KRUPS Belgian vs Hamilton Beach 26031 Side-by-Side Comparison
The KRUPS Belgian and Hamilton Beach 26031 are in the same price range. However, it’s clear from the get-go which one offers the best value: the Hamilton Beach.
Specifications
Design
Contrary to its performance, the KRUPS waffle maker has one of the best designs and overall build quality in our database. From the sturdy, stainless steel top lid to the solid weight and feel of the machine, it's clear just by looking at it that the KRUPS is a high-end waffle maker.
But it's more than just good looks that sets this model apart from basic models. It comes with removable waffle plates that provide added convenience. There's an audible alarm that can help you monitor the cooking process more easily.
The Hamilton Beach 26031 boasts a sleek, luxurious design crafted from stainless steel. We’re quite impressed with the build quality of the ceramic waffle plates. The smooth coating and solid feel of the plates in hand leave no doubt that Hamilton Beach has paid close attention to its construction.
We also liked the control panel. It’s highly intuitive and easy to use, consisting of a single dial for controlling the browning level and two indicator lights.
Usability Comparison
The KRUPS waffle maker has outstanding safety ratings. During our thermal safety tests, all of the oft-touched surfaces on the waffle maker (the handle, the lid, and the bottom side) are all cool. It’s very easy to clean and boasts user-friendly features like straightforward controls and an audible chime that make it easier to interact with the machine. We also like the oversized handle and lid lock, which greatly enhance the user experience.
The Hamilton Beach 26031 has been given a high ease of use score thanks to the simple controls and effortless operation.
Our trials revealed that the lid and flipping mechanism worked wonders. Safety tests also showed that the Hamilton Beach 26031 is generally safe for most people to use — no excessive hot spots or structural flaws.
To make things even better, the waffle maker already included a drip tray and removable plates, making it a breeze to clean.
Performance Test
By June 2022, the KRUPS waffle maker was the sole model that failed our performance test. It miserably earned last place on our rankings after its inability to cook self-made batter and even worse, transforming Birch Benders mix into an inedible mush in the second test.
The Hamilton Beach 26031 did excellently in all of our cooking test sessions. The texture and taste of the waffles were impressive, according to our chef. However, the coloration of the waffles could still be improved. Most of the waffles we made had dark colorings, which wasn’t ideal.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Solidly built from high-quality materials
- Able to cook four waffles simultaneously
- The waffle plates’ non-stick coating works great
- Controls are straightforward to use
- Easy to clean
- Luxurious aesthetic by incorporating premium materials (stainless steel and ceramic)
- Does a great job in all of our performance tests
- Removable and washable waffle plates
- Easy to clean thanks to the included drip tray
- Waffle’s quality is mediocre in the self-mixed recipe test
- Failed at producing an edible waffle in the test with the Birch Benders mix
- Power cord is too short
- The spin-lock mechanism at the handle is finicky
Conclusion
Being in approximately the same price range, you could say that the KRUPS Belgian waffle maker is a direct competitor to the Hamilton Beach 26031. We don’t need to dive too much into details to give our recommendation: the Hamilton Beach 26031 is the way to go.
The KRUPS Belgian waffle maker did not perform well in our performance tests. It is the only waffle maker that failed a cooking test. In our test, the KRUPS could not cook an edible waffle in 10 minutes using the premixed waffle batter.
Concurrently, the Hamilton Beach 26031 is one of our best performers with a great overall performance score. All of its waffles came out cooked and met our demands regarding color, texture, and taste. Its design isn’t too shabby, either, with a luxurious stainless steel baking chamber and ceramic-coated waffle plates.
Behind the Comparison
Matthew Lee is a writer and editor for HealthyKitchen101. With over 8 years working for various outlets and agencies, specializing in tech review and other subjects of note, such as current affairs.
Tuyet Pham is an award-winning Saigonese chef passionate about delicious and healthful foods. At HealthyKitchen101, she develops recipes and collaborates with our Research, Testing, and Review lab to evaluate the performance of cooking appliances. Her assessments add a strong authoritative voice to our product scoring process.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
