BELLA (13683) Personal Espresso Maker with Steam Wand, Glass Decanter & Permanent Filter, Black
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The coffee holder is 50mm wide at the top and 47mm wide at the bottom. The 50mm plastic tamper that comes with the set works fine as long as the holder holds two to four servings of coffer. We use a coffee scoop with a flat bottom and a slightly smaller diameter than the holder.
So long as you're only drinking espresso. If you want to make a drink, it's best to pour it in. This is especially true when it comes to Americanos. Pour the espresso as soon as it comes into contact with the water, so the creme floats to the top and the heavier, darker coffee sinks in.
It appears that everyone agrees that the answer is "no." However, I have to disagree. I also use it for regular 'drip' grinds and find that it brings out the coffee's flavor beautifully. Try it in this machine if you've ever bought a coffee shop brand of ground coffee or beans and been disappointed that it doesn't taste as good as it does when served by a barista.
I don't think the Bella Espresso maker makes a good shot of espresso, and I haven't been able to get the "crema" to work. Yes, a single-cup shot is possible. Fill the water well to capacity for a single shot. Follow the steps outlined in the review: "2) Using the scooper provided, fill the metal basket with ground espresso to the first line. Unfortunately, the scoop's tamper end does not reach far enough into the basket, so you'll have to get creative or order a new tamper. The basket should then be inserted into the espresso machine and tightened.
Selected User Reviews For BELLA (13683) Personal Espresso Maker with Steam Wand, Glass Decanter & Permanent Filter, Black
99 items have been purchased and delivered. I saw people paying $75 for it the next day. I've been using this brewer for over four months and I'm really happy with it! Espresso is best made with freshly ground beans, and the steamer arm allows for great cappuccinos and lattes. Yes, there are some coffee grounds in the espresso, but this isn't a big deal. When I accidentally touched the bare metal steamer arm while brewing, however, I learned a harsh lesson. Operating near children is definitely not a good idea. br>However, aside from those two items, I have no complaints after making close to 100 brews with this machine; I would expect more if I paid $200 for a fancy espresso bar, but for the price, I love this device!.
In the last 15 years, I've purchased four inexpensive steam espresso machines. The others have all been Mr Coffee (2 different models) with varying degrees of success, but since they no longer make the model that lasted the longest (7 years) and the current reviews of the new Mr Coffee models are pretty bad, I decided to give a Bella a try this time. br>br>So far, it's a mixed bag. Before brewing, the instructions state that you should run plain water through it two times. I ran five through it, one of which was primarily through the steamer/frother, and there were no plastic or metallic odors, as some have claimed. The carafe is nearly identical to the ones that came with the Mr Coffee machines I've used, but there are two major differences: The lid snaps on (I burned my thumb several times trying to hold the lid on while pouring the coffee on the old ones), and unlike the Mr Coffee carafes, this one does not drip at the lip. The included tamper's width fits the coffee basket perfectly (unlike the Mr Coffee brewers) so you can tamp it down evenly, but it's not deep enough to reach a single serving of coffee. I never use less than a full basket of coffee, so this isn't an issue for me. Otherwise, it's far too flimsy. A spoon is attached to the tamper's other end, which is used to measure the coffee. br>br>Now it's time to start brewing. The final product pleasantly surprised me - With a tan colored foam on top, the espresso had a nice oily appearance. I used ground Starbucks French Roast (dark) coffee from the supermarket bag and was surprised by the flavor - I had never noticed some subtleties when using the old Mr Coffee or the automatic drip maker. Overall, a tasty cup of java. The steam wand heated the milk faster than the old Mr Coffee machines, and the plastic frother performed admirably, giving the milk a good foamy head. The steam wand is too short and too close to the maker, just like on all Mr Coffee machines, but it will work if you use a smaller pitcher and hold it at an angle. When the pressure is too high, the maker's top has a plastic pressure button that pops up. I thought it was a gimmick at first, but I discovered that if you try to steam the milk before the button is fully extended, you'll get hot water instead of steam, so it does have some utility. Regrettably, this is not mentioned in the manual. br>br>Now for the negative aspects: first, the manual contains the following 'Plasticizer Warning': " WARNING: Non-plasticizers should be placed on the counter top, table top, or other furniture to prevent plasticizers from migrating to the finish. Between the appliance and the counter top finish, use plastic containers or place mats. Failure to do so could result in the finish darkening. It is possible to develop permanent blemishes or stains. " This makes me wonder if those same plasticizers can migrate into my coffee or milk, which doesn't sound very healthy. The cheap switch is the second issue, and it's a big one. This is a shoddy switch that will most likely fail sooner or later. Although the manual states that you should turn it very gently, my machine does not turn on when I turn it until it clicks into the On position. To get it to work as the amber light indicates, I have to turn it a little more gently. Not good. It was also difficult for me to remove the plastic frother from the steam wand - All you have to do now is pull straight down with all your might. I prefer lattes to cappuccinos, and all of the other cheap steam espresso makers I've tried say to remove the plastic frother if you only want steam. The only mention of it in the manual is to wipe the outside with a clean cloth after use, but it MUST come off for cleaning, or it will quickly fill with dried stale milk residue. Finally, a proofreader's comment is left in the manual, demonstrating the overall sloppy quality - It's up to you to figure out what it is. br>br>To summarize, I don't believe anyone would expect Starbucks-quality espresso from a machine this cheap (and if they do, they'll be disappointed). You'll need a real-pressure espresso machine for this. a lot more than steam A good one, on the other hand, will set you back a few hundred dollars. However, for the price, it makes a nice cup of espresso and will adequately prepare the milk for a latte or cappuccino; my main concern is the lack of quality, particularly with the switch. After a short period of use, smoke began to pour out of the switch, and the machine died, according to another review. I'm not sure why a company wouldn't pay a few cents more for a decent switch, and I doubt this one will last very long. The defect and workmanship warranty is for a full year - I'm hoping I won't need it. I'll keep you updated on the progress of this review. br>br>Updated on August 15, 2014: Two things have happened in the last month. Now that the switch has been broken in, turning it is much easier. The ridge that held the carafe lid on while pouring has completely worn off, and the lid now falls off while pouring out the last bit of coffee, requiring me to burn my thumb to keep it on, just like with the Mr. Coffee machines.
I was hesitant to order this espresso maker because of its smaller size, but it's fantastic when it works. The knob, on the other hand, only lasts 6 to 12 months before breaking. For the price, I suppose you can't expect much more, but it's a letdown.
There are major issues with this espresso machine. The most grave:
1. It's difficult to turn the knob because it's not well marked. It's impossible to turn off the espresso machine after it's been used to make espresso. You must either wait for it to cool down or unplug it. This is not a safe environment.
2. Consider the following illustration: When I ran water through the machine for the first time, it left a residue of what appeared to be metal shavings. The machine is still topping off the coffee grounds with metal shavings after running water through it a dozen times and repeatedly filling it with water and pouring the water out the top. It's unquestionably a matter of safety.
3. Because the opening on the carafe top is too small, some of the coffee spills onto it instead of dripping into the carafe.
This espresso maker was purchased to replace a moka pot that had been in my possession for quite some time. I knew it wouldn't be a great espresso machine for the price, but I wasn't expecting it to be of such poor quality. Turning the knob to make the espresso was extremely difficult. The writing indicating steam, off, and espresso was nearly completely rubbed off within two days. This isn't a deal breaker, so don't worry about it. The steam wand's black piece broke and fell off about a week later. I was disappointed, but I could live with it. Then it stopped brewing in the middle of an espresso this morning, less than two weeks after I received it. This afternoon, I finished the return and placed an order for a replacement moka pot. I'm going to stick to what I know works: the old school. Make a point of doing the same for yourself.
Bella's current generation is made on a very low budget, i. e. The black plastic material may leach onto your counter, causing a stain, according to the instruction manual. Unsafe: The first Bella model appeared to be an identical knockoff of Krups, with no pressure relief button to indicate when it is safe to open the top cap, etc. , etc. It reminded me of Chinese hackers breaking into company computers to steal designs. The quality of this new redesign is poor.
Well, we were enjoying this little espresso machine until I noticed that turning the knob from brew to off was becoming increasingly difficult, and the knob finally broke off this morning. It's only been a couple of months since the machine was purchased. I see that other people have had similar experiences based on the reviews. The knob's interiors are made of plastic, which can't withstand the pressure and use. Bummer. I'm not going to buy anything else in the future.
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