Back To Basics – Why You Should Buy The Bonavita BV1800SS Coffee Maker

Need a smart and sassy coffee machine with everything you need to make a great cup of joe? Look no further – the no-nonsense BV1800SS from the Bonavita company  is likely to be a perfect match.

The showerhead is designed for maximum aroma and flavor extraction. The heat-retentive stainless steel carafe keeps coffee at a perfect serving temperature. Your coffee arrives in around 5 to 6 minutes.

Bonavita BV1800SS Review

Part of the company’s signature BV range, the name of this coffee maker tells you exactly what to expect. The Bonavita BV1800SS  replaced the Bonavita BV1800 8 cup coffee maker with a glass carafe, retaining the Bonavita BV1800’s great features while introducing a stainless steel flask.

The machine consists of a water tank, filter basket, and stainless steel carafe. The power cord is around 39 inches long (about a meter if you prefer metric measurements). You can brew up to eight cups of coffee at a time and keep them piping hot for at least 30 minutes. Your brew will then continue to stay pleasantly warm for up to 2 hours.

The thermal carafe is made from sturdy stainless steel, while the lid, filter basket, and showerhead are manufactured from BPA-free plastic. This model ships only with the essentials needed to prepare delicious coffee.

Bonavita BV1800SS 8-Cup Coffee Brewer 

The water reservoir holds 40 fluid ounces. The water tank is not removable, although it’s simple enough to wipe out and leave the lid open to air dry after use.

The accents on this model are plastic. This includes the carafe lid, the water tank lid, and the filter basket. You don’t need to worry about bisphenol A, though – all the plastic in this machine is BPA free, and dishwasher-safe.

How To Brew Great Coffee With The Bonavita

We all know great coffee starts with quality beans, but there are a few other things we can do to make sure we get the best out of the Bonavita BV1800SS . This includes using clean, filtered, cold water, and regular descaling, especially in hard-water areas.

Make sure there’s a suitable V-shaped filter in the basket, and then add coffee. The manufacturer suggests adding two level tablespoons of ground coffee, to begin with, and adjusting to suit your taste. Make sure the carafe and basket are safely in position, then simply flick the switch for a gorgeous pot of brewed coffee.

We don’t want to be accused of teaching grandmother to suck eggs, as it were, since we know you know your coffee, it might take a little trial and error before you get the proportion of coffee to water just right for you. Around two level tablespoons of coffee to every 6 ounces of water delivers a smooth, full-bodied coffee, depending on the blend.

If you’re keen on smaller batches, then don’t worry about having to brew a whole pot of coffee at once. We would suggest making at least four cups at a time, though – approximately two mugfuls.

The Techy Bits

The 1400-watt heater means your beverage will always be brewed between 195 to 205 degrees (91 to 96 degrees Celsius). Experts agree this is the optimum temperature for coffee.

If your coffee isn’t staying as hot as you might like or expect, check for scale. Calcium scale build-up in the water heater area can result in drinks being a little on the cool side. You might need to run a descaling cycle more than once.

This machine measures 10.75 inches by 6.25 inches by 12.25 inches high. It weighs just 6.39 pounds after shipping is removed.

The Niggly Bits

We love this machine, although we do have a couple of tiny niggles. It’s not auto-programmable, and there’s no warning sound to tell you when the coffee is ready.

For a simple coffee maker, it’s a little pricey. It is, however, easy to see what you’re paying for in the advanced shower spray technology which ensures consistency, and the heat-retaining stainless steel carafe.

Pros And Cons

What Do Others Think?

This is an extremely popular coffee maker with thousands of testimonials online. Over 80% of owners are thrilled with the purchase and the quality of the coffee produced.

Bonavita owners speak highly of simplicity and consistency. Many also mention the machine’s durability, since they use it to brew several pots of coffee every day.

Bonavita 1800 vs 1900 vs Technivorm

You know we always like to check out at least a couple of options in our reviews. So we’ve taken an in-depth look at three alternatives.

Bonavita BV1900TS 

You might be wondering about the BV1900TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker : here’s our quick overview of the Bonavita 1800 vs 1900 models.

The stainless steel thermal carafe is double-walled. All plastic elements are BPA-free and dishwasher safe. The filter basket is flat-bottomed, and the showerhead is relatively large.

Measurements are 12.4 inches wide by 6.8 inches wide by 12.2 inches high and the power cord is around 24 inches long. The reservoir is not removable.

This model has a 1500-watt heater, and also has an auto-off function. For those preferring their coffee roasts on the mild side, the pre-infusion mode is ideal. Brewing starts at a lower pressure for a few seconds before higher pressure is resumed.

Bonavita BV1900TD 

Our second alternative is another 8-cup brewer, the Bonvita BV1900TD.  This is usually slightly lower in price than the BV1900TS, with a programmable setting and a stainless steel thermal carafe.

The 1500-watt heater maintains a brewing temperature of between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit (91 to 96 degrees Celsius). Like the BV1900TS, this model has a pre-infusion mode. The showerhead, filter basket, and carafe lid are all BPA-free and dishwasher safe.

Technivorm Moccamaster 59616 KBG 

Finally, we checked out the Technivorm Moccamaster 59616.  This model is a little pricier but also worth considering. Just one touch of a button starts the brewing process, with coffee delivered in around 4 to 6 minutes.

If the glass carafe is removed, the brewing basket has an automatic drip-stop feature. There are two hotplate settings, 175 or 185 degrees Fahrenheit. After 100 minutes, the hotplate turns off automatically.

The Moccamaster is 14 inches high by 12.75 inches wide by 6.5 inches deep and weighs 6 pounds without shipping. It has a capacity of 40 fluid ounces or 10 small cups. Brewing temperature is between 196 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. The Technivorm Moccamaster comes in many colors. These include metallic shades, plain black and red, yellow and gray hues, and an assortment of blues.

Bonavita BV1800SS: The Verdict

The Bonavita BV1800SS  is delightfully simple. We love its compact dimensions and the perfect brewing temperature; we adore its ability to keep coffee warm, and we’re fans of the stainless steel carafe. All contributing to our 4.5-star rating. Wondering if you should buy it? Our advice is full steam ahead.

Bonavita BV1800SS Coffee Maker 

  Last update on 2022-12-02 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.