Not everyone is a morning person, and I know I can personally vouch for that.
You know how it is; the day starts with the ghastly ring of your alarm, and you abuse the snooze button (which barely seems to give you more than 5 seconds) until you finally give in and get out of bed.
Then you reluctantly drag yourself to the kitchen and ‘lo and behold, you find the golden cure to your severe case of “morning-itis” – coffee.
Just the first sip of that hot, soothing, indulgent beverage is enough to coax you into wakefulness and with each further sip, the stubborn morning zombie is gradually replaced by your inner human.
Just as good coffee can transform your morning and make the world seem a beautiful place, bad coffee can effectively ruin it; which is why it is vital that you have a top-notch home-brewer.
Bonavita is an esteemed brand that is well known for its state-of-the-art coffee-making equipment.
Over the years, the manufacturer has been refining and re-defining the technology and design in their home-brewer machines, and the Bonavita BV1800SS 8-Cup Original Coffee Brewer is a good example of one of their successes.
Read on to know more about this elegant home brewer that has made its way into most kitchens and why it probably should be in yours too.
Bonavita BV1800SS 8-Cup Original Coffee Brewer Review
Bonavita 8 cup coffeemaker with thermal carafe is one of the best coffee maker available in the market. So in this Bonavita coffee maker review, let’s take a look at how this product stands up.
Main Features of Bonavita BV1800SS 8-Cup Coffee Maker
Bonavita confidently assures its buyers that with the Bonavita BV1800SS “you’re just one press of a button away from a perfect cup of coffee“. As testimony to the company’s claims, the coffee maker is popular among its consumers for its impressive performance and ergonomic design.
Here’s a look into some of the features that have earned this home brewer its respect:
1. Brewing Temperature
Bonavita 1800SS 8-Cup Coffee Maker
One of the key attributes of a satisfying cup of coffee is the perfection in the temperature of the coffee itself.
This means that even with the very best of coffee beans and the most precise coffee-to-water ratio, a lukewarm coffee is always going to be a disappointing coffee (which is the last thing you need early in the morning).
The secret to achieving the perfect temperature lies in the water heating element that heats the brewing water. Water that is too hot or too cold causes an imbalance in the taste of the coffee, so it’s important to get this part just right.
Bonavita seems to have paid special attention to this detail.
The Bonavita coffee maker boasts a 1400-watt heating element which is designed to yield a consistent brew temperature of 195-205oF (91-96 o Celsius). This is the ideal brewing temperature as prescribed by the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) for adequate extraction and saturation.
The heating element is engineered such that the optimal brewing temperature is attained (as claimed by Bonavita) irrespective of the volume of water used.
So whether you’re making 2, 4 or 8 cups of coffee, you can be assured that each one of them will be that steaming, flavorsome cup of coffee you’ve been craving.
2. Brewing Time
Bonavita Reviews for 1800SS Coffeemaker
Another noteworthy feature of the Bonavita 1800SS is its short brewing time.
The coffee maker typically takes around 5-6 minutes to complete an 8-cup brew, which is reasonably shorter than the standard 10 or 12-cup brews sported by the other home-brewers of its class.
The speedy brewing element is good news for ardent coffee-lovers who appreciate that allowing a coffee maker to finish the brew entirely before grabbing that first cup of coffee, makes a world of difference to the taste.
As a matter of fact, Bonavita ensures that you only get your hands on the coffee after the machine has completed the brew.
The brewer is designed so that the filter basket sits right on top of the 8-cup stainless-steel carafe; which means that if you removed the carafe for a quick sip, the filter basket will be coming with it (this feature may not play well with the hasty coffee-consumers).
However, this mandatory waiting time is effectively compensated by the quality of the brew.
For those of you who do need that comforting wake-up coffee in the morning but don’t have the patience for it to reach you, the BV1800SS gives you your piping-hot cup of coffee, and it does so in pretty good time too.
3. Saturation and Extraction
Bonavita Coffee Maker 8-Cup Brewer
Bonavita BV1800SS coffee brewer sets itself apart from its competitors with its brewing method, and that involves a large shower head.
That probably doesn’t make much sense to you until you’re told that it’s one of the crucial steps to getting a stronger coffee.
The holes on the shower head are arranged in a cross-shaped pattern that ensures an even water flow through them. The well-distributed water flow thoroughly soaks the coffee grounds which is required to achieve an adequate saturation.
This sophisticated shower head is coupled with a strategically-designed filter basket.
The filter basket is U-shaped and has a flat bottom, which increases the contact time with the coffee and enables better extraction from the coffee bed.
It also allows steam to escape, venting it from the coffee grounds and leaving the aroma in.
Together, the shower head and the filter basket create the ideal environment for a cup of coffee with a delicious flavor-profile and the capability of satisfying your caffeine cravings.
4. Stainless Steel Carafes
Bonavita Coffee Maker 8 Cup Brewer
Most home-brewers tend to come with a glass insulated carafe.
In case you’re wondering what a carafe is (believe me, I was just as clueless), it’s the flask that catches and holds the coffee that is filtered through the filter basket.
The issue that is usually reported with glass carafes is that over time, the heat of the coffee causes the carafe to implode, leaving shards of glass in your freshly brewed coffee – probably not the kind of “crisp” morning you were going for.
In the Bonavita BV1800SS 8-Cup Original Coffee Brewer the standard glass carafe has been replaced with a stainless steel carafe. That is because, in contrast to the usual glass pots and other carafes, the vacuum-walled thermal carafe with its tight-fitting lid retains heat for longer, keeping your coffee fresh.
The clever shape of the carafe renders it practically spill-proof (which is hard to come by in most coffee makers), so you won’t be wasting any drops of your precious coffee.
With its sturdy and sleek design, the thermal carafe is pleasing to the eye and fitted with the rest of the machine, decorates the kitchen table-top quite nicely.
As a bonus, the insulated carafe and its lid are dishwasher safe, which makes for easy cleaning.
5. One-Touch Brew
Bonavita BV1800SS Review
If you’re the kind of person that practically sleepwalks your way into the kitchen in the morning and you’re certain that technology has sworn to be your mortal enemy, you’ll be thankful for this next feature.
The Bonavita BV1800SS coffee brewer comes with a feature they like to call the “one-touch brew“.
Say goodbye to fiddling with those timers, temperature settings and other buttons and dials that come with an innate potential to make your life miserable at 6 a.m., because the one touch brew means just that; a single touch.
You simply add the grounds to the filter basket, pour in the water and push a button – and presto, your coffee is brewing. The lack of customizable settings translates to standardization in the quality and taste of the coffee, so that you get it right every time without going out of your way to do so.
You also won’t have to worry about setting up timers to get your coffee made automatically only to realize that your coffee’s been sitting out too long, and has probably gone cold.
The one-touch brew feature is efficient in that it ensures instantaneous, freshly brewed coffee.
Granted that this feature won’t allow your brewing to begin before you’re out of bed, but with a short brewing time, it’ll certainly be done by the time you realize you’re awake.
6. SCA Certified
Bonavita Coffee Makers Reviews
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a membership-based association that comprises coffee connoisseurs (including coffee farmers, barristers, and roasters) who share extensive knowledge and expertise in all things coffee.
The organization lays down specifications for coffee-brewer makers that they believe would guarantee the perfect cup of coffee for consumers.
The technical requirements devised by the SCA covers various aspects such as the size of the brewer basket, the brewing time and temperature, the adequacy of extraction and saturation, as well as the competency of the carafe in containing the coffee temperature once brewed.
Each SCA certified Home Brewer undergoes intensive testing based on the above principles, and only the machines that tick off all the prescribed requirements are awarded the title.
The Bonavita 8-cup coffee maker is one of the three Bonavita home brewers to be recognized as an SCA Certified Home Brewer, making its mark among its competitors.
Check the video below for the quick preview of the Bonavita 8 cup coffee maker, so you can see it in action…
Pro & Cons of Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Maker
The Bonavita BV1800SS is definitely one of the top contenders in the world of coffee makers, but even the best of products have their limitations. This review would not be complete without weighing the great aspects of this home brewer against its not-so-great aspects. Here is a breakdown of these points:
What I Like
- Short brewing time
- Larger shower head for better saturation
- Cheaper in comparison
- Thermal coffee carafes that keep coffee hot
- Compact size and attractive design
- Perfect brewing temperature
- One-touch button
- Easy to clean
- SCA certified
- User-friendly
- Automatic power-off
What I Don’t Like
- Lack of programmability with the one-touch button
- No brew stop – waiting time mandatory till brew is complete
- Only 8-cup capacity
- No automatic timer settings
Check The Latest Price on Amazon
Why Choose Bonavita Coffee Maker 8-Cup Brewer
Bonavita 8 Cup Coffeemaker With Thermal Carafe
If you still haven’t made up your mind, or just need that extra push, let me tell you exactly why you should pick the BV1800SS.
What we basically expect from our coffee maker is really great coffee, really quickly, with no real effort – and that’s just what this home-brewer will do for you.
The efficient heating element, smart one-touch button and advanced filter and insulated carafe, ticks off all the requirements for the perfect cup of coffee – and its buyers have testified it too.
Some consumers have claimed in their reviews that the carafe does not maintain the temperature of the coffee for very long.
Other customers have stated that this is not a problem until after 3 hours, by which time you can brew another round of coffee, because coffee that’s been standing that long probably doesn’t taste as good as a fresh brew anyway.
The lack of programmability may also be an issue for some, who like to customize their coffee to a particular taste.
Most consumers are happy with the one-touch feature because of the impressive quality and flavor of the coffee, which is the whole point of the brewer.
It’s hard not to be captivated by the sleek, sharp look of the brewer and even harder to not appreciate its ease of use.
With thousands of satisfied buyers, and an SCA certification, why wouldn’t you choose this remarkable home brewer?
Final Verdict
It is obvious that the manufacturer has put a lot of thought and time into crafting this beautiful piece of machinery.
The Bonavita BV1800 8-cup coffee maker is truly an all-rounder, in terms of performance, durability, appearance and delicious coffee.
Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Maker Reviews
There may be a few things that could have been done a little differently, like the addition of programmable buttons. But if that happened, the luxury of the one-touch would be lost; and that is just a trivial compromise.
The Bonavita BV1800SS caters to all kinds of coffee lovers.
From the amateurs to the experts, the occasional tasters to the addicts, this is definitely a one-size-fits all kind of coffee maker, which is just as well because everyone loves good coffee.
So go ahead and treat yourself (as well as your kitchen counter top) to one of these. If you don’t, you’ll always be that one press of a button away from a perfect cup of coffee!
*Disclaimer: Our Bonavita BV1800SS review is based mostly on our expertise and the experts we consulted with and the information provided by the manufacturers. We do test many products, but it’s not possible to test them all. As such, please remember the above recommendations are our opinions, and before using any product, please check manufacturer’s website for more information.
Related Videos of Bonavita 8 Cup Coffee Maker
Check another video below:
Cleaning Bonavita BV1800 8-cup coffee maker is relatively easy but there are few things you should know. Check this great video which shows how to clean Bonavita coffee maker 8-cup Brewer.
