Hamilton Beach Gen 4 FlexBrew
Score: 83/100
Cuisinart 12-Cup
Score: 83/100Rankings
The Hamilton Beach Gen 4 FlexBrew 49901 features a large removable 50-oz reservoir and rapid 90-second brewing, providing strong performance and versatility across pod and ground coffee. It lacks detailed power-consumption specs and self-cleaning functionality. Perfect for households with multiple coffee drinkers needing fast, flexible brewing.
The Cuisinart SS-16 Coffee Center is a dual-brew machine that offers fast Extreme Brew performance and broad pod compatibility. Its main trade-offs are frequent refilling of the pod side reservoir and a bulkier footprint. Ideal for multi-person households that want both full-pot and single-serve flexibility.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
| ↓ lower better | 90 secondsbest | — |
1,479 mlbest | 1,242 ml | |
1,400 Wbest | 1,200 W | |
| ↓ lower better | 1,400 Wbest | — |
| ↓ lower better | 2,250 gbest | 5,443 g |
1 years | 3 yearsbest |
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| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Compatibility(1) | ||
Compatible Pod Systems | Pod packs | K-Cup |
Power(1) | ||
Power Wattage (W) | 1400 W | 1200 W |
Design & Capacity(3) | ||
Water Reservoir Capacity (ml) | 1479 ml | 1242 ml |
Weight (g) | 2250 g | 5443 g |
Dimensions (HxWxD) (cm) | 34.9x16.7x30.0 cm cm | 41.3 x 25.7 x 27.6 cm cm |
Features(1) | ||
Brew Size Options | 8-10 oz;8-14 oz | 4,6,8,10,12 |
General(1) | ||
Warranty (years) | 1 years | 3 years |
Controls(1) | ||
Control Type | Touch-sensitive capacitive | LCD |
Accessories(1) | ||
Included Accessories | Pod holder;Single-serve brew basket;Removable cup rest | Glass carafe with stainless steel handle, Single‑pod filter basket, Coffee pod adapter, Charcoal water filter, Filter holder, Drip tray, Instruction manual |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Consumer Reports lists the FlexBrew 49901’s specifications—including its removable 50‑oz reservoir, height‑adjustable drip tray, auto‑off feature, and K‑Cup compatibility—but does not provide detailed performance ratings or editorial commentary, leaving the professional assessment largely descriptive rather than evaluative.
Professional reviewers highlight the Cuisinart Coffee Center's versatility, noting that the dual-brewing independence lets households enjoy both full-pot drip coffee and single-serve pod coffee without buying two machines. They emphasize the Extreme Brew technology that delivers coffee up to 25% faster, positioning the unit as a time-saving solution for busy mornings.
Everyday users consistently praise the machine's versatility for handling different coffee preferences, the bold strength and programmable features that improve their morning routine, and the eco-friendly reusable filter. Recurring complaints focus on the need to frequently refill the pod-side water reservoir and the cooler temperature of pod-brew coffee compared to the carafe side.
