Bella - BREW 14-Cup Auto Pour Over Coffee Maker​ - Slate

I recently picked up the Bella BREW 14-Cup Auto Pour Over Coffeemaker to see if it could deliver that refined pour-over taste in a big, daily-driver batch size. Right out of the box, though, it becomes pretty clear that the user manual leaves a bit to your own trial and error. My first struggle was simply getting the carafe lid off. It feels so tight that you honestly think you're going to break the plastic, but the trick is to just push firmly with your thumb. It’s an easy fix once you get use to it. I couldn’t find a single word in the manual about this. The manual briefly mentions that the reservoir comes off, but doesn't bother explaining how to take it off. Thankfully, figuring it out on your own isn't difficult at all. Once you get the hang of it, having a detachable tank is a huge plus—it makes filling up at the sink, fridge dispenser, or water pitcher so much easier than trying to pour from a full pitcher into a tight opening on top of the machine. There’s a nice built-in handle, as well. When it comes to kitchen placement, keep in mind that this machine has a wide, bulky footprint. If you have low upper cabinets above your counter, it’s frustratingly awkward to slide or pull the heavy machine forward just to flip open the filter basket area. It’s not an issue if your setup has completely open counter space above, but it's definitely something to consider if space is tight. In terms of electronics, there’s one minor display choice that I’m not sure I like. Once the coffee finishes brewing and the hotplate timer starts counting down, the main clock display disappears entirely. Unless you manually turn off the hotplate, you are left without a readable clock on the machine for up to four hours, which is annoying if you rely on your coffeemaker as a quick time check in the morning. On the bright side, the carafe itself is genuinely well-designed for pouring. It gives you a clean, steady pour every time without those annoying drips running down the front of the glass. I did notice a couple of stray drops hitting the hotplate if I pulled the carafe out mid-brew to pour a quick cup, but that happens with almost every machine. Just make sure to give the plate a quick wipe down once it cools off so the drips don't burn on. At the end of the day, what really matters is the coffee itself. The brew tastes good and gets the job done. The blooming feature is a great idea but to be completely honest, it doesn't taste noticeably different from other drip coffeemakers I've owned in the past. If you're buying it strictly expecting a night-and-day "artisanal pour-over" flavor shift…well, I can only speak for myself — you might be disappointed. But I also know that there are many variables that go into brewing a great cup of coffee. (At the very least, this coffeemaker deserves freshly ground beans — right before brewing. You deserve it, as well!) If you want a solid, large-capacity maker with a great pouring carafe and a convenient removable reservoir, it's a decent option once you get past its small design quirks…and a 2-year warranty, to boot!

The Bella is surprisingly straightforward, despite how complex it seems on paper. Setup was much easier than I expected, and the instructions (while a bit overwhelming for someone coming from a Mr. Coffee, where the only input on the machine was a power switch) walked me through it step by step. I do wish there was a quick start guide or something similar, but alas. What I was not prepared for, however, was the absolute size of this unit. It takes up a substantial amount of counter space, which might be an issue in kitchens where counter space comes at a premium. It is an understated color, and while it is a nice venture away from the usual black coffeemakers I see, I think the blue is unfortunately not colorful enough to be interesting and yet not neutral enough to quite blend in with every kitchen’s decor. That said, it is a pleasant design and looks nice on the counter. The coffee itself is smooth. I’m not a coffee connoisseur, but having the option to adjust brew strength with a single button is quite convenient! I also found the automatic blooming feature to be a nice touch for a pour-over style coffee maker, especially with pour-over being a relative luxury in my household. If you, like me, aren’t the best about getting a pot going before you need your joe, the Pause & Serve function is handy and lets you sneak a cup before the pot is done brewing — this might come quite in handy, especially once you take into account the 14-cup capacity. As far as cleaning and maintenance goes, the removable water reservoir is easy to take out, so refilling and cleaning it is not too difficult. There is an included water filter as well, which might be handy if you have hard water. However, cleaning the rest of the machine is a little less pleasant. Although I like the reusable filter in theory, getting all the grounds out can be tedious and messy. The carafe is also enormous, as you might expect from a 14-cup carafe, but that makes washing it by hand a little awkward in a smaller sink. I haven’t tried putting the removable parts in the dishwasher yet, but I don’t doubt they would hold up to a dishwasher for cleaning. Overall, this is a solid coffeemaker! While the entire 14-cup capacity is overkill for most solo coffee drinkers, this would be great in a multi-coffee-enjoyer household. My biggest complaints are its unfortunately bulky footprint and cumbersome cleanup, but if you have the counter space and need the capacity, it’s definitely worth peeking at! Subjectively, I find the taste to be better than drip but not quite as good as a hand-done pour-over, but for being able to get 14 cups in one go and relatively quickly...the trade-offs are easy to justify. That said, this is not something I would recommend for proper coffee snobs or those who don't need the 14-cup capacity.

Everyone who likes coffee has a coffee machine already so this isn’t so much a review about SHOULD you get this coffee machine but should you REPLACE your coffee maker? Out of the box I was surprised how big the machine actually is for being only two cups more than my existing machine. Most coffee makers I’ve ever encountered are “vertical oriented” meaning the pot sits under the maker and the water reservoir goes around the pot in a semi circle almost. With the Bella machine it is horizontally oriented: the water sits on the left side of the machine in a classy looking reservoir with the pot on the right side and the main body and controls between the two. What it means, for me, is that I have to use more counter space by about double! Main features of the coffee machine are the large amount you can brew, more than enough for two adults preparing for a weekend adventure and especially if you only have time for a cup on the way out the door to work on the weekdays. As it's digital you’ll find the usual features like a clock and a timed auto brew mode. The machine comes with a reusable “gold tone” coffee filter which can be removed if you prefer paper cone filters. Unless I missed it in the instruction manual I don’t think there was any explanation about what benefits a gold tone offers outside of aesthetics. Among the features listed are an “Automatic Bloom”, which I’d never heard of but apparently it pre-soaks the coffee in such a manner to allow trapped CO2 to escape which is good for the coffee. You can set the strength of the coffee, there’s a small batch setting for 1-4 cups, you can even program how hot to keep the warming plate, although to my amateur palate the coffee didn’t taste any better or worse regardless of the plate temperature. There’s probably a lot to love if you’re a die hard coffee connoisseur, but it seems based on the key features that average “just put the caffeine in me with sugar and creamer” aren’t going to appreciate a Bella Brew over one of those single button hotel room coffee machines. I want to love it, there’s nothing BAD about the way it makes the coffee but I find the footprint too large for me to keep it hooked up over my “stupid” coffee machine.

The Bella Brew 14-Cup Auto Pour Over Coffee Maker is a very nice unit with a large 14-cup carafe. Most coffee makers only offer a 12-cup capacity, so if you need a little extra volume, this is one of the few coffee makers on the market that provides a true 14-cup capacity. The unit can brew a full 14-cup pot in about 8 minutes when using Bold mode. If you prefer, it can also brew in Regular or Light mode. Bold mode slows the drip rate to maximize extraction and produce a stronger cup of coffee. Despite that, the machine still brews surprisingly fast, and the warming plate keeps coffee hot for up to three hours. The coffee maker also features a large, informative display, and the buttons are big, intuitive, and easy to use. The one negative is the machine's orientation. Unlike most coffee makers that are designed front-to-back, this model is laid out left-to-right. As a result, it takes up about 14 inches of counter width, whereas a typical coffee maker only requires about 7 to 8 inches. If counter space is limited, this is definitely something to consider. Another potential concern is cleaning the water dispenser. Water is pumped through a section that is partially hidden behind another component, making it difficult to see any hard water buildup. How effectively everything cleans out during a descale cycle remains to be seen over time. In general, keeping the water dispensing area completely clean appears to be more difficult than with some other coffee makers. All in all, if your priorities are brewing strong coffee, brewing it quickly, and keeping it hot for an extended period, this is a great machine. As long as you can accommodate its larger footprint on your countertop, the Bella Brew 14-Cup Auto Pour Over Coffee Maker is an excellent choice.

Verdict: the Bella Brew 14-Cup Auto Pour Over Coffee maker is NOT a revolutionary machine that will deliver better coffee than an expert hand-brew in a V60… BUT, it is certainly a much better coffee machine than your standard drip coffee maker, and gets you closer to a nice pour over than any other machine I’ve tried before. Of note, it is all plastic: it doesn’t look high end, and plastic plus hot water is also not great. Disclaimer. I am a coffee enthusiast. I have owned two dozen machines now, ranging from espresso to pour over, fully manual to fully automatic. I probably have higher expectations than most people, so take that into account when reading this review. First impressions. It’s bigger than I expected, maybe twice as big as a compact coffee maker. If you have limited counter space, I recommend you measure width and height to make sure it fits where you want to put it. It is all plastic; it doesn’t look high-end. I like the grey color. The screen is actually practical and readable. The buttons are useful. The water reservoir is huge! Setup. Besides unpacking and adding the water filter, the machine is plug-and-play and intuitive. I set up the clock buy holding the hour button for a few seconds, and then it will save automatically within a few more seconds. Brewing. I added 4 cups of water in the reservoir, 33g of freshly ground coffee in a rinsed paper filter, and then selected the 1-4 cup setting. Of note, the machine will brew as much as you put into the reservoir, so if you put 6 cups but select the 1-4 cup setting, it will brew until the reservoir is empty (in this case 6 cups). The machine starts brewing fast… maybe within 10 seconds. After the initial water dose, the machine pauses for some time to allow blooming. The machine then introduces water at regular intervals until it runs out of water. Blooming and the slow and steady watering leads to a better brew than your average coffee maker. The machine also keeps the carafe warm (you select the warmth level). Performance. If you are using fresh and high-quality coffee, you will get pretty good results, as you probably would with any machine… But the greatest benefit of this machine is in the improvement of the process, allowing a bloom, and then executing the rest of the brew slowly and methodically. I find that the coffee is more aromatic, less acidic, and more flavorful than if you were to use the same coffee in a standard drip. To be fair… while it is not replacing my hand-made pour overs, it would absolutely replace any drip machine if given the choice, and it will serve as the go-to brewer when we have company. Other features. The can brew a large amount of coffee at full capacity. This machine can also be setup ahead of time and start brewing on a timer, which is an important feature for a coffee machine! Things I love: - Substantially better coffee than a standard drip machine - Ability to schedule start time - Large capacity for when you have guests! 14 Cups!! - Easy to use - Nice large screen - Intuitive buttons - I like the color - Fair price for capacity and capability Things I don’t love: - It’s really quite large; not a problem if you have the space, but it may not be for everyone - It’s all plastic. If there is a next iteration of this product, I recommend using stainless steel or another material in the brew path, especially where hot water is involved, even if you have to charge a bit more. Pod brewing is all plastic… With this product, there is an opportunity to create a truly better and healthier brewing experience Overall, this is a cool machine! I am excited to have it and I will use it regularly when we have guests so that we can make better coffee, but without the time and effort required to do it in traditional pour overs. I recommend this machine if you want something better than drip.