Side by Side Comparison of: Hamilton Beach vs Mr. Coffee vs AeroGrow vs iwill CREATE PRO

I work in a retirement community and the powers that be decided we could no longer have a regular coffee maker. They wouldn't buy us one of those fancy one cup expensive ones so my co worker and I bought this one. It works great! Our clients are now happy to have a cup of coffee once again as they sit under the dryer.

I am a single cup coffee drinker and the only one in my house who drinks it. My friend gave me the yellow Keurig mini for Christmas because she got two of them. I was happy to take it but I've always felt that the k cups are bad. Not just for the environment but they've just got to leach poison. I mean you're pressuring extremely hot water through that thin plastic. I always would have a plastic after taste plus they're crazy expensive. I got an awesome stainless brew basket for the Keurig and I've used that for over a year now and been fine with it. It's a pain to clean but it worked. Then I just recently stayed in a hotel that had this pod machine and I loved it! No creepy plastic cups but still convenient no mess single cup pods! It's brilliant. Coffee sealed in a coffee filter. I bought the pods in bulk and they are significantly less per cup than the k cups. I bought a medium blend and a flavored kind and have liked them both. Brew time is like a regular drip machine but I'd rather wait an extra minute then mess with the Keurig and I think coffee tastes better the longer it's in contact with the water. The auto shut off is cool and it takes up very little space. So now the Keurig stays out only because it's cute and yellow, I use my grinder and French press when I have people over but this little machine is the king coffee maker in my kitchen. So glad I found it!

i'm new to coffee. used to drink tea for a long time then one day i was staying at a Hampton Inn Suites and they had a coffee maker similar to this. it. was. amazing. i was soooo happy to find that they were super affordable!!! the problem however were the pods. but i found a way around that. i purchased this[...] wooden pod maker on ebay. only $10! i was worried it wouldn't work with this model but it did!!! and now i use my machine EVERY day. i buy whatever coffee i want from the grocery store, i buy regular coffee filters and simply make my own pods! viola! clever hack. i love love love this coffee maker! definitely a great buy! so is the pod maker! nothing else like it!

First, I bought this item at Walmart on clearance. Bought one for $10 intending to take up to the office. Our hot water spout on our water cooler at home (yes, it's that bad here) went out and this has replaced it. I ended up buying a second later at $9 (both included the free bag of pods) for the office since we're keeping the first one at home. My wife and I use it almost daily to make coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. We interchange the tea bag for a coffee pod (depending on the tea, I will either leave the bag in my cup or actually use the basket) and have great results. I prefer using this over the microwave for hot water as it doesn't take much longer and stays hotter longer. It's quick, efficient, and easy to clean. Hot chocolate will splash up on the basket if you put it in the cup first, so be warned. We've been using them for about three months with no problems. Here are my main talking points:1. Single cup reservoir: you get about 8oz from a single brew and have to fill it up each time. This, to me, isn't that much of a problem as we keep it near our water cooler and I can get a 16oz cup of water from the breakroom at work to get me through the morning. I plan on buying a water jug for the office and will keep a gallon or so handy at my desk and just refill as needed. All in all, this is not a deal breaker for me although more expensive models have larger tanks (and a bigger footprint). For those making cups to go, this may not be the best option as you would want to brew two cups to get what you need.2. Quick: thing brews quickly - doesn't take any time at all. I actually find that it's done before I'm ready to drink most days. It's also no louder than any other coffee maker that I've found although I'm referring primarily to the 8 or 10 cup machines here - never had a personal one.3. Inexpensive: for my take, it was a test to see how much I like having a personal brewer. For the $10 I spent, I got 18-36 cups out of it (yes, I reuse my pods for a second cup sometimes... not terribly strong cup of coffee but I'm kind of cheap :o), get a $1.00 off coupon for the next bag of pods in store, and can even get another free bag for registering with Senso online (hello dummy email account!). So, for $10 it was a worthwhile investment and turns out, I love having a single cup brewer.4. Works: it's not as fancy as the other makers you can buy, just fill it up and press the tab to get your cup started. Coffee comes out hot in no time, and you're ready to go. I can see maybe wanting some of the other features but, for the most part, this simple functioning machine does exactly what I need.5. Versatility: As I said, we make coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in this thing. We put a tea bag in place of the coffee pod or just leave it in the cup to brew as the water comes down. For me, it depends on the tea and what I'm doing. For instance, when making a chai latte I will brew the bag in the cup and leave it for a few minutes, then add sugar and milk. Wonderful as going to the coffee shop. Also, it's got a small footprint that makes it easy to store - doesn't take up much room in our small kitchen or my desk space at work (cubicle environment). I use an extension cord at work but that is mostly due to where outlets are, and you can tuck away extra chord inside the machine if using close to the plug.I give it five stars because it meets or exceeds all my expectations - make sure you know what you want out of it and you will be pleased. This works GREAT for someone like me, with minimal expectations who just wants coffee on demand without the budget for the top tier makers. Even at $20, I think this is a great deal. Check Walmart first though - never know what you'll find!Side note: I'm still looking for a reusable pod for this to save money on pods (UPDATE: we're considering buying an Ecopad - tried product link but couldn't find the product we're actually looking at and it's difficult to know which is which so we haven't pulled the trigger)- $5 gets you 18 pods. I reuse each day so not terrible, but as stated I'm pretty cheap.12/16/2011 - UPDATE: my wife purchased a Keurig B40 model at Walmart as an anniversary present for me so I can compare the two units a little bit. I will say that the K-Cups make a great cup of coffee (got 12 in the box with the machine) but I'm still not a fan of the waste. We have EcoBrew reusable cups arriving today or tomorrow from Amazon for it. My initial thoughts: this maker moves faster - the Keurig takes 4 minutes to warm up. This unit is also quieter and has a MUCH smaller footprint. Keurig has a reservoir (48oz) which is nice but still has to be filled every few days. Also, the B40 has a small cup and large cup size - why would I make a small cup if I can get a large cup out of it (remember, I'm cheap)? Larger setting is nice for travel cups though, and I found that the K-Cups are also reusable. I can get a couple small cups out of one cup or one large and a mediocre small. Still not a fan of the waste they produce though. Once up and going the Keurig actually makes faster. We've still go the other though, and I don't see us getting rid of it. I'll still use my other daily at the office as well. All in all, I personally feel like this little maker is on par with the $75 Keurig as far as what it produces in the end, just doesn't provide all the various options.12/24/2011 - UPDATE: We decided today that the Keurig is going back to the store for a refund in favor of the Hamilton Beach - We're going to try the the Ecopad and maybe home made options. I'll report back in a few weeks on how it goes.3/8/2012 - UPDATE: I no longer use the Ecopad. I found it more difficult to use because the cap is a separate piece and it has to be cleaned out after every use. We've taken to following another reviewer's tip: I get a filter for a small pot (maybe a 4 cup or less if available), add coffee (1tsp to 1tbls depending on your preference), and create a sack by twisting the top. I don't cut the excess off - I prefer to push it down to the side to ensure it doesn't open. If you overfill it, it will force it open and you'll have hot water and coffee all over the place. This has been the most effective method so far, and the least costly. We also use the Senso pods.

I bought this coffee maker for myself for Christmas because I wanted a single serve maker, but I didn't want to pay the money for a Keurig. Imagine my surprise when I got a Keurig from my husband for Christmas....but I also got this. So we set up the Keurig and I put this away. Shortly after Christmas my grandfather who lives with me entered his final journey with cancer. I moved into his apartment to care for him 24/7, and I opened the Hamilton Beach so I could make a quick cup of coffee during the night while sitting up with him. I was shocked to discover that this little $20 coffee pot makes just as good coffee as my $150 Keurig.1. It doesn't brew as fast as a Keurig that is "ready to go"...but it takes the same amount of time to brew a cup of coffee as a Keurig that has been "off" over night and you have to wait for the water to heat up. In my opinion, it is still faster than brewing a "traditional" pot of coffee.2. I don't like really strong coffee, so if I'm using a smaller mug I can get away with using 1 pod of medium roast coffee. I've read some reviews of people who think 1 pod is too weak...I think that is a taste preference, and also depends on if you are using more water for a larger mug or not. Just my opinion and not a criticism of people who like really strong coffee. If you like coffee really strong, then 2 pods of medium roast might not work for you. Hard to say. :)3. The pods are cheaper than a Keurig. We use this coffee maker along side our Keurig, and it helps us to save a little money by alternating machines. Both make good coffee, but each machine's coffee tastes different...this tastes more traditionally brewed than our Keurig. I know that might sound odd, but that is the only way I can describe it (and if someone else knows that I'm talking about and knows the answer to this mystery, I'd love to hear it!) Because of the taste difference, I prefer flavored coffees on this machine rather than the Keurig for some reason. Again..not sure why, but I do.All in all, this holds it's own against a coffee maker 5 times the price. For someone who is looking for a single serve without the single serve price, this is a really good coffee maker!

This is basically the same model that is featured as the standard in-room coffee maker for many hotel rooms I have visited while traveling. I never drank enough coffee to justify having a coffee pot; this allows me to brew right into my mug, rinse the pod holder, and be on my way. I see this being useful for households like mine where there is only one moderate coffee drinker. If you are a heavy consumer or multiple people drink your coffee, then you probably need something else. I do not rent out rooms on Airbnb, but if I did I would put one of these in the guest room like a hotel :)Hint: if you want to use pods that allow you to load your own choice of ground coffee, I have been using these Coffee Pod Replacement Filters for Coffee Pod Brewers - Make Your Own Disposable Pods - 50 Pack by Easy Pack

I purchased this for my classroom as I grew tired of drinking microwaved water for my tea. While it feels a bit clunky, it does the job it was made for. The top portion seems to hold a normal mug amount of water. If you have a larger mug, you will overflow the top. If you have the patience, you can fill it to capacity and as it is cycling through the machine, you can add the rest of your water when the level goes down enough. As soon as you push the front button, the machine begins to work and the hot water comes out in seconds. It will take about a minute for your mug to be ready. I do not use the included coffee pods but I have placed a tea bag in the pod area and that works great to quicken the steep process. Just make sure you leave the string & tag hanging out. When the hot water has finished, gently pull out the tray and put your tea bag in the garbage or into your mug for a stronger brew. Please note that you have to open the tray gently. I pulled it a bit harshly one time and steam/hot water stung my hand a bit. The electrical cord in the back could be longer but is sufficient for the price. It also can be push into the back compartment for easier storage. All in all I recommend this little machine for those who don't want to spend money on a larger product or keurig-type machine.

I bought this coffee maker several years ago to keep at my son's house when I visit since they are not coffee drinkers. It's worked out great because it doesn't take up much space when they put it away after I leave. Makes a really good cup of coffee in not much time at all. My only problem with it is that the coffee pods are hard to find. On several of my visits we went to the store (Walmart) to get the pods and could not find them and ended up having to buy instant. Finally, on my last visit I remembered to order some from Amazon a few days before we left to go to his house. I don't know why the larger grocery stores don't carry the pods. Maybe K-cups have become too popular. Or maybe they were in front of my face and I was just missing them. Other than that, I really like this little coffee maker.

I just received it and although I like it I wish it was a little cleaner after it brews. When taking out the pod holder after brewing it drips quite a bit but can be easily wiped up. It brews like a drip coffee maker, not like a Keurig in case you are wondering. I really like the pod concept mainly because it is far less waste unlike the Keurig k-cups. It will brew up to 12oz. of coffee at one time and you can only use a short mug. Overall, it was a good buy for the office as a personal one-cup coffee brewer.

Here is the deal...This coffee maker is not top of the line....the price reflects that. However, I am quite happy with this item so far. The chrome (fake) strip around the top...dresses it up a bit. The coffee comes out hot and steaming (not like boiled instant)...but definitely acceptable. The flavor of the cup I drank was good. Do not use too much water! (you have the option of using two pods for a 10-12 oz cup. I recommend it. Update: Not much has changed after several cups. I would prefer it "piping" hot rather than marginally hot. It is OK. I can adjust the darkness of the coffee easily by adding or subtracting the amount of water used.

*** Note 8/6/2012 - So I'm finally able to update this thing, now that Senseo is starting to get some product in stock. A few things to note for those new to Senseo, their majority holdings from Philips were recently sold to Sara Lee I believe, and this caused a massive disruption in production and availability for the US, and thus Senseo brand coffee had been unavailable for several months. They have also made the decision to go to online-only shipping of their coffee, meaning you will not find Senseo coffee in stores anymore. The in-store alternative is the Melitta brand pods, which fit the Senseo maker, and should be sold in places such as WalMart. Personally, since Senseo has also increased their costs of their coffee (while also jerking their customers such as myself around for months), I won't really recommend the Senseo brand anymore. Decent coffee depending on your tastes, so you will have to decide what's worthwhile to you.The review for this pod drip brewer will still stand, as it is still working just fine.***I love this little thing!Originally, we had a very nice KitchenAid 10-cup Coffee Maker in our kitchen. It did its job very well, but for a long time I had been eying a Keurig machine. I'd had Keurig coffee in the past, and loved it. Looking at the machines, you'll quickly see how much of an "investment" it is. First, the machines are incredibly expensive; they make smaller models now, but even those start around $60-$70, and many don't have stellar reviews in terms of longevity. Next, the K-cups are also very expensive. Sure, you can buy the reusable thing, but if I'm going through that hassle, why do I even need a specialized brewer to begin with? It may work fine for some people's lives, but in my own, I wanted a machine that eliminated the mess and hassle of measuring quantities and looking for the "perfect brew".I purchased the Hamilton Beach Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer on a whim; it was on sale, and figured, what the heck, I'll try it.When I first plugged the thing it, and poured some water in the back to cycle through, it immediately spattered at me. Apparently, it can turn itself on when you first plug it in (I've purchased 2, and both did it out of the box, but haven't done it since).I'm not gonna lie, this isn't some super durable machine; its cheap plastic, but unless you're planning on tossing it across the room, it should get at least a few years life out of it. I've had our machine for about 5 months now (wow time flies), and use it daily without any problems. My wife, whom was always timid of making coffee with our KitchenAid, now likes to make coffee for herself, and sometimes for me as well to start off the morning (tell me THAT isn't worth $20). The Senseo pods are cheaper than K-cups, especially if bought in bulk.On to the product itself, it looks sleek, but pretty unimpressive. I don't know about you, but that's perfect for my kitchen; every inch of counter-space should be cherished, and this has freed up quite a bit, not to mention the visual space as its half the height of my old coffee maker as well.Its a simple one-touch operation. To make a brew, slip in a Senseo pod (or 2), add some water to the back, put your mug under the spout, and press the large button on front. That's it.As for the taste, well that's really a personal preference. I like mild, smooth coffee, which this really delivers. I liked the medium blend (a pack is included free) so much, I ordered a huge box of it! I use a small cup of water (approx 6-8oz; I recommend using filtered water), and one pod, but the machine accommodates 2 if you like it a little more "bold" or have a slightly larger mug (keep in mind, no large mugs will fit in the spout). We received a 6-piece mini-mug kit for Christmas, and those have been perfect for making a small little cup to start the day (it also limits my coffee intake, and I've been good with sticking to it).Yes, this machine isn't anything fancy, but it does its job day in day out with no issues, and works so well that we replaced a very expensive machine, and we haven't looked back. It worked so well, we ordered one for my parents at their request they were so impressed with it.If you have a large household of coffee drinkers, this may not be the way to go, but the good thing is it only takes 30 seconds or so to make a cup of coffee, and you can personalize each cup. It would make an excellent personal coffee maker at the office as well. Amazon has a pretty decent selection of Senseo pods as well. If you prefer to buy in-store, Target usually carries the Senseo pods, but doesn't have much of a selection, depending on the store.As a side note - The medium blend goes really well with Internationl Delight: Carmel Macchiato Creamer (don't get the skinny though, that's pretty...unimpressive). Have it practically every morning; their Chai Latte is pretty good too.***Edit 10/7/2011***--------------------Just wanted to say that this coffee maker is still brewing coffee just fine, haven't had a single issue with it yet so far. Still have the daily routine of small cup of coffee with International Delight: Carmel Macchiato creamer, its just such a great way to start the day I don't need to mess with it.One other note I will mention is that since I have recently started composting, I have found that the coffee pods are perfect for composting! After use, just throw 'em in the bin, that's all there is to it. Not everyone composts, but figure for those that do, it will be good to know; less waste, and the perfect component for growing plants (you could technically just stick a few in the ground and it helps to neutralize the soil Ph; Gardenias love having coffee grounds in my alkaline soil from my experience).

Works ok and makes ok coffee. The cord is about 6" long so you need to keep it right next to the wall outlet. Same as what you see in a hotel room.

Can't take regular pods. Only little disc like ones

01/2016 - Little bit of smoke started coming out of the top and the water wasn't being drawn from the well. I guess the pump finally gave out. Paid $16 for it and used it for 14 months.05/2015 - Started using T-Sacs Size 1, when we couldn't get the DisposaPods anymore. They are a lot easier to work with and cost less.11/2014 - So far so good. We've had it a week and my mother has only forgotten a mug once. She says it isn't hot enough but then again none of the brewers she's had before were hot enough for her liking. Easy to use and keep clean. I bought DisposaPods and filled them with her favorite coffee, so no problems searching for her coffee in prepackaged pods in the grocery store. Probably a lot cheaper too.

Coffee is something I can get rather picky about. I have a SCAA-certified Technivorm brewer, and even roasted my own coffee for years. I'm no expert, but I like a good cup of coffee. However, at the office, I just want to have a convenient, decent afternoon cup of coffee and the coffee pot at work doesn't cut it. I also didn't want to spend $100+ on a Keurig, so I figured I'd give this a try. Depending on which coffee you use, it's pretty good. The coffee it comes with (Melitta) tastes like what you get in a cheap hotel. The Senseo Dark Roast is ok. I've settled on the Baronet Kenya AA. It produces a single cup of coffee with decent aroma and flavor.The main drawback to this brewer is I can't find the coffee pods anywhere else. The K-cups are taking over this niche, so you may wake up one day and find you have to buy a Keurig anyway. If you are expecting an outstanding cup of coffee, keep looking and invest in something else. If you can't stomach the break room coffee, but don't want to go to Starbucks, this is worth a try.

This little pod coffee maker works as it is advertised. The trouble is, it does not force the water through the pod as pod coffee makers did when they were on the market and reasonably priced. I can't find any of those any more...they were great and always made a good, strong cup of coffee. Without pressure, the water going through the pod doesn't really extract all the coffee flavor and "gusto". If you like a weaker or milder brew, this thing works fine with pods (but would not work with loose coffee). If you want a robust cup of coffee I recommend a cone-type filter where you line with a triangular filter paper and put the coffee in there, put the filter on the cup, then pour boiling water through. You can determine how strong you like the coffee by the amount of coffee grounds you put in the filter. We use Melitta Coffee filter cones, plastic, that are made in Canada. You can buy the cone-shaped paper filters in any supermarket...they are inexpensive. If you like a strong, dark coffee, we like Cafe Bustelo finely ground coffee..it's not expensive and works well with the filter cones. If you like the Hamilton Beach coffee brewer, we always buy Senseo pods from Amazon.

I bought this coffeemaker, because the new job I was going to didn't have coffee close to where I sit. It doesn't take up much room, but the coffee is just so-so. One of the biggest problems I have with it is the coffee isn't very hot when it comes out. After sipping my coffee for a couple minutes, it's so cold that I have to pour it out. At home I use the Bunn MC single cup brewer along with Senseo Columbian Blend pods. These pods in my Bunn makes the best cup of coffee, but not so good in this machine. If you just want a cup of coffee, then this will do fine. It's not for me. I think I am going to buy another Bunn for my desk at work.

The machine does not brew quickly, and I was only heating water for tea. It also did not dispense as much water as I put in, so I didn't have a full cup. Last, the cup did not fit easily, and it is not a large cup.

This always spits hot coffee out the front at me and all over my counter at the end of its cycle.

Makes decent tea with tea bags but that's about it. Terrible pod coffee maker. Makes weak coffee with no taste.

Convenient, but if you are a coffee aficionado looking for a cup of coffee with body and flavor, look elsewhere. It perks too quickly, which removes the opportunity to draw out any flavor from the grounds. Even the water is just a tad above hot. A friend who grows coffee in the mountains of Puerto Rico sent me a couple of sacks of grounds. Now, Puerto Rican coffee is excellent: I expected something of better quality than the Nescafe I've become accustomed to. The cup I percolated was devoid of flavor. I bought a better coffee maker and now I'm enjoying coffee the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

If you are willing to use the coffee pods that can be purchased from a limited number of coffee retailers and use a small cup, this coffee maker is ok. If you want to fill empty paper pods with your usual brand of coffee - the paper pods are available online - be prepared for a lot of grounds in the bottom of the cup. The cup must also be small enough to fit under where the coffee drips out. If I hadn't thrown the box away I would have returned the item.

the box said 8 pods were included, but were not. when i called cust service (I called 2x) to tell them about it, he was insisting that they weren't. but thats what it said on the box. i even said "i wish there is a way of me showing you the box". so the first one insisted that she would put a replacement in, n that i would have to return the one that i got and paid for, and set that.up. as i was checking out the website, i have noticed that the first cust service's replacement (that she put in) was just a box of the coffeee pods which i ordered already (Good thing!). and the coffeemaker that she wanted me to return was not one of the replacements..so i called again and spoke to somebody else and he was the one who kept insisting that 8 pods werent included when i was looking right at it on the box..then he told me to reject.the.package that was gonna come to my house n call again to get a return label..which i.havent had time to.do.so..

Bought it 1-2 months ago for my mom. Worked OK for a little bit. Today when she started brewing it had sparks and stopped working.Very disappointed:(

I’m so disappointed . I misunderstood that this product was for a single k-cup/ pod . It does not uses k-cups , only the tea like “pods” they refer to... very misleading .These two words are not interchangeable, a pod and a K-cup are the same .This product is being given away...

It wasn't what I thought. I needed a Kcup brewer, not a coffee pod brewer

Broke after making one cup. Do not waste your money. I have to throw this out because it basically boils water for you and has no coffee in the cup.

Terrible. Pod holder broke on 2nd use. Unusable. Flimsy plastic construction.

Do not buy it ! Do not make coffee, make soup like coffee! I tried two different brands of coffee .... the result is the same ... soup!