Cuisinart SS-15 vs Hamilton Beach Flexbrew: Which One is Right for You?

Trying to analyze the Cuisinart SS-15 vs Hamilton Beach Flexbrew?

You can use this guide to help you gauge which of these coffee makers is ideal for you.

Here’s what we’ll talk about:

• Which features are similar on these machines
• Different features the SS-15 and Flexbrew have to offer
• How you’ll know which one you should purchase for your home

With that in mind, let’s get started.

Quick Summary

Mobile users can scroll left and right on the table by swiping left and right.

The Cuisinart’s backup system and ready tones make it the best match for houses with residents on the go. Its ready tone will allow you to attend to other tasks and notify you when your coffee’s finished.

Created with a convenient storage compartment inside the cup holder and for the cord, the Flexbrew is perfect for homes that will need pack up the coffee maker after use or move it. It’s the perfect option for kitchens that don’t have much room to spare.

Similarities

Two-in-One Brewing

Traditionally, home coffee makers have brewed one whole pot at a time.

Of course, this is great for providing coffee to an entire family or a gathering of friends. But there is one main problem with this approach:

Those that just want to enjoy a cup by themselves may not need an entire carafe. Generally speaking, this situation results in waste as cold and undrinkable leftovers are poured out.

The solution is two-in-one brewing used by the SS-15 and Flexbrew. Capable of brewing carafes or single cups, everyone gets just as much as they want when they want it.

K-Cups and Ground Coffee

Are you brand-new to the world of coffee?

That’s no issue for these coffee makers. Either one of them can use K-Cups, which give you a pre-ground and portioned serving of coffee, hot chocolate, or tea in one package.

In other words, making a cup can be as simple as picking a K-Cup flavor and putting it in the coffee maker.

Still, this isn’t necessarily the best brewing method when you’re a seasoned coffee connoisseur, or when your preferred blend isn’t available as a K-Cup.

That’s when you can brew using your own particular coffee grounds on either the SS-15 or Flexbrew. You really do get the best of both worlds on these machines.

Carafe Serving Size

A pot of coffee can come in all shapes and sizes.

However, with these coffee makers, you’re getting the same amount when you brew a carafe: 12 cups.

This is a considerable amount of coffee. In essence, you’re getting enough to provide to a small crowd of people whenever you make a carafe.

Or, instead, you could make a large carafe to enjoy yourself. You could spend hours savoring your brew.

No matter how you intend to use it, you won’t need to worry about not getting enough.

Bold or Regular Brew

We all have those days when we need to put in more effort to get by.

When you just need a bit extra to get going, the SS-15 and Flexbrew have got you covered. They both have Bold brew buttons that will heighten the flavor of your coffee.

At the same time, you don’t need to use the button just to get a stronger cup. If you simply like the taste of coffee, you can use Bold setting to ensure you get a more concentrated flavor profile.

Dual Water Tanks

Dual water tanks used by the SS-15 and Flexbrew aid in making the water refill process easier for you.

For one thing, you’ll get two separate tanks. A design like this prevents confusing overfills, saving you from having to mop up excess water from your countertops.

Beyond that, each water tank has its own viewing window so you can monitor the water levels in them with nothing more than a look.

In short, you’ll always know ahead of time when a refill will be necessary, and you’ll get the exact amount of water you need for a cup or carafe by pouring it into the corresponding reservoir.

Cord Storage

For when you need to move these coffee makers, there’s their thoughtful cord storage compartments.

Located on the back of either model, you’ll find a little niche that you can wrap the cord into. This tiny compartment makes transporting the SS-15 and Flexbrew a snap.

If you’re planning on storing your coffee maker between uses or moving it, you’ll love this feature, especially when you don’t need to worry about tripping over the cord as you carry it or struggling to wind it up.

Differences

Single-Serve Cup Sizes

Between the Flexbrew and SS-15, the carafes may have the same capacity, but their single-serve drink sizes are different.

The SS-15 offers its users three drink sizes: 6, 8, or 10-ounce cups. On the Flexbrew, you can brew up to 10 ounces with a K-Cup or up to 14 ounces using ground coffee.

So if you’re looking for a coffee maker that can whip up a larger personal drink, the Flexbrew is the one for you in this comparison.

Hamilton Beach Flexbrew Storage Area

In addition to its cord storage, the Flexbrew has another trick up its sleeve: a compartment inside the cup rest.

You can fit a single-serve pack or your brew basket into the compartment. With this storage, losing small parts will be a thing of the past, as you can keep them all in one place.

Also, it smooths things over when it comes to storing the coffee maker itself. You can just wind the cord up into the space in the back, place the brew basket into the cup rest storage area, and tuck the Flexbrew away.

Cuisinart SS-15 Power Loss Backup System

Have you ever had to deal with the hassle or programming the time or other information back into an appliance after the power went out?

Then you’ll no doubt see the benefit of the Cuisinart SS-15’s Power Loss Backup System.

It’s built with a minute of protection. If the power goes out or the coffee maker is accidentally unplugged, the information you’ve programmed is safely retained by the SS-15.

In addition to time, the information that’s protected includes Auto On or Auto Off times you’ve scheduled for the SS-15.

This is especially valuable if you’ve got curious kids in your household, or if you have frequent severe weather in the area. Your SS-15 will be able to deal with these conditions handily.

Cuisinart SS-15 Ready Tone

Do you run appliances and then forget about them afterward?

For that reason, many washing machines or dryers come with sounds that are played once they’re finished. This same idea was applied to the Cuisinart SS-15.

Once your carafe or cup is done, the SS-15 will make five beeping sounds.

You won’t need to hover over or wait around your coffee maker anymore. No matter how busy you’ve gotten, you’ll always be aware when your coffee is ready to drink.

So which one should you buy?

Honestly, either the Cuisinart SS-15 or Hamilton Beach Flexbrew would make exceptional additions to a home kitchen.

A lot of their functions are similar, such as carafe and cup brewing or K-Cup and ground coffee compatibility.

So if you’re not sure which one to buy, look at their mobility or convenient extras.

Need to pack up your coffee maker to make more space on your countertop? While both these models come with cord storage, the Flexbrew’s cup rest storage compartment tips the balance in its favor when it comes to mobility.

Packing it up to tuck it in a closet or to move locations is simple. You can keep the cord wrapped up inside it and the brew basket all in one place.

But if you’re leaving your coffee maker out on your counter all the time, you might get some use out of the backup system or ready tone of the SS-15.

You won’t need to worry about untimely power outages or an unexpected unplug affecting your programmed preferences in the machine. You’ll also be free to attend to your morning routine without waiting at your coffee maker, because it will let you know when the drinks are ready.

Here’s the bottom line:

Choose the Hamilton Beach Flexbrew if you need a coffee maker that can help you conserve space. The cord storage and built-in extra storage compartment lend it an increased mobility.

On the flip side, pick the Cusinart SS-15 if you like to do other things while your coffee maker works – its ready tone will signal you when the coffee’s ready. Additionally, it’s wonderful for locations with unreliable power.