If you want a 12-cup programmable drip coffee maker in the United States, buy the Hamilton Beach 46310 FrontFill when under-cabinet front access and brew-strength choice matter most, or the BLACK+DECKER CM1160B when a lower observed price and a shorter, compact footprint matter more. Both are 12-cup programmable machines with 24-hour auto brew, pause-and-serve and a 2-hour auto shutoff, so the decision comes down to filling convenience and brew options versus budget and counter space, not capacity or programmability.
How they compare
The Hamilton Beach listing is the FrontFill 12 Cup Programmable Drip Coffee Maker in Black with Stainless Accents, model 46310. Its variant block names a front-access water reservoir with a swing-open brew basket for filling under cabinets, a Select-a-Brew selector with regular, bold and 1-4 cup options, Auto Pause and Pour for a first cup before brewing ends, an easy-view water window, 24-hour programming and a cleaning-cycle reminder. The variant block lists 950 watts, 110 volts, dimensions of 12.9 x 7.95 x 13.9 inches, a glass carafe with plastic housing and a number-4 paper filter. The maker page for model 46310 confirms the same front-fill design, the same three brew options, pause and serve, the cleaning reminder and a 2-hour automatic shutoff, and the manual confirms the 2-hour shutoff, the 30-cycle clean notification and a one-year US warranty. The maker page marks model 46310 as no longer available direct, so the exact-variant Amazon listing is the observed purchasable path.
The BLACK+DECKER listing is the 12-Cup Drip Coffee Maker with Vortex Brewing, model CM1160B-1, in Black. Its variant block names a 12-cup Duralife glass carafe with measurement markings, Sneak-A-Cup pause-and-serve, an easy-view front water window, large rubberized digital controls with an easy-read screen, QuickTouch 24-hour auto-brew programming and a 2-hour auto shutoff, with a washable brew basket. The variant block lists 975 watts, 120 volts, dimensions of 8.25 x 12.25 x 11 inches and a 4.5-pound weight. The maker page for SKU CM1160B-1 confirms the QuickTouch programming, Sneak-A-Cup, 2-hour shutoff, the carafe and included filter, a 2-year limited warranty and Black/Stainless Steel styling, while its availability readout does not offer a current direct purchase, so the exact-variant Amazon listing is the observed purchasable path.
Which to pick
Choose the Hamilton Beach 46310 FrontFill for kitchens where the machine lives under a cabinet: the front reservoir and swing-open basket remove the need to pull the machine out or top-fill in tight space, and the bold and 1-4 cup settings plus the cleaning reminder directly address stronger small batches and upkeep. Tradeoff: it is the taller machine at 13.9 inches high, it brews through number-4 paper filters, and the maker no longer sells this model direct, so replacement-carafe and filter parts are the maker-side story. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Choose the BLACK+DECKER CM1160B for tight counters and tight budgets: at 11 inches high with an 8.25-inch depth it fits lower clearances, the washable basket reduces paper-filter buying, and its observed Amazon price sits well below the Hamilton Beach variant block. Tradeoff: the observed pages state no brew-strength selector, so regular versus bold is not a documented choice on this variant, and the white CM1160W storefront next to it is a separate color variant, not this Black one. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Before you buy
Confirm the exact variant on the linked listing before ordering: model 46310 in Black with Stainless Accents for the Hamilton Beach, and model CM1160B-1 in Black, Hot Brew style, for the BLACK+DECKER. Nearby carousel items such as the Hamilton Beach 46299J, the white CM1160W and single-serve or 10-cup machines are different variants or products. Prices, sellers and availability change, so verify the live offer details on the destination page. Neither maker claim above is a measured test result from this publication; brewing and capacity figures are the manufacturers' and listings' own statements.
Sources
- Hamilton Beach 46310 Amazon US listing (exact variant identity, model number, ASIN, dimensions, wattage, feature bullets and observed purchasable variant block).
- BLACK+DECKER CM1160B Amazon US listing (exact variant identity, model number, ASIN, dimensions, wattage, feature bullets and observed purchasable variant block).
- Hamilton Beach model 46310 maker page (front-fill design, brew options, shutoff, direct no-longer-available status).
- BLACK+DECKER CM1160B-1 maker page (QuickTouch programming, Sneak-A-Cup, shutoff, warranty, current direct-availability readout).
- Hamilton Beach 46310 use-and-care manual (2-hour shutoff, brew options, clean notification, warranty terms).