Hamilton Beach Panini Press Sandwich Maker
Score: 73/100
Chefman Electric Panini Press Grill
Score: 73/100Rankings
Hamilton Beach's Panini Press delivers a spacious 95 sq in cooking area, floating hinged lid, and ribbed nonstick plates for fast, restaurant-style sandwiches. The six-minute preheat and lack of temperature adjustment can be a drawback for quick snacks. It's well-suited for small families wanting reliable, no-fuss grilling.
The Chefman 2-slice compact panini press offers a 180° rotating hinge, dishwasher-safe non-stick plates and a removable drip tray in a lightweight design. Its main limitation is a small cooking surface that restricts batch size, and the plates are not removable for deep cleaning. Best suited for dorm-living, travelers or small households needing a portable, easy-to-use grill.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
516.13 cm²best | 310.5 cm² | |
612.9 cm²best | 310.5 cm² | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.6 kg | 1.81 kgbest |
| ↓ lower better | 360 secondsbest | — |
1,500 Wbest | 1,400 W | |
— | 4 servingsbest | |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest | |
— | 120 Vbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Cooking Surface(2) | ||
Plate Size (cm²) | 516.13 cm² | 310.5 cm² |
Cooking Surface Area (cm²) | 612.90 cm² | 310.5 cm² |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 2.60 kg | 1.81 kg |
Dimensions (HxWxD) | 12.6 x 12.3 x 4.5 in | 5.0 x 12.0 x 10.0 inches |
Power & Temperature(2) | ||
Power Type | Electric | 1400 |
Wattage (W) | 1500 W | 1400 W |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers and editors emphasize the grill's ability to deliver restaurant-style paninis quickly, noting the floating lid and non-flip dual plates as key conveniences, while pointing out the absence of temperature control and the shipping restrictions as drawbacks.
Everyday users consistently praise the speed, crispness, and ease of cleaning, especially appreciating the ability to make two to three sandwiches at once and the upright storage feature; the most common complaint is the six-minute preheat period and occasional build-quality inconsistencies.
Professional reviewers highlight the Chefman 3‑in‑1’s space‑saving design, rapid heating and the innovative floating hinge that adapts to sandwich thickness. They commend its versatility for both panini pressing and flat grilling while noting the lack of removable plates and advanced temperature controls as drawbacks for more demanding users.
Everyday users consistently praise the unit's compact footprint, ease of use and the convenience of the 180-degree hinge, especially for small households and on-the-go cooking. The most common complaint centers on the small cooking surface, which limits the amount of food that can be prepared in a single session.
