As the triumphant resurgence of the humble coffee maker continues, some manufacturers are focusing on increasingly niche corners of the market. Enter the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker, which seeks to conquer the pod free, single cup sector.
As the triumphant resurgence of the humble coffee maker continues, some manufacturers are focusing on increasingly niche corners of the market. Enter the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker, which seeks to conquer the pod free, single cup sector.
Several machines in my best coffee maker guide offer a single serve option, but there are surprisingly few models that are exclusively “one-cup wonders.” I’m all for it.
At any rate, I’ll save my anti-k cup rant for later. But, suffice to say, it’s refreshing to see a single serve coffee maker that doesn’t have a pod function.
With this in mind, I ordered the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker from Amazon to test out. I’ll share my experiences using it a bit later. Shoot, I’ll even throw in a few tips and tricks for getting the best out of this coffee maker. In the meantime, let’s take a look at what this machine can do.
Best Single Serve Coffee Maker
Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker
Best Single Serve Coffee Maker
Pod free brewing
Minimal plastic
Innovative design
Water reservoir can’t be removed
Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker Overview
It may seem obvious, but the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker isn’t for everyone.
This little machine brews a maximum of 14 ounces of coffee at a time. If you’re the type to drink an entire carafe of coffee before noon, you’re better off checking out some of the other options in my coffee maker guide.
However, for those who just need a quick cup to go before heading off to work, the Hamilton Scoop could be a dream come true.
The Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker costs an entirely reasonable $49.85 on Amazon. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there’s very little plastic used in the design.
With its sleek stainless steel housing and modern, streamlined design, the Hamilton Beach Scoop actually looks pretty cool. Not only that, this coffee maker feels durable and well made, which is a real bonus.
Innovative Design
This single cup coffee maker comes with a stainless steel mesh filter that doubles as a coffee scoop. It’s a pretty nifty design feature that I’ve never seen before. The scoop filter sits in a holder with a secondary filter on the bottom. I had my doubts about how this system would work, and I must say there was some trial and error involved. More on that later.
The Hamilton Beach Scoop offers two brew sizes. You can whip up an eight ounce cup of coffee in a minute and a half, or a 14 ounce travel mug in under three minutes. You can also choose between Regular and Bold brew settings.
One thing I noticed right away was the coffee maker’s drip tray, which acts as a drain for any splashes or spills. I’m a little obsessive about keeping things clean, so I love this convenient feature.
Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker Features
The Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee maker doesn’t just look great – it’s also really compact. With a height of less than nine inches, it’ll fit nicely under your kitchen cabinets. Just don’t forget that you’ll need a little extra space to open the water reservoir lid.
Although this coffee maker is really easy to set up and use, it has plenty of cool features that are worth checking out.
Fast Brewing
There are days when you can savor the time and precision needed to prepare coffee using a pour over coffee maker. Most days, though, you just need a cup of coffee now!
The Hamilton Beach Scoop has been designed with the latter scenario in mind. As long as you’re brewing using the Classic function, it’ll only be around two minutes before you’re enjoying an eight ounce cup of joe.
Pod Free Brewing
There are just so many reasons not to use coffee pods. Here are three: they’re expensive, the coffee inside goes stale on supermarket shelves and billions of used pods end up in landfills each year. And somehow, people keep confusing our oceans for landfills!
That’s why I’ve been so happy, recently, to see coffee machine manufacturers using slogans like “k cup-free brewing.” Hamilton Beach is one of those companies, and the Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker isn’t coffee pod compatible. As a side note, if you really must brew using pods, consider using a reusable k cup filter.
Mesh Scoop Filter
As I mentioned earlier, the Hamilton Beach comes with a handy mesh scoop filter. The inside of the mesh filter has measuring lines for each serving size.
Given the compact dimensions of the mesh scoop filter, I did worry that some overflow might occur, especially when using a higher volume of ground coffee.
Brew Strength
The Hamilton Beach Scoop single Serve Coffee Maker offers two brew strength options – Regular and Bold. The latter option dispenses hot water at a reduced rate, meaning more contact time between water and ground coffee.
This is a great option to have because it allows you more room to experiment with grind size and dose.
Water Reservoir
The Hamilton Beach Scoop has a pretty standard water reservoir that’s located at the rear of the machine. There’s the usual flip-top lid and inside you’ll find a stepped water gauge, with level indicators for each brew size.
I always prefer a removable water reservoir, but at this price point, I can’t really complain.
Cup Rest
It’s always nice to see that some care and thought has gone into a coffee machine’s design. I already gave Hamilton Beach props for their wide drip tray, but what I didn’t mention is that the cup rest can be flipped to provide an elevated platform for smaller cups.
By bringing the cup closer to the brew head, the adjustable stand cuts down on unwanted splashing. You should know by now that this kind of feature really floats my boat!
What’s in the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker Box?
Here’s what you’ll get in the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker box:
Scoop coffee maker
Scoop mesh filter brew basket
Multilevel cup rest
Instruction manual
How to Use the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker
As with any new coffee maker, it’s a good idea to run a couple of brew cycles using just hot water before making coffee with the Hamilton Beach Scoop. After all, who really wants coffee that tastes like plastic?
Once you’ve got that out of the way, making coffee in the Hamilton Beach Scoop is about as easy as it gets. Here’s how to do it:
Add cold, filtered water to the reservoir. There are fill level markers inside, one for an eight ounce mug and another max fill line for taller travel mugs.
If you’re brewing into an eight ounce mug, flip the drip tray cup rest over and snap it into place. That way, you won’t get coffee splashes all over your kitchen counter!
Add freshly ground coffee to the Scoop filter. Again, there are level markers for each cup size. As per the manufacturer’s instructions, be careful not to overfill the scoop, as it could lead to overflow.
Place the Scoop filter into the filter holder, then close the shower head lid.
Press either the Bold or Regular brew button to start the machine. Once the brew cycle is complete, the Hamilton Beach Scoop will automatically turn off.
Now it’s time to enjoy a cup of hot coffee!
Tips and Tricks for Using the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker
I must admit to having struggled to get good results from the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker. I think that’s because I had unrealistic expectations, though.
This isn’t a coffee maker for those who seek pour over-style coffee, but it’s great if you enjoy classic diner-style coffee that goes down easy. If you’re a fan of dark roasts, even better! Here are a few of my observations that should help you get the best out of this single serve coffee maker:
Observations
Grind size: I always start with a medium grind when testing a drip coffee maker, but quickly realized this wasn’t going to work. The results were weak and watery, and I experienced quite a lot of overflow. Seeing as the Hamilton Beach Scoop brews so rapidly, you’ll need to use a fine grind. This way, there’s more surface area coming into contact with the water and you’ll get a more full bodied cup.
Dose: As I mentioned, I experienced messy overflow when using a medium grind, even though I’d followed the manufacturer’s recommendations on how much ground coffee to use. That said, using a finer grind didn’t give me any problems and I was able to increase the dose for stronger coffee.
Regular vs Bold: I would recommend always using the Bold setting. The decreased flow rate made a noticeable difference in terms of body and complexity.
Scoop filter: I must say the Scoop filter is a well designed feature and worked quite well. That said, I don’t mind a little silty residue at the bottom of my cup. However, if you want a cleaner cup of coffee, you can use a Melitta #2 paper filter instead. Just remember to increase the volume of water, as the paper filter will absorb a few ounces during the brewing process.
Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker Cleaning and Descaling
To keep your Hamilton Beach Scoop looking its sleek and shiny best, wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth. Rinse the Scoop brew basket of coffee grinds after every use and give it a good clean each day. Don’t use detergent, though, unless you want your brewed coffee to taste soapy.
The manufacturer recommends cleaning the filter holder once a week, but I say clean it every day for better tasting coffee. Although all removable parts are dishwasher safe, I always suggest hand washing with mild detergent. Dishwashers are fantastic machines, but they tend to be hard on coffee equipment.
Depending on the hardness of your water and how frequently you make coffee, you should descale the Hamilton Beach Scoop every month or two. Unlike some coffee Makers, the Scoop doesn’t have a way of letting you know it’s time to descale, so you’ll have to rely on your brain!
To descale the Hamilton Beach Scoop, add a mixture of water and white vinegar to the water reservoir, then let it sit for half an hour. When the time’s up, run a couple of brew cycles with just water to rinse the coffee maker. If you hate the smell of vinegar, a citric acid descaler will work just as well.
Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker Specifications
| Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker | |
| Manufacturer | Hamilton Beach |
|---|---|
| Model number | 49981A |
| Product category | Drip coffee maker |
| Housing material | Stainless steel with plastic parts |
| Color options | Silver |
| Carafe | None |
| Keep warm function | No |
| Milk frother | |
| User interface | Buttons and dials |
| App | |
| Removable water reservoir | |
| Water reservoir capacity | 16.9 fl oz / 0.5 l |
| Brew capacity | 14 fl oz / 414 ml |
| Single cup function | |
| Reusable coffee filter | |
| Coffee pod compatible | |
| Brew styles | 1 |
| Pre-infusion | |
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |
| Coffee strength adjustment levels | |
| Hot water function | |
| Water filter | |
| Power consumption | 1300 W |
| Weight | 5.1 lb / 2.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 8.7 x 8.4 x 6.7 in |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| SCA certified home brewer | |
| Notes | Included Accessories: User manual. |
| Current price on Amazon | $49.85 |
| All specifications | |
Verdict: Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker
Best Single Serve Coffee Maker
Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker
Best Single Serve Coffee Maker
Pod free brewing
Minimal plastic
Innovative design
Water reservoir can’t be removed
The Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker offers ease and convenience without the need for wasteful coffee pods.
I relish a challenge, and the Hamilton Beach Scoop certainly delivered in that regard. Still, by tweaking grind size, dose and brew strength I was able to get great tasting results. If you’re a fan of mellow, consistent and easy drinking coffee, this is the best single serve coffee maker you’ll find.
Whether you’re a coffee lover looking for a new toy, or a k cup drinker looking to mend your ways by embracing the wonderful world of real coffee, the Hamilton Beach Scoop could be the way to go.
Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker FAQ
Choosing the best Hamilton Beach Scoop is really a matter of personal preference. That said, if you don’t want to have to fill the coffee maker each time, consider the Hamilton Beach Scoop 49987 with a removable 40 ounce water tank.
These Hamilton Beach coffee makers are identical and both make great coffee. The difference is that the 47550 is sold exclusively at Walmart.
The Scoop brew basket doubles as a filter basket and a scoop. There are level markers for each cup size located inside the single serve scoop filter.
Descaling a Hamilton Beach Scoop is really easy. Simply add water and vinegar to the water reservoir, then let sit for half an hour. Complete the descaling process by running a couple of brew cycles with just water to rinse the coffee maker.
Hamilton Beach Scoop coffee makers aren’t programmable. Still, these coffee makers are really easy to use and make a cup of coffee in minutes.
The Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker comes equipped with its own permanent single serve scoop filter, so you don’t need to buy paper filters.
When making coffee in the Hamilton Beach Scoop, it’s best to start with a medium-fine grind size. You can make small adjustments to the grind size of your coffee beans, depending on your personal preference.
You can use the handy lines in the Scoop filter for measuring coffee grounds. The eight ounce line equals around two tablespoons of ground coffee and the 14 ounce line equals three tablespoons of ground coffee.
Because Hamilton Beach Scoop single serve coffee makers use coffee grounds instead of pods, they’re much more environmentally friendly than a Keurig or Nespresso single serve machine.
I hope you’ve had a good time reading my review of the Hamilton Beach Scoop Single Serve Coffee Maker. Do you have experience using this machine? Any tips or tricks you’d like to share? I look forward to your comments!
