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Cuisinart WMR-CA Classic vs Nostalgia MWF5AQ Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)7.2/10
- Design (20%)7.7/10
- Ease of Use (30%)8.8/10
- Performance (50%)6.3/10
- Design (20%)8.4/10
- Ease of Use (30%)6.3/10
The Cuisinart WMR-CA Classic is an outlier in our database. So far, it’s the only model we’ve reviewed that has a classic-style patterning.
Also known as “American-style” patterning, the waffle plates of the Cuisinart WMR-CA are much more shallow and have fewer pockets. The result is a thinner (but no less delicious!) waffle reminiscent of old diners and waffle houses.
If you’re nostalgic for this waffle style, give the Cuisinart WMR-CA a shot!
On the other hand, the Nostalgia MWF5AQ is a mini waffle maker. Its waffle plates measure only around 4 inches across, and the waffles it bakes can fit neatly in the palm of your hand. As a result, the Nostalgia MWF5AQ has often been called a “snack machine.”
It’s perfect for making mid-day snacks!
Its small size also makes it a big hit among travelers, who can fit it in their backpacks and cook waffles on the go.
Cuisinart Classic Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.7/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)7.7/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.8/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)5.9/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- Heat Level: 3
- Cooking Time: 3 minutes
The waffle has a bright color but noticeably lacks uniformity. Rings of burnt batter were stamped to the top and bottom of the waffle. The texture and taste were surprisingly decent. The interior has begun to fill with air bubbles, producing a soft, fluffy texture. And the taste—while not exceptional—was decent enough to make for a hearty breakfast.
Color (35%) — 6.25/10
- Color result: Very dark brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Uneven
After spending only 2 minutes in the waffle maker, our self-mixed waffle already achieved a dark gold — almost brown — color. Reaching this color after such a short stint and only half power suggests that the heating element must be extremely strong. This was further evidenced by the large circle of burnt batter on the top of the waffle.
Texture (25%) — 7/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Medium, air bubbles have begun to fill the interior
The interior of the waffle has started to aerate. Thanks to this, the waffle had a soft, almost fluffy texture. But the size of the bubbles was small, and their number was few compared to the waffles we had baked with other models. This led us to believe that the overall texture of the waffle could be improved further.
Taste (40%) — 7/10
- Flavor: Bland, unexceptional. Still tastes like raw batter.
- Mouthfeel: Dry on the outside, mushy on the inside
Flavor-wise, the waffle was great. The sugar and salt in the batter were converted into a delectable sweetness with a slight hint of savoriness. Combined with the buttery aftertaste, the waffle was quite delicious.
The mouthfeel was unexceptional. As we mentioned earlier, we believed that the Cuisinart WMR-CA hadn’t managed to unlock the full potential of the batter here. It could be far softer and fluffier.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 6 minutes
The crust’s coloration was decent, with an appealing light brown color throughout. Within the wells were some dark brown burnt spots. They weren’t charred, but they still introduced a slight bitterness to the waffle. The texture was soft and fluffy, thanks to a high aeration rate. And taste-wise, our chef rated it as flavorful but held back from giving it a higher score due to the bitterness from the burnt spots.
Color (35%) — 6.5/10
- Color tone: Light brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
On the whole, the waffle had good coloration. The outer crust was light brown, with most of the darker spots concentrated inside the wells. Though it had a slightly mottled appearance, we still considered the waffle’s coloration to be uniform.
Texture (25%) - 6/10
- Texture: Good
- Aeration level: High - air bubbles were plentiful and well-sized within the waffle
The interior of the waffle was fully developed and aerated, resulting in a soft, fluffy core. Large air bubbles and pockets could be seen throughout the waffle’s interior.
Taste (40%) - 7.5/10
- Flavor: Rich and sweet, slightly bitter
- Mouthfeel: Soft and fluffy
Our chef described it as having a rich, sweet taste. Although the burnt spots on the crust introduced a slight bitterness to the waffle’s flavor profile, it was still delicious. Hence, the waffle received a good score in this section.
Birch Benders Mix
- Heat Level: 3
- Cooking Time: 4 minutes
The waffle’s coloring is excellent in this taste. An appealing golden-brown crust covers both sides of the waffle uniformly. The interior has filled out nicely with air bubbles and becomes soft and pliant. However, it’s still slightly mushy in certain parts. It is flavorful and without a trace of bitterness.
Color (35%) - 7.5/10
- Color result: Light brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The pre-made mix managed to bring out more of this machine’s potential. After 4 minutes, the waffle maker produced a beautiful waffle with a light golden tone, highlighted by faint pockets of browning near the center.
Color uniformity was also good. But for a faint brown circle on the upper surface, its light golden brown tone was spread evenly throughout the entire waffle. We’re pretty sure the brown was caused by the unit’s powerful heating element, and is the main reason the WMA-CA lost points in this category. In contrast, the distribution of color at the bottom was almost perfect.
Texture (25%) — 7.5/10
- Texture: Good
- Aeration level: High, air bubbles were large and well-developed
The waffle filled out well. Its interior ended up nicely aerated, and we found large bubbles when we cut the waffle open. In terms of texture, it was soft and fluffy. Regrettably, our chef assessed the waffle to be still slightly mushy, so its score took a hit.
Taste (40%) - 8/10
- Flavor: Sweet, slightly salty (due to the mix). No bitterness.
- Mouthfeel: Soft and spongy. Slightly mushy.
The waffle received a high score from our chef. The crust reached just the right level of crispiness, and the inside was reasonably soft. The batter had fully developed on the inside, unleashing its complete flavor profile. However, as previously mentioned, our chef still noticed a faint hint of mushiness.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 8 minutes
Though the pale coloration of the waffle didn't look great, the texture and taste were decent. It was soft and pliant with a taste that—while not gourmet—was good enough for breakfasts and light snacks.
Color (35%) — 5/10
- Color tone: Pale gold (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The crust had a very light gold tone, with the pockets being slightly darker. Because the color was too light with the same tone as undercooked batter, we didn’t rate the waffle highly in this section.
Texture (25%) - 7/10
- Texture: Soft, but overly moist and mushy
- Aeration level: Medium
The overall texture was acceptable but certainly could have been better. We found several air bubbles throughout the cake's core when cutting the waffle open. They were small and had inconsistent distribution, resulting in a soft but spongy waffle.
Taste (40%) - 6/10
- Flavor: Sweet and slightly savory
- Mouthfeel: Soft, but mushy in certain spots
Our chef rated the Nostalgia’s performance in this test as “Good.” The full flavor of the Birch Benders mix was extracted: we got a sweet, slightly salty taste profile in this waffle. But where it fell short was in the mouthfeel. Though it was indeed soft, its mushiness affected the overall experience greatly.
Cuisinart WMR CA Round Classic Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)8.0/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)7.0/10
- Control Panel (10%)8.0/10
- Build Quality (60%)9.0/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)0/10
What’s In the Box of the Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker
- Waffle maker
- User manual
In its small shipping box you will find just the WMR-CA waffle maker and the user manual. It doesn’t come with any extra accessories.
- Nostalgia MWF5AQ MyMini waffle maker
- Instruction manuals
Dimensions
- Length:9.7" (24.6 cm)
- Width:7.9" (20.1 cm)
- Height:3.3" (8.4 cm)
- Weight:1.0 lbs (0.5 kg)
The compact size of the WMR-CA is an advantage in terms of storage. It will fit snugly in a small cupboard. Since it doesn’t take up a lot of space, you can also leave it on the kitchen island.
At 1 pound, the WMR-CA is lightweight. You can bring it in and out of storage with ease.
- Length:6.8" (17.1 cm)
- Width:6.5" (16.5 cm)
- Height:3.5" (8.9 cm)
- Weight:1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)
True to its name, the Nostalgia MWF5AQ has a lightweight and compact design. The waffle maker weighs 1.25 pounds and is small enough to fit in one’s palm. Consequently, Nostalgia has focused a lot on travelers and hikers in their marketing for the MWF5AQ as they may enjoy having a waffle maker that is small enough to fit in their backpacks or luggage.
Build Quality
The exterior shell of the waffle maker is made from brushed metal. All external parts are made from plastic, except for the waffle plates.
Cuisinart benefited greatly from the WMR-CA model’s simple design. There appear to be no significant design flaws. We didn’t find any part that was poorly tooled, either.
While it’s not a sophisticated or high-end design, all parts of the WMR-CA fit together and — more importantly — work together well.
There were a few minor annoyances, though. The metallic exterior is prone to fingerprint smudges and scratches. The metal went from pristine to worn after only a few days in the lab. It’s not difficult to wipe off the smears with some mild detergent, but the scratches remain.
The Nostalgia waffle maker has a solid build quality for the price. Although its plastic construction makes it look and feel quite cheap, every part is built and finished well. The coloring on the lid is vibrant, the lid hinges are solid and don’t wobble, and we didn’t find any significant design or build-related issues.
Control Panel
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:Yes
The control panel is bare-bones, befitting an entry-level waffle maker. You can use only a single slider at the front to adjust the temperature.
The slider is easy to manipulate, but there’s a lack of resistance. A light touch could push the slider out of the desired position.
The base features a pair of indicator lights beside the slider: a red POWER light and a green READY light.
The POWER indicator turns on when you plug in the waffle maker. The green READY light will turn on when it has reached the temperature you set using the temperature slider.
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:No
The Nostalgia MWF5AQ has a single indicator light at the top. It does not have any additional control features.
Waffle Plates
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Classic-style
- Plate Area:47.78 inches2
- Plate Length:7.8" (19.8 cm)
- Plate Width:7.8" (19.8 cm)
- Material:Cast iron
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle plates are made from cast iron and coated with Teflon (PTFE), which is the non-stick layer.
Teflon is generally safe for use as a non-stick coating due to its relative inertness at average cooking temperatures. However, in special circumstances, the Teflon may become carcinogenic (if it’s heated beyond 570 ℉, for example).
Also, note that you should not use metal utensils on non-stick surfaces — they can scrape the coating off. The Teflon flakes aren’t harmful if you ingest them so long that it’s not overheating. Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to try and keep the non-stick coating as intact as possible.
These waffle plates are designed to make classic-style waffles; they have shallower wells (the indents) compared to Belgian-style models. This is crucial information to know before you buy.
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Classic-style
- Plate Area:15.9 inches2
- Plate Length:4.5" (11.4 cm)
- Plate Width:4.5" (11.4 cm)
- Material:Die-cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle plates are Belgian-style and are coated with a layer of non-stick. Nostalgia didn’t disclose the chemical composition of the non-stick layer. Nevertheless, throughout our performance tests, the coating held up well. We have never had to deal with a sticky waffle.
Cuisinart WMR-CA Waffle Maker’s Power Cord
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:3.0 ft (0.9 m)
- Cable Management:No
The power cord measures x long. The short length can be a problem in some kitchens. There’s a good chance that you’ll have to resort to an extension cord if you don’t keep the waffle maker near an outlet.
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:8.2" (20.8 cm)
- Cable Management:Yes
The power cord only measures around 8 inches long. As such, you will most likely need an extension cord.
Accessories
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The Cuisinart WMR-CA waffle maker doesn’t come with any extra accessories.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The Nostalgia waffle maker does not come with any accessories.
Cuisinart WMR CA Round Classic Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)9.0/10
- Safety (40%)8.9/10
- Cleanability (25%)9.5/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)6.5/10
- Handling (25%)7.5/10
- Safety (40%)2.5/10
- Cleanability (25%)9.5/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
Handling
We noticed no significant problems while working with the WMR-CA. All the controls are easy to figure out, even without a user manual. Opening and closing the lid is easy and safe, thanks to the large handle at the front. The user will still be able to use the handle even after several cooking sessions.
The lid is solidly built. When open, the lid rests at a slightly backward-tilted angle. It won’t unexpectedly snap closed while you’re adding the batter.
We dropped the handling rating to a nine because the temperature control slider feels so loose.
Working with the Nostalgia waffle maker is easy. Since the waffle maker has no control feature, most people won’t need to read the instruction manuals before getting started.
The lid can be opened and closed smoothly, and the hinges are solid enough that the top doesn’t jiggle or sway too much from side to side.
Like most mini waffle makers, its small size means the surfaces on the unit heat up to dangerous temperatures after a while. So, oven mitts are a must for handling the waffle maker.
Safety
- Top Side Temperature:181.7°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:94°F
- Handle Temperature:96.4°F
The Cuisinart WMR-CA received an excellent safety score. Even after multiple cooking sessions, the control panel and the handle don’t become too hot.
We recorded the handle’s temperature at 96.4°F, only slightly above room temperature.
The upper shell of the waffle maker gets quite hot, though. The metal conducts heat very well, so it could become hot enough to give you a burn after a waffle or two. The plastic piece at the top can also become hot enough to cause a burn. We recorded a temperature of 181.7°F.
We’re able to touch the bottom side of the waffle maker without feeling any heat at all. It measured a comfortable 94°F.
- Top Side Temperature:169.9°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:127.9°F
- Handle Temperature:149.2°F
Due to its small size, the waffle maker’s surfaces heat up quickly. So, every surface—from top to bottom—got dangerously hot.
We also noticed the Nostalgia having the same problem as other mini-size waffle makers: hot steam. After a cooking session, a hot plume of steam wafts upward from the plates when you open the lid. The flash of pain can be startling if you’re unprepared and may cause you to drop the lid, potentially damaging the waffle plates.
As such, you should always wear oven mitts while operating this waffle maker (Nostalgia included this point in the safety section in the user’s manual).
At the top of the lid, the temperature measured around 170°F.
Cleanability
The WMR-CA is relatively easy to clean. The dry batter will come off with a few spritzes of detergent and a little scrubbing.
On the inside, the non-stick layer makes it very easy to clean.
For the most part, all we had to do was run a dry cloth through the waffle plates’ grid pattern to pick up the gunk. However, the narrow indents can be hard to reach.
The non-stick plates help a lot with the clean-up afterward. Since the batter and the waffle didn’t stick to the plates, we only had to wipe lightly with a cloth to remove the debris and residues.
But because it’s so small, there were waffle spills from time to time. But thanks to the outer shell of the waffle maker being made from smooth plastic, which doesn’t grip onto batter tightly, they can be cleaned with just a cloth and mild detergent.
Indicator Light Visibility
This model’s indicator lights are dim. They are difficult to see under harsh studio lights or bright sunlight. However, both the red and green lights should be easy to see in the average kitchen.
The waffle maker’s sole indicator light is bright. We could observe it easily from afar as well as under harsh studio lighting.