Unlike the Lattissima+ from DeLonghi, the Bella machine doesn’t include a milk frothing mechanism in the main unit, instead relying on a separate milk frother for cappuccino drinkers. This means that the Bella is a more compact unit than Nespresso’s premium Lattissima+, although it also means you’ll need two power points to make yourself a cafe latte.
From a design perspective, the Bella is nice to look at – the bright red colouring of our review unit certainly kept my wife happy. But while it looks great, the Bella lacks the seamless ingenuity of the DeLonghi machine we tested earlier.
Out of about 30 odd coffees I’ve brewed using the Bella machine, maybe two have pushed out coffee granules into the cup, leaving a slightly burnt flavour in my mouth. That could potentially be put down to user error – I’m man enough to admit it – but either way it was hardly the best experience. Still 90 percent of the time, the coffee was good.
Yet for all those weaknesses in comparison to the DeLonghi machine, I found I enjoyed the coffee more using the Bella. Whether that’s from the quality of the beans in the pod or the fact that the milk was frothed independently and poured into my cup like a barista would (instead of being pushed into the glass before the coffee like the Lattissima+), I can’t be certain.
Given that the Bella is a $299 machine – which currently includes a free milk frother – it’s a very attractive option for convenient coffee. Maybe not quite as convenient as a Nespresso machine, but an exceptionally tasty option nonetheless.
Dislike: Needs to be hand washed regularly, pods leak liquid, occasional coffee granules in cup.
Price: $299 (including free milk frother)
Web: Map Coffee
Nick Broughall is the Australian Editor of TechRadar.com, where he gets to indulge his passion for geekery and the lastest technology. He is also the Editor of EFTM.com.au, where he gets to indulge his passion for manliness, from sampling fine liquor to the joys of growing a beard. It’s a pretty good life, really.
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