Customer Reviews

Stay Or Go Digital Thermal Coffeemaker

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

I was given this as a gift. I found reviews for it (either the model in all black or brushed aluminum) favorable. Some people rated it negatively because they failed to read any directions and didn't press the "PRESS TO POUR" button on the carafe. Instead they unscrewed the top off and said it spilled when pouring. RTFM You always have to look to see if bad reveiws are due to the user's mistakes and lack of knowledge of the reviewer. They often are.

The two most negative things is...

1. When making a full pot I almost always get a lot of grinds. The problem is that the filter cup fills too quickly and the water level goes over the height of the paper filter. I've tried to find a taller filter, but they seem to all be the same size. Usually I either do a single mug (three 6 oz. cup servings) or the full carafe(10 servings). I can't recall if I've tried 6 or 8 servings to see if grinds are an issue there.

2. the plastic travel mugs retain water between the stainless steel outer shell and the inner plastic shell. UNtil I realized what the issue was, they would dribble (dish/cleaning water not coffee) when I drank from them. I find water gets in between especially after a run in the dishwasher. To get the water out, hold them by the bottom. With them facing upside down wave the mug back and forth (like a pendulum). Do it very quickly and the water will shake out. Once I found the problem, the constant dribble from a clean cup stopped. They keep the coffee reasonably warm for a while. Especially if you run hot water in the mugs before you use them-so they don't leech heat from the coffee to equalize.

3. the Hour/Minute buttons might be too easy hit and change the clock time. They should have a set button. I haven't done it, but that's the only negative.

For singles or a lone couple this is great.

I like the double spout so I can brew one mug, two mugs or a whole pot.
No need to dirty the carafe when I'm making small amounts which is 95% of the time.
The Timed brew is easy to set and works well.
I use unbleached paper cup filters. (this uses a bucket, not the cone shaped filters.)
The coffee bucket lifts out on a loop handle and is easy to dispose of grinds.
The instructions it gave on measures of coffee were good. When I used the instruction on the brand of ground coffee, the coffee tasted terrible. The coffee company said to use almost twice as much ground coffee than Hamilton Beach says.
I've already experimented with Torino's sugar free vanilla syrup, and some ground cinnamon in the coffee bucket add a great cinnamon spice without the sharp taste of the grains of cinnamon floating on top of the coffee.

I've had the coffee maker about two years now. Despite being mostly plastic, I've had no breakdowns. Nothing has fallen off or cracked.

We bought this to keep in our Motorhome. We had a certain department that we wanted a coffee maker for since it has a slide down cover and only a certain size would fit and this one fit perfectly. We tested it first to be sure it worked and that we would know how to pour it like the other reviewer had said, read the instructions. It even stayed warm for about 7 hours, not hot but warm. I tested the mugs that came with it and I didn't have any dribbling, not to say we never will be when I tried it there weren't any. I give it a thumbs up as it is what we were looking for.

Length:: 0:31 Mins

I think the video says it all...

I purchased this at Kohl's for $69 bucks. It is awesome! I used to have a Melitta take 2 that brewed into to go mugs or into a carafe. The Hamilton Beach brews much hotter coffee. The carafe is larger and keeps it warm for a long while. I took a mug to work 2 days ago and it stayed warm on my desk about an hour longer than the melitta mugs. I like that you can use any travel mug with this unit. I have only one complaint...the mugs leak water after washing. Water gets trapped in the black rings and then leaks out. So, be sure you are dry before you head out.

When I buy a coffee maker I expect two things. I expect the unit to heat the water sufficiently to brew exceptional coffee, and it should pour without dribble.
Regarding the former, this unit scores five stars, provided the reservoir is filled with room temperature water. The heated water travels through a plastic tube back through the reservoir on its way to the spray nozzle, so if the reservoir is filled with refridgerated water, there's a heat transfer issue at play that decreases the temp of the heated water before it reaches the coffee grounds. With ambient temp water I'm getting about 195F; very good. With refridge water, about 180F; not bad but certainly not optimal.
Regarding dribble, I have not experienced the problems mentioned throughout these reviews; perhaps the spout has been redesigned due to complaints. And I'm no stranger to dribble; I've used many a Mr. Coffee machine so I've fought the dribble battle. So five stars from me for lack of dribble.
As for the carafe, it's thick and it outperforms the Black and Decker I had. However, I don't have heightened expectations on any stainless steel carafe keeping coffee piping hot more than two hours, and this unit meets my two hour mark without issue.
Finally, HB added a couple of bells and whistles to complete the product.
- Programmable; always nice to have.
- A "1-4 Cup" setting that adds 5-10 degrees and slows the spray to get more flavor from the grounds, but I don't detect much of a flavor difference.
Bottom line: a solid machine and I'd purchase it again.

I ordered this product after seeing the display at a local store. The store was out of stock so I didn't get a chance to check out one first hand.

Here is why I rate this so low:

1. The carafe dribbles bad! I saw this in another review and I thought to myself, they must be doing something wrong or maybe Hamilton Beach fixed it by now. The simple answer, "No!" The first cup I pour in the morning dribbles down the side of the pot and leaves about a quarter cup on the counter. Yes, I am pressing the button on the carafe. I found that after the first cup I can tilt the carafe past level, then press the button, fill my cup, release the button. I can't do this on the first cup as the coffee pours out the hole on the top.

2. I asked myself why is there a button to pour, then I realized there is no heating plate. This carafe is the only thing that keeps the coffee warm. It keeps the coffee warm for a couple of hours, but on a weekend we may take 4-5 hours to drink a pot and by then it is almost cold.

3. The third reason, there is no "pause and serve" feature. For those mornings when you just have to have that first cup before it is done brewing, this is not the coffee maker for you.

4. The filter basket has a handle that locks it into place. Sometimes when I dump the grounds into the trash, the handle gets in the way and coffee grounds dump down the outside of my trash. I guess I just need to be extra careful.

Overall I like the look, and the mugs are great (mine don't leak), but after all of the above items, I am thinking about just getting a different one after about one week of frustration!

I have used the Mr Coffee style coffeemaker for years, and when it was time to replace one, I had decided that two things were of most importance: programmable and non-glass pot. This coffeemaker is easily programmable, and with the stainless steel thermos-type pot I don't have to worry about breakage. Also, since the pot is a thermos style pot, it keeps coffee warm up to two hours. A benefit of this is that when the coffee is finished brewing, the maker turns itself off automatically since extra heat is not needed to keep the pot warm; this makes it much safer .. no more worries 'did I turn it off'. Makes good coffee, and as an extra benefit comes with two nice travel mugs, which you can put on the base instead of the pot and let the brewer make the coffee directly into the mugs.

Shortcomings: if you wash mugs in a dishwasher they will get water inside the thermal cavity of the mugs, so it is best to hand wash the mugs. The water level is inside the water tank and isn't easy to see how much you've put in. There is no coffee level 'gadget' on the pot so you never know how much coffee is left in the pot without removing the lid to look inside

I've read some of the other reviews here.

First, my two mugs don't dribble. Second, the big container works fine. Don't put the lid in the dishwasher because the lid is not designed to be heated that way.

I bought this because I wanted coffee to be made automatically in the morning at the perfect time and -- by gosh -- this works perfectly! I don't have to watch over it. I can be in the shower, getting ready for work, etc., and when I go into the kitchen, I find the coffee has been made perfectly. No overflows -- unlike what happened routinely with my old Mr. Coffee machine, which I threw into the trash. I then simply pour the hot coffee into my Stanley vacuum bottle and drive to work. No more Starbucks. Don't need to go there anymore.

I like the clock. It tells me the time when I walk into the kitchen. Even when the lights are out. The clock glows blue.

I like how you don't have to worry about leaving the coffee maker "on" because this unit does not feature a heated base. There's no danger of fire or overheating. The hot coffee just goes into the insulated mugs or the big insulated container.

I'm very pleased with this purchase!

Whatever the design flaws of this coffee maker, one thing stands out for me - it makes the BEST coffee I have ever had! Not just the best I've ever made...the best I've ever HAD. I've had it for over a year now, and no problems whatsoever - no leaking from the mug, no issues with proper heating - the only difficulty I've had is figuring out how to set the timer, but I just set it up at night and start it when I go in the kitchen in the morning - five minutes later my coffee is ready to go, and it stays hot plenty long enough. I had to laugh at some other comments, especially about not knowing how much water was in the reservoir...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know how much water you've put into a coffee reservoir. But just in case, here's a little hint - measure it first! LOL!

I paid $69 for this coffee maker, and it has paid for itself many times over. When it goes, I just hope they're still making them, because I will definitely get another one just like it. Come to think of it, maybe I'll go ahead and get a couple of back-up units, to be on the safe side.

If you want scalding hot coffee, choose another maker. Preferably one with a hotplate.

After using this coffee maker for three weeks, I am very pleased with its performance. The big limitation comes from one of the main features of the maker. Its got no hotplate so the coffee is at its warmest when its first brewed. Makers with hotplates actually make the coffee warmer after its brewed. This one won't. The coffee has to heat the pot or the cup which keeps it at close to the brewed temp for about 2 hours. Once you get over the coffee not being scalding hot, this coffee maker is great.

The cups that come with are cheap and the comments from other reviewers about water getting stuck between the liner and the outside of the cup are true but I consider this a minor nuisance. Surprise, the older stainless cups from starbucks fit great as will many others so don't feel stuck on using ones that come with. Just make sure whatever cup you use has a lip that goes all the way round. Newer models with flip closures probably won't work but you can still find ones that will if you look carefully. You'll be pleased with how long a good quality cup will keep this coffee warm compared to the carafe and manufacturer-supplied ones. Brewing directly into the cup makes this a 4 star unit IMHO. That and the coffee tastes great. Get the permanent filter from Hamilton. Generic ones won't fit but the HB filter isn't expensive.

UPDATE 5/23/10 - The coffee stays really hot in the carafe if you make large pots of coffee. For smaller amounts, use the cups.