Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: A Reliable and Convenient Brewer

For many of us, waking up to a hot pot of freshly brewed coffee is an essential morning routine. With its reputation for quality and convenience, Hamilton Beach aims to make this morning ritual easier than ever with the Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker, model 46293. This 12 cup programmable brewer provides the best of both worlds - reliable performance and customizable options - at a budget-friendly price point. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker a great choice for households seeking an affordable but capable programmable brewer.

Overview

• Brand: Hamilton Beach
• Model: 46293
• Brew Capacity: 12 cups
• Features: Programmable timer, Clock, 3 Brew options (regular, bold, 1-4 cups), Auto shutoff, Auto pause and serve

The Hamilton Beach 46293 coffee maker features a sleek black stainless steel exterior with modern accents that will look great in any kitchen. The durable yet lightweight plastic construction makes the brewer easy to move and store as needed. The simple control panel puts essential programming and brewing options at your fingertips.

Features

For a programmable coffee maker under $50, the Hamilton Beach 46293 packs in some useful features:

• The 12 cup capacity brews large pots - perfect for serving company or getting the whole family caffeinated.

• The programmable clock makes scheduling brew times a cinch, so you can wake up to fresh coffee ready and waiting.

• 3 brew options - regular, bold, and 1-4 cups - provide customization for the amount and strength.

• Automatic shutoff gives peace of mind by turning the maker off after 2 hours.

• The pause & serve function lets you sneak a cup mid-brew without making a mess.

While it lacks some of the advanced features of pricier models, the Hamilton Beach brewer delivers solid performance and convenience you’d expect from this reputable brand.

Design

The Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Coffee Maker has a simple but sleek black stainless steel exterior that will fit right in with most kitchen decors. The buttons have a smooth panel design that contributes to the overall modern aesthetic. Though made mostly of plastic, the coffee maker feels sturdy and doesn’t look cheap.

The water reservoir is easy to access and has a visible water window so you can see the water level as you fill it. The control panel is straightforward with buttons for programming the clock, setting auto shutoff, choosing brew options, and starting/pausing brewing. There is a small LCD screen that displays the programmed time.

Compatibility and Versatility

The Hamilton Beach 46293 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker accommodates various types of coffee beans and grounds, offering convenience for diverse coffee enthusiasts. Whether it’s dark, medium, or light roast, this machine can bring out the best flavors. While it doesn’t support special brewing methods like cold brew, its three brewing options ensure that every user can adjust the coffee’s strength and flavor to their liking.

Performance

Brew Customization

One of the highlights of this Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is the ability to customize your brew. There are settings for regular, bold, and 1-4 cups. The bold setting slows the brewing process to extract more flavor from the coffee grounds. The 1-4 cup setting adjusts the brewing strength and speed for small batch brewing.

Programmable Timer

You can program the Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker to start brewing up to 24 hours in advance. This allows you to wake up to a fresh pot of coffee ready and waiting. The programmable clock is easy to set using the buttons on the front control panel.

Auto Pause and Serve

The auto pause and serve feature temporarily stops the brewing process when you remove the carafe. This prevents messy drips and spills when pouring a mid-brew cup of coffee. Brewing resumes once the carafe is replaced.

Auto Shutoff

For safety, the Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker automatically shuts off after 2 hours of inactivity. No need to worry if you’ve left the house and forgotten to turn it off.

Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker delivers a good brew quickly and at the right temperature. The keep warm plate does its job keeping leftover coffee hot for a while. The programmable features work as expected and are simple to use.

Heating and Warming Functionality

The Hamilton Beach 46293 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker not only heats water quickly to the ideal brewing temperature but also maintains your coffee at a warm temperature with its warming plate. This ensures that you can enjoy a warm cup of coffee at any time. The warming function is facilitated by a built-in hot plate, which can maintain the temperature of the coffee for a set period (usually 2 hours) before automatically shutting off to save energy and ensure safety.

Technical Specifications and Features

The Hamilton Beach 46293 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker boasts a power of 900 watts, a water capacity of 60 ounces (about 1.8 liters), and dimensions of 11.4 x 9.5 x 12.9 inches. Besides the standard drip coffee brewing functionality, it offers special features like a programmable timer, automatic shut-off, and programmable strength selection, distinguishing it in its category. It utilizes a reusable filter type, reducing reliance on disposable paper filters and being more environmentally friendly.

Ease of Use

The Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is easy to operate thanks to the simple interface with push button controls. Programming the clock and scheduled brew times is simple. The water reservoir is easy to access and features a viewing window so you can see the water level.

Coffee Quality

As a standard drip coffee machine, it should produce coffee that tastes as good as other typical automatic drip coffee makers in this price range. Flavor will depend on coffee brand, grind, and freshness of grounds.

Cleaning

The removable filter basket is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The carafe and other parts can be hand washed with soap and water.

Noise

Noise level is unknown, but it is likely typical of similar drip coffee makers when brewing.

Ideal Uses

This Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is ideal for households that go through several cups of coffee in the morning. The 12 cup capacity allows brewing for the whole family or for entertaining. The programming and custom brew options make it easy to set up coffee ahead of time.

User Feedback

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker enjoys mostly favorable reviews, with the majority of buyers satisfied with their purchase. However, by taking a deeper look at what real-world users have to say, we can get a more well-rounded view.

For many reviewers, this budget-friendly brewer exceeds expectations and performs just as well as pricier models. They rave about the convenience of programmable brewing, letting them wake up to a fresh pot ready and waiting. The bold setting earns praise for pumping out a robust, full-bodied cup of joe. Even coffee aficionados compliment the flavor of their morning cup of brew.

Of course, there are some common complaints mixed in. A number of owners lament the lightweight plastic feel, wishing for a more solid and durable construction. Some reliability issues emerge after a year or two of use, from dripping to failing to brew altogether. Brew times can run slow, testing the patience of those in need of their caffeine ASAP. The carafe lid and handle also take some criticism for flimsy design.

Delving into specific reviews reveals more insights. Self-proclaimed coffee snobs admit that despite the cheap plastic, it still manages to produce their preferred morning cup of glory. Other reviews glow about the programmable feature, letting them stumble into the kitchen to a ready pot rather than wasting precious minutes waiting. Some do caution that short electrical outages reset the clock, making programming frustrating.

In the end, the general consensus stands strong: for an affordable programmable coffee maker, the Hamilton Beach 12 cup machine delivers quality and convenience that satisfies most households’ daily needs. If you can overlook some plastic parts, it provides delicious coffee and customizable brewing at a wallet-friendly price point. For many busy coffee drinkers, this Hamilton Beach brewer deserves a permanent spot on their kitchen counters.

Pros

• Large 12 cup capacity
• Programmable timer sets brewing in advance
• 3 useful brewing options
• Auto features for convenience
• Affordable price point

Cons

• Made of lightweight plastic
• Carafe may be prone to breaking
• No brew temperature control

Value

With a capacity of 12 cups, programmable features, and a budget-friendly price tag around $50, the Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Coffee Maker offers solid value. It provides convenience for households that brew multiple cups at a time or like to wake up to ready coffee. While not a professional-grade brewer, this machine reliably produces good tasting drip coffee for daily use.

Conclusion

For households seeking a programmable coffee maker on a budget, the Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Coffee Maker, model 46293 makes an excellent choice. It combines the convenience of programmable brewing with useful options like brew strength control and pause & serve. The simple interface and dishwasher-safe parts make it easy to use and maintain. While not as rugged or advanced as pricier models, it delivers reliable performance and quality expected of the Hamilton Beach brand. For shoppers looking for an affordable daily-use programmable brewer, the Hamilton Beach 46293 12 cup coffee maker is a recommended option worth considering.

Specifications

• Brewing Technology: Drip
• Brew Capacity: 12 cups
• Reservoir Capacity: 60 oz
• Power: 900 watts
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.5 x 12.9 in
• Materials: Plastic, stainless steel
• Carafe Material: Glass

What’s Included

The coffee maker comes with the brewer unit, a 12 cup glass carafe, a removable filter basket, and an instruction manual.

How to Use

1. Fill water reservoir
2. Place filter in basket
3. Add ground coffee to filter
4. Place filter basket in machine
5. Place empty carafe on keep warm plate
6. Choose brew settings
7. Program timer if desired
8. Press brew button
9. Carafe fills with brewed coffee
10. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can the Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker brew smaller batches?

A: Yes! This coffee maker offers three brewing options: regular, bold, and 1-4 cups. The 1-4 cups setting is ideal for those moments when you don’t require a full carafe of coffee.

Q2: Does the Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker have an automatic shutoff feature?

A: Absolutely. This coffee maker provides peace of mind with its automatic shutoff feature. It turns off after 2 hours, preventing overheating and ensuring you won’t accidentally leave it on.

Q3: Can I program the Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker to start brewing at a specific time?

A: Yes, the programmable clock timer is one of the key features of this coffee maker. Simply set the desired time, and wake up to the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Q4: Is the filter basket dishwasher safe?

A: Yes. This coffee maker makes cleanup a breeze, as the filter basket is removable and dishwasher safe.

Q5: How large are the water level markings? Are they easy to see?

A: The Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker boasts a large water window with clear, easy-to-read markings. This ensures you can accurately measure the water for your desired quantity of coffee without any hassle.

Tips

• Use Fresh Beans: For the best-tasting coffee, always start with freshly ground beans. If you can, grind your beans right before brewing.
• Choose Your Brew Strength: This machine lets you customize your coffee’s intensity with the regular, bold, and 1-4 cup settings. Experiment to find what suits your taste.
• Clean Regularly: Regular cleaning prevents buildup and keeps your Hamilton Beach 46293 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker functioning optimally. A simple rinse of the filter basket and carafe after each use goes a long way.
• Consider a Water Filter: If you live in an area with hard water, a filter can significantly improve the flavor of your coffee.