The Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Coffee Maker: Brewing Perfection for the Caffeine Connoisseur

Published on Nov. 16, 2023, 10:14 a.m.

The first rays of morning sunlight stream through the window into the kitchen, filling the air with the aroma of coffee, awakening the dormant taste buds. Coffee, as one of the world’s most beloved beverages, has long transcended its function of invigorating and refreshing, becoming a way of life, a cultural symbol. From its origins in the Arabian Peninsula in the 15th century to the global coffeehouse culture of today, coffee has played a significant role on the stage of human history. Whether you’re a coffee novice or a seasoned enthusiast, a meticulously brewed cup of coffee always brings joy and satisfaction.

The Hamilton Beach 49500 Professional Programmable Coffee Maker is designed to fulfill your pursuit of the perfect coffee. This coffee maker combines advanced brewing technology with user-friendly design, aiming to bring you a cafe-quality coffee experience, allowing you to easily enjoy rich, aromatic coffee at home.

Overview

The Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker is a 12-cup capacity drip coffee maker designed to deliver a rich, balanced coffee flavor in every cup. Its brushed metal exterior adds a touch of elegance to any kitchen, while the programmable functionality ensures you can wake up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee. This model features a generous 60oz removable water reservoir, simplifying the filling process. The adjustable warming plate allows you to maintain your coffee at the perfect temperature, and the drip-free carafe ensures mess-free pouring. With four brew strength options, you can customize your coffee to your liking, making this model a versatile addition to your kitchen appliances.

 Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker

Key Features

  • Perfect Brewing: High brewing temperature, oversized showerhead, and cone brew basket ensure optimal extraction for a rich, balanced flavor.
  • Customizable Coffee: Four brew strength options (Classic, Bold, Robust) and adjustable keep-warm temperature to suit your preference.
  • Convenient Controls: Programmable 24-hour auto brew to wake up to fresh coffee. 60oz removable water reservoir for easy filling.
  • Drip-Free Pouring: Insulated carafe with ergonomic handle and drip-free spout for mess-free serving.
  • Pause and Serve: Allows you to grab a cup before the brewing cycle is finished.

 Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker

Design

With its brushed stainless steel housing and black accents, the Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker boasts an elegant, contemporary design aesthetic. The mix of matte and shiny finishes adds visual interest. Measuring 12.7”D x 7.4”W x 14.3”H and weighing 4.6 kilograms, this coffee maker has a slim profile that saves precious counter space without sacrificing 12-cup capacity. The control panel features a clean and intuitive design with well-organized buttons for easy operation. A clear display shows the current time, brewing time, and settings.

 Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker

Ease of Use

Programmable brewing and adjustable settings make the Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker incredibly easy to operate. The removable water reservoir allows for easy filling directly at the sink or under the faucet, preventing potential spills. The swing-out filter basket simplifies adding coffee grounds. Clearly labeled buttons make operation intuitive, even for beginners.

 Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker

Coffee Quality

Users report the Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker brews incredibly flavorful coffee that stays piping hot. The showerhead evenly saturates grounds, extracting maximum flavor. Maintaining optimal 195-205°F water temperature is key for great tasting coffee, which this unit achieves consistently. The cone style filter also enhances coffee oils and aromatics. The cone-shaped filter enhances the coffee’s flavor and aroma by allowing coffee oils and aromatics to pass through.

Cafe-Caliber Brewing

The Hamilton Beach 49500 utilizes high brewing temperature, an oversized showerhead, and a cone brew basket to ensure even saturation of coffee grounds for optimal extraction. This professional brewing technology allows you to enjoy rich, balanced coffee flavor in every cup, just like a barista-crafted beverage from your favorite cafe.

Customizable Brewing

This coffee maker offers four brew strength options (Classic, Bold, Robust), allowing you to choose the intensity of your coffee. Additionally, the adjustable keep-warm temperature feature lets you maintain your coffee at your preferred temperature. Whether you prefer a mild morning brew or a strong afternoon pick-me-up, the Hamilton Beach 49500 has you covered.

Programmable Convenience

The Hamilton Beach 49500 programmable coffee maker offers ultimate convenience. The 24-hour programmable auto-brew feature allows you to wake up to freshly brewed coffee at your desired time. The 60oz (approximately 1.8 liters) removable water reservoir makes refilling a breeze, and the built-in coffee scoop ensures precise measurements.

Drip-Free Carafe and Pause and Serve

The coffee maker’s insulated carafe features an ergonomic handle and a drip-free spout, ensuring mess-free pouring and a clean countertop. Additionally, the pause-and-serve function allows you to pause the brewing cycle, pour a cup of coffee, and then resume brewing, offering you the convenience of enjoying your coffee before the entire pot is ready.

24-Hour Advance Brew Start

The 24-hour advance brew start is a standout feature of the Hamilton Beach 49500. You can preset the brewing time, allowing the coffee maker to automatically start at your desired time. This means you can wake up to a fresh pot of coffee in the morning or have it ready when you return home from work, without any wait time.

Water Filtration

The Hamilton Beach 49500 comes equipped with a built-in charcoal water filter that effectively reduces chlorine and other impurities from tap water, enhancing the taste and purity of your coffee. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who are sensitive to the impact of water quality on coffee flavor.

Freshness Indicator and Cleaning Reminder

The Hamilton Beach 49500 is equipped with a freshness indicator that displays the time elapsed since brewing, allowing you to gauge the coffee’s freshness. Additionally, the coffee maker periodically reminds you to clean it, ensuring optimal hygiene and performance for the best-tasting coffee every time.

Auto Shutoff

For energy efficiency, the Hamilton Beach 49500 automatically shuts off after 2 hours. This feature not only conserves energy but also prevents the coffee maker from overheating, prolonging its lifespan.

Other Features

The Hamilton Beach 49500 also includes practical features like a water filtration system, freshness indicator, cleaning reminder, auto shutoff, and drip-free spout to enhance your coffee experience.

Noise

Users say this is a very quiet coffee maker. The brew cycle produces minimal noise aside from some gurgling sounds. The automatic keep warm cycle clicks on subtly.

Safety

This coffee maker meets North American electrical standards. It has an auto shut-off feature to prevent overheating or boil dry conditions. The exterior does not get hot to the touch during use.

Power

The Hamilton Beach 49500 coffee maker is powered by a 1350 watt element. This provides rapid heating and brewing speed. It has a standard electrical cord and plug. No battery power option. Despite its high wattage, the coffee maker’s actual energy consumption is not excessive as it only consumes power during brewing and warming cycles.

Cleaning

The removable filter basket and carafe on the Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. A descaling cycle helps keep the internal heating components lime-free. The coffee maker will display a “Clean” notification after 30 brew cycles to remind you when it’s time for cleaning. Hamilton Beach also provides detailed cleaning instructions in the user manual. It is recommended to descale the coffee maker monthly to maintain optimal performance.

 Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker

Use Cases

With its large 12-cup capacity and programmable features, the Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker is perfect for various settings:
- Busy households: Brew coffee for the whole family with ease.
- Offices and workplaces: Keep employees caffeinated and productive throughout the day.
- Small gatherings and events: Serve fresh coffee to guests without the hassle.
- Personal use: Customize your brew strength and enjoy a perfect cup every time.

User Feedback Analysis

With over 200 customer reviews, the Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker has generated quite the buzz. Reviews run the gamut from glowing 5-star raves to critical 1-star takedowns. By sifting through the poetic praise and scathing critiques, key insights emerge.

Satisfied sippers extol the Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker’s elite brewing prowess. Many claim it churns out the hottest, freshest pot they’ve tasted outside a high-end cafe. Customizability earns acclaim, with drinkers dialing in their ideal infusion from mellow late-night cup to intense morning wake-up call. The allure of automation entices bleary-eyed, caffeine-craving masses who revel in pre-programmed pots ready when they rise.

Yet a few foul drops taint the pooled positivity. Some condemn the carafe as an unruly beast, overflowing with abandon. They report jittery pours and gushing spills unless handled with utmost delicacy. Others bemoan the reservoir’s slippery nature, cascading water in a failed dance between sink and machine. For a chosen few, the brewer betrayed them entirely, sputtering to an premature end.

But in the watery grounds of lukewarm takes and scalding hot takes, a middle path emerges - one of measured admiration tinged with modest improvement opportunities. For most drinkers, the Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker fulfills its promise of fuss-free, cafe-worthy coffee conveniently delivered at the countertop altar. An appliance deserving of praise if not quite worship. The embodiment of imperfect perfection.

Pros

  • Brews flavorful, aromatic coffee
  • Sleek stainless steel design
  • Customizable brew strengths
  • Programmable auto-brew setting
  • Large 60oz water reservoir
  • Easy to program and operate
  • Quiet brewing process
  • Drip-free carafe

Cons

  • Carafe spout prone to leaking/dripping
  • Water tank can be tricky to position without spilling
  • Short power cord
  • Cannot reset keep warm time
  • Maximum keep warm temperature could be hotter
  • Water tank design could be improved

Value

With a retail price of $99.85, the Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker offers tremendous value. It frequently goes on sale for as low as $59.80, making it an even more attractive option. It outperforms cheaper coffee makers and stands up against more expensive models nearly twice its price. For the combination of great brew performance, versatility, and durability, this coffee maker is a steal.

Verdict

The Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker, with its advanced brewing technology, stylish design, and versatility, offers coffee lovers a convenient way to enjoy high-quality coffee at home. Whether you have a busy household, a small office, or are a coffee enthusiast who loves to personalize your brew, this programmable coffee maker is sure to satisfy.

Specifications

  • Capacity: 12 cups
  • Wattage: 1350 watts
  • Dimensions: 12.7”D x 7.4”W x 14.3”H
  • Weight: 4.6 kilograms
  • Filter Type: #4 cone filters
  • Material: Plastic, stainless steel
  • Color: Brushed Metal

What’s Included

The Hamilton Beach 49500 comes with the programmable coffeemaker unit, a 12 cup glass carafe, reusable coffee filter, built-in scoop, and charcoal water filter.

User Manual for Hamilton Beach Professional 49500 Programmable Coffee Maker

Important Safeguards

  1. Read all instructions.
  2. Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles or knobs.
  3. To protect against fire, electric shock and injury to persons, do not immerse cord, plugs, or appliance in water or other liquid.
  4. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
  5. Unplug from outlet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow to cool before putting on or taking off parts, and before cleaning the appliance.
  6. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug, or after the appliance malfunctions, or has been damaged in any manner.
  7. Do not use outdoors.
  8. Do not let the cord hang over the edge of the table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.
  9. Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a heated oven.
  10. Do not use appliance for other than intended use.

Parts and Features

  1. Filter basket with handle
  2. Swing-out filter basket holder
  3. Basket holder release button
  4. 12-cup glass carafe with lid
  5. Warming plate
  6. Base
  7. Water filter with pod
  8. Control panel
  9. Removable water reservoir with handle
  10. Removable water reservoir lid
  11. Showerhead
  12. Measuring scoop (2 tablespoons/10 g)
  13. Measuring scoop holder
  14. Cord storage (back of coffee maker)

Control Panel Functions

  • HR/MIN Buttons: Set time of day or programmed brew time.
  • Keep Warm Adjustment: Select keep warm time (10 min to 4 hrs) and temperature (High/Med/Low).
  • BREW STRENGTH: Choose “1-4 Cups,” “Classic,” “Bold,” or “Robust.”
  • PROGRAM Button: Set a delayed brew start time.
  • Clean Notification: Indicates when cleaning is needed.
  • BREW (ON/OFF) Button: Start/stop brew cycle or turn the coffee maker on/off.

How to Make Coffee

  1. Plug into an outlet.
  2. Set the current time using the HR/MIN buttons.
  3. Remove the water reservoir, fill with desired amount of water, and replace.
  4. Open the swing-out filter basket holder, insert a #4 cone filter, and add ground coffee (1 scoop per 2 cups).
  5. Close the filter basket holder.
  6. Select brew strength and keep warm settings.
  7. Press the BREW button to start brewing. The coffee maker will beep when done.
  8. Press the BREW button again to turn off the coffee maker and unplug it when finished.

Programming Auto Brew

  1. Press PROGRAM until the display flashes.
  2. Use HR/MIN buttons to set the desired brew time.
  3. Press PROGRAM again to confirm. The green LED will illuminate.

Care and Cleaning

  1. Unplug and wipe the exterior with a damp cloth.
  2. Remove and clean the water filter.
  3. Descale monthly (or weekly for hard water areas) by filling the reservoir with vinegar and running a clean cycle.
  4. Rinse by running 2-3 cycles with fresh water.
  5. Carafe, filter basket, and scoop are dishwasher safe.

Tips for Best-Tasting Coffee

  • Use fresh, cold, filtered water.
  • Grind beans just before brewing.
  • Use the correct amount of coffee (1 scoop per 2 cups).
  • Clean the coffee maker regularly.

Troubleshooting

Filter basket overflows or coffee brews slowly:
- Use “Bold” or “1-4 Cups” for decaf coffee.
- Reduce the amount of coffee used.
- Use a coarser grind.
- Ensure the carafe and filter basket are properly placed.

Coffee not brewing/unit won’t turn on:
- Check if the water reservoir is empty or not in place.
- Ensure the unit is plugged in.
- Check for a power outage.

Coffee maker beeps:
- Beeps indicate setting adjustments, brewing completion, or the end of the keep warm cycle.

Warranty

This product is covered by a 5-year limited warranty. See the warranty card or visit hamiltonbeach.com for details.