Hamiton Beach 46200 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

The Hamilton Beach 46200 is an entry-level programmable drip coffee maker with a 12-cup carafe. It's designed to be an affordable option for people who want the convenience of programming their coffee maker but don't need high-end features or brewing capabilities.

The 46200 has a simple interface and compact footprint, making it well-suited for home kitchens, offices, dorm rooms or other small spaces. It doesn't offer the same brew customization or brew strength control as more expensive coffee makers, but it gets the job done reliably for households that just want 1-4 cups of coffee brewed each morning.

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 46200 provides solid programmed brewing in an easy-to-use package without a lot of extra bells and whistles. It's worth considering if you want to wake up to a hot pot of coffee without having to set an alarm.

Design and Build

The Hamilton Beach 46200 series has a sleek stainless steel design with rounded edges that gives it a modern premium look. The brushed finish on the metal will fit into any kitchen decor. The drip coffeemaker stands 10.5 inches in height and 12 inches in length, with a width of 9 inches, making it a compact size that can easily fit under most kitchen cabinets. The glass carafe that comes with the coffee maker also has a stainless steel frame and handle so the look remains consistent.

The parts that make contact with the water or coffee are made using stainless steel and BPA-free plastic to ensure no contamination. The metal housing feels substantial and durable, with no flimsy or cheap plastic parts. Even though the machine is relatively lightweight at less than 5 lbs for easy moving, it does not feel fragile. The materials used in construction make it look like a much more expensive coffee maker than the price tag suggests.

Features

The Hamilton Beach 46200 coffee maker comes with a number of useful features that allow you to customize your brew.

• Programmable timer: You can program the coffee maker up to 24 hours in advance, so you can wake up to a freshly brewed pot. Just add water and grounds the night before, set the timer, and coffee will be ready when you wake up.

• Adjustable settings: There are multiple brew settings to choose from, including bold, regular, iced coffee, and small batch options. This allows you to tailor the brew strength and volume to your preferences.

• Brew strength control: A brew strength selector lets you make regular or bold coffee depending on your tastes. The bold setting slows down the brewing process to extract more flavor from the grounds.

• Auto pause: When you remove the carafe mid-brew, the flow of coffee pauses to prevent drips and spills.

• 2 hour auto shutoff: For safety, the coffee maker will automatically turn off 2 hours after brewing is complete.

• Cord storage: The electric cord wraps under the unit for tidy storage.

• Large capacity: With a 12 cup carafe, this coffee maker can brew up to 12 cups of coffee at a time.

• Water window: The rear water window makes it easy to see the water level and know when a refill is needed.

• Brew basket: The removable brew basket has a release button for fast and easy access to used grounds after brewing.

Ease of Use

The Hamilton Beach 46200 drip coffee maker is very easy to use on a daily basis. Initial setup is quick and straightforward - just wash the water reservoir, basket, carafe, and any accessories and assemble them according to the manual's instructions.

Day-to-day operation involves loading the basket with ground coffee, filling the water reservoir, choosing your brew settings, and turning the coffee maker on. The controls are very intuitive with options for regular or bold brew, 1-4 cup brewing, and an automatic shutoff. There is a programmable timer so you can set the coffee maker to automatically brew at a certain time each morning.

The swing-out basket makes it easy to fill the basket with grounds and clean it out afterward. Leveling the bed of grounds before brewing is also simple with the included scoop. The cord storage and top handle provide convenience. Overall, Hamilton Beach designed this model to be uncomplicated to use daily.

Brew Performance

The Hamilton Beach 46200 coffee maker brews a full 12-cup pot in under 15 minutes. The heater maintains an optimal brewing temperature between 195°F - 205°F, which extracts the full flavor from the coffee grounds. The flavor is rich and robust, without any bitterness or acidity.

The brew basket is designed to soak all the grounds evenly, and the shower head distributes water over the entire basket. This results in uniform saturation and extraction. The carafe is well-insulated and keeps coffee hot for over 2 hours after brewing.

With a 12-cup carafe capacity, this coffee maker can handle the needs of most households or offices. It can also brew smaller pots with auto shut-off after the desired number of cups. The capacity is flexible for anything between 1 to 12 cups.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Hamilton Beach 46200 coffee maker is designed for easy cleaning and maintenance.

• Descaling - An important part of maintaining any drip coffee maker is descaling on a regular basis to remove mineral deposits from the water. Hamilton Beach makes this simple with clear instructions in the user manual on how and when to descale. There is even an indicator light to alert you when descaling is needed.

• Removable Parts - The water reservoir, filter basket, and carafe are all completely removable for easy cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher. The heating plate under the carafe can be wiped down with a damp cloth as needed.

• Self-Cleaning - One convenient feature of this model is the self-cleaning cycle. By filling the water reservoir and running a brew cycle with vinegar, the inside of the machine gets cleaned and descaled automatically. No scrubbing required!

With dishwasher safe parts, self-cleaning capabilities, and easy to follow descaling instructions, maintaining the Hamilton Beach 46200 is quick and painless. This is an important consideration for busy households.

Durability and Warranty

The Hamilton Beach 46200 coffee maker is built to last thanks to its durable stainless steel construction. The stainless steel body not only looks great but also resists stains, rust, and corrosion.

Many owners report this coffee maker still brewing great coffee after several years of frequent use. The water reservoir features no plastic parts that can crack or warp over time.

Hamilton Beach provides a 1-year limited warranty to cover defects in materials or workmanship. The warranty is fairly standard for small kitchen appliances in this price range. However, some buyers felt 1 year was too short given the machine's typical lifespan is 5-10 years or more.

Overall, the 46200 offers excellent durability thanks to its stainless steel housing. And the 1-year warranty provides basic protection, though a longer warranty would be ideal based on owners' experience with the machine's longevity.

Price and Value

The Hamilton Beach 46200 drip coffee maker typically retails for around $50 USD, though prices can fluctuate. This puts it on the affordable end of the drip coffee maker price spectrum, making it a great option for shoppers on a budget.

When you consider its features and performance, the 46200 provides excellent value at this price point. It has a 12 cup carafe, programmable timer, auto shut-off, and brew strength control. The machine brews a full pot in under 10 minutes, producing a good tasting cup of coffee.

For a sub-$50 drip coffee maker, the 46200 punches above its weight class. The combination of useful features and solid brewing abilities make this an exceptional value purchase. It provides comparable performance to more expensive models at a fraction of the price.

If you're looking for an inexpensive drip coffee maker that doesn't compromise on quality or versatility, the Hamilton Beach 46200 offers tremendous bang for your buck. It's a budget-friendly machine that outperforms expectations, giving you great tasting coffee every morning.

Pros and Cons

The Hamilton Beach 46200 drip coffee maker has several pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

• Brews a full 12-cup pot in under 10 minutes for faster morning coffee
• Programmable timer allows you to wake up to freshly brewed coffee
• Brew strength control lets you customize regular or bold coffee flavor
• Pause & Serve feature lets you pour a cup before full pot is brewed
• Easy-access water window shows at a glance how much water is in tank
• 2-hour automatic shutoff for safety and energy savings
• Durable stainless steel construction and mesh filter
• Easy to use buttons and user-friendly interface
• Pull-out water tank for fast and convenient filling

Cons:

• Water tank could use measurement markings for accurate filling
• Need to program clock after every power outage
• Brew basket is not removable or dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
• Lack of thermal carafe means coffee won't stay hot for long after brewing
• No brew temperature adjustment for optimal extraction

Conclusion

The Hamilton Beach 46200 is a solid, mid-range drip coffee maker that offers good value for the price point. It's simple to operate, brews a hot pot of coffee, and has useful features like a programmable auto-brew timer and pause-and-serve functionality. The stainless steel body gives it an attractive look that fits well in most kitchens.

For those seeking an affordable drip coffee machine with useful features, the 46200 is a recommended option to consider. Comparable alternatives around the same price point include the Cuisinart DCC-3200 and Mr. Coffee 10-Cup Coffee Maker. The Cuisinart offers a few extra features like brew strength control and a charcoal water filter, while the Mr. Coffee has a removable water reservoir for easy filling. However, the 46200 remains competitive in terms of brew performance, durability, and ease of use.

Ultimately, the Hamilton Beach 46200 balances capabilities and price nicely. For an everyday drip coffee maker with programmable brewing, durable construction, and solid performance, it's a good choice. The amount of value and functionality it provides make it a recommended model to consider.