Bonavita Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe

I was really looking forward to this as a nice balance between better functionality/quality than most coffeemakers out there, and the really high cost of a Technivorm.

My first Bonavita Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe came from Amazon. I took it out of the box, rinsed everything out, poured water in the tank the first time- and it proceeded to flow directly out the bottom (yes, that bottom) of the machine, and all over the counter. I couldn't believe it, so I tried it again- same thing. Apparently someone didn't connect something right. So it went back.

My second Bonavita was purchased from Seattle Coffee Gear. I took it out of the box, rinsed everything out, poured water in the tank the first time- and it stayed in like it's supposed to! So after an initial water-only run, I decide to brew some coffee. Everything worked perfectly! I was so excited. But...

As I'm sitting at the table enjoying my first-ever cup from this machine, a few minutes later I hear a loud POP! It actually startled me. What was it? I opened the carafe- still full of hot coffee, and I see shards of broken glass inside! NO!!! Somehow the glass-lined carafe shattered/ imploded while it was sitting full of coffee on the counter. Coffee proceeded to leak out the plastic bottom of the carafe, all over the counter- what a mess!

*Keep in mind- at no time was the hot carafe exposed to cold water- I even preheated it with hot water before the brew cycle.

Sorry Bonavita, while I understand my experience was probably very rare, I won't be buying any of their products again.

NOTE: This review doesn't pass any blame onto the resellers (both made the return process simple), and I've since bought another coffeemaker from SCG.

(Posted on 5/16/13)

Since receiving a bag of beans as a gift I purchased a quality grinder and expected the coffee to taste better based on what Starbucks recommends. It was better, but my pet peeve with mainstream coffee makers the coffee was never hot enough. I enjoy black coffee with breakfast and when I have a dessert, so am not a coffeeholic enough to spend hundreds of dollars on a coffee brewer. I decided to try the Bonavita since the price was ok and like the fact it is so simple and the brewing is not haphazard and uncontrollable. The coffee temperature is better and the coffee does taste better. So needless to say I am happy with the Bonavita so far.

(Posted on 5/5/13)

The Coffee maker does make great coffee, But I am on my 3rd Carafe in 6 months, The top pastic ring on top does not seal with the glass liner.Thus after several cups of coffee being poured some gets trapped betwenn the outer shell and glass liner, When you set the carafe down it leaves coffee marks on the counter. Eventually the coffee that does leak out starts to smell pretty bad, this can't be healthy for you.

(Posted on 4/24/13)

Easiest ever to use and keep clean. Small profile and a great coffee maker for the value.. Would highly recommend. We have been using for over a month.. The coffee is incredible.. Oh and super fast to make.

(Posted on 4/10/13)

Our old, thermal carafe equipped, coffee maker finally met its maker so I did some research to find a replacement. It all boiled down to two contenders: Bonavita and Bodum. We went with Bonavita for its compact design and easier to swallow price tag. The bottom line is that it makes a great cup o' Joe quickly without fuss and that it keeps the coffee hot 'till the spouse gets outa bed without it getting bitter from a heating element. I like that it has 1400 watts of power to really get the brewing water to the ideal extraction temperature of 195-205 degrees F. and that it is simply a coffee maker without the usual vampires. Enjoy your Joe.

(Posted on 3/31/13)

Significant improvement over the cuisinart I was using. Comparable to my Clever Dripper pour over.

(Posted on 3/28/13)

We are very happy with the Bonavita. It makes excellent coffee. Also Seattle Coffee Gear was great to deal with.

(Posted on 3/27/13)

Replaced a new Krups with this much easier to use coffee maker. Easy to prepare and use. Be careful not to overload the filter basket with too much coffee or it will spill over. Just takes a little practice.
Suggestion: To keep your coffee hot in the excellent glass lined carafe, fill it with hot water just before preparation and pour that water
into the water receptacle for brewing. It keeps the brewed coffee warm for much longer.

(Posted on 3/25/13)

Great coffee pot. Brews quickly, keeps coffee hot. I just wish it was 10 cups

(Posted on 3/23/13)

Like others before me have stated, this is a great coffee maker.
Very easy to fill with water, coffee is wonderful and it stays hot for a very long time. Really glad I purchased this.

(Posted on 3/22/13)

The coffee stays hot in the pot for a lot longer that I thought it would.I liked the idea of not having all the bells and whistles because I never used them in my past coffee makers. Having trouble finding the filters that are recommend but still looking. Great product. Ken

(Posted on 3/16/13)

This is my first high quality drip coffee maker after 15 years with semi-and super automatic espresso makers. I need to keep trying different coffees, but I get the feeling that a fresh ground coffee is really necessary. So far, only pre-ground Illy makes a really great cup. This machine is fast and I believe it's "accurate enough" as far as brew temp. It tastes quite a bit better than the older Cuisinart machine I have. The whole unit has a nice look, feel and weight, even though it's simple.

(Posted on 3/13/13)

So easy to use, so easy to clean, makes great coffee and keeps it hot, am so glad we made this investment. It also looks good on the counter and has a smaller footprint than most coffee makers.

(Posted on 2/28/13)

We purchased 2 units - both my son-in-law and myself really like a good cup of coffee. Like that the carafe holds coffee hot. Love auto-shut off.
Would possibly like just a little hotter brewing temp.

(Posted on 2/20/13)

So far I am loving my Bonavita brewer. I've had it for a couple months now and am still experimenting with different coffees. This brewer is very simple and brews great, hot coffee. The only reason it doesn't get fives stars is because (despite reviews to the contrary) the carafe is not perfect. It is still a little difficult to get the last bit of coffee to pour out of the carafe as there is a slight lip on the top that overlaps the glass liner. I was definitely considering the Technivorm but decided on the Bonavita since it's mechanics were similar to the Technivorm and it was considerably less expensive and it was receiving so many positive reviews. They were right, this little baby brews some great coffee! Also, I am quite happy that I purchased via Seattle Coffee Gear.....great service!

(Posted on 2/20/13)

I was looking for a new coffee maker to replace the Newco OCS 12 which began to leak dangerously, and went for this unit as a value alternative to the Technivorm. This has been a great little machine...

It is a bit small, but it looks really good and build quality seems good. It is a basic design with a basket that simply sits on the pot during brewing. This unit performs flawlessly, and I don't miss any of the fancy features. It is quick, quiet and produces delicious coffee consistently.

I recommend this unit highly.

(Posted on 2/9/13)

My wife bought this as a xmas gift for me and I love this product. It is quick to brew and make a smooth cup of coffee. I love the thermal carafe it keeps the coffee hot for up to 4-5 hours. I am very happy with this and reccomend this to everyone looking to up grade to making better cup of coffee.

(Posted on 1/13/13)

Great coffee maker at a great price. As others have stated, wish the filter basket attached the the machine itself and did not sit on top of the carafe. Just one more step in the morning that I could do without. I also wish they would make a larger capacity available. A 64 oz like the larger Technovorm would be great--especially for company.
The coffee maker is awesome--why is it that all of the great ones make such small pots of coffee!

(Posted on 12/27/12)

Wanted to upgrade my drip coffee experience and just could not convince myself to spend the money for a Technovorm. Enticed by the reviews and the price I ordered the Bonavita.
I am delighted with the purchase. Once I dialed in the right grind on my Baratza Encore and the amount of coffee to use the results have been all I hoped for and more.
Brews a great cup and so easy to use and clean. A winner!!

(Posted on 12/26/12)

I was looking for two things with this coffee maker: great taste and the ability of the carafe to keep the coffee hot. I got both. Yesterday I poured myself a cup four hours after brewing the pot, and the coffee came out steaming. It brews quickly and tastes great.

(Posted on 12/17/12)

Replaced a Cusinart machine with this. The coffee is smoother and more flavorful. Stays hot for at least two hours. I really like the simplicity of the unit.

Coffee is ready in a few minutes with no fuss.

Fast shipping by Seattle Coffee Gear, but no special offers other than shipping...

(Posted on 12/12/12)

Have brewed coffee for years with a Melita china coffee maker. The coffee from this coffee maker is just as good and the brewing time is quick and the carafe holds the hot coffee for plenty of time.

I like the reasonably affordable price, no gimmicks and great looks of this unit. The coffee is not quite as hot as i would like, so I do have to use room tem filtered water (rather than from the fridge's filter) and temper the pot with hot water to have coffee as hot as I would like.

Seattle Coffee Gear was quick with delivery. I didnt get a pound of coffee or the cleaning gear, however. Perhaps they've discontinued that--or the customer who stated that in their review got a special deal.

(Posted on 11/20/12)

We replace our Capresso drip machine with this and the difference is night and day. While it doesn't allow you to remove the carafe and fill your cup while the brew cycle is still running (our only minor nit), We find it very simple to use, clean and operate. The coffee is fantastic and it stays warm about 2 or 3 times as long as our former Capresso thermal carafe model. Six minutes isn't too long to wait for a great cup of coffee.

(Posted on 10/3/12)

When klutzy hubby broke the Moccamaster glass carafe it provided an opportunity to look at the Bonavita thermal carafe coffee maker. It appears well designed, not too expensive, and with a great 'shower' system for wetting grounds. Unfortunately, the taste, even with changing our coffee grinder settings, was not up to the Technivorm so we returned it for a glass carafe. Pray for my husband.

(Posted on 9/17/12)

It works simply and efficiently which I think is best feature...no clocks or alarms. Fast and hot coffee.
Someone complained about plastic filler tank...it only has water for five minutes!
Someone else complained about noise...quick heating requires a little sound!
I drink the carafe empty in about 2 hours and last cup is still hot.

(Posted on 9/14/12)

I'm a devoted Technivorm user. However, I needed to purchase a coffee maker for the office. I purchased the Bonavita because I wanted the proper water temperature produced by the coffee maker and I did not need any bells and whistles like a programmable machine. Bottom line, this little unit is a great purchase for the price. It doesn't have the capacity of the Technivorm, but that just means we have fresh coffee in the office throughout the day!

(Posted on 8/22/12)

Feel this coffee maker delivers great tasting coffee. The brew time is quick. clean up is good. aesthetically pleasing on the counter, and not too bulky like some more popular brands. Carafe does keep coffee hot--haven't tried all day, but for at least 3-4 hours. Pricier, but worth it given its something u use every day. Hope it lasts a long time. Only had it for few weeks now.

(Posted on 8/20/12)

I have been using this for 2 weeks and it suits our needs perfectly. I compared this to the Bunn stainless steel carafe machine and the Cuisinart SS carafe. This machine's simplicity is what makes it stand out. The video from this site was very helpful and I received great customer service. The glass in SS carafe is key. Bonavita makes a strong, hot pot of coffee quickly. I'm super pleased with this purchase.

(Posted on 8/17/12)

We bought this coffeemaker to replace a Cuisinart that suddenly stopped working.
A little leery of trying unknown brand, but reviews convinced us it was worth a shot.
Very easy to use.
Thermal carafe keeps coffee hot for as long as we need it to.
Coffee quality (we grind our beans each time we brew) is excellent.
Excellent experience also with Seattle Coffee Gear ordering & delivery.

(Posted on 7/29/12)

This coffee maker is just great.
It makes coffee, really hot.
Easy to use. Fast brewing.
Love the carafe~ keeps it warm for hours.
And the glass inside is great.

I used to have a Cuisinart until it broke, and I found this.
Super happy.

(Posted on 7/6/12)

The Bonavita Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe provides the ability to produce a GREAT cup of coffee at the perfect brewing temperature. The design is wonderfully simple and functional and the price for all this is very resonable.
If you like smooth and rich tasting coffee that is NOT bitter, this the coffee maker for you. It fills a niche that all of the major brands seem to ingnore. I have owned several coffee makers over the years but this one is the BEST for the money so far. Just BUY IT. Seattle Coffee Gear is the best place to do so, fast service and great pricing. KUDOS to SCG.

Pros:
Easy To Use,Quiet,Perfect Brew Temp,Quick Brewing,Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 6/5/12)

We LOVE this coffee maker! We also LOVE Seattle Coffee gear for throwing in the cleaning kit and pound of coffee! The Bonavita quicky produces a delicious, hot cup of coffee. And it is half the price of a Technivorm. We use it every morning, and the coffee stays hot for hours in the thermal carafe. The carafe is especially nice because it does not 'cook' the coffee while it sits. I have gotten to the point that I no longer add sweetenter. A bit of creamer, and done! The coffee is THAT good!

Pros:
Quiet,Quick Brewing,Easy To Use,Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 6/4/12)

Within 3 days of receiving the BonaVita we gave our Keurig B60 and 'Consumer Reports' recommended drip brewer away. The Keurig always tasted great (theBonaVita is better!) but K-cups are pricey. Our other drip brewer always overheated at the end of the cycle and cooked the coffee. Now we have more counter space AND great coffee everyday! The crema is impressive, flavor is full and balanced, and the coffee is piping hot. Can't ask for more than that! My only complaint is that it is sometimes difficult to see the water level. I would like to see an LED like the Keurigs have. I get around it by holding a small light source there by hand -- so don't let that single design oversight stop you from trying this amazing brewer!

Pros:
Easy To Clean,Easy To Use,Fits under counter,Great Taste,Lightweight,Quiet,Large Water Container,Quick Brewing

Cons:
Hard to gauge water level

(Posted on 6/2/12)

This product is fantastic! I purchased through SCG (as they are simply the best) and this coffee maker is hands down the best I have ever owned. My father recently purchased the Technivorm KB-741 & we compared brewers. We both agreed that the Bonavita's brewing capabilities and performance are practically identical to the Technivorm. Both are great products, however, I prefer my Bonavita. One of my favorite features is the glass lined carafe. Happy buying!

Pros:
Ideal Brewing Time, Glass Lined Carafe, High quality, Perfect temperature

Cons:

(Posted on 5/24/12)

It is compact, 12" tall, which allows the unit to reside under the kitchen cabnets, on our limited counter space. The carafe keeps the coffee very warm, especially if it is warmed with tap water berore brewing. I like that it shuts off automatically right after brewing. It is solidly made. I would have liked the cord to be not so stiff. Buyers should be aware that "8 cups" does not mean 8 X 8 oz., we get slightly over 4 average mugs of coffee when full, which is perfect for the two of us.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Quiet, Easy To Clean, Great Taste, Quick Brewing

Cons:
None

(Posted on 4/4/12)

simple to use ,hot coffee, only negative need to remove filter holder and install top on pot .

Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 3/28/12)

Best coffee maker I have ever used.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 3/27/12)