Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Brewer (BV1900TS)

Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Brewer (BV1900TS) Review

Coffee Makers

Product Grade
Report Card Grade
0 Reviews
Best Feature:
Simple to use, SCAA Certified
Worst Feature:
Expensive and not programmable
Best Uses:
High quality coffee for daily home use
Pricing:
$189.99
Manufacturer:

Where to Buy

Store Name
Price
$142.99
$142.99
$142.99
$179.95

Overview

We gave the Bonavita BV1900TS our Editor's Choice Award. It ranked 2nd in our coffee taste test, is SCAA certified, and cost considerably less than our Overall Winner, the Technivorm Moccamaster. During our testing, we confirmed that it brewed within the optimal time and temperature ranges even with a pre-infusion step. We also found that it was one of the easiest coffee makers to clean. The only things that bothered us with this machine were the lack of a brew-through lid and a brew stop. Overall, we really liked the Bonavita and thought it brewed an excellent cup of coffee.

The Bonavita BV1900TS is an SCAA certified home brewer.
The Bonavita BV1900TS is an SCAA certified home brewer.
Credit: Mary Griffin
You can compare the Bonavita BV1900TS 8-Cup to other coffee makers in the Coffee Maker Review.

Photos

The Bonavita BV1900TS is an SCAA certified home brewer.
The Bonavita's one touch operation allows you to include a pre-infusion step.
This simple brew basket accommodates a flat-bottom paper filter and sits on top of the carafe.
The Bonavita water tank has clear markings to make filling the reservoir easy.
The wide showerhead helps to distribute water evenly and ensures complete saturation.
The Bonavita comes with a separate pour lid that needs to be put on after the brew cycle.
The Bonavita's easy fill reservoir.
The Bonavita reached the ideal temperature window for brewing, hitting 199°F.
The Bonavita thermal carafe features thumb-operated pouring.

 
This Product
Overall Winner
Overall Score
93%
94%
93%
Our Awards
Date Reviewed
July 2016
July 2016
July 2016
Pros
Coffee brewed at optimal time/temperature; SCAA certified; pre-infusion mode; large showerhead
Coffee brewed at optimal time/temperature; SCAA certified; excellent warranty; brew-through lid and internal mixing tube
Coffee brewed at optimal time/temperature; SCAA certified; programmable; includes pre-infusion step; brew-through lid has internal mixing tube
Cons
Expensive; not programmable; no brew stop; pour lid needs to be put on
Very expensive; not programmable; no auto-off
Expensive
Brewing Quality (30%)
Taste Test Results (35%)
Construction and Design Quality (20%)
Ease of Setup/Cleanup (15%)
Bonus Points - Extra Features (+10)
Type
Automatic Drip
Automatic Drip
Drip and Pour Over Technology
Brewing Capacity
40 oz
40 oz
45 oz
Price (MSRP)
$189.99
$340
$199.99
Warranty
2-year Limited
5-year Limited
2-year Limited
Product Width
6.8"
12.8"
14.2"
Product Depth
12.4"
6.8"
6.7"
Product Height
12.2"
15.3"
15.2"
SCAA Certified
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tested Brew Temperature
199°F
198°F
198°F
Tested Brew Time Until Empty Water Tank
5 minutes and 15 seconds
5 minutes 30 seconds
7 minutes and 45 seconds
Carafe Temperature After Brewing
178°F
177°F
177°F
Carafe Temperature After 1 Hour
166°F
163°F
167°F
Filter Design
Uses 8-12 cup flat bottomed disposable filters
Recommends using a #4 disposable, cone-shaped filter
Recommends using a #4 disposable, cone-shaped filter
Carafe Style
Thermal
Thermal
Thermal
Programmable
No
No
Yes
Automatic Brew Strength Settings
No
No
No
Automatic Off
Yes
No
Yes
Brew Stop
No
Yes
Yes
Built-In Water Filter
No
No
No
Dishwasher Safe
Yes (upper rack)
No
No

Product Background

The BV1900TS 8-Cup coffee brewer employs standard drip technology and optimal brew temperature (195°-205°F) to produce an SCAA certified cup of coffee. With a wide showerhead and optional pre-infusion function, this one-touch system utilizes some of the most current brewing technology. Paper filters are used in the flat-bottomed brew basket. Brew time is around 6 minutes for a full carafe. All the plastic components are BPA-free. The clear water reservoir is great for precise measurements and easy refilling. The SCAA has recognized this specific model for quality, consistency, and optimal home brewing ability. It has an auto-off feature, so you don't have to remember to manually turn the brewer off.

The Bonavita's simple design and wide showerhead.
The Bonavita's simple design and wide showerhead.
Credit: Mary Griffin

ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review


Specifications

Performance Comparison

Brewing Quality

The Bonavita BV1900TS employs traditional automatic drip brew technology. With a special flat-bottomed brew basket and extra wide showerhead, plus the pre-infusion feature, this machine is designed for full saturation and ideal extraction of coffee grounds. During our test, we confirmed the brewing temperature was 199°F, well within the SCAA specifications. We also timed the brew process, and it takes 5 minutes for the water tank to empty (add 15 seconds for pre-infusion). Since there is no brew stop, you'll have to wait an additional 1 minute and 45 seconds for the brew basket to drain. This means a hot cup of coffee delivered in around 7 minutes, which is also within the SCAA specifications. The temperature in the carafe after brewing was 178°F, and after an hour, it was 166°F. The thermal carafe's temperature retention was average compared to other machines we tested.

The Bonavita reached the ideal temperature window for brewing, hitting 199°F.
The Bonavita reached the ideal temperature window for brewing, hitting 199°F.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Taste Test Results

The Bonavita BV1900TS was a hit during our blind coffee taste test. We had 31 coffee drinkers sample a cup of black coffee from our machines and rate each one on overall taste, flavor, body, acidity, and color. The Bonavita came in 2nd overall, earning it our Editor's Choice Award. There is no doubt that the Bonavita delivers an excellent cup of coffee. To learn more about how we tested the Bonavita against other coffee makers, please read our How We Test section.

The Bonavita thermal carafe features thumb-operated pouring.
The Bonavita thermal carafe features thumb-operated pouring.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Design Quality

We love the look and feel of the Bonavita. It is constructed using high quality materials from the brewer to the carafe, and everything felt really smooth when we were using it. The pour lid, once switched onto the thermal carafe, works well and doesn't drip.

Ease of Set Up and Clean Up

The Bonavita BV1900TS is a straightforward machine to set up and use. The reservoir is made of clear, BPA-free plastic with marked measurements, and it is easy to refill. The brew basket sits on top of the carafe, which we thought was inconvenient because you have to switch it with the lid after the brew cycle is complete. We did like that the thermal carafe has a mouth that is wide enough to fit your entire hand in for cleaning. This was unusual among the thermal carafes we tested.

Bonus Features

In terms of bells and whistles, the BV1900TS offers few. With one touch, you can start the machine to brew a pot of coffee. The single switch also offers the pre-infusion option, which allows the grounds to be initially saturated before the full brewing process begins, and it only adds about 15 second to your brew time. This machine does offer an auto-off function so you never have to worry about leaving the machine on.

The Bonavita carafe comes with a separate pour lid.
The Bonavita carafe comes with a separate pour lid.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Best Uses

We think this Bonavita model is ideal for the no-nonsense coffee connoisseurs who aren't on a budget, but don't want to shell out over $300 for a Moccamaster. It's simple, but it brews an excellent cup of coffee.

Value

At $189.99, the BV1900TS 8-Cup is one of the more expensive machines that we tested. It does come with a 2-year limited warranty, which is pretty typical for this price point.

Conclusion

We were impressed with the performance of the Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Brewer during our tests and gave it our Editor's Choice Award. We verified that it brewed at the ideal time and temperature, and our taste testers ranked it as their 2nd favorite machine (after the significantly more expensive Moccamaster). We didn't mind the manual operation of this coffeemaker, but if you are looking for a programmable option, we'd recommend considering the OXO On Barista Brain instead. As a side note, you might want to use less ground coffee than the 80g recommended in the Bonavita's owner's manual depending on the type of coffee you are brewing. During our tests, we found that 80g of the dark roast from Peet's overflowed the filter but 80g of our medium roast from Intelligentsia did not. Not surprisingly, this is a great brewer for under $200. It lacks some bells and whistles but makes a great cup of coffee.

Alternatives

OXO On Barista Brain

  • $200
  • SCAA Certified Home Brewer
  • Programmable

Technivorm Moccamaster Thermal KGBT 741

  • $340
  • SCAA Certified Home Brewer
  • Manual Operation
  • Overall Award Winner

KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker KCM0801

  • $170
  • SCAA Certified Home Brewer
  • Glass Carafe and Warming Plate System
We suggest that you check out our Buying Advice for Coffee Makers to get an idea for what machine will best suit your needs.

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