What We Loved
- Carafe brew timeIt took the Bonavita 9.5 minutes, including prep and cleanup, to make 6 cups of coffee in our speed test.This was actually quite good for a drip machine.
- Control-panel clarity (buttons, dials, touchscreen)The interface is just a single button.The Bonavita's only controls are a simple on/off switch.
- Descaling program effectivenessThe descaling process took us 35 minutes to complete, which was shorter than that of most machines.
- Ease of cleaningThe required paper filters make it easy to dispose of grindsthe carafe is fairly easy to clean by hand.
- Overall cup quality / flavor balancemakes good coffeeThe Bonavita Thermal Carafe 8-Cup made one of the better tasting cups of coffee in our testingIt produced a very pleasant and smooth cup in our testing.Most of our testing enjoyed the mellowness of this coffee, but felt it was considerably less strong than the brews from the OXO and Cuisinart machines.It also produced zero plastic taste, even in the first pot from a brand new machine.Good Taste
Just Okay
- Value compared to competitorsMost users who are concerned with taste would get a better value out of either of these machines.If you find the Bonavita on sale, however, you won't be disappointed.
Needs Improvement
- Carafe pour consistencyCarafe can be difficult to pourThe carafe also has a large lip that can make pouring a little awkward, especially if you're trying to get the last of the coffee out.The Bonavita's carafe pours slowly.
- Design flawsFirst, the entire filter basket must be removed and set aside to gain access to the carafe
- PriceExpensiveThe Bonavita Thermal Carafe 8-Cup lists for $190.
- Programmability / custom profilesHowever, it is not programmable, so you can't frontload the prep work to the night before and then wake up to a fresh pot of coffee.
