Hamilton Beach 49921 Single Serve coffee maker: Full Review

The Hamilton Beach 49921 is a single serve coffee maker that allows you to brew a fresh cup of coffee at the push of a button. This compact and lightweight model is designed for convenience and simplicity of use in your home, office, RV, or dorm room.

The 49921 features a removable water reservoir that is easy to fill and clean. It accommodates travel mugs up to 14oz tall to go cups, making it easy to brew a cup to take on-the-go. The adjustable stand gives you the flexibility to use different sized mugs.

This Hamilton Beach coffee maker utilizes K-Cup pods or ground coffee in a brew basket to customize each cup exactly how you like it. The simple design focuses on efficient single cup brewing in a fast and mess-free way.

Overall, the 49921 provides an affordable and efficient single serve option in a compact package. This basic model focuses on convenience and ease of brewing one great tasting cup at a time.

Design

The Hamilton Beach 49921 single serve coffee maker has a compact and sleek design that won't take up much counter space. It measures 10.63 x 7.25 x 10.35 inches, making it easy to tuck away in small kitchens.

The exterior housing comes in either black or red, both with silver accents, giving it a modern look. The black version especially will blend in seamlessly with most kitchen decor.

Despite its small size, the water reservoir is able to hold up to 14 oz of water, enough to brew a large travel mug. The drip tray is removable and easy to clean.

Overall, the dimensions and aesthetic make this single serve brewer a great option for anyone short on counter space that still wants delicious coffee every morning.

Features

The Hamilton Beach 49921 single serve coffee maker has several useful features that make it an attractive option for coffee drinkers looking for convenience and versatility.

Pod Compatibility

This coffee maker is compatible with both K-Cups and other leading coffee pod brands. The included pod holder has two sizes - one for standard K-Cups and one for larger coffee pods. This gives you the flexibility to use your favorite pre-packaged coffee blends from a variety of brands.

Brew Sizes

You can brew coffee in 6, 8, 10, or 14 ounce cup sizes. This allows you to customize the amount of coffee to suit your preferences, whether you want a quick single serving or a larger travel mug size.

Water Reservoir

The 40 ounce water reservoir is easy to fill and large enough to brew multiple cups before needing a refill. This removes the inconvenience of having to refill after every single cup.

Auto-Shutoff

For safety and energy savings, the coffee maker will automatically shut off after 1 hour of idle time. You don't have to worry about remembering to turn it off.

Ease of Use

The Hamilton Beach 49921 single serve coffee maker is designed for simplicity and convenience. The control panel is straightforward with buttons for power, brew, and brew size selection between 6, 8, 10, or 12 ounces.

Loading pods into the brew chamber is easy with the lift and place pod holder. Just lift the handle, drop in a pod, and lower the handle to start brewing. The pod holder is compatible with K-Cup pods and other major single serve pod brands.

Overall usability of the coffee maker is excellent. The water reservoir is easy to access and fill from the top. An auto-shutoff feature turns the coffee maker off after 2 hours of inactivity for safety and energy savings. The drip tray is removable for quick cleanups.

With its simple interface and hassle-free pod brewing, the Hamilton Beach 49921 offers a streamlined coffee experience for on-the-go lifestyles. It's easy enough for anyone to use daily with minimal effort.

Brew Quality

The Hamilton Beach 49921 brews coffee that is comparable in taste to other single serve coffee makers in this price range. The water reaches an ideal brewing temperature around 195-205°F, hot enough to properly extract flavor from the coffee grounds.

The 49921 brews a cup with a light layer of crema on top when using pods designed for crema production, like some espresso pods. However, crema production is limited compared to true espresso machines with 9+ bar of pressure. With regular coffee pods, you can expect a nice looking bloom as the water first hits the grounds, but no persistent crema.

Taste and crema production will vary depending on factors like the freshness of the coffee and type of pods used. Overall the 49921 produces an enjoyable cup of coffee with good flavor extraction. The temperature and wetting of the grounds during the brew process are suitable for bringing out the aromatic compounds in coffee.

Maintenance

The Hamilton Beach 49921 single serve coffee maker is designed to be low maintenance, though regular cleaning and occasional descaling are still required.

• The removable water reservoir and drip tray are dishwasher safe, making cleaning easy. The water reservoir should be cleaned weekly to prevent buildup.

• The brew basket is removable and should be rinsed after each use to prevent leftover coffee grinds from drying on. It can also be washed periodically with warm soapy water.

• Descaling is recommended every 3-6 months depending on your water hardness. Descale with vinegar or citric acid descaler following the directions in the user manual. This removes mineral buildup to maintain optimal brewing.

• The exterior can be wiped down as needed with a soft damp cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners.

• Make sure to refer to the user manual for the manufacturer's detailed cleaning and descaling recommendations. Proper maintenance is important for longevity and performance.

Noise Level

The Hamilton Beach 49921 single serve coffee maker operates at a reasonable noise level. The brewing process itself is relatively quiet, with only the faint whirring sound of the coffee grounds being stirred and water being dispensed.

One area to note is that the water reservoir can make some noise when being filled or refilled. The plastic construction amplifies the sound of water pouring in. This is not overly loud, but may be noticeable early in the morning or late at night when ambient noise levels are low.

The other noise to be aware of is the beep indicating a brew cycle has finished. This is a typical beep volume, not overly intrusive but should be taken into consideration if brewing coffee while others are sleeping nearby.

Overall, the noise level is average and on par with other single serve coffee makers. As long as you don't mind some minor sounds from dripping water or brew cycle beeps, the Hamilton Beach 49921 should not pose any significant noise disruptions under normal use.

Value

The Hamilton Beach 49921 offers excellent value for a single serve coffee maker. At around $40, it is very affordable compared to similar single serve brewers which can cost $100 or more.

The warranty is also good for the price. Hamilton Beach provides a standard 1 year limited warranty which covers defects in materials and workmanship. This is pretty typical for small kitchen appliances in this price range.

When comparing to other budget single serve coffee makers, the Hamilton Beach 49921 stands out. It has useful features like a removable water reservoir and compatibility with both K-Cups and ground coffee. Most other inexpensive single serve brewers only work with pods.

You can certainly find more premium single serve coffee makers with more robust features and higher end finishes. But those come at 2-3 times the cost. For shoppers looking for solid performance without breaking the bank, the Hamilton Beach 49921 hits a nice sweet spot. It delivers tasty coffee and essential features at an wallet-friendly price point.

Pros & Cons

The Hamilton Beach 49921 Single Serve Coffee Maker has several advantages as well as some drawbacks to consider:

Pros:

• Makes a variety of cup sizes from 5oz to 14oz. Allows you to brew a small cup or large travel mug.

• Removable parts are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

• Flexible brewing with loose grounds or soft coffee pods. No need for proprietary K-cups.

• Adjustable stand fits travel mugs up to 7.5 inches tall. Accommodates most sizes.

• Simple button controls are easy to operate.

• Auto shut-off and power save mode help conserve energy.

Cons:

• Brew temperature is not very hot, around 165F. Coffee may taste watered down.

• Brew time is slower than typical pod brewers. Full travel mug can take over 3 minutes.

• Water reservoir only holds 14oz of water. May require frequent refilling.

• Prone to leaking and splattering if not positioned properly.

• Build quality feels cheap with lots of plastic. May not hold up over time.

• No programmable timer or scheduling options.

Conclusion

The Hamilton Beach 49921 single serve coffee maker is a great option for those looking for an affordable and convenient single cup brewer. Its simple design and ease of use make it a good choice for home users who want a basic single serve machine.

The 49921 produces good quality coffee comparable to more expensive models. Its removable parts like the water reservoir and drip tray make cleaning easy. And it accommodates both K-cups and ground coffee.

This model is best suited for people who mainly drink coffee and don't need a wide variety of beverage options. It's compact size takes up minimal counter space. The 49921 works well for households with 1-2 coffee drinkers.

Overall the Hamilton Beach 49921 offers solid performance and convenience at an affordable price point. For basic single cup brewing, it's a recommended model that delivers on taste and ease of use. The 49921 is a great budget-friendly option for people wanting the simplicity and speed of single serve coffee.