BELLA BLA14436 Single Serve coffee maker: Full Review

The Bella BLA14436 is a compact 12-cup programmable drip coffee maker that provides a convenient way to brew delicious, hot coffee at home. This stainless steel coffee maker features a removable water reservoir and a reusable gold tone coffee filter, eliminating the need for wasteful paper filters. With helpful programmable features like a brew-pause function and an auto shut-off, the Bella BLA14436 aims to provide an easy user experience when it comes to making coffee. The coffee maker's small, slim design allows it to fit neatly onto tight countertops, making it a good option for small kitchens, apartments, offices and more. Keep reading to learn more about the key features and performance of the Bella BLA14436 drip coffee maker.

Design and Build Quality

The Bella BLA14436 coffee maker features a stainless steel construction that gives it a sleek, modern look that will complement any kitchen decor. The matte stainless steel finish resists fingerprints and smudges to maintain its polished appearance.

The carafe is made of glass with a BPA-free plastic lid and handle. The glass carafe allows you to monitor the brewing process and has measurement markings printed on the side for easy viewing. The handle and lid are sturdy and designed for comfortable, drip-free pouring.

The water reservoir is made of durable black plastic that can withstand high brewing temperatures. The basket filter and permanent filter are made from sturdy stainless steel for reliability and longevity.

Overall, the materials used in the Bella BLA14436 coffee maker are built to last. The stainless steel exterior housing seems solid and robust, with no flimsy or thin parts. The carafe and reservoir also appear durable while still keeping the unit lightweight and manageable.

The Famiworths Mini Coffee Maker 2 is perfect for those with limited counter space. Its compact design doesn’t compromise on features; it includes a quick-brew system and a reusable filter, reducing the need for paper filters. The sleek finish and simple, user-friendly controls make it a convenient addition to any small kitchen or office setting. Built with quality materials, the Famiworths Mini Coffee Maker 2 ensures durability and consistent performance, making it an excellent choice for single-serve coffee enthusiasts.

Brewing Performance

The Bella BLA14436 coffee maker brews a full pot of coffee in around 10 minutes, which is pretty standard for drip coffee makers in this price range. The water is heated to the optimal coffee brewing temperature of 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit, helping extract the best flavor from the coffee grounds.

The flavor of the brewed coffee is quite good, especially considering the price of this machine. The BLA14436 uses a simple showerhead design to evenly distribute water over the coffee grounds, resulting in proper extraction and full coffee flavor. While high-end coffee makers may produce a more nuanced flavor profile, the Bella holds its own for day-to-day coffee drinking.

The brewed coffee has a balanced, medium body mouthfeel. Acidity and bitterness levels are moderate, avoiding any harshness or sourness. The smooth taste makes it easy to drink a cup black if you prefer without adding milk or sugar. Overall, the Bella BLA14436 delivers a solid, tasty brew that’s hard to beat for a basic drip coffee maker.

For those looking for a single-serve option, the Keurig K-Express is an excellent choice. This model allows you to brew a cup of coffee in minutes with the convenience of K-Cup pods. It offers three cup sizes and a strong brew setting for a more intense flavor. The compact design fits easily in any kitchen, and the removable water reservoir makes refilling a breeze. With the Keurig K-Express, you can enjoy a quick, flavorful cup of coffee at the touch of a button.

Ease of Use

The Bella BLA14436 coffee maker is extremely easy to operate. It has simple controls with just an on/off switch and button to start the brew cycle. There are no complex settings or programming options to deal with.

Brewing coffee is as simple as filling the water reservoir, adding ground coffee to the filter basket, and pressing the brew button. The coffee maker takes care of the rest and will shut off automatically after brewing.

Cleaning is also straightforward with removable parts that are dishwasher safe. The carafe, filter basket, and water reservoir can all be placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. The heating plate is non-stick and can be wiped down with a damp cloth. There is no tedious backflushing required.

Overall, the Bella coffee maker achieves simplicity and ease of use. With basic controls, dishwasher safe parts, and no complicated maintenance, anyone can brew great tasting coffee with minimal effort.

Capacity

The Bella BLA14436 drip coffee maker has a 10-cup carafe capacity. This allows you to brew up to 10 cups (5 ounces each) of coffee at a time.

The carafe is made from glass with measurement markings printed on the side, making it easy to see how much coffee you have brewed or how much room is left if brewing a partial pot. Some users may prefer a larger 12-cup or 14-cup capacity, but the 10-cup size should be sufficient for most households that don't require massive batches of coffee.

One downside is that the water reservoir only holds enough water for about 4 cups of coffee. So you'll need to refill the water tank halfway through if brewing a full 10 cups. This can be inconvenient compared to coffee makers that hold the full amount of water needed to brew the maximum carafe capacity.

Overall, the 10-cup capacity is a well-rounded size that should satisfy most home coffee drinking needs. Just be aware that you may need to replenish the water reservoir when brewing larger pots.

Features

• Programmability - The Bella BLA14436 coffee maker does not offer programmable brewing. This means you cannot schedule it to automatically brew coffee at a certain time. The machine starts brewing as soon as you turn it on.

• Brew Strength Control - This drip coffee maker allows you to choose between regular and bold brew strength. The bold setting slows down the brew time to extract more flavor from the coffee grounds.

• Other Features - Some handy features include a removable filter basket for easy cleaning, a water level window to easily see how much water is in the reservoir, a pause and serve function to pour a cup mid-brew, and a keep warm plate to keep coffee hot after brewing. The water reservoir is top-loading for convenient filling. There is also a swing out filter arm for accessing the filter basket.

Price

The BELLA BLA14436 has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of around $35 USD. For a basic yet effective drip coffee maker, this price represents a good value. The BLA14436 doesn't have a lot of fancy features that drive up the cost, but it delivers solid performance for brewing quality drip coffee.

At $35, the BLA14436 costs significantly less than premium drip coffee makers from brands like Technivorm and Bonavita that can run over $100. However, it's priced on par with other budget-friendly models from brands like Mr. Coffee and Hamilton Beach. Considering its simplicity and decent brewing abilities, the BLA14436 offers good value for money for those looking for an inexpensive drip coffee maker that gets the job done.

The plastic construction helps keep costs down. But the stainless steel accents and durable carafe add value at this price point. For those seeking out an affordable, no-frills drip coffee maker, the BLA14436 represents a nice balance of price and performance. It brews good coffee without breaking the bank.

Pros

• Compact and lightweight design makes it highly portable. Weighs under 5 pounds.

• Brews up to 12 cups of coffee at a time, good capacity for home use.

• Simple on/off switch with indicator light makes it very easy to operate.

• The showerhead disperses water evenly over the coffee grounds for optimal extraction and great tasting coffee.

• Easy to fill water reservoir and removable filter basket for fast cleanup.

Cons

• The water reservoir is on the small side at only 12 cups. This means you'll have to refill it more frequently for larger households or if making multiple back-to-back pots.

• There is no programmability. The Bella drip coffee maker does not have a programmable timer, so you cannot set it to brew coffee in advance.

• The lid doesn't stay open on its own. Some users find this annoying as you have to hold it open while pouring in water or coffee grounds.

• Brew time is slower than average at around 7-8 minutes for a full pot. So this isn't the fastest drip coffee maker out there.

Conclusion

The Bella BLA14436 Scoop Coffee Maker is a solid drip coffee machine for home use. It brews up to 12 cups of coffee with its glass carafe, making it suitable for families or those who love lots of morning coffee. The build quality is decent though not the most premium, with a stainless steel design and black accents.

It's easy to operate with one-touch brewing and a removable filter basket for fast cleanup. While it lacks some extra features like a programmable timer, it gets the basics right like water window visibility and anti-drip. The warming plate keeps coffee hot after brewing.

Overall, the Bella drip coffee maker is a reasonably priced machine that reliably brews a good pot of standard drip coffee. It's simple to use and makes enough coffee for a small household. For those wanting a basic but effective drip coffee machine without too many extra frills, the Bella BLA14436 is a solid choice worth considering.