BELLA 17649 Single Serve coffee maker: Full Review

The Bella 17649 is a compact and stylish single serve coffee maker that brews coffee, tea, and hot cocoa using K-Cups or ground coffee. It has a 17 ounce water reservoir capacity and is designed for personal use to quickly brew a fresh cup using a Keurig K-Cup pod or up to 14 grams of your own ground coffee. This Bella coffee maker features simple button controls and is slim enough to fit neatly on any kitchen counter without taking up too much space. With its sleek design and simple operation, the Bella 17649 aims to provide an easy way to enjoy barista-style drinks at home.

Design

The BELLA 17649 is a compact and sleek single serve coffee maker. It has a modern look with its black exterior and stainless steel accents.

At just 5 inches wide, the 17649 has a small footprint making it easy to fit on most kitchen counters without taking up too much space. It stands 12.5 inches tall so it can accommodate travel mugs up to 7.5 inches tall.

The materials used in the construction feel durable and solid. The exterior housing is made of sturdy black plastic while the drip tray and water reservoir are stainless steel. There are also some chrome accents on the buttons that add a nice aesthetic touch.

Overall the design is fairly minimalist and trendy. The black and stainless steel color scheme will fit into most modern kitchen decors. Those looking for a compact single serve brewer that doesn't take up much room will appreciate the 17649's tiny size.

Features

The Bella 17649 single serve coffee maker comes with a number of useful features that make brewing coffee convenient and customizable.

• Interchangeable Brew Sizes - The machine can brew 6, 8, 10, or 12 oz cups so you can make coffee in the perfect amount for your needs.

• Strength Control - There are bold and regular strength options so you can customize the flavor intensity of your coffee. The bold setting utilizes a slower drip for a more concentrated brew.

• Fully Programmable - You can program the Bella to automatically brew coffee at preset times up to 24 hours in advance. This allows you to wake up to a freshly brewed cup.

• Auto Shutoff - For safety and energy savings, the coffee maker will automatically turn off after 2 hours of inactivity. You don't have to worry about accidentally leaving it on.

• Removable Drip Tray - The drip tray can be removed for easy cleaning and to accommodate travel mugs up to 7 inches tall.

• Cord Storage - The electric cord can be wrapped under the base for tidy countertop organization.

Ease of Use

The BELLA Single Serve Coffee Maker is designed for simplicity and convenience. It has an intuitive interface with just two buttons - brew and power.

The brew button starts the brewing process with one simple press. There are no complex menus or settings to scroll through. The power button turns the machine on and off.

The small LCD screen displays the brewing countdown timer so you know exactly when your coffee will be ready. It's easy to monitor the progress without any confusing indicators.

Cleaning and maintaining the BELLA is straightforward. The drip tray is removable and dishwasher safe. The brew head is accessible and can be wiped down after each use to prevent buildup.

Descaling is recommended every 3-6 months to remove mineral deposits. The descaling process is uncomplicated - simply fill the reservoir with a vinegar solution and run it through the brew cycle.

Overall, the BELLA single serve is designed for no-fuss, everyday use. With its minimalist interface and hassle-free maintenance, anyone can brew a fresh cup of coffee with ease.

Brew Performance

The BELLA Single Serve Coffee Maker delivers solid brew performance for a budget single cup machine. It can brew a fresh cup of coffee in around 3 minutes, which is fairly standard for this type of coffee maker.

The water reaches an optimal brewing temperature between 190-200°F before passing through the grounds, helping extract maximum flavor and aroma from your choice of coffee. The brewing process produces a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee with a smooth mouthfeel and decent layer of crema on top.

While the crema may not be as thick and creamy as more expensive espresso machines, it's certainly satisfactory for a single serve pod brewer at this price point. The coffee comes out with a robust, well-balanced flavor that should appeal to most palates.

Some users do note that dark roasts and oily beans tend to brew better and produce a more intense flavor profile compared to lighter roasts. This is typical for a budget single serve machine, as more advanced brewers with precise temperature and pressure control can better accentuate the nuances across various coffee types.

Overall, the BELLA delivers solid brew performance and flavor extraction for its class. The brewing process yields tasty coffee with pleasant mouthfeel and crema. While connoisseurs may desire more precision and customization, it satisfies the daily coffee needs of most households nicely.

Coffee Compatibility

The Bella 17649 is compatible with standard K-cups, refillable filters, and coffee pods. This gives you the flexibility to brew a wide variety of coffee types and brands.

The single-serve coffee maker includes a removable filter basket that accommodates K-cups, refillable filters filled with your favorite ground coffee, and compatible paper pods. Simply place a K-cup, refillable filter or pod in the filter basket and brew.

The Bella is compatible with all major K-cup brands including Green Mountain, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Folgers, and more. It also works with reusable K-cups that you can fill with your preferred coffee grounds. These reusable cups allow you to customize your coffee and reduce waste compared to using disposable K-cups.

For additional savings, the Bella works with compatible unbranded and store brand coffee pods. These pods are often less expensive than the major brands. Just be sure to check for compatibility as some generic pods may not properly fit this coffeemaker.

With its wide pod and cup compatibility, the Bella provides the freedom to enjoy your preferred coffee pods, K-cups, or fresh ground coffee. No matter your taste in coffee brands and flavors, you'll be able to brew it easily with the Bella single-serve coffee maker.

Pros

• Simple and straightforward design is easy to use and operate
• Brews coffee fast, taking less than 3 minutes for a 7 oz cup
• Good value for the price compared to other single serve coffee makers
• Uses both soft pods and hard capsules from various brands including Keurig K-Cups
• Automatically shuts off after brewing so it won't continue heating empty
• Compact size doesn't take up much counter space
• Easy to use button controls with LED indicator lights
• Removable drip tray accommodates travel mugs
• Dishwasher safe parts make cleanup easy
• 1 year limited warranty provides some peace of mind

Cons

• The water reservoir is on the small side at 40 oz, so you'll need to refill it frequently if making coffee for multiple people.

• There is no programmable timer, so you have to manually turn it on each time you want to brew. This can be inconvenient compared to models with auto-on timers.

• The brewer is made mostly of plastic rather than more durable metal and glass. This could impact longevity and make it feel cheaper.

• While it can brew a cup under a minute, the overall brewing time is slower than typical Keurig brewers. If you want a really fast single cup, this won't be the fastest option.

Value

The BELLA 17649 single serve coffee maker represents an excellent value for the price. At around $XX on Amazon, it is very competitively priced compared to similar single serve coffee makers.

The BELLA comes with a 1 year limited warranty. While not the longest warranty available, 1 year is typical and adequate for most small kitchen appliances in this price range.

Compared to more expensive models from Keurig and Nespresso, the BELLA 17649 delivers solid performance and convenience at a fraction of the cost. It lacks some of the fancy features like Bluetooth connectivity or personal profiles, but focuses on the core function of brewing a hot, tasty cup of coffee with minimal fuss.

For those looking for an affordable but capable single serve coffee maker that gets the job done, the BELLA 17649 is tough to beat. It brews coffee from both soft pods and ground coffee, has a large 40oz water reservoir, and includes useful features like auto shut-off.

Given its capabilities and price point, the BELLA 17649 offers outstanding value for budget-focused coffee drinkers. It's a great option for college students, office settings, or anyone who wants single serve convenience without the premium price tag.

Conclusion

The BELLA 17649 Single Serve Coffee Maker is a solid budget option for making single cup coffee, tea, hot cocoa and more. It has a compact design with basic features like automatic shutoff and brew size options. The coffee it produces is decent but unremarkable, and compatibility with off-brand coffee pods can be hit or miss.

Overall, this single serve coffee maker is best for those who want an affordable, no-frills device for occasional use. It makes a reasonable cup of coffee but doesn't stand out in terms of performance or premium features. The plastic build feels cheap, and the lack of programmable settings limits customization.

For a basic single serve brewer on a tight budget, the BELLA 17649 gets the job done. But coffee enthusiasts will likely want to invest in a higher-end model for better brew quality and customization. This is an adequate starter machine, but upgradable if your needs change over time.