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CROWNFUL 4-inch Mini vs KRUPS Belgian Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)6.2/10
- Design (20%)8.8/10
- Ease of Use (30%)6.6/10
- Performance (50%)2.9/10
- Design (20%)9.9/10
- Ease of Use (30%)9.6/10
The Crownful 4-inch Mini waffle maker has an entirely different usage than the KRUPS Belgian. Thanks to its compact and lightweight form, the Crownful is super popular among travelers. Plus, it’s also a great choice for people who only need a waffle maker to bake snacks throughout the day. The 4-inch waffles it bakes are perfect for this purpose!
On the other hand, the KRUPS Belgian waffle maker has a large, suitcase-like design. It stands out from the Crownful 4-inch Mini by being able to cook four 4-inch square waffles at once. This makes it a great choice for large families and others who might need to cook a lot of waffles regularly.
Unfortunately, the KRUPS Belgian is hobbled by bad cooking performance. So far, it is the worst-performing model in our database.
As a result, in this pair, we lean more toward recommending the Crownful 4-inch Mini. If you want the bulk-cooking ability of the KRUPS Belgian, look into alternatives like the DASH No-Drip Belgian instead.
Crownful Mini Waffle Maker Machine’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)7.1/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)5.3/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)5.8/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)0/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Our chef gave the CF-WM01's waffle a good score, citing the beautiful, lightly browned crust. The waffle's texture was soft, thanks to a decent aeration rate. But the waffle was still developing, and the air pockets hadn't expanded to their maximum size. Our chef also gave the waffle a good score in the taste section but didn't rate it highly as the waffle has a slightly cloying taste of the raw batter.
Color (35%) — 7.25/10
- Color tone: Dark brown (Top) — Light brown (Bottom)
- Color distribution: Uneven
The crust has an appealing shade of light golden brown. Within the deep wells on the waffle, the colors are darker, turning to a light golden brown.
We noticed the wells at the top of the waffle tend to be darker than the bottom. On some tests, the wells on the top side looked like they were charred, while the bottom remained lightly colored. This inconsistent heating pattern alludes to an unbalanced heating grid.
Texture (25%) - 7/10
- Texture: Soft in most parts, but mushy in certain spots
- Aeration level: Medium
The waffle’s interior has a medium aeration rate, and several air bubbles can be observed in its core. But since the bubbles were still developing, much of the waffle’s core was still solid and mushy. The mushy spots of under-developed batter stood out as an annoying contrast to the otherwise soft and spongy waffle.
Taste (40%) - 7/10
- Flavor: Sweet and savory
- Mouthfeel: Soft, but slightly mushy
Taste wise, our chef judged the waffle to have a good blend of flavors: sweet and savory. But the mushy mouthfeel was a turn-off that ultimately resulted in the Crownful getting only a Good score in this section.
- Heat Level: Between 2 and 3
- Cooking Time: 7 minutes
Considering this waffle maker's price and glamorous look, the waffle it produced was quite disappointing. The coloration is pale and unremarkable. Our chef gave the texture a low score due to the waffle’s dense core with next to no air bubbles to help soften it up. In terms of flavor, the mushiness of the waffle ruined the flavor profile by introducing a raw batter-like taste.
Color (35%) — 6
- Color tone: Very light gold (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
Though a section of the crust has a dark brown color, most have a very light gold tone. The pale coloring of the waffle looked as if it was still undercooked. Fortunately, this is only by appearance. The waffle has been cooked thoroughly.
Texture (25%) — 5
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low; air bubbles were few as well as being very small in sizes
The texture was pretty disappointing. The waffle was still dense on the inside despite being left to cook for over 7 minutes. The result was a very chewy waffle. In certain spots, the waffle was even mushy.
Taste (40%) — 5.5
- Flavor: Sweet and buttery, but there’s also the taste of raw batter mixed in
- Mouthfeel: Mushy
Our chef still noticed the sweet, buttery taste of the batter. However, the underdeveloped interior of the waffle greatly affected the tasting experience by introducing the bland taste of raw batter into the flavor profile.
Birch Benders Mix
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The waffle was light colored and mushy when we picked it up from the plates. It was clear this test was a bust from the start. But surprisingly, while coloration and texture were discouraging, the waffle's flavor was decent. It saved the otherwise mediocre waffle from failing the test.
Color (35%) — 4.5/10
- Color tone: Pale gold (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The waffle has the appearance of being undercooked with its pale gold crust. Some of the wells on the waffle were dark brown, slightly improving its look. But, as a whole, we still found the coloration not up to the mark.
Texture (25%) - 7/10
- Texture: Soft, but overly moist and mushy
- Aeration level: Medium
The waffle’s interior developed well. Slicing it in half, we saw prominent air bubbles and pockets inside. It should have resulted in a soft, fluffy waffle. Unfortunately, the waffle has a lot of moisture, making it limp and mushy. We let it rest for 5 minutes to see if it would get better, but the texture did not improve.
Taste (40%) - 5/10
- Flavor: Distinctly savory and sweet
- Mouthfeel: Very mushy
The waffle maker did a great job developing the waffle’s flavor profile. That was despite the lackluster color and texture. Our chef judged it tasty, with a distinct savory note, from the pre-made batter mix.
But while the taste was great, the mouthfeel was subpar due to the mushy texture of the waffle.
- Heat Level: Maximum (5)
- Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Since we never managed to make an edible waffle with the KRUPS in this test, all three score fields are 0. The waffle has a pale, almost-white color of raw batter. The texture is mushy. And since it hasn’t fully cooked just yet, the taste is atrocious.
Color (35%) — 0
- Color tone: Pale gold (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
Coloring is unspectacular. We repeated the tests several times, yet the waffle always came out with a sickly pale yellow tone.
Texture (25%) — 0
- Texture: Bad
- Aeration level: Low; air bubbles were virtually non-existent
The aeration level is very low. When we cut the waffle, an undercooked interior is exposed. Not only are there next to no air bubbles, but we could still see “fillings” of raw batter in the waffle’s interior.
Texture-wise, it is incredibly mushy to the point of being runny. It almost seemed like the waffle was still in a semi-liquid state.
Taste (40%) — 0
- Flavor: Cloying taste of raw batter
- Mouthfeel: Mushy
It was evident from the start that the waffle was inedible. It tasted terrible, with the distinct raw egg-like flavor of uncooked batter.
Crownful Mini Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)10/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)9.5/10
- Control Panel (10%)0/10
- Build Quality (60%)10/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)9.5/10
What’s in the Box of the Crownful 4 inch Waffle Maker
- Crownful CF-WM01 waffle maker
- Instruction manual
- Warranty card
- The KRUPS waffle maker
- Instruction manual
The box’s content is fairly basic, containing the waffle maker itself and a user manual. No extra accessory is included.
Dimensions
- Length:5.7" (14.5 cm)
- Width:5.1" (13.0 cm)
- Height:3.1" (8.0 cm)
- Weight:1.0 lbs (0.5 kg)
The Crownful lives up to expectations when it comes to compactness. You can easily fit the waffle maker inside a cupboard or a traveler’s backpack or duffel bag.
- Length:14.4" (36.6 cm)
- Width:10.2" (25.9 cm)
- Height:4.5" (11.4 cm)
- Weight:9.1 lbs (4.1 kg)
Weighing over 9 pounds and having a rectangular shape measuring 14.4 inches long and 10.2 inches wide, the KRUPS is a hulk of a waffle maker. It takes a lot of space on the countertop, so finding enough storage space is always a problem. Plus, its weight makes transport a tiresome chore.
Build Quality
Since it is such a cheap waffle maker, we didn’t have high expectations of its build quality when we first received it in the lab. It was a pleasant surprise when we unboxed the waffle maker and found its build quality to be so good.
The top lid is made from textured plastic and has a pattern of raised, concentric circles. Contrasting the black paint of our unit is the light-colored wooden handle at the front, inscribed with the company’s name.
The build quality of the unit’s interior is also good. The lid hinges are solid, and the waffle plates are immaculate.
The build quality of this waffle maker is excellent. Its body is primarily constructed from lightweight plastic, but the top of the lid is made from steel. Typically, durability is a concern if a product is made from plastic. But it’s easy to look past that, considering how the plastic construction saves the waffle maker from being heavier than it already is.
Every part of the waffle maker looks well-built, especially the reinforced lid hinges.
Waffle Plates
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Classic-style
- Plate Area:12.57 inch2
- Plate Length:4.0" (10.2 cm)
- Plate Width:4.0" (10.2 cm)
- Material:Cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The cooking area of the plates is nestled inside a raised moat, which acts as an anti-spill channel. It is slightly offset from the moat, creating a fascinating “Hawaiian earring” pattern.
Although the anti-spill channel is meant to catch excess batter and prevent it from spilling out of the machine while cooking, it doesn't work well in practice. The channel is very shallow, so it has very little value unless the spill is minor.
The plates are coated with a layer of non-stick, which works well enough. We have never had trouble scooping out a finished waffle during our tests.
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Belgian-style
- Plate Area:102.5 inch2
- Plate Length:10.0" (25.4 cm)
- Plate Width:10.3" (26.0 cm)
- Material:Cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:Yes
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
The KRUPS waffle maker gets a perfect score in this section. The waffle plates are rectangular and segmented into four quadrants. Each quadrant can make a square-shaped waffle measuring 4.6 inches.
Both plates are coated with a layer of non-stick material. Unfortunately, KRUPS doesn’t disclose what non-stick they used for the plates, but there’s a good chance it’s Teflon. The non-stick layers work well enough and we did not have to deal with many cooking residues besides a few bits of debris.
The plates can be removed for easier cleaning. They can be detached via two red levers on the side. The user manual indicates that the waffle plates are dishwasher-safe. However, there are many reports of the KRUPS waffle maker’s non-stick coating becoming oxidized and worn out after they’re put through the dishwasher. Exercise caution.
Control Panel
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:Yes
The waffle maker doesn’t come with any control feature. There is an indicator light at the top, which lights up when it’s plugged in, then turns off once the plates have been heated and are ready for use.
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:Yes
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:Yes
The control panel sits at the front of the waffle maker.
On the left are two indicator lights. The “ON” red light will light up when you plug it in. When the plates are well heated and ready for use, the green “READY” light will turn on, accompanied by an audible chime.
A small browning level control dial (temperature control) is featured on the right. It turns very smoothly and has five settings.
The only feature missing from the control panel is a built-in timer.
Crownful 4-inch Mini Waffle Maker’s Power Cord
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:2.6 ft (0.8 m)
- Cable Management:No
The power cable is very long at 31.5 inches, making it an even more attractive option for travelers who may not always have convenient access to power outlets. For those at home, the longer cord means you’ll most likely be able to skip using an extension cord (unless your kitchen has very odd outlet placement.)
But the longer cord can be a problem when it comes to storing the waffle maker, especially when it doesn’t have any cable management feature.
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:2.1 ft (0.6 m)
- Cable Management:Yes
The power cord is only 25 inches long, which is way shorter than average (around 30 inches). So you may have to use an extension cord.
At the bottom of the waffle maker, you will find a grommet that you can wrap the cord around for easier management and storage.
Accessories
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The Crownful waffle maker doesn't come with any accessory.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The KRUPS waffle maker does not come with any extra accessory.
Crownful Mini Waffle Maker Machine Review
- Handling (25%)8.5/10
- Safety (40%)2.5/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
- Handling (25%)9.0/10
- Safety (40%)9.7/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
Handling
As it doesn’t have any control features, all you have to do is plug it in. The waffle maker will handle the rest. Once the waffle plates are heated up, the indicator light at the top will turn off. That’s the signal to pour in the batter. Wait out the cooking time for however long you want, then lift the lid and extract the finished waffle.
The opening and closing motion of the lid is smooth, thanks to the solid lid hinges.
As we mentioned earlier, the waffle maker is straightforward to operate. The lock is situated at the front center of the machine, behind the handle. It is top-actuated, which means you must press the top of the lock instead of the bottom to open the lid. It’s a pretty intelligent design. You can grip the front handle, then work the lock by pushing inward with your knuckles.
When pushed, the lid will lean backward at an angle, preventing it from snapping close unexpectedly.
Safety
- Top Side Temperature:187.9°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:129.6°F
- Handle Temperature:188.4°F
The Crownful has an abysmal safety score. But it’s worth noting that the faults don’t lie with the manufacturer. Like most mini-sized waffle makers, the whole unit has bad insulation because of its small size. After one or two cooking sessions, every surface on the machine will become piping hot: It is unavoidable. Unfortunately, since this is what we measure to determine a waffle maker’s safety score, the Crownful failed miserably in this test portion.
Using a thermometer, we measured the temperature of the waffle maker’s top side, which was 187.9°F.
The bottom side was warm, measuring 129.6°F. It’s still safe to the touch. However, it’s better to wear oven mitts while handling the waffle maker.
The handle was scorching hot at 188.4°F. The hot handle, combined with the hot steam surging from the plates, makes wearing oven mitts a must. The heat is intense enough to instantly cause a burn injury.
- Top Side Temperature:176°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:127°F
- Handle Temperature:89°F
After several cooking sessions, the top side becomes very hot. We measured a peak temperature of 176°F.
At 127°F, the bottom side of the KRUPS waffle maker is very warm to the touch.
The handle, separated from the baking chamber, is cool to the touch. Our thermometer registered a temperature of 89°F, which is at room temperature.
Cleanability
The Crownful is easy to clean, both from within and outside. The non-stick coated plates only need a few scrubs with a clean, dry cloth to remove batter residues or waffle debris.
The exterior of the waffle maker, made from a type of smooth plastic, doesn’t grip onto the dried batter. We left spilled batter to dry on the exterior of the waffle maker for a day. We were able to scour it off with a few spritzes of detergent and a cloth without any difficulty when we cleaned it the next day.
The waffle maker is easy to clean for most parts. Thanks to the highly effective non-stick coating on the waffle plates, cleaning them was as simple as wiping them down with paper towels. When thoroughness is needed, the plates can be detached and cleaned up separately.
There aren’t any hard-to-reach nooks and crannies on the waffle maker. The material of the waffle maker doesn’t aggressively grip onto the dried batter, either.
Indicator Light Visibility
The indicator light at the top was decently bright. We could see it even under studio lighting.
The two indicator lights at the front are very bright and can be seen even under studio lighting.