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Nostalgia MWF5AQ vs KRUPS Belgian Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)6.3/10
- Design (20%)8.4/10
- Ease of Use (30%)6.3/10
- Performance (50%)2.9/10
- Design (20%)9.9/10
- Ease of Use (30%)9.6/10
While the KRUPS Belgian is a large, suitcase-like waffle maker, the Nostalgia MWF5AQ is a mini waffle maker that’s no larger than a softball. The difference in size and form factor alone should help many people make up their minds.
If you need a compact and portable mini waffle maker (for traveling or for making light snacks throughout the day), then the Nostalgia MWF5AQ is a good choice.
But if you want the ability to bulk-cook many waffles at once, the KRUPS Belgian is up to the task. Its large waffle plates can cook four 4- inch square waffles at once.
Unfortunately, that’s only in theory. In our tests, the KRUPS delivered one of the worst cooking performances. In fact, it’s the only waffle maker that failed a cooking test. Even after 10 minutes, it still didn’t manage to cook the Birch Benders premade batter to completion.
So, we recommend either picking the Nostalgia MWF5AQ or an alternative like the DASH No-Drip Belgian instead.
Nostalgia Mini Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.8/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)5.9/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)5.8/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)0/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- 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.
- 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: 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.
- 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.
Nostalgia MyMini Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)9.0/10
- 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
- Nostalgia MWF5AQ MyMini waffle maker
- Instruction manuals
- 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.
Nostalgia My Mini Waffle Maker’s Dimensions & Weight
- 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.
- 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
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.
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: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.
- 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 Nostalgia MWF5AQ has a single indicator light at the top. It does not have any additional control features.
- 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.
Nostalgia MyMini Waffle Maker’s Power Cord
- 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.
- 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 Nostalgia waffle maker does not come with any accessories.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The KRUPS waffle maker does not come with any extra accessory.
Nostalgia Mini Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)7.5/10
- Safety (40%)2.5/10
- Cleanability (25%)9.5/10
- 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
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.
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: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.
- 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 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.
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’s sole indicator light is bright. We could observe it easily from afar as well as under harsh studio lighting.
The two indicator lights at the front are very bright and can be seen even under studio lighting.