In short: Hamilton Beach is a big American name in small kitchen appliances, better known across the Atlantic for its blenders and coffee makers than for its fondue pots. At Raclette Club, you find it on a single appliance, the 86202 electric fondue, a brand you rarely come across in France, so buy it with your eyes open.
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The Hamilton Beach brand in a few lines
The story told by Hamilton Beach begins in 1904 in Racine, Wisconsin: L.H. Hamilton and Chester Beach were both working at U.S. Standard Electrical Works. The Hamilton Beach Manufacturing Company was founded in 1910. In 1990, Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex joined forces to form, according to the brand, the largest American maker of small kitchen appliances, and the company expanded internationally starting in 1995.
Today, Hamilton Beach says it is based in the Richmond, Virginia suburbs and employs more than 700 people worldwide. Its catalog is that of an everyday kitchen brand: coffee makers, blenders, slow cookers, toasters, and a few tabletop appliances like the fondue in our selection. For a French cheese club, it is a curiosity: to our knowledge, the brand has no dedicated distribution network in France, and the appliance arrives via Amazon.fr.
Video
Video: Your Home on YouTube. A test (in English) of a 3-quart Hamilton Beach electric fondue in the copper version; the exact match with the 86202 has not been verified.
Video: Hamilton Beach on YouTube. Official video from the brand, about a coffee maker: to get a feel for its style and range, not the fondue.
Its appliances at Raclette Club
| Model | Type | Who it’s for | Review | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86202 electric fondue (ASIN B0D6GSQJWY) | 2.8 L electric fondue, PFAS-free non-stick ceramic interior, 6 forks, adjustable from 65 to 205 °C | People who alternate between cheese, chocolate and oil fondue | Read the review | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
What we think
What we take away from the 86202, on paper, is the precise temperature control, listed by the manufacturer as 150 to 400 °F (about 65 to 205 °C). That is the range that lets you go from a gentle chocolate to a meat fondue in oil, and it is exactly what flame-heated fondue pots lack. The PFAS-free non-stick ceramic interior and the “soapy water” cleaning highlighted by Hamilton Beach are also good selling points for an appliance you use now and then.
The limits mostly come from the appliance’s American origin. The manufacturer does not state the wattage, the general warranty published by Hamilton Beach applies to the United States and Canada (1 year), and we found no official information on the version sold in France, its plug or its after-sales service. Nothing alarming, but it is the kind of detail you would rather check before the party than while hunting for an adapter with a block of comté under your arm.
Which model should you choose?
- For a cheese fondue for 6: the 86202 and its 6 forks, to compare in our comparison of fondue pots.
- For a chocolate fondue: the same one, set to the lowest setting. See also our selection of chocolate fondue makers.
- For simple after-sales service in France: a brand that is more present here, like the Tefal Easy Fondue EF261800 (800 W, 6 people).
Frequently asked questions
What is the warranty on Hamilton Beach appliances?
The limited warranty published by Hamilton Beach is one year in the United States and Canada. For an appliance bought in France, the seller’s legal warranty applies: check its terms on the Amazon.fr page before ordering.
Can you find Hamilton Beach spare parts in France?
We did not find a Hamilton Beach spare parts shop for France. For the 86202, keep the model number and go through the seller first.
Where can you buy the Hamilton Beach fondue?
On Amazon.fr, via the link on this page. Check on the listing that the model is indeed the 86202 and that it is made for a French plug.
