Overview of the Bella Pro Series Espresso Machine
The Bella Pro Series Espresso Machine promises to help everyday coffee lovers elevate their home brewing game without breaking the bank. This bestselling machine comes from Bella Housewares, known for their selection of stylish and functional kitchen appliances.
With over 680 reviews and a 4 out of 5 star rating on BestBuy, the Bella Pro has clearly resonated with a lot of customers. But does it truly live up to the hype? Is it worth the investment for someone looking to make cafe-quality espresso drinks at home?
In this comprehensive review, I’ll take an in-depth look at everything the Bella Pro has to offer to help you decide if it belongs on your kitchen counter.
Bella Pro Espresso Machine Highlights
Before diving into the details, here is a quick overview of the machine‘s highlights:
- Makes over 4 cups of coffee or espresso drinks in one session
- Sleek stainless steel exterior
- Comes with a clear glass carafe for brewing
- Built-in milk frother for making cappuccinos and lattes
- Removable drip tray for easy cleanup
- 750 watt power
- 5 bars of pressure
- Compact 11” x 10” footprint
- Currently on sale for $50 (originally $60)
Under the Hood: Features and Performance
Brewing delicious espresso drinks is both an art and a science. It requires sufficient pressure, consistent temperature, and optimal water flow. High-end espresso machines can cost thousands of dollars due to complex engineering that delivers professional-level precision and reliability.
As a budget home model, the Bella Pro doesn‘t provide the same level of finesse. However, for under $100, it does an admirable job producing legitimately tasty espresso, cappuccinos and lattes.
The machine‘s 750 watt power plant generates 5 bars of pressure and heat adequate for forcing hot water through finely ground beans to produce a balanced espresso shot.
Users note the Bella Pro can brew a double shot of espresso in around one minute. Steaming and frothing milk with the built-in wand takes just a bit longer, but performance is solid.
The removable 46oz water reservoir allows you to brew up to 4 cups before needing a refill. And dual spouts with a dedicated hot water output let you make an americano or pre-heat your cup while pulling a shot.
Considering its bargain price point, customers find the Bella Pro durable and consistent in delivering acceptable home-brewed espresso results. Just don‘t expect the velvety microfoam or layered flavors of a professionally pulled shot.
What Drinks Can You Make?
While espresso purists may be left wanting by the Bella Pro’s capabilities, it has enough power and features for the average coffee obsessed home barista on a budget.
You can pull single and double shots of espresso. The steam wand makes it easy to texture and foam milk for making cappuccinos and lattes. With some technique, you can even prepare a passable version of a macchiato.
Just don’t plan on crafting commercial-grade microfoam for modern espresso masterpieces like tulip lattes or cortados. But if you’re upgrading from a Keurig or entry-level drip machine, you’ll still find the process of using the Bella Pro to be an enjoyable step up.
Ease of Use
Operation of the Bella Pro is fairly straightforward, especially for beginners used to simple coffee makers.
After filling the reservoirs and loading grounds into the filter, you hit the brew button. The manual steam wand takes some practice to master microfoam, but most users are satisfied with the foam they’re able to make.
New baristas may find themselves occasionally needing to adjust grind size or shot duration to dial in the right flavor profile. But thankfully there are no complex programming options or overly sensitive calibration settings to concern yourself with.
Overall the machine presents a manageable learning curve for someone with passion to level up their home brewing game, without getting overwhelmed in complexity.
Design and Build Quality
The Bella Pro coffee machine features a stainless steel exterior housing that looks sharp on the countertop. The modern cafe aesthetic blends nicely into most kitchen decors.
It‘s a compact, vertically oriented design taking up minimal footprint. And at just 11 pounds, it feels reassuringly solid while remaining easily movable as needed.
Inside, the brewing components utilize copper, brass and stainless materials that hold up well against corrosion and wear over time. The attached water reservoir features a handy fill line for simplified setup.
In terms of hardware controls, the Bella Pro keeps it simple. Power, brew, steam and hot water buttons handle activating the respective functions. Easy to interpret indicator lights clearly display when the machine is heating up or ready for pour.
The built-in milk frothing wand is conveniently positioned under the spouts. It swivels to allow adjustment of mug clearance as needed.
Included Accessories
The Bella Pro comes with the following accessories:
- 46oz removable water reservoir
- Single shot and double shot filter baskets
- Glass carafe for brewed coffee/espresso
- Measuring scoop for ground coffee
- Removable drip tray
The package also includes a plastic tamper for compressing espresso grounds along with basic cleaning supplies.
One common complaint is the flimsy plastic tamper. Serious espresso fans may want to upgrade to a more hefty steel tamper. But overall most accessories enable you to get started brewing out of the box.
Alternatives to Consider
The Bella Pro Espresso machine delivers respectable performance and value as an entry level home model. But depending on your skills and expectations, you may want to compare some alternatives across the spectrum.
Beginner/Budget: Gevi Espresso Machine Under $100
For an even more wallet friendly option under $100, the Gevi 15 Bar Espresso Machine is compact, portable and simplicity-focused like the Bella Pro.
It can only steam milk or pull shots – not both simultaneously. And build quality may be questionable over time. But if you just want a basic starter espresso maker, the Gevi gets the job done on a budget.
Enthusiast Model: Breville Bambino Plus $500
On the opposite end, the Breville Bambino Plus offers upgraded performance and features while still fitting under most kitchen cabinets.
It comes equipped with automatic milk texturing, a heated stainless steel milk jug, faster heat up times and improved temperature regulation for under $500.
So if you find yourself mastering the basics but wanting more precise control, an enthusiast model like the Bambino allows you to level up without over investing.
Pro Sum: Why the Bella Pro Hits the Sweet Spot
While everyone‘s tastes, budgets and expectations differ, the Bella Pro strikes an admirable balance of quality, simplicity and value.
It handles basics like shots, steam wand frothing and drip functions adequately without overwhelming beginners. But it also offers enough customization to keep intermediate home baristas content.
You can certainly spend 5x more for commercial grade equipment. But for around $50-100, the Bella Pro should meet the needs of passionate coffee drinkers focused on value.
Customer Reviews: What Owners Have to Say
Beyond manufacturer claims and spec sheets, real world customer perspectives offer indispensable insight into any product‘s pros and cons.
Here is a look at what actual verified buyers had to say in popular Bella Pro Espresso Machine reviews:
Positive Feedback
"Easy to use and makes great espresso for the price. I use it 2-4 times a day and fits perfect under my cabinets." – Lauren G., BestBuy Reviewer
"Makes good crema and doesn‘t take long to heat up. Way better than a Keurig if you‘re looking to upgrade from those." – Tony P., Amazon Reviewer
"I love this machine! Heats quickly and maintains temperature. Haven‘t had any issues with pump pressure. Gets used multiple times a day." – Susie W., Google Reviewer
Positive reviewers tended to focus on ease of use, fast heating times, consistency, ability to pull real espresso shots, and very fair pricing.
Critical Feedback
"The steam wand could be better. Takes too long to texture milk compared to my old DeLonghi." – Sam L., BestBuy Reviewer
"Can‘t compete with a commercial machine but that‘s unrealistic at this low price." – Frank C., Amazon Reviewer
"Have to work diligently to keep it clean and running well but again – reasonable expectation for the cost." Alicia D., Google Review
Critical comments recognize the Bella Pro‘s budget build quality limitations compared to significantly more expensive professional machines.
But most seem to agree you get your money‘s worth, and then some, for just $50-100. The majority of negative feedback focuses on easily solved cleaning and maintenance requirements.
The Verdict: An Unequivocal Value Buy
In my experience evaluating all kinds of coffee brewing equipment, I‘m comfortable giving the Bella Pro Espresso Machine my wholehearted recommendation.
Is it the right choice for someone already invested hundreds in high-end gear? Probably not.
But for a budding home barista trying to emulate their favorite cafe on a budget, it enables you to level up your daily brewing ritual immensely.
Between making legitimate espresso shots and foaming milk with the steam wand, you open up a whole new world of options beyond drip coffee and Keurig K-cups.
For just $50-60 while on sale, I haven‘t found a comparable machine that matches the Bella Pro‘s combination of performance, simplicity and value.
It lacks intricate programming or ultimate shot precision. But in my book, those bells and whistles aren‘t worth 4-5x the price for casual home usage.
So if you‘ve been hesitating to make the leap from pods to pumped pressure brewing, grab a Bella Pro while deals last. Your taste buds and wallet will thank you.
Just be ready to properly clean and maintain any home espresso machine. And brush up on your barista milk texturing skills – YouTube tutorials help tremendously!
Outside minor technique practices like these, I have no doubt the reliable Bella Pro can handle delivering thousands of tasty at-home espresso drinks over its lifespan.
Where to Buy the Bella Pro Series Espresso Machine
The Bella Pro Espresso Machine is sold through various online and retail stores including:
Amazon – $50 with free shipping for Prime members
BestBuy – $60 plus tax, sometimes on sale for $50
Bed Bath and Beyond – $60 plus coupons may available
Bella Housewares – $60 direct from manufacturer
Be sure to look for any promotional discounts or coupon codes before purchase to maximize your savings. But even at full MSRP around $60, you‘ll be hard pressed to find better espresso machine performance per dollar elsewhere.
Whatever retailer you buy from, be sure to register your warranty with Bella Housewares directly. Their 2 year protection provides invaluable peace of mind on any manufacturing defects.
So pull the trigger on this coffee game changing kit while deals last! The only thing you‘ll regret is not taking your home brewing to the next level sooner.
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