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DASH DMW001AQ Mini vs KRUPS Belgian Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)6.5/10
- Design (20%)6.0/10
- Ease of Use (30%)8.3/10
- Performance (50%)2.9/10
- Design (20%)9.9/10
- Ease of Use (30%)9.6/10
There is a world of difference between the DASH DMW001AQ Mini and the KRUPS Belgian waffle maker. For one, they are our database's smallest and largest waffle makers.
The DASH DMW001AQ can make one small, palm-sized 4-inch waffle. Although it didn’t do excellently in our tests, the DASH could still cook edible waffles. Its compact size makes it a good choice for travelers and people who only want small waffles to snack on throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the massive square waffle plates of the KRUPS Belgian waffle maker are quartered into square segments. Each one can make a 4.5-inch waffle. So, if you were to fill the waffle maker up to capacity, you would have four 4.5-inch waffles. This makes the KRUPS an excellent waffle maker if you’re looking for something that can cook waffles in bulk.
However, we can’t recommend the KRUPS right now. It is the only model that failed our performance test and, consequently, has the lowest score in our database.
DASH Mini Waffle Maker DMW001AQ’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.0/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)7.0/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)5.8/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)0/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
In all three aspects (coloration, texture, and taste,) the DASH Mini still received mediocre scores. Nonetheless, compared to the test results in the first testing methodology (v1.0,) the DASH Mini still saw marked improvements.
Color (35%) — 6
- Color tone: Very dark brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Uneven
The waffle’s coloration was mediocre, and we assessed the waffle maker to have done a lousy job at cooking the waffle evenly. Inside some of the wells, the crust was cooked to a dark brown color, almost like they were charred. Upon closer inspection, it seems like they were only overcooked rather than burnt.
The crust was mixed between dark gold and light brown outside the wells.
Texture (25%) — 6
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low, air bubbles were small and weren’t well-distributed
The interior was decently aerated. Air bubbles have begun to form on the inside of the waffle. However, they were pretty small and weren’t distributed evenly. As a result, the waffle was still relatively chewy and didn’t have the spongy softness we were looking for.
Taste (40%) — 6
- Flavor: Sweet and savory with a hint of bitterness
- Mouthfeel: Dense and dry
The taste was also mediocre. Our chef did recognize the sweet and slightly savory taste of the batter in the waffle. Unfortunately, the haphazardly burnt crust introduced a somewhat bitter taste to the waffle’s flavor profile. Plus, the underwhelming mouthfeel of the waffle also contributed to the waffle’s relatively low taste score.
- 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: 7 minutes
Compared to the results using the self-mixed recipe, the test results using the Birch Benders mix were significantly better. Coloration was still slightly messy, but it was smoother and more attractive. The texture was soft and spongy, but the interior was still too moist to garner a higher score though the waffle certainly was flavorful.
Color (35%) — 6.3
- Color tone: Very dark brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Uneven at the top, uniform at the bottom
The coloring on the top was still not great. The upper crust was still marked with seemingly random dark and light spots—the darker burnt areas being mainly concentrated within the waffle’s wells.
The underside was significantly better. It enjoyed a prettier color gradient that ranged from light gold to golden brown. The distribution of color was excellent.
Texture (25%) — 6.5
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: High, the interior was filled with sizable air bubbles
The aeration level was high, and large air bubbles could be seen within the interior of the waffle. This resulted in a decently soft and fluffy texture. However, our chef judged the inside to be still too moist to get a better score.
Taste (40%) — 8
- Flavor: Tasty, but a hint of raw batter is present
- Mouthfeel: Crunchy outer crust with slightly mushy interior
The Dash Mini was able to bring out the complete flavor profile of the batter. Sweet and savory, it was a great-tasting waffle. The well-developed crust gave the waffle a nice crunch. Sadly, the slight mushiness of the interior prevented us from giving it a perfect score.
- 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.
Mini Dash Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)5.0/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)0/10
- Build Quality (60%)10/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)9.5/10
In The Box
- Dash Mini waffle maker
- Instruction manuals and leaflets
The shipping box contained the waffle maker along with the instruction manuals and advertising leaflets. This waffle maker does not come with any accessories.
- 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.
Baby DASH Waffle Maker’s Dimensions & Weight
- Length:6.3" (16.0 cm)
- Width:5.0" (12.7 cm)
- Height:2.5" (6.4 cm)
- Weight:1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)
The Dash Mini has a very compact form factor. All three of its dimensions measure less than 10 inches taking up very little space on the kitchen countertop. You can also easily fit the waffle maker into a cupboard when it’s not in use.
- 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
Build quality is not good. The waffle maker’s outer body is made entirely from plastic with a very thin layer of paint sprayed on the top. During our tests, we noticed that the paint flaked off very easily. In fact, the layer of paint was so flimsy that fingernails could scrape it off.
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 waffle plates, however, are excellent and are coated with a layer of PFOA-free non-stick. As a result, cleaning the plates is effortless. We only needed to give them a cursory wipe with paper towels to clean off crumbs and other small pieces of food debris. We never had to deal with a sticky waffle throughout our week-long test.
- 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:No
The Dash Mini doesn’t have a control panel. The only feature is the indicator light at the top, which turns on when the waffle maker is plugged in. Once the plates are heated and ready for use, the light will turn off.
With no controls, it gets a zero in this section.
- 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.
DASH Mini Waffle Machine’s Power Cord
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:2.5 ft (0.8 m)
- Cable Management:No
The Dash Mini has a very long power cord measuring 30 inches. Though it gives the waffle maker greater usability, the long cord can be an issue when it comes to storage. We had to loop the cord around the waffle maker’s body to store it.
- 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 Dash Mini waffle maker does not come with any kind of accessory.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The KRUPS waffle maker does not come with any extra accessory.
Dash Mini Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)8.0/10
- Safety (40%)8.0/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)6.0/10
- Handling (25%)9.0/10
- Safety (40%)9.7/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
Handling
Handling is adequate. As previously mentioned, there aren’t any manual controls on this waffle maker, so it functions as a ‘plug-and-play’ device. You only need to plug in the power cord, wait until the top light turns off, then pour in the batter.
The lid opens and closes smoothly. When pushed back, the lid leans backward at an angle. This effectively prevents the top from snapping closed unexpectedly.
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:191°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:120°F
- Handle Temperature:98°F
Due to its small size, the entire waffle maker heats up after just one cooking session. We had to pick up the waffle maker by the power cord and let the machine dangle by the end to move it off the countertop after testing.
Additionally, upon opening the lid after a waffle has finished cooking, you could be subjected to a startling plume of hot air from the waffle plates. The hot air isn’t dangerous, but the flash of considerable heat can still feel extremely uncomfortable.
The top surface reached a temperature of 191°F.
It is only slightly warm at the handle, measuring 98°F. However, like we mentioned earlier, beware of the plume of hot air when you open up the lid.
The base of the waffle maker is uncomfortably warm at 120°F.
- 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 waffle maker is easy to clean. We only needed to wipe down the non-stick waffle plates once in a while to scoop up leftover debris.
Dried-out waffle batter doesn’t stick hard to the smooth plastic body when a spill happens. Cooking residues can be dealt with using mild detergent and a few scrubs with a cloth.
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 waffle maker has a large indicator light at the top. It’s difficult to see under harsh studio lighting and daylight. Under normal lighting conditions, however, the light should be clear.
The two indicator lights at the front are very bright and can be seen even under studio lighting.