed

When you get up in the morning, you want your coffee as soon as possible. With the Braun Multi-Serve dual coffee maker, you can get your coffee in the blink of an eye, thanks to Braun’s FastBrew technology.

The machine can dispense a full pot of coffee in under eight minutes without sacrificing quality. 

Speaking of flavor, the Braun Multi-Serve comes with three coffee flavor options, bold, gold, and light, all of which filter through the machine’s Specialty Coffee Association golden cup.

This particular cup enhances the coffee’s flavor even when it dispenses at high-speed. 

The dual coffee maker is compatible with standard coffee grounds and a refillable k-cup pod. Either way, the device strategically calculates the precise amount of water and heat necessary to brew the perfect cup for you.

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Honorable Mentions

Cuisinart CHW-12P1 12 Cup Coffee Maker

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This cuisinart 12 cup coffee maker boasts some impressive features. You can program it to keep your coffee warm for up to 4 hours after it has been brewed.

Furthermore, if you have any tea drinkers, the hot water system allows you to get instant hot water at any time of the day. 

However, there are a few things to keep in mind. During my research, I found many people complaining about leaking water tanks. While cuisinart or amazon will absolutely replace th unit if still in warranty, perhaps this is enough to look at another brand.

Nevertheless, if you get yours in working order, the coffee that it brews is excellent and the hot water system is definitely handy.

A little tip before you buy, people have found it difficult to refill the water with the carafe. Use a 2 ltr soda bottle instead! 

Brim Trio Multi-Brew System 

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The Brim team designed the Brim Trio Multi-Brew System with artisan-like coffee quality in mind.

Even when you use the k-cup compatible single-brew option, the machine’s DC Pump optimizes the coffee’s flavor for a superior sip. The device even has a specialized self-cleaning setting to maintain excellent taste.  

If you want to grab a cup to-go, the adjustable drip for the single-serve coffee option allows you to move the spout up and down to fit your travel mug or standard cup’s height.

You can also choose the strength of your coffee with the maker’s brew strength option. 

If you don’t want to brew coffee as you need it, you can take advantage of the machine’s programmable brew settings to fill your pot before you wake in the morning.

When you’re done with your coffee, no matter the time of day, you can set a specific shut-off time as well, ranging between thirty minutes to two hours from when it’s not in use.  

DeLonghi BCO430BM All-in-One

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This DeLonghi all in one dual coffee maker boasts a lot of features. As well as a nice 10 cup coffee pot, it also has a group head for genuine espresso and a milk steamer so you can have a latte or cappuccino to start your day.

It also comes with a reusable coffee filter so you don’t have to keep buying fresh ones. 

Although, with some deeper digging, I’ve found people find the espresso not so tasty, and the functions available on this model either don’t work so well, or aren’t as good as they were expecting them to be.

Nevertheless, there are many good things to say about this machine. All I would say, is don’t expect the espresso to be the most authentic. Without a true espresso machine, you’re never going to get the same quality. 

Buying Guide

Before you buy your dual coffee maker, you should consider what you want concerning size, coffee type, convenience, and functionality first. 

Size 

While you want a decent dual coffee maker, you don’t want it to invade your counter space. Before you start looking, it would be best to measure the amount of space you have for the machine to determine the size you need. 

Some machines come with various fancy attachments or larger water reservoirs to accommodate filling a large carafe. Those accessories require more space on the counter and for you to conveniently reach.

You’ll also want to consider the brewing capacity as a size factor for your next machine. A dual coffee machine can brew full pots and single cups, but can it deliver variance within the two? Some dual coffee makers can brew half and full carafes and can dispense different-sized single-serve options. 

Depending on how much coffee you drink, you’ll want to make sure you get something that can handle it.  

Type of Coffee

Before you set out to purchase a new coffee maker, check what kind of coffee you enjoy. Many coffee makers vary in the type of coffee they require, such as grounds, whole beans, or k-cups. You want to have a coffee maker that’s equipped to process the kind of coffee you prefer or the type that is readily available to you. 

Long Term Coffee Costs

When determining what type of coffee you want your machine to use, you should also consider the long-term costs. For example, when you purchase k-cups, you get a designated yield (10 k-cups equals ten standard coffee cups). On the other hand, bags of beans don’t have a specific yield capacity as it depends on how much you use to brew each day. 

It would help if you considered each component’s cost before purchasing your coffee machine because, depending on the bean type, you may rake up a bill at each month’s end toward coffee. 

Convenience

If you’re not a morning person and need your coffee as soon as you wake up, you’ll probably want a coffee maker that can anticipate your needs. A beneficial feature you might want to look into before buying is a machine’s programmable abilities. Programming will allow you to set specific times you want your coffee pot to fill. 

Alongside programmability, you want something that will ensure your coffee stays at a relatively warm temperature so that you won’t have to pour out a whole pot of cold coffee and wait for a new one to brew. If that’s the case, you should look for special heating features or hot plates associated with your desired coffee maker. 

Functionality

A cup of drip coffee is nice and all, but sometimes coffee machines’ convenience means sacrificing coffee quality. Instead of settling for a standard device that brews coffee quickly, you might want to consider a dual coffee maker with more functionality. 

Functionality can range from drip coffee flavor to specialty drinks. A quality coffee maker with superior functionality can make a standard cup of coffee in the morning feel like a freshly brewed artisanal delight from your favorite local coffee shop. 

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, you want your dual coffee maker to work for you. It’s difficult because there’s no ‘one coffee maker fits all’ situation here. 

You have to decide what’s important for you and your cup of coffee. You’re always short on time, you know you need a machine that works quickly, like the Braun Multiserve.

Maybe you already know that a lot of features in a more complicated machine will be lost on you. We don’t all want a spaceship to make a cup of coffee. 

If you live in a busy household, maybe the extra functions of a more complicated machine would really be beneficial. It’s a great way to make sure you always have your cup of coffee, no matter what’s happening. 

But if you’re anything like me, the Cuisinart SS-15P1 Coffee Center is going to be your go to!