BELLA 13740 Dots Collection 12-Cup Coffee Maker, Purple

I read over 50 reviews of other coffee makers. This was a great choice. First off, the packaging was great - it would make a very nice gift. The color choices add so much to the appeal of the product, and it looks exactly like it does in the pictures. It is made well, looks sharp in the kitchen if you choose the right color to compliment your cabinets. Very simple to operate. Got the one-button model, don't need to have a clock that would have to be reset every time you unplug it, and a light that would stay on all night. It made 6 cups in 6 minutes - easy enough to load at night if you want and just press the brew button in the morning (6 minutes goes by quickly.) Make sure you have enough room under your cabinet, top opens straight up to add water. Easy enough to slide out if under cabinet though. Can't see down into the well to read water levels unless you pull it out in front of you - would have been a good idea to have water level indicator visible from front. Since I always make the same amount of coffee and don't use tap water, I use a large plastic cup to add the water into the well, I don't use the carafe for adding water and it's easier that way. Nice little blue light goes on when the button is pressed showing the machine is on. Simple and efficient. Got the matching color toaster. Very attractive in the kitchen. Has a very nice look and feel to it. Helps give the kitchen a color pop. Basically, it heats water and starts making coffee the instant you press the button. The filter basket is included and works well. The taste of the coffee would probably all have to do with what kind of coffee you use and the amount of coffee to water ratio. I use Dunkin Donuts regular whole bean, grind it in a grinder, add it to the filter basket, pour in the water and have very good coffee in 6 minutes. Perfect. And definitely a plus to get the matching toaster. A cool gift if you know what color the person would prefer to have to go with the other kitchen colors.

I scored this baby on a warehouse deal, but even for the price I recently saw them at Target ($39) I think this is a great pot. Another reviewer said that it gave off a weird burning plastic smell when they used it. When I took it out of the box and plugged it in, it took me a minute to realize the "brew" button was already depressed and it did give off a weird plastic smell- but there wasn't any water in the machine so I don't hold that against it. I followed the directions and ran a couple rounds of water through the machine and have never smelled the plastic smell again. We don't drink coffee every day, so we were looking for a no nonsense machine and this fit the bill. You put the water in, add the grounds, and press the one button: "brew." It brews quickly and tastes good. I also like the unique look of it and the permanent filter.The only feature that I wish it had, and it didn't occur to me before purchasing, was a timed shut off. I often come back hours later and think, "oh shoot, that's still on."

I bought this coffee maker, and within two months, the bottom of the carafe had cracked. I'm not sure what happened -- I didn't drop it, bang it around, or anything, and we only ever hand washed it (no dishwasher). One day I picked it up to make coffee and noticed a thin but long crack along the bottom; obviously, I wasn't going to keep using it like that.I had read in other reviews that the only way to get a replacement is to contact the company directly; replacement parts aren't sold online or in stores. So, I emailed the contact info for Sensio products to request a replacement, and they promptly emailed back saying that I needed to call during business hours. ARGH. Not sure why they give email as a possible contact point, when you have to call.So, I called them yesterday to request a replacement (I was going to buy 2 or 3 at once to prevent this problem again), and they informed me that they don't have any available right now, and I should call back in 3-4 weeks and they should be available then. I clarified that we were talking about the coffee pot itself, not some exotic internal piece, and they confirmed they have no coffee pots right now. My follow up was, "So, wait, I should just not make coffee for 3-4 weeks? or basically I have to buy a different brand of coffee maker if I want to make coffee in my home for the next month?" and she said, unfortunately so. This was not an issue of them not having the green matching one; they have no coffee pots.So, not only can you not buy replacement coffee pots conveniently online, but you have to call and speak to someone in person to get any type of service. They apparently don't keep their own parts in stock and a have a month lead time to get them in stock. Finally, to boot, they didn't even take my info and offer to send me one when available in 3-4 weeks. Instead, I should call back again, during business hours, in 3-4 weeks to check if they're available then.Though this is such a cool looking product, I regret buying it. I am going to buy a brand new coffee maker and forget I ever bought this silly Bella machine.PS. A minor complaint compared to all this nonsense, but the lid flap doesn't come off the coffee pot either, so washing it and flipping it upside down in a drying rack can be more difficult than it should be.

It's really too bad this coffee maker took a crap about 8 months after I bought it. My mom and I got these for each other, her the red and me the purple. I loved the color, I really loved how it didn't shut off after a certain amount of time because that was so annoying on other makers, and I loved how there was 1 button-brew. My Mom's clunked out after she used it 3 times, Amazon replaced it with a new one and so far it is still going strong but then mine just quit making coffee. It sounds like it's doing it but all it does is steam up and no water will filter through. I would not buy this product again after going through 2 of them. Too bad...