Brim Coffee Maker Review: Is the Triple Brew 12-Cup Worth It?
Come in, I'm Sam. The Brim Triple Brew 12-Cup is a dual coffee maker, model 50017. The machine pairs a 12-cup glass carafe drip side with a single-serve side for K-Cup pods or ground coffee. Sensio relaunched the Brim name as coffee gear in 2014, and the machine is now discontinued.
I have priced dual coffee makers at every level, Brim included. The drip side brews close to 195°F (91°C) and holds that heat for five or six minutes. A 6 ounce (180 mL) single cup finishes in 1 to 2 minutes. Owners praise the choice of a full pot or one cup. The single-serve side draws most complaints, with failures from a few months in to about 10 months of use.
The price runs about $100, and a Best Buy sale once cut it to $59.99. Four rivals cost from $90.71 to $199.95. The verdict is yes only at a sale price, mainly for drip-first households. Heavy pod users face the most risk, and warranty terms conflict by listing. This review belongs to me, not to any brand.
What Is the Brim Triple Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker?
The Brim Triple Brew 12-Cup is a dual coffee maker that pairs a 12-cup glass carafe drip side with a single-serve side for K-Cup pods or ground coffee. The model number is 50017.
Stores sell the same model 50017 under several names. Triple Brew, Trio K-Cup Compatible 12-Cup and Trio Multibrew System all describe this one machine. A buyer who sees any of these names is looking at the same product.
The name Triple Brew points to three brew options. Those are a drip carafe, K-Cup pods and ground coffee. The pod side takes K-Cup pods, the format Keurig sells.
The carafe holds a measured 61 ounces (1.8 liters). Spread across 12 cups, each cup comes to about 5.1 ounces (150 mL). A full pot fills about 7.6 mugs of 8 ounces (237 mL).
The machine measures 12.12 x 11.18 x 14.72 inches (30.8 x 28.4 x 37.4 cm) and weighs 7.71 pounds (3.5 kg). Consumer Reports lists a slightly different footprint of 15 x 11 x 13 inches (38 x 28 x 33 cm). A Best Buy listing gives the power draw as 1700 watts.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Model number | 50017 |
| Size | 12.12 x 11.18 x 14.72 inches (30.8 x 28.4 x 37.4 cm) |
| Weight | 7.71 pounds (3.5 kg) |
| Carafe capacity | 61 ounces (1.8 liters) |
| Power | 1700 watts |
Brim began as a decaf coffee brand from General Foods in 1961. Sensio relaunched the Brim name as coffee gear in 2014.
What Features and Programming Does the Brim Triple Brew Have?
The Brim Triple Brew features programming that sets a brew up to 24 hours ahead. Auto shut-off runs from 30 minutes to 2 hours. A backlit LCD shows the clock and settings.
Brew strength comes in three levels, Regular, Gourmet and Bold.
A small-batch setting, a drip stop and a Cup Mode round out the drip controls. A reusable permanent filter basket and a measuring spoon come in the box.
The machine has no thermal carafe. The glass pot sits on a warming plate instead, and a Keep Warm cycle holds the coffee there.
The single-serve side adds a height-adjustable drip tray and a removable water reservoir. The tray lifts out for cleaning.
The key features at a glance:
- Program timer: Sets a brew up to 24 hours ahead.
- Auto shut-off: Runs from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Strength: Regular, Gourmet and Bold.
- Small-batch setting and drip stop: Both are part of the drip controls.
- Drip tray: Height adjustable.
- Filter: Reusable and permanent.
How Does the Brim Triple Brew Work?
The Brim Triple Brew runs two brew paths that work from one base, a drip carafe and a single-serve brewer. Each path has its own water tank.
A DC pump drives the single-serve side. The drip side uses a basket filter and a glass carafe.
The manual warns against running either side without water in its tank. The adjustable tray takes mugs up to 6.75 inches (17.1 cm) tall.
How Does the Brim Triple Brew Drip Side Brew?
The drip side of the Brim Triple Brew fills the glass carafe with up to 12 cups of coffee through a basket filter. The manual lists a Carafe Brew Cycle with Pause and Serve.
Pause and Serve lets a cup be poured before the cycle ends. The manual also covers brewing a second carafe.
Brew strength, Keep Warm and Carafe Temperature settings shape the pot. A full 12-cup brew puts some grounds in the pot.
How Does the Brim Triple Brew Single-Serve Side Brew?
The single-serve side of the Brim Triple Brew brews one cup from a K-Cup pod or from ground coffee in an adapter. A capsule adaptor holds pods. A ground coffee adaptor holds loose grounds.
Ground settings cover 6, 10 and 15 ounces (180, 300 and 440 mL). A 6 ounce cup finishes in 1 to 2 minutes.
The manual includes instructions for hot beverages and for iced coffee.
The single-serve tank needs a refill for each cup. The side also cannot brew while the pot brews.
How Well Does the Brim Triple Brew Make Coffee?
The Brim Triple Brew makes solid coffee on both sides in lab testing. Consumer Reports tested it as a dual coffee maker and rated it on brew performance, ease of use, cleaning and carafe handling.
The single-serve side held temperature very consistently from cup to cup. Every cup dispensed exactly the same volume.
Strength control gave much flexibility through settings, water volume and extra pods. A brewer can change how strong a cup tastes without changing machines.
The machine rated fairly convenient, and the carafe rated fairly easy to use. Those ratings cover the daily work of brewing, cleaning and pouring.
Does the Brim Triple Brew Brew Hot Enough?
Yes. The Brim Triple Brew can brew hot enough, close to the 195°F (91°C) guideline for five or six minutes. Consumer Reports measured that result on the drip side.
The Specialty Coffee Association sets a brewer standard that puts brewing water at 195°F to 205°F (91°C to 96°C). Heat that stays in the window for five or six minutes marks a well-built drip brewer.
Brewing heat is not the same as serving heat. The spec table lists an average coffee temperature of 165°F (74°C). The glass carafe has no thermal wall, so the coffee cools on the warming plate after it brews.
How Fast Does the Brim Triple Brew Brew?
The Brim Triple Brew brews fast and fills a 6 ounce (180 mL) cup in 1 to 2 minutes. Consumer Reports rates first-cup speed especially quick.
Repeat cups also come quickly after the first. That speed suits a household where several people take turns on single cups.
The drip side runs slower. Owners report 12 cups taking 15 to 20 minutes. The Specialty Coffee Association benchmark for a full brew is under 8 minutes, so 15 to 20 minutes runs well past it.
What Do Owners Say About the Brim Triple Brew?
Owners of the Brim Triple Brew give mixed reports, with the drip side praised and the single-serve side drawing most complaints. Reviews across retailers follow the same split.
Consumer Reports has too little survey data to score Brim for reliability or owner satisfaction. The sample covers 6,823 dual coffee makers bought from 2017 to 2025.
Brim consumer care answers some negative reviews. Some owners say their calls went unreturned. Brim lists 1-866-832-4843 and help@brim.coffee for support.
What Do Owners Like About the Brim Triple Brew?
Owners like that the Brim Triple Brew brews either a full pot or a single cup from one machine. That choice is the most common praise.
The reusable filter on the ground coffee adapter earns credit. The drip side takes paper filters or fresh grounds.
Owners praise three things about the machine:
- Easy daily use: Owners find the machine simple to use every day.
- Reusable filter for grounds: The adapter's filter can be used again, so the grounds side needs no paper.
- Low price for two brewers: The machine gives owners two brewers for a low price.
What Do Owners Complain About With the Brim Triple Brew?
Owners complain that the Brim Triple Brew loses its single-serve side within months. Failures show up from a few months in to about 10 months.
Some units steam without filling a cup. Others show control lights that fail at random.
Leaks come up often. Water seeps around the K-Cup holder, pools behind the machine and dribbles from the carafe during pouring.
Grounds reach the cup and clog the K-Cup adapter. The housing feels flimsy to some owners, and the clock drifts.
- Single-serve side stops working within months
- Steam with no full cup
- Leaks at the K-Cup holder, the back and the carafe
- Grounds in the cup and a clogged adapter
- Flimsy housing and a drifting clock
How Does the Brim Triple Brew Compare to Rival Dual Coffee Makers?
The Brim Triple Brew sits at the low end of dual coffee maker prices at $100. Rival machines run from $90.71 to $199.95.
Consumer Reports lists four close rivals beside the Brim. Each pairs a carafe or drip side with a single-serve side.
Brim has no reliability score, so a rival with brand data carries less risk on paper. Price is the Brim's clearest edge.
Which Dual Coffee Makers Rival the Brim Triple Brew?
Four dual coffee makers rival the Brim Triple Brew, with prices from $90.71 to $199.95.
| Model | Price | Gap to Brim |
|---|---|---|
| Bella VersaBrew 2-in-1 Coffee System | From $90.71 | $9.29 less |
| Black+Decker Dual Brew SS0441-0BD | From $111.99 | $11.99 more |
| Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Multi-Brew Coffee Maker | $139.00 | $39.00 more |
| Cuisinart Coffee Center 2-in-1 SS-16 | $199.95 | $99.95 more |
The Bella VersaBrew is the only rival that costs less than the Brim. It undercuts the Brim by $9.29. It pairs a 12-cup carafe with a K-Cup compatible single-serve side. It also adds an iced coffee function and a reusable ground coffee filter.
The other three cost more than the Brim. The Black+Decker adds $11.99, and the Beautiful Multi-Brew adds $39.00. The Cuisinart costs $99.95 more than the Brim, about twice the price.
How Much Does the Brim Triple Brew Cost?
The Brim Triple Brew carries a cost of about $100 new. Consumer Reports shows $100.00, and Woot sold it at $99.99.
Sales cut that price deeply. Best Buy ran the machine at $59.99 against a regular $149.99 in August 2023. That is a drop of 60 percent.
The regular price of $149.99 sits close to the Beautiful Multi-Brew at $139.00. At full price, the Brim has no clear edge over that rival. Only the sale price gives the Brim an advantage.
Is the Brim Triple Brew Still Sold?
No. The Brim Triple Brew is discontinued and no longer sold new at Best Buy. Owners also call the model discontinued.
Consumer Reports notes limited distribution. Remaining stock turns up through resale and open-box listings.
Each of those listings sets its own warranty terms, so they differ. A two-year limited term appears most often. A buyer confirms the term with the seller. Brim's manual for model 50023 sets two years from the date of purchase. The 50017 manual's own term is not confirmed.
How Do You Care for the Brim Triple Brew?
Care for the Brim Triple Brew follows the Care and Cleaning section of the manual. The manual includes a Clean Cycle for the carafe side and descaling for the single-serve side.
The machine has two brewing sides, so it has two kinds of upkeep. The carafe side uses the Clean Cycle. The single-serve side uses descaling.
The drip tray lifts out for washing. The gold tone filter basket holds the grounds, so it is another part that gets handled during care.
Storing instructions close the manual. The 38 page manual covers each step.
Is the Brim Triple Brew Safe to Use?
Yes. The Brim Triple Brew is safe when used under the manual rules for placement, lids and water. Skipping them risks scalding and damage.
Never place the machine under cabinets, and keep several feet clear above it. Never open the coffee maker lid or the single-serve lid during brewing, because scalding occurs.
Never run the machine without water in either tank. Use only the supplied glass carafe, never on a range top, and never a cracked carafe.
- Keep the machine out from under cabinets
- Leave the lids closed during brewing
- Run both tanks with water only
- Use only the supplied glass carafe
Is the Brim Triple Brew Worth It?
Yes. The Brim Triple Brew is worth buying only at a sale price, as a cheap drip maker with an occasional single cup.
The machine holds two brewers in a 15 x 11 x 13 inch (38 x 28 x 33 cm) footprint. The drip side tests well. Single cups come quickly, in 1 to 2 minutes.
The single-serve side is the weak point. It fails for many owners.
Risk around the purchase adds to that concern. The model is discontinued, and Brim has no reliability score. Warranty terms also conflict, so a buyer cannot be sure what coverage applies.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Price near $100 | Single-serve side fails for many owners |
| Drip side tests well | Model is discontinued |
| Single cup in 1 to 2 minutes | Brim has no reliability score |
| Two brewers in one footprint | Warranty terms conflict |
Who Should Buy the Brim Triple Brew?
Drip-first households get the best value if they buy the Brim Triple Brew. The carafe side draws the praise, and single cups stay occasional.
Heavy pod users face the highest risk. The single-serve side is the part owners say fails.
Buyers who need a clear warranty look at a current rival instead. The Brim is no longer made, and its listed terms differ from those of rivals still on sale.
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