The Bonavita Connoisseur One-Touch Coffee Maker is an impressive automatic drip coffee maker.
Once you get past the automatic drip coffee makers below $100.00, the expectation is that the quality of the product will be higher and the coffee will not only taste better, it will deliver a consistently good cup of coffee every time.
This review will cover how Bonavita meets these expectations with the BV1901TS. This eight cup coffee machine is designed for full flavored coffee by using a shower head water dispersion and a pre-infusion feature. Read on to see what else this Golden Cup Award winner has to offer.
Features of the Bonavita Connoisseur 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker
This automatic drip coffee machine brews 8 cups of coffee into a thermal carafe. It maintains an optimal brewing temperature and does it in a timely fashion.
The Basics
Taking a closer look at this automatic drip coffee maker will give you the information you need to make a better buying decision.
Type of Coffee Maker: Automatic Drip
This coffee maker uses 1500 watts to quickly heat water using a copper encased aluminium heating element. The brew temperature is between 195 ° and 20f ° Fahrenheit. This is the optimal brew temperature as recognized by the SCA or Specialty Coffee Association. In fact, this coffee maker has been verified by the SCA for its brewing capabilities.
The water is dispersed using a shower head design. The shower head is removable for easy cleaning.
Type of Coffee Used: Pre-ground roasted beans.
You’ll need to bring your own bag with this coffee maker. The Bonavita Connoisseur doesn’t use any type of pod or K-cups.
Use two level teaspoons of ground coffee per five ounce cup. Bonavita recommends a medium to coarse grind of coffee for optimal results.
Type of Filter Used: Paper
The filter basket has a flat bottom. This coffee maker is all about full flavor extraction. Your coffee beans are fully saturated from the top and the water drips and rests across a wider platform.
Use an eight to twelve cup size paper filter. The filter base should have a diameter of 3.25 inches. There are conflicting reports as to whether the Goldtone reusable mesh filters work. It probably depends on the brand. A knock off will probably not work.
Reservoir: Yes
The reservoir holds 44 ounces of water. It isn’t detachable. The reservoir’s capacity allows for water to be lost to steam and absorption.
The reservoir and all other plastic parts are BPA free.
Carafe: Thermal/Stainless Steel
The carafe is lined with stainless steel and holds 40 ounces or eight standard cups of coffee. It keeps the coffee very hot for a long period of time as long as you put the lid on immediately after brewing. You cannot brew the coffee with the lid on the carafe. In fact, the Bonavita Connoisseur was designed to prevent the carafe from fitting under the filter basket while the lid is on.
One drawback here is the wide mouth opening also allows heat to escape very quickly. If you’re counting on the carafe to keep the coffee warm, be sure and close the lid as soon as the brew cycle is complete.
Number of Cups Can Brew at Once: 4 to 8 cups at 5 ounces each.
Unlike many coffee makers that have made allowances for brewing smaller amounts of coffee, the Bonavita Connoisseur suggests brewing at least four cups of coffee. The 1500 watt heating element probably has a lot to do with omitting any small batch options. When you’re heating water to an optimal brew temperature very quickly, it would be difficult to get an optimal amount of water into the cycle without losing it as vapor.
Hotplate: No
This automatic drip coffee maker does not have a warming plate. It relies on the optimal brewing temperature of the water and the thermal carafe to keep the coffee hot. This is a double-edged sword. Many people don’t realize that warming plates change the character of the coffee. By the end of the pot, you’re pretty much drinking burnt coffee. This is why your favorite coffee shop coffees taste different at home.
If you feel that the coffee is too cold, try adding hot water to the carafe prior to brewing. Then empty it out so that the stainless steel liner is warmer.
Auto-Pause: No
There is no way to stop the brew cycle once it has begun. Since it takes less than 7 minutes to brew a full pot of coffee, this isn’t really an issue. If absolutely necessary, you can manually shut off the coffee maker during the brewing cycle.
Automatic Shut-off: Yes
Since there is no warming plate, there’s no reason to keep the machine on. The machine shuts off immediately after the brew cycle has completed.
Single-Serve: No
Bonavita recommends brewing no less than four cups of coffee per brew cycle and suggests brewing a full pot for optimal flavor.
Brew Strength Options: Two options: Regular and Pre-infusion
Pre-infusion, also called the bloom is usually used in reference to brewing a cup of espresso. Essentially, this is an intermediate step in the brewing process where the coffee is allowed to soak in just enough hot water to cover the grounds for about 30 seconds before the drip process begins. This makes the grounds more soluble and extracts more flavor.
When it comes to automatic drip coffee makers, the “hack” to create the bloom is to use a coffee maker’s auto-pause feature by adding the carafe about 30 seconds after the drip process has begun.
The Bonavita Connoisseur has a pre-infusion option which mimics the bloom process with your regular coffee grounds. It works with the power button.
To set the pre-infusion option, press and hold down the power switch. After about 5 seconds, you’ll hear two beeps. The pre-infusion feature will stay on without pressing it again, even after the coffee machine shuts off. To disable the pre-infusion feature, press and hold down the power switch again until you hear a single beep.
Color: Stainless Steel
This is a good looking coffee maker. The stainless steel carafe and base look stylish and will fit right in a modern kitchen.
Programmable: No
The only noticeable direction on the machine is that if you use the pre-infusion setting, a red light flashes over the power button.
The push-button switch means you cannot use a smart plug with this machine.
Power Failure Recovery: None
As there are no programmable options, save for the pre-infusion setting, there’s no reason to have a memory recovery feature.
Other Features of Note
The audible beeps that let you know when the brew cycle has completed is very quiet. In fact, the entire machine is very quiet throughout the brewing process.
The Specialty Coffee Association certified the Bonavita Connoisseur BV1901TS on 10/1/2018.
How Easy is the Bonavita Connoisseur Coffee Maker to Clean?
You should avoid using vinegar with this coffee maker. A descaling solution is the recommended option. Bonavita recommends Full Circle descaling powder. The carafe lid, filter basket and even the shower head are all top rack dishwasher safe.
Removing the filter, discarding the used coffee grounds and rinsing the basket immediately after use will help to keep the coffee maker clean.
Double walled carafes, such as the one that comes with this coffee maker, should never be put in the dishwasher under any circumstances. The inside of the carafe should also be cleaned with a dedicated coffee cleaning powder.
How Much Counter Space Does it Use?
It measures 12.4 x 6.8 x 12.2 inches inches. You’ll need at least 18 inches of clearance underneath your cabinet in order to pour water into the reservoir. Extra clearance is ideal since the heating element for the water runs at 1500 watts. That means a lot of heat and steam are generated by this coffee maker.
Click Here to find out more about the Bonavita Connoisseur Coffee Maker on Amazon.
What the Comments Say
The comments for this coffee maker are mostly favorable. The general consensus is that it brews an excellent cup of coffee.
Praises From Reviewers:
Those that love this coffee maker have usually had an eye-opening experience with a high-end coffee maker, have done some research and are realizing that the right coffee maker can make a world of difference even when using moderately priced coffee beans.
People love how quickly the 1500 watt heating element finishes brewing.
Many enjoy the pre-infusion feature. If you find yourself turning into a coffee aficionado, you’ll certainly taste the difference when using this feature.
Drawbacks to Consider
That the Bonavita doesn’t have any programmable capabilities is a deal breaker for a lot of people.
If the switch was designed as a toggle switch, it could be set up on a smart plug.
Some people have complained that the filter cover pops off. The design could be a little better.
Our Take
Any coffee maker that wins the SCA Golden Cup Award is good enough for us. This eight cup automatic drip coffee maker, with its pre-infusion feature and shower head water dispersion brews coffee that’s a step above your standard cup of Joe.
While we join the crowd that’s pining for a 24 hour programmable clock, we’re thrilled with the results this coffee maker produces.
If you can live without having a programmable feature on your coffee machine, you should give strong consideration to buying the Bonavita Connoisseur 1901TS.
Click Here to find out more about the Bonavita 8 Cup Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker on Amazon.
This video review shows how the water is evenly dispersed across the entire width of the coffee grounds. It also independently confirmed the brewing temperature claimed by Bonavita.
You’ll also note that she didn’t even hesitate to switch on the pre-infusion feature. It’s just that good.
Resources for the for the Bonavita BV1901TS
Manual
You can find the manual for the Bonvita BV1901TS here.
Cleaning
Bonavita recommends cleaning powder over white vinegar for cleaning their coffee makers.
You can purchase cleaning powder from Amazon. Click image to learn current pricing and availability.
How to Clean the Bonavita Connoisseur Carafe Lid
- To easily clean the carafe lid, take it apart first.
- To lift it off, twist the lid cap counter clockwise.
- Clean the lid’s inner parts.
- The spout and cap lid lever should be aligned with the recesses in the cap. Press onto the lid.
- To lock back into place, twist the cap clockwise.
Descaling the Bonavita 8 Cup Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker
Descaling should be done once every three months or every 100 brew cycles. Any irregularities that may arise during the brew cycle may also be an indication that the machine should be descaled.
These can include:
- An unusually loud brew cycle.
- A slow brew cycle.
- The water temperature failing to reach optimal levels.
Bonavita does not recommend using vinegar to descale their coffee makers. They feel descaling powders are a better option. (Click image to check availability on Amazon)
The descaling process is accomplished by simply following the directions to mix the descaling powder, pouring the solution into the reservoir and running it through the brewing cycle. Run the brew cycle a couple of times with fresh water to thoroughly rinse out the solution.
