Bellman Espresso Maker Review: Not Your Grandpa’s Stovetop Espresso Maker!

There’s nothing like disappearing into the mountains for a weekend of respite from the summer heat. That said, I’m writing this Bellman Espresso Maker review because no weekend trip is complete without a portable espresso maker.

The Bellman CX25P seems to be a great quasi-espresso maker with a powerful steam wand, to boot. Fresh cappuccino next to a campfire, anyone? I’ve been excited about this machine for a while, so I can’t wait to dig into all of its features!

Keep reading for my initial Bellman CX25P review. Let’s do this!

Overview: Bellman Espresso Maker Review

Let me start with the obvious: the Bellman CX25P Espresso and Steamer looks a bit like a moka pot crossed with a cookpot. And in fact it does operate pretty similarly to the classic stovetop espresso maker.

Like a moka pot, the Bellman Espresso Maker works via an “upside down” brewing process. Basically, there’s a bottom chamber with hot water and a second chamber with finely ground coffee on top. As the water heats up, steam rises into the second chamber through a narrow passageway and makes contact with the ground coffee, wherein the extraction begins.

Unlike a moka pot, you also tamp the coffee bed in the Bellman and force the coffee through a filter and coffee valve, leading to an espresso-like beverage with delicious crema.

Technically this isn’t true espresso, since the Bellman CX25P can’t achieve anything close to 9 bars of pressure. Still, it’s more concentrated than basic drip or immersion brewing methods. I’ll talk more about this a bit later in my Bellman Espresso Maker review.

As it happens, Bellman is a Taiwan-based company that specializes in stovetop espresso makers. They even have a repair team and sell spare parts, so you know the CX25P is built to last.

The Bellman CX25P has Bellman’s standard build, plus a bonus pressure gauge and steam wand. I’d say these features alone make the CX25P’s $N/A price tag well worth it! Add to that the included accessories and this espresso maker is really a steal.

That said, the Bellman CX25P can be a bit cumbersome and time-consuming to dial in, so you want to make sure you’re up for the challenge!

Bellman CX25P Features

Now that you know the basics of this Bellman Espresso Maker review, let’s break it down further.

Size and Design

In many ways, the Bellman CX25P looks like something you would find in a box of your grandpa’s old camping gear: it’s a bit bulbous with chunky knobs and sturdy black handles.

At the same time, the shiny stainless steel body is alluringly modern. Plus, the curved steam wand and colorful pressure gauge add a touch of class to this camping coffee maker. I wouldn’t necessarily show the Bellman CX25P off as a kitchen counter staple, but it definitely fits with a rugged and outdoorsy vibe.

That said, this espresso maker weighs 5.6 pounds (2.5 kilograms), so it’s really only apt for car camping and other short trips. Needless to say, ultralight backpackers will need to look out for a different method to brew on the go.

Okay, let’s keep this Bellman Espresso Maker review moving. The Bellman CX25P is made of 18/8 stainless steel, food-safe silicone and Bakelite, which is a type of plastic. Incidentally, the build construction is pretty durable. Still, you need to be mindful of safe operating practices if you want it to last you for years.

Stainless Steel Boiler

Disclaimer: I’m going to be a bit critical here. That said, it’s not really about the stainless steel boiler’s performance or build.

Rather, I’m irked by the disparity between the boiler’s actual and stated capacity. In essence, it seems that the manufacturer exaggerates the boiler’s capabilities, in a bit of a misleading marketing ploy. Let me explain.

For starters, “boiler” is a generous term, seeing as the manufacturer recommends that you fill it with boiling water to accelerate the brewing process. This suggests that the boiler doesn’t do a great job at heating water – and it doesn’t. In fact, it takes about 15 minutes to heat up water to brewing temperatures, which is longer than your standard stovetop kettle.

This quirk makes this portable espresso maker less convenient to use, since you’ll either have to lug a kettle along with you or budget in some extra patience.

Now onto the alleged 28-ounce (850-milliliter) capacity. Bellman claims that this espresso maker has the capacity to brew up to nine espresso shots at once. At the same time, they recommend that you should only fill the boiler halfway for optimum performance.

Plus, they admit that a maximum of four good shots is a more realistic expectation from a single brew. Even then, those are four single shots – so if you’re used to double shots, you can expect to get two good double shots out of the Bellman Espresso Maker.

Again, I’m not actually bothered by the boiler’s limited capacity. Incidentally, I think two double shots at a time is an entirely respectable output from a stovetop espresso maker – especially considering the price.

With that said, I’m annoyed that Bellman overstates the CX25P’s capacity. In my opinion, it contributes to unnecessary confusion among customers and ensuing disappointment in a well-made product.

Filter Basket

The Bellman CX25P has an interesting basket and water flow design. In some ways it resembles a cross between a moka pot, AeroPress and portafilter basket.

For example, you have to tamp the coffee bed with a specialized tamper, then layer a filter on top. Then, as the pressure builds up in the boiler, water will force its way up into the coffee bed and out the coffee valve.

See? It’s a moka Pot-AeroPress-espresso machine hybrid!

What’s more, included basket reducers fit into the basket to make it smaller, allowing you to brew smaller doses. However, I don’t anticipate those to be very useful. After all, as I mentioned earlier in this Bellman Espresso Maker review, the Bellman’s actual capacity is already pretty limited. Plus, the manufacturer always recommends brewing a full batch (i.e. filling the boiler halfway) for best results.

Besides, filling and tamping the filter basket seems a little cumbersome, since you have to cover a hole in the basket to prevent grounds from tumbling down into the boiler. I’d imagine this would be even harder to accomplish if you filled the basket to the brim.

Pressure Gauge

The pressure gauge on the Bellman CX25P makes this model a big improvement from other models. Don’t get me wrong – I love a manual espresso maker that challenges my barista skills. Still, it’s so much easier to brew consistent and delicious espresso when you have additional data points to help you dial in your shots.

That said, if you’re accustomed to using home espresso machines you’ll need to set aside your existing ideas about ideal brew pressures this time around. In a standard machine, the perfect espresso pressure is around 9 bars. But not so with the Bellman machine.

As I mentioned earlier in this Bellman Espresso Maker review, this machine can’t really brew “true” espresso. You can see this quite clearly in terms of its capacity for brew pressure – it’s nowhere near the range for traditional espresso machines.

In fact, the manufacturer recommends you keep your pressure to 0.5-1.2 bars for espresso, and 1-1.5 bars for steaming milk. Respectively, these ranges are represented by green and yellow wheels on the pressure gauge.

If these numbers seem low to you, it’s because they are. But I’d discourage you from testing these bounds – even letting the needle tick past 4 bars could be dangerous for both you and your beloved espresso maker. The Bellman CX25P just isn’t built to withstand that much pressure.

Safety Release Valve

This may seem like a small thing, but hey: safety first, right? As it happens, the pressure release valve on the Bellman CX25P makes it much safer to use. In essence, steam holes on the handle release steam if the internal pressure gets too high.

Despite this safety feature, it’s best if you don’t rely on it. Rather, it’d be better to use the Bellman CX25P according to manufacturer guidelines. Again, this means keeping an eye on the pressure gauge and turning off the heat or opening the coffee or steam valve when the pressure gets too high.

Steam Wand

I bet you weren’t expecting a stainless steel steam wand on this stovetop espresso maker! 

Of course, you’re paying for the privilege; you can get a steam wand-less Bellman or moka pot for significantly less than the CX25P’s asking price. Then again, how often do you find a quality cappuccino maker for so little dough?

Anyway, you can think of the Bellman CX25P as something like a moka pot with a steam wand. And the steam wand on this baby actually seems pretty good! By all accounts, the two-hole tip does a great job at producing sweet and creamy microfoam. That is, as long as you wait about five minutes after brewing for the boiler to get up to steaming pressure.

Stovetop Compatibility

If this portable stovetop espresso maker didn’t seem versatile enough, just wait until you hear this. The Bellman CX25P is compatible with pretty much every type of stovetop: ceramic, electrical, gas, open fire – you name it! It’s even compatible with some induction burners, though you’ll have to check your user manual to be sure.

Accessories

Seeing as I’ve linked to the Bellman CX25P Complete Bundle on Amazon, you’re getting a few extra goodies in the box. Here goes:

Let’s not forget that the CX25P model also features the pressure gauge and steam wand. If these aren’t appealing to you, you can always pay a bit less for a model with fewer features. Kinda like trim levels on cars, you can get a more basic Bellman Espresso Maker without all the bells and whistles.

How to Use the Bellman Espresso Maker

As always, hand wash and dry all removable parts before starting your first brew. Then, boil some water in a separate kettle. While you wait, you can prep your coffee grounds.

You don’t necessarily need an espresso grinder for this brew method, but you do need a burr grinder that can achieve a consistent medium-fine grind size. Since this is a portable espresso maker, a manual grinder that you can take anywhere would probably be a smart choice.

Anyway, grind enough coffee for two double shots – let’s say 36 grams or so – then carefully empty the catch cup into the filter basket. Be sure to cover the hole in the basket with your finger to prevent any grinds from slipping through. I’ll admit, I wish this process was a little more streamlined, but you get what you pay for.

Once the coffee grounds are nice and settled in the filter basket, give the basket a little tap to even them out before tamping with even pressure. It’ll take a bit of trial and error to figure out how much pressure to use here, but you’ll get it! Finally, to complete your “puck” prep, place a filter over the coffee grounds.

When the kettle has boiled, you can finish up your brew. Using a coffee scale or the volumetric lines inside the boiler, fill the boiler up with enough water for two double shots. Then, place the basket, spout and lid in their respective places and put the Bellman on a stove set to medium-high.

Make sure all the valves are tightly closed, otherwise the pressure won’t build up inside the boiler. Once the needle in the pressure gauge inches into the ideal espresso range, you can open the coffee valve to dose the espresso into your cups.

Bellman CX25P Cleaning

I haven’t mentioned cleaning yet in my Bellman CX25P review, but it’s really quite easy. That said, there are a couple quirks to be aware of.

First, coffee tends to backflow into the boiler, so you may have to clean out coffee grounds and residue from the boiler before brewing back-to-back shots. Kind of annoying, but not the worst thing.

What’s more, you can’t take the Bellman CX25P apart for cleaning when it’s hot; you’ll have to wait until it cools down. I imagine this would only bother you if you’re a strict clean-as-you-cook type. After all, I’d much rather drink my joe first, then clean up.

Beyond these quirks, the rest of the cleaning and descaling process is pretty similar to that of other espresso machines. Preventative measures are key: always use filtered water, and purge the steam wand immediately after steaming milk.

Bellman Espresso Maker Technical Specifications

Verdict: Bellman Espresso Maker Review

There you have it, my Bellman CX25P review. Overall this seems like a quality espresso maker, especially if you’re budget-conscious and plan to take it on trips.

You can be sure that I’ll update this review when I can get my hands on this thing and test it out for myself. So, if you’re interested, keep checking back in!

Bellman CX25P FAQ