Tweet
After my Francesca review, a few people asked if I knew anything about Bellezza's "entry-level" twin-boiler Bellona. Well, I didn't, but managed to get one for review and here is the result:
Competition in the twin-boiler espresso market is heating up, with a number of sub-$3,000 machines currently vying for attention. One of the newer arrivals is from the lesser-known European brand Bellezza – the Bellezza Bellona.
This machine has not had much exposure, so I put one through its paces, paired with a Mahlkönig X54 grinder.
Unboxing
The Bellona is delivered in a sturdy box, with the machine itself and all the components individually bagged in cloth draw-string bags. The accessories are packed at the top of the main carton, in a separate box, and consist of single and double portafilters, a pretty serious metal tamper, a cleaning brush and a backflush disc.
There’s also a glass water tank, rubber hose and metal tube.
Appearance and build quality
There are two main styles of machine these days – the Giotto-like designs dominated by their exposed group head and those with the group head encased within the chassis. The Bellona falls into the latter category, resembling the Lelit Elizabeth or the Rancilio Silvia.
I must admit that I have not been a fan of the enclosed design, but I do appreciate the smaller footprint; in this case, shrunk even further by omitting an internal water tank. The Bellona is extremely counter-friendly, measuring just 28.5 x 35 cm (and 35.5 cm high). Of course, the external water jug adds to that, but you have the choice of positioning it behind or next to the machine.
The Bellona is available in a number of finishes. The review sample was supplied in black, but it also comes in white and the mirror stainless steel which I experienced in my Francesca.
The paint finish was excellent, but I can’t vouch for how long it will stay that way as I managed to avoid any dings or scratches during my careful testing.
The striking features are the control panel, pressure gauge, backlit control buttons and the large steamer lever on the right-hand side.
Like the Francesca, the brew head is a little lower than other machines, but accommodates most drinkware.
The accessories are pretty impressive. The two portafilters (single- and double-spout) are elegant but sturdy, with attractive steel end caps on the black handles. The custom steel tamper means you won’t have to splash out on an aftermarket model because it does a perfectly good job.
But, as with the Francesca, a thumbs down to the ‘cleaner cover’, a plastic disc which inserts into the portafilter. As I said last time, it seems like a cheap alternative to the solid basket blind filter most commonly found in prosumer machines.
Setting up
As mentioned, the water tank for this machine is an external glass 1.8 litre tank, which has to be connected to the machine.
Then the machine needs to be plugged in and switched on. This lights up the PID controller on the front of the machine, and you need to program the pre-infusion time, the steam boiler temperature, the water boiler temperature and the shut-off time for the ECO mode. This mode switches the machine into stand-by after varying periods of non-use, ranging from 28 minutes to 180 minutes. To wake it, just hit the ‘set’ button and it starts to heat up instantly.
When it’s out of programming mode, the LCD acts as a boiler temperature gauge – and a shot timer when you’re pulling a shot.
You’ll also have to set the shot times because the Bellona has volumetric brew programs for hot water, short and long shots – with an additional manual shot button. Volumetric is a bit misleading as it implies that you can dial in say 30 ml. In fact, you are controlling shot duration.
Set-up is fairly intuitive, with a manual that explains the process fairly clearly, in good English.
In action
The Bellona is a dual-boiler, so the heat-up time is much shorter than a heat exchange machine. The Bellona was ready to brew in 3 minutes (ie. the backlit buttons stopped flashing), and it took 4.5 minutes for the boiler to reach 100 degrees. The official heating time is around 12 minutes, but I was able to start pulling shots a bit sooner than that.
My first challenge was access. When you’re used to an exposed group head, it’s a bit fiddly at first inserting the portafilter into the Bellona without bending right down to peer into it. Of course, muscle memory soon kicks in.
Another bit of “unlearning” I needed to go through was getting used to the steamer on the right-hand side. Every machine I have used to date has it on the left – and you get used to positioning the jug for that location. However, the steam arm was sufficiently flexible to accommodate my initial clumsy efforts and it didn’t take long to adapt my technique.
Programming the shot time also required a bit of effort – and many “cancelled” shots (you can stop the shot by hitting the button at any time).
This was further complicated by the specific dosing requirements of the Bellona which, like its bigger sibling, prefers lighter doses than I am used to – 7 g of ground coffee for a single shot and 14 g for a double.
Again, like its bigger sibling, the Bellona’s vibration pump was surprisingly quiet – except, of course, when you first switch the machine on and the pump has to prime.
There’s some debate about automatic pre-infusion. With the Bellona, you select the pre-infusion duration (0 to 30 seconds) and the brew head gets a shot of hot water to moisten the puck. Then, there’s a slight delay as the pressure ramps up and the full pressure is applied. I’m informed that pre-infusion works best to add depth to lighter roasts, but it didn’t do much for my preferred Italian-style full roast beans.
Even without pre-infusion, I was quickly getting excellent shots – and after a few dozen shots, even found myself relying on the timers rather than pulling them manually.
Besides the ergonomic challenges of stretching milk with my right hand, the steaming worked a treat. In test conditions, it took 41 seconds to heat 200 ml to 70 degrees.
The steamer was easily able to produce good microfoam and silky stretched milk.
One thing to note is that the oversize steam lever is really just an on/off switch – it doesn’t graduate the steam output.
Hot water is similarly delivered on the left-hand side (again a learning experience) and the wand mobility could be better.
In my last Bellezza review, I raised some issues around the external water tank. Again, I found benefits in having the reservoir outside the machine. For example, it’s easy to refill, while also leaving you with an uncluttered warming tray at the top of the machine. But the flip side is that there’s no low-level warning, like you find with most internal tanks. And if you hide the water tank behind the machine, you run the risk of running dry.
One design element shared with the Francesca was the well-designed drip tray which is quite generous for the size of the machine. It slips in under the front panel, so there’s no gap where it meets the machine. It sits in a fully encased ‘shelf’, reducing the risk of leakages onto your bench.
Overall
I was a bit skeptical about the Bellona, but after a few days into testing, my doubts were addressed.
It’s a compact, feature-packed dual-boiler machine with plenty of bells and whistles at an extremely competitive price – around $2,650.
The pricepoint is achieved by locating production for the European-designed machine in China.
Technicians who have had a good look under the hood have been impressed with the quality of the components, and the machine looks well constructed.
However, there will still be some reservations, primarily because little is known about the brand. And, I repeat the suggestion I made in my last review: if Bellezza wants to build its reputation, it should consider moving from a one-year warranty to two years, like its more costly competitors - Lelit and ECM.
The Francesca is imported in Australia by Di Pacci Coffee Company and retails for around $2,695.00 (although the RRP is $2,965).
SPECIFICATIONS
Machine type: Dual boiler
Pump type: Vibration
PID control: two – steam and main boiler
Water tank: 1,8 l
Boiler material: Stainless steel
Boiler volume: 500 ml brew + 1 l steam boiler
Dimensions: 28.5 (w) x 35 (d) cm x 35.5 (h) cm
Weight: 23 kg
Competition in the twin-boiler espresso market is heating up, with a number of sub-$3,000 machines currently vying for attention. One of the newer arrivals is from the lesser-known European brand Bellezza – the Bellezza Bellona.
This machine has not had much exposure, so I put one through its paces, paired with a Mahlkönig X54 grinder.
Unboxing
The Bellona is delivered in a sturdy box, with the machine itself and all the components individually bagged in cloth draw-string bags. The accessories are packed at the top of the main carton, in a separate box, and consist of single and double portafilters, a pretty serious metal tamper, a cleaning brush and a backflush disc.
There’s also a glass water tank, rubber hose and metal tube.
Appearance and build quality
There are two main styles of machine these days – the Giotto-like designs dominated by their exposed group head and those with the group head encased within the chassis. The Bellona falls into the latter category, resembling the Lelit Elizabeth or the Rancilio Silvia.
I must admit that I have not been a fan of the enclosed design, but I do appreciate the smaller footprint; in this case, shrunk even further by omitting an internal water tank. The Bellona is extremely counter-friendly, measuring just 28.5 x 35 cm (and 35.5 cm high). Of course, the external water jug adds to that, but you have the choice of positioning it behind or next to the machine.
The Bellona is available in a number of finishes. The review sample was supplied in black, but it also comes in white and the mirror stainless steel which I experienced in my Francesca.
The paint finish was excellent, but I can’t vouch for how long it will stay that way as I managed to avoid any dings or scratches during my careful testing.
The striking features are the control panel, pressure gauge, backlit control buttons and the large steamer lever on the right-hand side.
Like the Francesca, the brew head is a little lower than other machines, but accommodates most drinkware.
The accessories are pretty impressive. The two portafilters (single- and double-spout) are elegant but sturdy, with attractive steel end caps on the black handles. The custom steel tamper means you won’t have to splash out on an aftermarket model because it does a perfectly good job.
But, as with the Francesca, a thumbs down to the ‘cleaner cover’, a plastic disc which inserts into the portafilter. As I said last time, it seems like a cheap alternative to the solid basket blind filter most commonly found in prosumer machines.
Setting up
As mentioned, the water tank for this machine is an external glass 1.8 litre tank, which has to be connected to the machine.
Then the machine needs to be plugged in and switched on. This lights up the PID controller on the front of the machine, and you need to program the pre-infusion time, the steam boiler temperature, the water boiler temperature and the shut-off time for the ECO mode. This mode switches the machine into stand-by after varying periods of non-use, ranging from 28 minutes to 180 minutes. To wake it, just hit the ‘set’ button and it starts to heat up instantly.
When it’s out of programming mode, the LCD acts as a boiler temperature gauge – and a shot timer when you’re pulling a shot.
You’ll also have to set the shot times because the Bellona has volumetric brew programs for hot water, short and long shots – with an additional manual shot button. Volumetric is a bit misleading as it implies that you can dial in say 30 ml. In fact, you are controlling shot duration.
Set-up is fairly intuitive, with a manual that explains the process fairly clearly, in good English.
In action
The Bellona is a dual-boiler, so the heat-up time is much shorter than a heat exchange machine. The Bellona was ready to brew in 3 minutes (ie. the backlit buttons stopped flashing), and it took 4.5 minutes for the boiler to reach 100 degrees. The official heating time is around 12 minutes, but I was able to start pulling shots a bit sooner than that.
My first challenge was access. When you’re used to an exposed group head, it’s a bit fiddly at first inserting the portafilter into the Bellona without bending right down to peer into it. Of course, muscle memory soon kicks in.
Another bit of “unlearning” I needed to go through was getting used to the steamer on the right-hand side. Every machine I have used to date has it on the left – and you get used to positioning the jug for that location. However, the steam arm was sufficiently flexible to accommodate my initial clumsy efforts and it didn’t take long to adapt my technique.
Programming the shot time also required a bit of effort – and many “cancelled” shots (you can stop the shot by hitting the button at any time).
This was further complicated by the specific dosing requirements of the Bellona which, like its bigger sibling, prefers lighter doses than I am used to – 7 g of ground coffee for a single shot and 14 g for a double.
Again, like its bigger sibling, the Bellona’s vibration pump was surprisingly quiet – except, of course, when you first switch the machine on and the pump has to prime.
There’s some debate about automatic pre-infusion. With the Bellona, you select the pre-infusion duration (0 to 30 seconds) and the brew head gets a shot of hot water to moisten the puck. Then, there’s a slight delay as the pressure ramps up and the full pressure is applied. I’m informed that pre-infusion works best to add depth to lighter roasts, but it didn’t do much for my preferred Italian-style full roast beans.
Even without pre-infusion, I was quickly getting excellent shots – and after a few dozen shots, even found myself relying on the timers rather than pulling them manually.
Besides the ergonomic challenges of stretching milk with my right hand, the steaming worked a treat. In test conditions, it took 41 seconds to heat 200 ml to 70 degrees.
The steamer was easily able to produce good microfoam and silky stretched milk.
One thing to note is that the oversize steam lever is really just an on/off switch – it doesn’t graduate the steam output.
Hot water is similarly delivered on the left-hand side (again a learning experience) and the wand mobility could be better.
In my last Bellezza review, I raised some issues around the external water tank. Again, I found benefits in having the reservoir outside the machine. For example, it’s easy to refill, while also leaving you with an uncluttered warming tray at the top of the machine. But the flip side is that there’s no low-level warning, like you find with most internal tanks. And if you hide the water tank behind the machine, you run the risk of running dry.
One design element shared with the Francesca was the well-designed drip tray which is quite generous for the size of the machine. It slips in under the front panel, so there’s no gap where it meets the machine. It sits in a fully encased ‘shelf’, reducing the risk of leakages onto your bench.
Overall
I was a bit skeptical about the Bellona, but after a few days into testing, my doubts were addressed.
It’s a compact, feature-packed dual-boiler machine with plenty of bells and whistles at an extremely competitive price – around $2,650.
The pricepoint is achieved by locating production for the European-designed machine in China.
Technicians who have had a good look under the hood have been impressed with the quality of the components, and the machine looks well constructed.
However, there will still be some reservations, primarily because little is known about the brand. And, I repeat the suggestion I made in my last review: if Bellezza wants to build its reputation, it should consider moving from a one-year warranty to two years, like its more costly competitors - Lelit and ECM.
The Francesca is imported in Australia by Di Pacci Coffee Company and retails for around $2,695.00 (although the RRP is $2,965).
SPECIFICATIONS
Machine type: Dual boiler
Pump type: Vibration
PID control: two – steam and main boiler
Water tank: 1,8 l
Boiler material: Stainless steel
Boiler volume: 500 ml brew + 1 l steam boiler
Dimensions: 28.5 (w) x 35 (d) cm x 35.5 (h) cm
Weight: 23 kg
Attached Files
Comment