1. The short version
2. Testing
3. Important stuff
4. Unboxing and setup
5. Using the coffee maker
6. Cleaning and maintenance
7. Is it right for you?
8. Good to know
9. Where to buy
10. How we test
Mr. Coffee single-serve frappe, iced, and hot coffee maker review
The Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker and Blender can whip up the icy, creamy deliciousness that is a frappe. And who doesn't love this cold menu item? It’s like a milkshake that’s totally acceptable to drink daily because it’s coffee.
From simple coffee frappes to the seasonal flavors we wait all year for (peppermint mocha, right?), these are a coffeehouse favorite whenever you’re feeling a little spicier than just a standard latte. But have you ever thought about making one at home? If you’re anything like me, the idea of pulling out a clunky blender is enough to put the idea on hold indefinitely. Plus, there’s the foresight of having iced coffee in the fridge…it’s all just too much.
The Mr. Coffee Frappe Iced and Hot set out to eliminate those obstacles. If you’re coming from the startup world, you could say they’re disrupting the frappe industry. This small coffee maker comes in multiple colors, but I’m partial to the matte black for its minimalism. It’s reminiscent of the Mr. Coffee® 4-in-1 Single-Serve Latte™, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker, which I reviewed recently, except, in place of the frother, it has a blender. As a reminder, the Latte Maker was given five stars. It earned a permanent spot on my countertop.
So how did the 3-in-1 Frappe compare? And did it live up to its frozen expectations? Unfortunately, not quite. We’ll get into it in a second but, the reality of trying to blend iced coffee straight from a coffee maker is that you’re going to end up with more of a liquid than a creamy frozen concoction. I wanted this to be it — it’s compact, it’s easy, it’s versatile!
What I thought of the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker
I wanted to love this coffee maker! The idea of blending my coffee right into a frappe with the touch of a button was a dream. Mechanically, the machine works nicely. The buttons are easy to understand and legible. The ground coffee seems to be appropriately saturated by the shower head.
Making black coffee
The coffee brews well. The Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker makes a good, basic cup of coffee. I even had my husband, who only drinks black coffee, test it, and he confirmed — this was a nice cup of coffee, if not terribly strong. If I had paid for the product, this might be one of the things I wish I knew before buying this small coffee maker.
The iced coffee maker did what it should — it made coffee straight into a cup of ice, which melted but cooled down the coffee. It could have been stronger or more concentrated to hold up to the ice, but it was absolutely drinkable.
The frappe, the machine’s namesake, is where it goes wrong. Because the coffee melts the ice, the resulting frappe is watery, rather than blended. I had to add more ice when I blended it to try to fix the consistency, but that diluted the coffee taste. The blender does work fabulously when you put more ice in there, and I love that it runs itself through a cycle instead of relying on the user watching it, but the taste just wasn’t there.
Testing the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe Maker and Blender
Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe Maker and Blender Specifications
- Model name: Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker and Blender
- Dimensions (in.): H13.2 x W10.3 x L9.8
- Weight (lbs): 10 pounds
- Water tank capacity: 22 fl. oz.
- Wattage: 1200 watts
Unboxing and setting up the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe Maker and Blender
Mr. Coffee continuously comes through with expertly wrapped, minimal packaging. This was securely packaged within a corrugated cardboard enclosure within a not-too-big box. The necessary pieces, including the blender and filter basket, were wrapped in plastic, and there were a few stickers to hold it all together.
There’s a sticker on the top of the water tank filter basket lid for a quick guide for measurements for each type of coffee. I know this is supposed to be removed, but I’d keep it right where it is to make it easy for quick reference.
It took me just a few minutes to set up the machine, including popping the coffee scoop in the side storage, putting the filter basket and reusable filter in place, putting the blender on its stand, and dropping in the drip tray and cover. Incredibly easy and intuitive.
Before you dive into your first frappe, wash the parts, including the filter basket, reusable filter, blender, and two included plastic BPA-free tumblers(also available to buy separately on Amazon) with mild detergent and water. Fill the water reservoir to the 22 oz. line put the tumbler in place, and run one cycle through to get the machine ready to go.
How to use the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe Maker and Blender
Obviously, when you put a machine in front of me that claims to easily make frappes, I’m going to make a frappe. So that’s the first drink I tried when using this coffee maker. While there are a few more steps involved in making a frappe than there might be with other coffee drinks, Mr. Coffee makes it super easy. All of the measurements are on the side of the blender base.
First things first, turn the machine on (this isn’t necessary with some other Mr. Coffee makers!). Then you’ll use the measurement on the blender jar to fill up to the “WATER” line with filtered water. Pour that into the water reservoir.
You’re going to want to make iced coffee for your frappe. So use the iced coffee side of the coffee scoop to put two generous scoops of grounds into the reusable filter. Then, fill the blender jar with milk to the “MILK” line. You can use any type of milk here, though I went for regular milk. Fill it the rest of the way to the “ICE” line with ice. Brew an “OVER ICE” cycle, which should take about four minutes.
This is a snag in the process I found confusing — it’s unclear when it’s done. The directions say to wait for the dripping to slow and stop, but it also notes that “a few sparse coffee drips” may continue. It’s hard to know when you’ve stopped vs. when you’re seeing drips.
Regardless, the next step is to put in any syrups, sweeteners, or flavorings. Basically, at this point, the more mix-ins, the better. The guide notes that putting syrup and sugar in will help the consistency. You can use the blender cap to help, which has measurements for one tablespoon, two tablespoons, three tablespoons, and ¼ cup. With everything in, put the blender lid on, put the jar on the mount, and lock it in place. Once you hit blend, the blender will run until done. Voila — that’s it!
Iced coffee is a simple process. You’ll fill one of the tumblers with water to fill the water reservoir. Then, fill it with ice, fill the filter basket with two scoops of grounds (Amazon's Donut Cafe Columbian coffee matches the aesthetic), and brew “OVER ICE.” Hot coffee is similarly simple. You’ll fill the water reservoir with your desired amount of water for coffee. Scoop in the corresponding amount of grounds (which is on the scoop for easy reference!), and hit “HOT BREW.” Done and done.
How to clean the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe Maker and Blender
The blender jar, filter basket, and reusable filter are all dishwasher safe on the top rack, which makes cleaning this coffee maker super easy. Make sure they’re secure so they don’t slip off the top rack, which could lead to damage if they make it to the bottom of the dishwasher. The rest of the frappe maker should be wiped down with a wet microfiber cloth (I buy Amazon Basics) and mild detergent (such as this Whole Foods 365 unscented dish soap) when needed, which may be often, given this machine can be messy.
There isn't any mention of descaling, but if it gets a little funky, Real Homes have shared their expert coffee maker cleaning hacks, including cleaning a coffee maker with white vinegar and how to clean a coffee maker with baking soda. You can grab a box of Arm & Hammer, or a bottle of Heinz white vinegar cheaply on Amazon.
Is the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe Maker and Blender right for you?
If you truly love frappes and are eager to doctor up every drink with enough syrup and sugar to add flavor, then this machine is going to be incredibly convenient and easy to use. It gives you several options in one place, and it brews a solid cup of black coffee. This Monin 5-flavor syrup selection on Amazon is great for switching things up and making truly custom creations.
But, if you’re looking for a true coffeehouse alternative, you may be better off keeping cold brew coffee in the fridge (we've tested this KitchenAid KCM5912SX Cold Brew Coffee Maker on Amazon), and using your best blender with ice, instead.
Good to know
Instructions
Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker and Blender comes with a detailed instruction guide that makes it incredibly simple to follow each step, but the yellow quick start guide and sticker on top of the lid are the easiest way to remind you how to use this coffee maker. Mr. Coffee makes the entire process intuitive.
Warranty
A one-year warranty from the date of purchase is included with the Mr. Coffee single-serve frappe, iced, hot coffee maker, and blender.
Where to buy the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe Maker and Blender
The Mr. Coffee® Single-Serve Frappe™, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker and Blender is available to buy directly from the retailer, via their Amazon storefront, or through retailers like Target.
How we test coffee makers
We have a set process for how we test coffee makers at Real Homes. As is the case with all products we review, we match the reviewer with the coffee maker.
The Mr. Coffee® Single-Serve Frappe™, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker and Blender was sent to me by Mr. Coffee, and I tested it out daily for two weeks before writing this review. I tried all of the different brewing methods, though my favorite was definitely the concentrated brew + latte or cappuccino froth (depending on my mood!). I just made one before sitting down to write this.
Here are a few things I like to look out for when testing coffee makers:
Water tank: When looking at the water tank, I assess whether it’s easy to fill and whether it’s easy to clean.
Operation: How easy is it to use the machine? Are the prompts/buttons legible? If the machine makes a sound, is it clear to understand what is happening?
Type of coffee: What type of coffee does this machine take? Is it an appropriate volume for the resulting beverage? How much waste is left after the drink has been made?
Cleaning and descaling: How easy is it to provide maintenance for the machine? This may involve anything from removing coffee stains to getting rid of limescale.
Functionality of features: Here I may look at any standout features. In the case of the Mr. Coffee® 4-in-1 Single-Serve Latte™, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker, I observed how well all of the different brew options worked and whether the blender did its job.
