Side by Side Comparison of: Hamilton Beach vs Mr. Coffee

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!

I originally bought this so that I can have a ready and convenient source of coffee when I m going out of the door for school or work (now mainly for work). I didn't want to 1) worry about making an entire pot then having to clean the pot and filter while only enjoying at the most two cups of coffee; 2) something that would have coffee ready for me in under five minutes without much muss or fuss; 3) I wanted a k-cup experience without paying the big-name k-cup prices.

So this particular machine caught my attention (actually, my wife pointed it out to me when I was on the hunt), and after reading the reviews and noting the feature set it had at the price I purchased it at I purchased it. I have enjoyed this machine and have enjoyed numerous cups of coffee, tea, and more coffee. My daughter enjoys the hot chocolate and chai lattes she makes, and my wife enjoys her cappuccinos.

The capacity is enough for the low to moderate usage that the machine sees (although there has been a bit of an uptick lately courtesy of my daughter), but if you need a larger tank for more cups between water fill-ups, then you may want to look elsewhere). I have only had two episodes where the k-cup didn't drain completely, and I think that was more so because of a seating problem with one of the brands of cups that we use. This machine uses after-market reusable cups, as well. The ones I use for my self-ground coffee work very well (just have to let them drain completely since I tend to pack them).

There does seem to always be slight variance with how much water actually gets used, but not enough for me to say "fix this now!". I will warn that this can be noticeable as far as sound is concerned, but not so loud that you will be waking up the entire house.

The removable drain is great for those times when you need to make up to 20 oz and need to use a larger tumbler or travel mug.

I get what people mean about the "plastic" feel of the machine, which can easily give the impression of feeling "cheap" but I have not had any problems with opening, closing, or operating it. Indeed, I think this plastic construction works well for someone like me who would prefer to have something lightweight and easy to move around.

In closing, this is a great sub-$100 k-cup brewer, and by a well as well as longtime trusted manufacturer.

Before I purchased this brewer, I read the reviews on it and was really impressed. I was afraid that the coffee was going to come out tasting like plastic like our old one did that made coffee by the pot so I was pleasantly surprised to find it doesn't. I also ordered a pack of the 6 Generic Solo Coffee Pod Filters that fit it so I could use regular ground coffee in it as the pods can get very expensive. I get 5 cups of coffee per pod as I like mine not strong or real dark. I have also found that there is only a little of oil from the coffee but don't know if the is because of the kind of coffee or because of the size cups it makes.

You can make 2 different sizes. I always make the 10 oz size in the travel mugs and never have a splash problem. Sometimes I forget and use a regular size coffee cup and still have no splash. But, if you use the smaller mugs you normally use for tea, you will have some splashing as your cup isn't big enough or tall enough. Keeping these thoughts in mind, you don't have to clean up the drain/base unit.

Some have felt that being plastic it was flimsy but it's not at all. No it's not heavy duty like the Keurig units that are double and triple the cost however, it is made by Keurig.

I'm really glad I decided on this one.

The price is definitely better than the Keurig. I had a mini which suddenly stopped working, would not even power on, even though I did not even use it everyday. I just got this Mr Coffee in the pretty red & love it. It also works with other brands of k-cups, does not have to be Keurig. I prefer this one because you can remove the reservoir to fill & clean it. It has a 24 ounce capacity in case you want more than one cup. I wouldn't store extra water in it though because they say the average bacteria colony doubles every 20 minutes & who knows what is in our water. The drip tray removes for larger mugs. The small k-cup holder inside removes for cleaning. Manual advised to run an initial cleaning brew before the first use by running water through without a k-cup. So, I guess you can use this to just heat water for tea bags, which is supposed to be healthier than microwaving water. It tells how to descale with vinegar every 3-6 months so performance is not affected by build up of minerals inside the machine. They recommend bottled or or filtered water. I prefer Absopure filtered water or Zero water pitcher water for drinking & think they would be better for the machine. They do not recommend distilled or reverse osmosis water. I know distilled water can pick up smells or flavors easily, so I wonder if it can pick up a plastic taste. I used tap water & noticed no plastic or bad taste. Overall, very happy with purchase. Will update if I have problems with it.

I bought this for my wife for her birthday so that she could enjoy quick, easy coffee in the morning and on weekends. It is every bit as good as a Keurig as far as brewing quality and works with the Keurig My K-Cup accessory. The only criticism I have is the official Keruig brewers that I have used heat the water as soon as you power them on and then reheat the next batch of water as soon as the current cup has finished brewing so that there is very little if any lag between one cup and the next one. This brewer heats the water when you start brewing so there is a few minute wait between pushing the button to brew a cup and actually getting the cup. This is pretty small, but we do miss the immediacy in brewing of the Keurig-branded machines.

I would also like to comment on others' notes that the reservoir for the water is smaller than similarly-sized k-cup brewers so it is very important that you remember to keep it full. I just fill my mug with water and pour that water in before starting the brewing, doesn't bother me at all.

TL;DR This is an excellent product that we are very happy with, the Keurig brewers are nicer but cost considerably more.

I have only had this brewer for one week. But I wanted to write how pleased I am with the brewer so far.

Obviously it is much less expensive than the Keurig brand itself, but seems to do the same job and have the same specifications as the Keurig Mini Brewer. I am planning to purchase the reusable k-cup

Pros:
Cost

Size - fits perfectly on my small apartment counter

Ease of use - Quickly brews a cup of coffee.-- (Someone mentioned putting this on before going into the shower in the morning; I would never do that because the coffee would be cold.

Clean up-- no stained carafe to deal with, no basket that needs scrubbing within the grooves to get it clean

Variety of flavors available

Cons -
temperature - I add half and half or milk to my coffee and it cools off rather quickly

Brew strength - I like my coffee weaker than most but I have solved that by brewing two cups using the same k-cup and combining them.

I checked out the more expensive Keurig brewers and this was hands down the best for the money. I would have liked some of the additional features (like being able to have larger cup sizes for iced beverages) but I can transfer the coffee to a large glass.

I would strongly recommend picking up one of the variety packs of K-cups offered by Amazon so that you can decide which flavors you really like the best; you can't really tell from the name of the flavor.

UPDATE: July 24, 2012 - Now that the newness has worn off I still love this coffee maker and wouldn't consider going back to the old brew method. I find if I use the coupons for some of my local stores I can get the k-cups at the best deals and because I don't waste as much coffee I think it is actually more economical.

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).

Worked great for 3 cups, on the fourth one it stopped working, it would take in water and saw it was heating it up, then it would never dispense the coffee. It looks like if your not paying over a hundred dollars for your coffee maker your not going to get anything that works.

update:
I managed to get it work again, it looks like the k-cup dented instead of puncturing the bottom, the system must have a over flow feature to prevent the fluid for flowing back to the internal reservoir. After rotating the k-cup and reinserting I heard the cup get punctured and then the system function correctly. I can't really blame the coffee maker, for this the k-cup are off brand so the materials are cheep.

I have owned this Mr. Coffee single serve coffee brewer since the fall of 2013. Before buying this specific coffee brewer I had in mind that I wanted something that would provide me with a quick cup of coffee before I was off to class in the morning. My decision was between this black coffee maker and a Keurig maker. I am pleased to say that I have had no problems with going with the Mr. Coffee route. Here are a few words on what I think of the brewer.
Advantages: The advantages to this product is that it is slightly cheaper than a name brand Keurig. It is very aesthetically pleasing. It matches all of my black appliances and that makes me happy. You don't have to worry about it not looking right with your kitchen if you have a black color scheme. Another thing that is an advantage for this Mr. Coffee single serve coffee brewer is that a regular coffee cups fit nicely underneath the spout. Whether the cup is short and fat or tall and skinny.
Disadvantages: There are a few disadvantages when considering purchasing this product. The disadvantages include that the largest amount of coffee that you can make at one time, is 16 ounces. If you are familiar with to go coffee mugs, then you are aware that the average size is 20 ounces. This being said you either are cut short on coffee for the morning as you take your coffee to go, or are forced to use a serving and a half to get the amount of coffee that you want.
Conclusion: In conclusion, I have had a lot of luck with this style and brand of single serve coffee maker. It is great for someone who doesn’t drink lots and lots of coffee in the morning, since you have to make one serving at a time. If you are someone that is happy with making a 16oz serving in the morning and good for the day, this is would be a great fit for you. For a more avid coffee drinker, then there might be a better choice of coffee maker for you and your kitchen.

I received this coffee maker for Christmas 3-4 Christmas' ago from my sister. About a year after, we received notification that there was a recall so I followed the instructions to send it back, and got my replacement. Easy as pie. That was 2 years ago almost. So basically I have had this same machine for almost 4 years and not any problems. I haven't had any leaking issues, and the only thing was the recall (and thankfully that was the case because my unit definitely was beginning to have the issues stated). So when this little gem of a coffee maker decided on Friday that it had had enough, I went looking for a replacement. (I tried cleaning the heck out of it, but nothing was fixing it) None was to be had at any store I went to, so I ordered it online here at Amazon and it will arrive tomorrow! I am hoping that my new coffee maker will last me just as long!

I bought this for my wife for Christmas since she's been bugging for one for a while. As soon as it came out of the box, every member of the family wanted something from it. It seems to be equally good at making coffee, tea and hot chocolate. I was not that interested in the whole K-cup brewer thing until I started trying the different coffees available. Now I'm a total convert!

That said, I have two issues:

1. The water reservoir is a bit small but I knew that going in so I can't fault the manufacturer. I suggest that if you are going to use this a lot for more than two cups a day, get one with a larger water capacity or keep it close to your sink.

2. The only real complaint I have with it is that it randomly dispenses 6 ounces even with the selector switch set for 10 ounces. Sometimes it happens after someone has switched from 6 ounce to 10 ounce but most times, it is totally random. It might not seem like a big deal to some people but when you are expecting a good mug of coffee and you get half a mug (especially if you are like me and NEED coffee first thing), it's a big deal.

We live in rural Vermont and get our water from a well. So far, we haven't had any issues with hard water effecting this machine. I know some machines don't react well to hard water so that's a plus with this one (so far). This is a good, basic, simple machine that would probably work well for most people.

Luv this Mr. Coffee brewer. Yes, it is official licensed by Keurig so all the K-cups fit nicely in place. Keep in mind this brewer is very basic. No fancy options included. It will not wake you up in the morning with an alarm tone or give you the latest weather forecast. You have 2 cup sizes to choose from. The 6oz or the 10oz size. The reservoir will hold a little over 2 full cups of water. This is more than enough for folks who have one or two cups of coffee per day. My wife and I very rarely have more than two cups per day so this machine works out perfectly. If you have a large family of multiple cup per day coffee drinkers, this machine is most certainly not for you. You can also use the official Keurig reusable coffee filter in this machine. I own one and it works just fine. No issues at all. I feel that the power cord is way too short but that is the only gripe I have for this coffee machine.
When you un-box your brewer, run the machine 2 times without a K-Cup at the 10oz setting just to get any impurities out from the unit before you actually brew your first cup of delicious coffee.
Clean-up is very easy and hassle free. After I brew my coffee and I'm sure nobody else is going to brew a cup, I run the unit without a K-Cup just to clear out any grinds and such. Remove the reservoir, rinse out & let it air dry. After you remove the reservoir, press and hold the power button to drain any remaining water that will linger in the internal tank. This helps to insure that your next cup of coffee is as fresh as possible. Also be sure to pop out the K-cup holder from the unit. It's the black plastic piece where you insert your K-cup. Fairly easy to remove. Rinse this out under running water after you're done with the coffee maker. Believe me, your brewed cup of coffee will always taste fresh if you do these simple clean-up tips. It will only take you a few extra minutes. So have a cup of coffee and enjoy.

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.

I've had this product for about a year and it has broken in two different spots. It's a waste of money. It doesn't even work now because on of the plastic adapters broke and the k-cup holder won't close. Do yourself a favor and buy something decent.

Update: I contacted the manufacturer about the problem and they replaced it. It was really simple, I just told them the issue and they asked for a confirmation of my shipping address and they sent a new one out. Great customer service and very easily handled!

Love everything about it except the tiny reservoir. It only holds enough water for 2 cups of coffee. It's just not as handy as one that would allow me to make 5 or 6 before refilling.

small and inexpensive with an attractive albeit not very robust design - but they're not kidding about "single" serve.

unlike many other k-cup brewers, this one heats only enough water for one brew - and then shuts down automatically. it only takes a few minutes for this unit to brew one cup - but each brew starts from the beginning. there is no reservoir of heated water available for immediate use by the next person waiting to make a cup.

the water reservoir is also very small. it holds only enough water for a few cups of coffee.

a reasonable option if you're a solitary coffee drinker. spend a little more and get a larger brewer if you intend to use it for several coffee drinkers at the same time.

Great value for your first single cup Keurig machine.

Have used the KG5 for 2 years and it still works fine except for one significant problem: the 10 oz setting no longer works and produces only a 6 oz cup. This problem started gradually after under a year of 2 cups/day use, then got progressively worse. I tried cleaning by running vinegar thru the machine as recommended by Mr. Coffee which helped for only a limited time and was difficult to do because repeated rinsing was needed before the cleaned machine would work at all. I now use only the 6oz setting and often run it twice using the same K-cup to generate a 12 oz cup that is somewhat weak, but acceptable for me.

Note that others have complained about problems using reusable K-cup holders, but I had no problems using two different brands on occasion, Ecobrew and Solofill (my only problem is that I accidentally threw away my first reusable because I was so used to discarding the used single serve pod each morning). For the past year I have switched to using alternative disposable pods from San Francisco Bay Coffee that are compatible with any machine that uses K-cups, are cheaper, taste just as good and are available from Amazon.

I would still recommend this model for those who want to try out a Keurig type coffee maker without making a large investment. I got my money's worth out of this unit and will be looking to upgrade with a better model soon; maybe another Mr. Coffee model, such as the KG6-001.

I am not completely happy with the new Keurig-style Mr. Coffee. 1) there are only 2 size cups that are rather extreme: tiny expresso size and XL and even THAT is determined by the machine not the customer. I may indicate I want a small cup, but the machine may decide to give me an XL. So I am always guessing. 2) It fills from the back so we are not able to view the water level w/o removing the cover. 3)Sometimes the coffee is hot and it takes longer than a Keurig to heat.

In defense of the machine I will say one feature I like is that it automatically shuts itself off after the cup has brewed. The Keurig does - eventually, But I like that it shuts off right away in this forgetful household,. But I would not purchase it again.

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..

This Mr. Coffee Single Serve Coffee Brewer was great for the firs couple of times, but then became temperamental and would only work when it wanted to. We had to upgrade after a short period of time.

I just got this about a week ago. I previously had and LOVED the Mr Coffee Single Brewer that preceded this model. I had it for 2 years and had no problems. This machine seems very temperamental. I can only brew 1 KCup worth of coffee each morning. If I attempt the 2nd cup the machine only makes noise like it's working & the "brewing" button lights up but nothing comes out. I am probably going to return it. I'm pretty disappointed.

Just don't do it! I got my first one of these a few years ago on Lightening deal. It broke after one month. It would only make half cups of coffee. I cleaned it called customer service and they decided it needed to be replaced. A few month later and the same thing happened and it was sputtering out half cups of coffee. Again, I called and customer service said its been an issue and they will replace. Guess what happens next. Ya, the 3rd machine stopped working after about 4 more months. I couldn't even muster up the desire to call and get a 4th machine. I got an actual real Keurig and its been going strong for a year now.
Just totally disappointing experience.

Review for: Mr. Coffee Single Serve Coffee Brewer BVMC-KG5-001

OVERALL
- Nice design
- Poor execution
- Non-existent Customer Service.

THE GOOD
1. The machine does make decent coffee from K-cups, but in my past experience all coffee makers that use K-cups make decent coffee (assuming you find a brand/flavor of coffee you like).
2. The temperature was plenty hot for me, but I don't like scalding hot coffee.
3. I liked the size and overall appearance. I have always thought there's no need to make a ginormous coffee machine that just takes up space, a la Keurig.

THE BAD
1. The removable water reservoir sits on top of the unit. The water reservoir on my machine leaked the first time I used it and then every time I put more water in it than needed for one cup of coffee. (Even with that small amount of water, the reservoir still leaked until the water level was drawn down.) So much water leaked that a drip line of white mineral deposits quickly established itself on the side of the machine, from the reservoir all the way down to the counter. I was able to determine the connection between the reservoir and the body of the coffee maker was at fault, but I could find no way to fix the connection.
2. OK, so maybe I got a lemon. Mr. Coffee wants you to contact their Customer Service via the online form on their website. I used that website form, describing the problem and providing all the information they could possibly want - and ...never heard back from them. That tells me that either the leak issue is prevalent and they don't want to deal with it - or their Customer Service Dept. is non-functional - or maybe both are true. Either way, they don't respect or value their customers.

THEN WHAT?
I was out some cash for this Mr. Coffee machine, so I couldn't bring myself to just throw it away or Freecycle the problem to someone else. So I ended up using it for quite some time, never pouring more water in the reservoir than needed for one cup of coffee - and placing a small sponge next the base to catch the inevitable leak. I've owned several Mr. Coffee machines over the years and was always happy with them. Since they don't stand by their products - Never again. As Gomer Pyle once said: Fool me once, shame on you ...

And now? After my experience with the Mr. Coffee machine and their lack of Customer Service I decided to go with Keurig. That took a lot of consideration as I've always felt the Keurig machines are too big and overpriced. After watching sales and eBay for several months I finally found a very good price on a genuine Keurig machine. I disabled the DRM restrictions and am thoroughly enjoying that machine (a K550). I just wish the machine was smaller.

Compared to the Mr. Coffee machine, I can get a noticeably stronger cup of coffee with the Keurig machine. If you're a serious coffee drinker like me, you may also be happier with a Keurig machine. And if you're a gambler, the 'Mr. Coffee Single Serve Coffee Brewer BVMC-KG5-001' just might be in your future.

I've had this coffee maker about 2 years. For about the first year, it worked ok. However, in the past year, I can only make 1 cup of coffee every 6-8 hours since, after it brews the first cup, the second is either only partially full, or it does not brew at all. The orange "Brew - Off" light just flashes at me no matter what I do. I've de-scaled it, unplugged it, un-clogged the needles, but nothing seems to work. Yesterday, I could only run it once before it completely stopped working. I had to wait 24 hours before I could get it to brew again.

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!

I bought this item a little over a month ago and it suddenly started only making a 6 oz of cup of coffee instead of 10. Took it apart and cleaned it, including the nozzle, and it made one 10 oz cup and then went back to only making the 6 oz. When I took the K-cup out and just brewed water, it made a 10 oz cup of water with coffee grounds in it. I've gone through this process several times. Now I am stuck with a defective coffee maker. I have always used Mr. Coffee makers, even before K-Cups were invented, but will never buy another item made by that company.

My first purchase worked very well for less than week. While it worked, I was very satisfied. A few days later, every attempt to brew would end with a full overflow tank. It would not attempt to heat or brew. Amazon did quickly replace the item. However, less than a week later... same issue. This time, it will heat and brew on the 6oz setting. The 10oz setting will not heat or brew.

Update: Mr Coffee replaced this unit with a different model.

Absolutely do not buy this coffee maker. I have had it just under a year now and the pump has gotten so weak that it will not finish a cup of coffee. I have used purified drinking water the whole time and only factory K Cups. I have contacted the company and they told me to de-calcify it which I did, but that's not the issue, the pump is weak. I am currently going through the process of getting a warranty repair or replacement done but that's only because this happened within the 1 year warranty. Had it been 2 more months I would have been throwing out this $70 item and buying another one? That's not acceptable, even by today's low quality standards with disposable items.
Another issue is that the maker is way bigger than it needs to be. There's nothing in it that needs to be so large that it occupies so much counter space.
I am looking at some other makers right now since I know that even if this one gets replaced under warranty the new one will probably have the same issue. I do not know which one is the best one but I do know that this one is NOT the one to buy. Steer clear.

I bought my machine in May, and found that there was some interval in between brewings. I could live with that, worse however it seems to malfunction very often and instead of brewing the full cup, It brews half a cup even though the full cup is selected. I tried descaling as instructed in the user manual, but it still brews the small cup. I am rather disappointed and would probably be looking for a better machine very soon. I'm just sorry I wasted my money!!

Update! After the above review, Mr. Coffee contacted me and sent me another machine. I Received it in November 2014, less than one year later having done all that was suggested in the user manual, and "babying" it along, its malfunctioning in exactly the same way as the previous one. Quite frankly, I don't want another one. I'll just write it off as a piece of crap and move on!

My family bought this item for Christmas. By March it was only brewing a third of the amount of coffee it was supposed to. I later found out that my sister was experiencing the same problem with hers. We threw it ours out since it wasn't working. When I called the company, they wouldn't send a replacement because I didn't have the numbers listed on the plug of the machine. Lesson learned. Keep track of the plug numbers! Better yet, buy a Keurig !

This was the second Mr. Coffee appliance that we have had that was total junk! (The ice tea maker being the other.) This household will never buy anything else by Mr. Coffee. They make junk and they don't stand by their customers!