Hamilton Beach Programmable Front-Fill Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe (46391)- 12 Cup Capacity

what our customer say this product:

1. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 12 April 2024

   This coffee maker was great for about 3 months, then the handle broke.

   

2. Richard Wilkins Verified Buyer – 26 May 2024

   Near the end of the brew time, the front pops open and coffee spills out all over countertop. There so many other coffeemakers you can choose from. Hamilton Beach hasn’t nailed this design. ALSO, the pad the thermal carafe sits on heats up to over 200F! What’s that all about?

   

3. Roman Medel Verified Buyer – 18 June 2024

   Excelente de uso rudo
   

4. Theresa Jones Verified Buyer – 4 July 2024

   It turned out to be a pretty decent coffee maker. The only reason for the 4 instead of 5 stars is I think it doesn’t get hot enough for my taste. Others may disagree but I like my coffee to start hot and stay hot! I included pictures from a few days of use. Pardon the well water spots. It does brew a flavorful cup of joe! Pros: I like the swing-out filter. It operates smoothly. It comes with a permanent filter, but you can remove it and use regular cone filters in the bottom coffee basket. The display is clear and bright even during the day with bright light. The flip-front fill chamber is convenient and easy to fill. It has regular and bold coffee settings, plus a 1-4 cup option. Brews fairly quickly plus it has the pause and serve function. The thermal carafe doesn’t leak everywhere when you pour coffee like the carafes I’ve had in the past. The carafe keeps the coffee warm for at least 4 hours. The fill window is easy to see. It has a sleek design, is not too big or obstrusive. It has a water filter for better tasting coffee. Cons: I’m not sure if I like the permanent filter. It is hard to get the grounds emptied, My personal preference, but I think the coffe could be brewed a little hotter. It has rubber feet on the bottom that make it a little difficult to slide out from under the cabinets. The water filter holder is hard to get in and out but I have fairly large hands. Only comes with one water filter. I will post more after using awhile.

   

5. Eric L. Verified Buyer – 9 July 2024

   This coffee maker looks great in person and has some design features that really seem well-thought out. For instance, the front fill feature means you can keep most of the coffee maker under the cupboards, even when filling, which turns out to be mighty convenient. Ditto for the swing-out basket, which makes access really easy. And again, the fill level indicator is visible from a wide range of angles, even almost head-on. Very nice! And when you remove the lid on the steel carafe, you’re treated to a very wide opening that you can fit your whole hand and a sponge into. With my current coffee maker, a Kitchen Aid, I had to buy a special brush to get into the carafe for cleaning. This one has the best thermal carafe I’ve ever used. The thoughtful design continues on to the settings buttons/screen, which are very easy to use and interpret. I especially love that there’s a timer showing how long ago the coffee was brewed. Seems simple but I have never seen it before and I love having that information. The screen is bright and legible, and the sensible brew options (Normal / Bold / Small Pot) are much appreciated. Then, there are a couple of unfortunate things in the design. First is the water filter. It’s this strange little pod that you have to snap into a wand, and then there’s a second piece that you have to snap onto the handle of the wand to make it longer. It appears this is because the filter was taken from some other, shallower device. Rather than redesign and retool, they just did this weird mickey mouse adapter thing. When you manage to guide the filter pod into the little hole deep in the machine, the handle falls off. In 30 days when it comes time to change the filter, I’m not sure how I’m going to get the old one out. Anyway, the design here needs rethinking. The other issue is the LCD screen has some ugly light bleed along the bottom, which I hope you can see in the close up picture I uploaded. This is purely a cosmetic issue and will only bother the most fastidious among us, but it might perhaps speak to the overall quality of construction and/or the quality of components. In my mind, this is a trivial thing, but others may be more irritated about it. One more thing: Compared to my current coffee maker, this one makes more commotion when brewing, with all the snorting and gurgling it emits. I don’t sleep in the kitchen and don’t really mind it. It may sound like, due to these complaints, I don’t like this coffee maker. But actually, I really do like it quite a bit. I’m only pointing out the negatives to be fair and honest, but on the whole, I’m delighted with it so far. I forgot to mention it’s fast, and the coffee stays warm for hours. After about 45 minutes to an hour, the coffee starts to taste sour (as it will in any thermal carafe) so I only brew what I need. I feel like with coffee your options are: Use a warmer, and after a while your coffee will taste burned and bitter; use a thermal carafe and your coffee will end up sour and less than hot. But I use a thermal carafe because it does keep the coffee tasty longer than a burner will, just not forever. The solution is to brew an amount that will be used in a reasonable period of time, and them brew more if necessary. As I mentioned, my current coffee maker is a Kitchen Aid with thermal carafe which I have had for about 13 years. It’s annoying that this thing keeps going, and going, because I want to replace it with a coffee maker that has more thoughtful design and features like this Hamilton Beach. But will this Hamilton Beach last for a decade and a half? We’re about to find out. I like it more than the Kitchen Aid, so I’m packing that away and going with the Hamilton Beach. If it dies prematurely (I think about 5 years is ok for a coffee maker in this day and age), I will talk about it in an update to this review, and I will bring the Kitchen Aid back out for another 13 years of service.

   

6. Charlee Verified Buyer – 3 November 2024

   I originally had the 10-cup HB coffee maker. We upgraded to this 12-cup version. I’ve had this maker for a little over a month now… Cons: – My biggest pet peeve- the coffee spills or leaks EVERYTIME you pour. Always dribbling! The is a big downgrade from the 10-cup version. – the thermos doesn’t have a handle button to push (open) when you pour. Essentially, leaving the pot open at all times. Pros: – love the front load water top (much better than the backload 10-cup version) – coffee stays hot for hours after brewing – easy buttons and user interface – easy cleaning Overall, I don’t recommend this coffee maker. HB did not do their quality homework on pouring coffee for this one!

   

7. Kaitlyn Johnson Verified Buyer – 8 December 2024

   Would not recommend this model with the stainless steey carafe. You can’t pour without it dribbling everywhere!!! No matter how slow or careful you are it makes a huge mess-every time. Update: keeps gaining time (an hour a week)so it must be reset every week or the timer is useless as it brews at the wrong time.

   

8. The Coffee Verified Buyer – 15 December 2024

   Just got it, haven’t even made the first cup of coffee and I’m already annoyed. Came out of the box with dirty finger/hand prints on it, water filter instructions do not match coffee pot. These may be minor annoyances but a company that doesn’t pay attention to the little things cannot really be trusted to get the bigger things right either.

   

9. Brian Verified Buyer – 19 December 2024

   This is a nice machine. It brews a very hot cup and the thermal carafe keeps coffee warm for hours. We can brew a pot at 7am and it is still very warm around noon. Fits on the counter nice and the front loading water fill is convenient and does not require you to move it out under the cabinet. Program start is easy too. Once you set the time it is just a quick on/off before going to bed.

   

10. Richard Cockbain Verified Buyer – 17 January 2025

    Carafe leaks like a sive when pouring. Email response is I have to pay for shipping for another Carafe but no guarantee it is any better. coffeemakers.us.com should dump all of this Holding Companies Brands. Terrible!
    

11. Eric Ortiz Verified Buyer – 1 February 2025

    Uso esta cafetera para preparar el café de la tarde, la puedo dejar programada y lista desde la mañana
    Y a media tarde el café estará listo.
    Es un poco tardada puesto que le toma 15 mins para tener listo el café de 3 tazas pero el sabor
    Es muy superior al que mi cafetera anterior podía sacarle al café, además su jarra tipo termo
    No quema el café aunque lo tome 2 horas después de preparado
    

12. Mark Wiener Verified Buyer – 7 February 2025

    I purchased this elsewhere, but thought I would review here as well. I expected to return it after reading some critical reviews, but actually like it enough to keep. Best feature for me is the front-fill. No more pulling the pot out from under the cabinet to awkwardly fill from the back. This is a MAJOR convenience. Same with the swing out basket. Super easy. The carafe keeps the coffee hot/warm for several hours. I’m sure it would last even longer if I did the recommended fill with hot water first, but that kind of defeats the point of the programmable feature. As for the reviews concerning dribbling and leaking of the carafe: if the lid is properly on, this doesn’t happen. There is also a loose “flap” inside the pour spout that maintains a smooth pour. But if it gets stuck open, you get a dribble. I solve this by giving the lid a quick shake to hear the flap before I lock it in place. Mostly I am very happy with this machine, and I hope it lasts. Oh, also, it makes a delicious cup of coffee.

    

13. Greg Murphy Verified Buyer – 11 February 2025

    I have had this coffee maker for about two years and three months and the digital panel and buttons have stopped working. The problem is a very thin group of wires running through the hinge which frayed and broke. I asked Hamilton Beach to replace or repair it and they would not. If you only plan on making coffee for a couple of years, this is a good model. If you would like something longer lasting, I suggest a different brand.

    

14. Ray M. Verified Buyer – 24 February 2025

    I have only used the coffee maker for a week. Time will tell if I re-rate this unit.
    Two issues:
    1. The charcoal filter continued to leach charcoal into the water to be used to brew the coffee.
    2. Once while pouring a cup of coffee from a full carafe the carafe dripped on the counter top.
    After cleaning the mess, I removed the lid and closed it again. Reseating the lid seem to correct the issue.
    These two issues will be monitored and I may change my rating.
    On the positive side, the unit has a few very nice features which I use and appreciate.
    The front fill feature is much appreciated in my situation. Both the water and ground coffee may be filled from the front. This is very useful for counter tops with cabinets above.
    The adjustable brew strength is also a nice touch. I like a strong brew and this unit comes through.
    I will revist my review in a few weeks. If necessary I may change it but so far, so good.
    

15. teeinep Verified Buyer – 1 March 2025

    To operate the machine well you need to have a lot of space around it because on one side it has the measurements for the water, therefore, you cannot have a wall on that side. On the other side you have the button to open the machine and put the filter and coffee, so now you need the other side open as well. The last thing is that in order to put water, you need a separate container because the coffee pot is solid color with no markings to measure water and you will not be able to know how much water to put in by using the coffee pot like you normally would with coffee pots that have the measurements marked on it. To save the day, we put the machine as close as possible to the sink to fill out the water reservoir using the faucet pull out. Also, by having free standing on both sides we can see the water measurements in one side and push the button to open the machine from the other side.

    

16. Sandra Haller Verified Buyer – 4 March 2025

    Love this coffee maker. The front pop up lid to fill the water without trying to pour in the back is perfect.
    

17. RenJ Verified Buyer – 7 March 2025

    I love this coffee maker because it’s modern looking, programmable, & great for gatherings, holidays etc… I love that it has a reusable filter for less waste. I don’t see a significant difference when programmed for regular or bold coffee. I was disappointed it doesn’t keep coffee hot, or warm enough over any real time. While it says it can be programmed to keep it warm, it doesn’t really do the job.

    

18. Prannie Verified Buyer – 7 March 2025

    Less then 2 months old & the bottom of the carafe fell off. I’ve contacted HB & was given the item number to buy a new 1. What a joke!

    

19. Sara Verified Buyer – 8 March 2025

    A tampa veio rachada
    

20. Hugo Silva Verified Buyer – 14 March 2025

    I searched for a long time for a new coffee maker. I bought this one, used it for it days, and was disappointed. I was a big fan of Hamilton Beach, but I had several bad experiences with them. Why not buy this coffee maker: – The carafe does not keep the coffee warm. – The carafe spills coffee whenever I put it in the cup. – When brewing, it drips into the base. See photos! You will find it difficult to replace parts if you need to. This is my second Hamilton beach and I tried to buy a replacement carafe and they don’t produce it anymore. Even if the product is online.

    

21. BabyChickenMamaDrama Verified Buyer – 5 April 2025

    I wanted to switch to a thermal pot after the glass carafe on my other Hamilton Beach coffee maker broke, but many coffee makers seemed ridiculously overpriced. I didn’t necessarily care if it was the same brand but this just happened to catch my eye. The main reason? Front filling. The convenient feature I didn’t even know I was looking for! We have a small kitchen with limited counter apace and low hanging cabinets. With the old coffee maker, I had to pull it out from the wall to pour the water everytime. Not anymore! That small thing hooked me. Plus the lower price was a benefit as well. A great bargain. I also liked the simple design. I want to set my coffee up at night, and have a pot ready when I wake up. Occasionally I wake up before the alarm goes off, so when that happens, I want to hit brew and have it be ready quickly. This coffee maker brews 12 cups in just under 10 minutes, which is quicker than many other machines I’ve had. The instructions say to rinse the pot with hot water to keep it hotter longer. I do no such thing. I brew at 5AM, and by 10AM, even with the auto off option, my cup needs maybe a 15 second warm up. The auto off feature is great; no burnt coffee taste. While this machine does have the option of the warming plate, I have not used it. I’ve not yet had to deep clean the pot, only having it for about 2 weeks, but my coffee tastes rich and fresh every time. My daily wash routine takes only a minute. The triangular filter rinses easily, in soapy water, and the holder washes clean with a brush and a small bit of soap. Wash the pot with a soft sponge only. A brush or heavy duty along will scratch it! So far, I’m thrilled with my purchase. 5/5 stars. I recommend this for anyone who loves their coffee, and wants a quality maker to compliment their coffee. EDIT- changed rating from 5 stars to 2. Its been almost exactly 2 years since i bought this. One day I saw the clock was about 5 minutes slow, and corrected it. But it continued to get behind more and more each day, and within about two weeks it was 7 hours behind after correcting it, rendering it useless for our family who relies on the timer so we can wake up to a freshly brewed pot. After spending $130, it should have lasted a h#ll of alot longer than this.

    

22. JonnyCrash Verified Buyer – 6 April 2025

    This is the first coffee maker I’ve ever owned. I used to brew my coffee in a stove-top percolator. After many years, I’ve finally decided to join the 20th century. This coffee maker is economical and makes some great coffee. I went with the thermal carafe because I didn’t want to deal with burned coffee that stays on the warmer for hours. The thermal version still has a hot plate on the bottom, however, it’s possible to set the coffee maker so that the plate turns off as soon as the brewing is complete. The thermal carafe is nice, but has at least one flaw. As many others have mentioned, the thermal carafe suffers from dribbling. It happens randomly when pouring with or without the lid in place. I have a feeling that this is due to the design of the spout itself. Whatever the case, fix this, and it would be perfect. Quick tip: once you’ve filled the coffee maker with water, swish some hot water in the carafe so that it will keep the coffee warm longer. The thermal carafe keeps my coffee warm for a good two and a half to three hours. Anything above that is pushing it and may require a quick zap in the microwave. Finding out how to set the program is easy enough. It’s pretty simple to set it up for the morning each evening. Overall, I’m happy with this coffee maker. I took a gamble and bought a “used – like new” one from the coffeemakers.us.com Warehouse. It was in fine shape and has served me well in the year since I’ve owned it.