Customers consistently note the ease of use and compact size of the Slim Espresso Machine with 20 Bars of Pressure. Many appreciate its affordability and the quality of espresso it produces. However, some express concerns about its durability and light weight.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 387 reviews
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Spectacular purchase
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Excellent product, we use it several times a day, it works perfectly and quickly.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Espresso quality, Size
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Decent quality but could be hotter.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Too hot to handle?
Well, no, actually...
***OVERVIEW:***
The Bella Pro Series - Slim Espresso Machine is a great choice for anyone who loves coffee and wants to make their own espresso at home. This machine is easy to use, with no directions needed, and comes with two options for the grounds: a single shot cup or a double shot cup. You can also turn your espresso into a cappuccino, latte, or any other drink you like using the built-in commercial-style steam wand, and foam quality is excellent. The steam wand also doubles as an instant hot water dispenser, though "hot" is a topic of discussion for the Drawbacks. The machine has a large removable water tank that holds enough water for about 20 espresso shots, so you don’t have to refill it very often. It also has a heated top plate that keeps your cups warm. Nice touch. No, not with your hand... (okay, I joke, it's not that bad).
The "20 Bar" pump seems to deliver, though first run may require two passes; after the first we got quality shots out of it. You can actually set it to brew a single or a double shot, depending on your preference. The machine also has a removable drip tray that makes cleaning easy. The stainless steel exterior looks timeless. It's slim and compact, so it doesn’t take up much counter space (less than a toaster when comparing width).
***DRAWBACKS:***
Some of the drawbacks are: the cord is too short, the milk steamer is not hot enough (for some people). If you like your milk very hot, you'll have to steam it twice to get the desired temperature. My wife doesn't like having the roof of her mouth (as a matter of fact, she had it replaced with those tiles they protect spacecraft with for coming back to earth), so she takes hers through a second pass. Unfortunately, that is quite loud (another drawback). The Pro Series Slim doesn't come with a milk frother, so you'll have to buy one separately if you want to use one. There is no built-in grinder, so you have to use pre-ground coffee or grind your own beans. No biggie if you have a grinder.
***OVERALL:***
Overall, the Bella Pro Series - Slim Espresso is a fairly easy to use if you know what you're doing, as it's a "semiautomatic". It's does a good job with everything it should, though not great. My wife really wanted one, so that's satisfying. I really wanted to drink coffee, so score.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and elegant
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
My husband love expresso and it was a birthday gift, he’s happy with his new coffee machine
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Disappointing…
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Posted . Owned for 6 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Loved it while it was working! Quit working after 5 months. Was only used once a day, occasionally twice. Some days not at all. Contacted Bella since has a 2 year warranty. They were unable to replace. They said they did not have in stock even though showing available at BestBuy. Waiting for refund check.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Espresso quality, Size
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Works well for cost
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I do not consider myself a serious coffee drinker or connoisseur. Coffee makers, for me, must be functional and worth the price. While this unit isn’t perfect it does brew a nice cup of espresso, especially when you consider its price point.
It was easily unpacked and ready to go quickly, once I washed all the components which are very easy to clean.
Pros;
Easy to clean. Removable drip tray with “full” indicator.
Seems well built, sturdy and has a small counter footprint
Fairly easy to use but is the case with most new products – the more you use it the more you learn to “fine tune” to produce your perfect cup.
Espresso shots were even. You can change the volume/size by holding the button for 3 seconds. The system remembers your choice which is nice. A single and double cup stainless steel filters are included.
52mm aluminum diecast double spout works well
Crema on top of espresso was perfect amount, for me, and tasted fantastic with no burnt taste
Milk frother/steamer/hot water wand is nice and can swivel. Frothed milk takes a minute or so to heat and you can select temperature. Hot water option is also nice to top of cup or maybe make hot chocolate, etc.
The top of unit has a heated plate to keep cup warm.
The water reservoir is good size at 34 oz.
Cons;
Instructions were a tad dis-jointed and not as easy to follow as I would have liked. This made resolving some issues hard to find. Ultimately, I wound up turning unit off/on which seemed to clear any problem.
There is a circular “cut-out” in the drip tray. When using 2 espresso glasses they were tipped and almost fell off tray due to machine shaking while brewing
Beeps 3 times indicating brewing has completed. Couldn’t find anyway to shut off. Not too loud but annoying especially if using early morning/late at night
Due to small size when purging system if the portafilter is in it goes everywhere. If I removed portafilter it then splatters out onto the counter. Maybe operator error but could not find a solution, so just put towel around machine
While it isn’t perfect once cost, size and quality of espresso is all considered I would recommend. Enjoy!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Bella Customer Service
Posted .
Hello! We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and leaving a review. If you ever need assistance with your product please send an email to [email protected]. It will be our pleasure to assist. Happy cooking! Bella Customer Service
Pros mentioned:
Espresso quality, Size
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great for a small space
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have a fully automated Espresso maker in my kitchen, it easily takes up 3 times the space of this Bella ProSlim Espresso Maker. I'm planning to put this in my office at work, where I have very little extra space. There are a couple of features that I really like, First is the removable water tank, it holds 1 liter (34oz) of water. Several other small espresso makers have non-removable tanks, I like the idea of pulling it off the back, going to fill it, and bringing it back. This maker can either make a single or a double espresso, with a seperate portofino for each size. I suspect I'll only use the double portofino. The portofino is fairly light weight aluminum. It comes with a plastic measuring cup with a tamper at the other end (I wish this was metal). The portofino has 2 spouts so you could dispense 2 espressos at once. Now the gotcha, the maximum height cup you can put under the portofino is 3 1/2"; this precludes me using most of my coffee mugs that are 4 1/2" tall.
When you first turn the machine on (switch on left side), it takes about 45s for the machine to heat the water and build up sufficient pressure. You can press the dispense button, but it will just blink at you until it's ready. To dispense the first double espresso it takes about 40s. You can press the button a second time and it will dispense another cup (throught the same grounds) in another 30s, this is how I generally make cafe Americano or a latte (1/2 to 1/4 strength of espresso). Proof is in the drinking, and the quality of the crema, here it meets or surpasses my expectations. It's excellent. I'm convinced this machine makes the espresso at the right temperature and pressure. Except for the cup height issue (mine) this is an excellent machine for the miniscule space that it occupies.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Defective from the start
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Unit didn't work from the start. Beeped three times and turned off.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Bella Customer Service
Posted .
Hi there ! We really value your feedback, and we’re so sorry for the inconvenience. We want to do everything we can to help you out. Could you please send us more information at [email protected]? Thanks so much! BELLA Customer Service
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Money waste
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Posted . Owned for 3 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
1. You cant place even small coffee cups there 2. It stopped working just in 2 months
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Espresso quality, Size
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Three years of personal experience.
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is a good coffee machine; it makes espresso shots perfectly. It takes up little space and has a beautiful design, but it also has some downsides: Over time, the steam pressure has decreased. When the machine builds up pressure, it clicks very loudly, which can be inconvenient. I have been using it for three years and am not planning to change it yet.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Espresso quality, Pressure
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Espresso everyday!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have wanted to replace my old espresso machine for a while now. Its glory days were over when the pressure wouldn't go high enough anymore. This Bella Pro Slim espresso machine seemed like a good replacement and I was excited to be able to make myself a good cup of Italian espresso with some milk fluff.
As a rule of thumb, I was told that you should never purchase an espresso machine which can't deliver at least 15 bar of pressure. This is literally the most important aspect and with the Bella Pro sitting at 20 bar, I felt pretty hopeful it would deliver.
The unboxing revealed the machine, a measuring cup, a choice of 2 steel filters (one cup or 2 cups or 1 double shot), a guide and some other paperwork. Pretty straightforward stuff. I washed the containers and parts, ran water through it several times and got my favorite blend out, ready to go.
The first cup was not that great, but 3 cups in, I had found how to make a decent cup. I used to frother to get some nice, fluffy, hot goodness to top them off. Everyone enjoyed it, yet, after making espressos for the whole family, I started seeing some aspects that weren't great. So let's break it down:
Pros:
+ Comes with everything you need to use it
+ The removable water tank is nice
+ Easy to operate, 3 buttons and a wheel for the frother
+ Can push some serious pressure through the grounds fast, which results in a creamy and delicious espresso
+ The machine looks great and feels rather sturdy
+ 20 Bar of pressure
Cons:
- The frother is not very good as it doesn't deliver enough steam to get a decent fluff
- Tightening the filter in place takes a lot of effort
- Some parts look rather cheap, such as the frother dial on the side
- The power cable is short, very short
This machine really is a mixed bag. In one hand, it does make a very decent beverage (as long as you use real espresso grounds, I recommend Lavazza coffee), on the other hand, it feels like the machine struggles to keep enough hot water and steam. I would recommend it if you only make a cup every now and then, but for daily use or if you have to make several cups, I would look elsewhere. This being said, for the competitive price, it does a good enough job.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Espresso quality, Pressure
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Easy Use
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Wow, where do I even begin with the Bella Pro Series Slim Espresso Machine? This machine has completely exceeded my expectations in every way possible!
First and foremost, the espresso quality is absolutely top-notch. With 20 bars of pressure, every shot is rich, smooth, and perfectly extracted. I've been blown away by the depth of flavor and crema this machine consistently produces. It's like having a professional barista right in my own kitchen!
The design is another standout feature. The stainless steel construction not only looks stunning on my countertop, but it's also incredibly durable and easy to clean. The slim profile makes it a perfect fit for my small kitchen space without sacrificing any functionality.
One thing I particularly love about this machine is its user-friendly interface. The intuitive controls make it a breeze to customize my espresso just the way I like it, whether I'm in the mood for a single shot or a double shot. Plus, the pre-programmed settings take the guesswork out of brewing, ensuring consistent results every time.
Another big plus is the removable water reservoir and drip tray, which make cleaning up after brewing a simple task. It's clear that Bella Pro Series has thought of everything to make the espresso-making process as hassle-free as possible.
Overall, I can't recommend the Bella Pro Series Slim Espresso Machine enough. It's a game-changer for any coffee lover looking to enjoy cafe-quality espresso from the comfort of their own home. Trust me, once you experience the quality and convenience of this machine, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Instruction manual, Noise level
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Noisy, Extensive Instructions, Cumbersome
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I was really looking forward to trying out an expresso machine to add to my normal coffee routine. I decided to try this one out as it was marketed as an easy to use , simplistic way to have expressos. Unfortunately it was a huge eye opener or myself and my family as this was anything but easy. First out of the box impressions was it being packaged very well however noticed the instruction book was super small/thin that made me a little worried.
Setup was very easy and all parts were easy cleanable. Once all setup I dove into the instruction booklet, that is were I felt I was back in college reading a college book. These instructions are very extensive, there are no diagrams and it describes hidden functions based on button press length or button press patterns. To say the least this was overwhelming. It is important to ready thoroughly the entire instruction booklet as they cross-reference previous steps otherwise you will become lost missing key steps. Especially the Care and Cleaning section.
After reading the entire instruction booklet and cleaning the product I was ready to try it out. I turned it on, performed the button press pattern, held the button for length of dispense and pressed the steam button. After all those key combinations were performed I received the "Perfect" expresso. It is important to note, this is an expresso size dispense not a coffee so they are suppose to be little amounts at a time. There is a feature where you can squeeze two expresso cups under to make an expresso for both cups. I ended up just using the two expresso open for my single cup to make the prefect amount each time. The steam feature is the most pain point. On initial use water will come out so be sure to let that clear to heat up to steam level. Afterwards the steam comes out nicely to foam up the milk. However after usage I have not found a way to get back at making additional expressos without having to power switch it off and on. It seems after using the steam button you cannot go back to the expresso function. Throughout this entire process, it is very noisy with hearing a thump from the pump action for the steam.
Overall I gave it 3 stars, it does the job however it takes a lot to get it working. It is very noisy, the instructions are very extensive to read through and cumbersome to use those button combinations / patterns.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Espresso quality, Size
Cons mentioned:
Steam wand
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
Good for only one shot at a time.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This bella pro series-slim espresso machine is really slim. Build quality is nice and looks shiny. Although the unit looks news however the steam wand has mild foam spots, I am not sure it was used product or factory testing. however the rest of the accessaries were new. I like the size and built.
The manual is pretty detailed and confusing. I tried to follow their instruction of priming the pump, it took a few time before I could complete. the shot volume is good and makes perfect expresso, however the steam is weak. the pressure or volume is not enough to warm and foam the milk for 2 of latte. The buttons sometime don't seems to work - meaning I pulled one shot and then foam the milk and then want to pull another shot. the machine dosed do anything. The buttons just kept blinking and sometime all the buttons are solid but still not pulling the shot. so I have to power off and switch on again then it starts working immediately. There seems to be some problem with this unit or the mechanism/programming is faulty I am not sure.
This is good for one cup of coffee at a time, although a two cup portafilter is provided but these is not enough space on the base to place two regular cups side by side. Going farword, I think I am going to use this only for espresso and not to use the milk brother because it is useless. Although Bella claimed is pro level machine but I felt the steam is not enough and not strong to justify the pro functionality. the digital buttons are confusing and most of the time they don't work as intended. I wish I could return this, if there was an option. I would suggest pay more and get the functionally reliable product.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Hydeline
Posted .
Hi there ! We really value your feedback, and we’re so sorry for the inconvenience. We want to do everything we can to help you out. Could you please send us more information at [email protected]? Thanks so much! BELLA Customer Service
Pros mentioned:
Espresso quality
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Makes decent espress, but needs better instruction
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This budget espresso machine actually makes good espresso. After struggling to figure it out, I finally got it to work, mostly. (Note to Bella Pro, the instructions sent with the machine need more detail, please.) Like another reviewer, when I selected a single shot, it didn’t send enough hot water to even get any water at all through the espresso powder and into the cup. The instructions are not at all clear on how to program the buttons to send more water. I tried the “hold down the button for the desired time” thing, but it didn’t stick. So, I simply hold down the button each time I use it until I figure out how to save the programming.
The challenge with the frother is that it wasn’t clear in the instructions how to get steam as opposed to hot water. I found that you must first press the steam button and then twist the select knob on the side of the machine. If you twist the select knob first and then press the steam button, you just get hot water. Once you know the right order, it does work, and I got nice frothy milk for my latte.
All of that said, I even got a somewhat decent espresso from regrinding plan ol drip coffee. (My first test before I went out and bought better coffee to grind.) Sorry if that offends espresso fans. Once I got some better coffee beans, the machine produced really good espresso.
So in summary, since this machine is really inexpensive (I see it’s now roughly half price compared to when I received mine…..) if you are prepared to fuss with it a bit, you can get a decent espresso or latte from it. You may just need to work at it a bit.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Pressure, Size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Thanks alotte!
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I love, love, love this 20 bar high pressure pump, machine! (I didn't know what 20 bar, met; Glad I did my research, as an amateur.) I'm learning about expressos while looking forward to this experience every morning! Videos help! And, I realize I can make hot tea, cocoa and other hot beverages as well with the steamer/frother wand! I also, am very pleased that I don't have to fill the water tank every day. The stainless steal looks so sleak and I am happy about the space saving feature! This is my go-to-gleam expresso machine. I think I will make a lil' sign that says, Express your self. Because I feel like I'm doing just "that" every day as I sip my delicious cup of goodness in my favorite cups, while I think of the $$ that I am saving! Thanks for delivering another "Best Buy!"
BTW I tell a lot of people that they should buy from you! They are surprised that they can buy such things as coffee makers, etc.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Espresso quality, Size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
excellent performance
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Bella Pro Espresso Machine delivers excellent performance with its sleek design and user-friendly features. It heats up quickly and brews rich, flavorful espresso with a satisfying crema. The built-in milk frother is a standout, producing creamy foam for lattes and cappuccinos. Its intuitive controls make customization easy, although it might have a learning curve for beginners. The machine’s compact size is perfect for smaller kitchens. Overall, the Bella Pro offers great value for coffee lovers seeking a high-quality espresso experience at home.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Pressure
Cons mentioned:
Steam wand
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Bang for your buck
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I was able to get this on a big deal. I only paid about $90 plus tax. I honestly really like this machine. It pulls very good shots of espresso. Many times I see people complain with espresso machines saying it doesn’t have good pressure, but that is 9/10 user error. Many people do not know what it takes to actually make an espresso where you need to understand ground type, amount needed for a single or double shot. The right pressure to tamp, etc. The shots are pulled at a perfect time between 27-32 secs for a double shot. The crema on top is really good and you can see nice layers. The only thing I am not a huge fan of is the steam wand. It isn’t horrible, but it is not the best. It feels a little cheap and kind of flimsy. It heats up steam pretty quickly, but takes a minute to get the whirlpool motion of the milk. Even after aerating the milk properly, about 5 seconds for latte microfoam, it is extremely loud. Normally once the milk is aerated enough it doesn’t “scream” at you (unless you use heavy cream it will always scream). All in all, it makes very yummy espresso drinks.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Espresso quality, Overall performance
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Slim and Powerful
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The bella PRO - Slim Espresso Machine with 20 Bars of Pressure works good. The machine is easy to use and makes good expresso’s
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Espresso quality
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Nice tasting espresso but has intermittent issues
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've had the bella PRO machine now for several weeks and used it 7-8 times. The machine is simple to operate and the espresso tastes good. I could not tell the difference between espresso from the bella PRO compared to store bought espresso. However, I have had three issues:
- the 1 cup filter basket has a wrong notch and doesn't fit in the portafilter
- About 1 in 3 times it doesn't produce any espresso when the button is pressed though water gets inside the ground coffee. I have to either restart the process or force it through by holding the button which produces inconsistent tasting espresso
- Ocassionally, the portafilter moves to the side when the espresso is being made and water overflows from the side, diluting the espresso
I've only used the mild frother once and it worked fine but haven't used it enough to comment on it.
Overall, an okay machine that produces nice tasting espresso when it works but is not very reliable. I bought this on sale and for the price, it is a good started machine.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Size
Cons mentioned:
Steam wand
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
All in all, works well
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This Espresso machine does the job. It’s compact size fits perfectly on my countertop. It dispenses the espresso in dual streams in a uniform and steady manner. A few negatives. First, after adding grounds and putting the handled ground carrier into the machine, rotating the part to seal it in place was difficult. Much resistance is encountered. Maybe thats to support the higher Bar pressure of the machine. Be aware that you must grab the side of the machine while rotating the grounds carrier to prevent the whole machine from tipping over. Next, after the cycle completes, the remaining grounds are in a pudding like state. Not dryer grounds you can more easily dispose of that of my previous less expensive and lesser pressure Espresso machines. Or the dryer grounds the more expensive Commercial Espresso machines leave behind. Lastly, I was disappointed to learn that the Steam wand doesn’t swivel up or down. It rotates on a single plane underneath the dispensing area of the machine or outward to the side of the machine. However, once on the side, it doesn’t swivel up, to enable my Milk frothing pitcher to easily fit underneath and allow me to better direct the steam flow or manipulate the milk level below the steam stream. That makes frothing milk way more difficult than with my previous Espresso machines. It still froths Milk. But the ability and experience is worse than I expected, Yet, this Espresso Machine does what it was built to do. Create a dual streamed espresso draw that is enjoyable to drink, while fitting well on my countertop.