COMFEE' vs HAVA Countertop Dishwashers Compared

On this page (17 sections)

1. COMFEE' vs HAVA countertop dishwasher specs side by side
2. Size and footprint: almost the same counter space
3. Plate size and capacity: the HAVA takes bigger dishes
4. Water tank and faucet hookup: check your faucet first
5. Programs, detergent and drying
6. Water use, power and noise
7. Weight and moving the unit
8. What comes in the box
9. Tank mode in daily use
10. Loading each unit
11. Three kitchens, three answers
12. What differs at a glance
13. Who should choose the COMFEE'
14. Who should choose the HAVA
15. Setup and care that apply to both units
16. Need a delayed start? Look past these two
17. COMFEE' vs HAVA countertop dishwasher: which one to buy

The COMFEE' and HAVA countertop dishwashers both hold 5 liters of water and need no installation, so plate size, weight and hookup decide between them. The HAVA takes bigger plates and weighs less, and the COMFEE' ships with a faucet adapter.

We compared the two on size, tank, capacity, hookup, programs and water use. Both brands pitch them for apartments, RVs and small kitchens, so small differences settle it.

For the wider picture, start with our countertop and portable dishwashers guide.

COMFEE' vs HAVA countertop dishwasher specs side by side

The two units are close in size, but the HAVA stands taller and the COMFEE' weighs about 8 lb more. The table shows the three numbers that separate them.

We compared specs and features, then scored both against what a countertop buyer needs. Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.

The COMFEE' scores 8.5 and the HAVA scores 8.3. That gap is small, so the sections below matter more than the number.

Size and footprint: almost the same counter space

Within about a third of an inch on width and depth, the two take up the same counter space. The HAVA is about three quarters of an inch taller, so check height first if your wall cabinets sit low.

The COMFEE' measures 17.13 in deep, 16.53 in wide and 17.24 in tall. The HAVA measures 16.8 in deep, 16.7 in wide and 18 in tall.

COMFEE' says you need more than 19.6 in between the countertop and the wall cupboard. The HAVA stands 18 in tall, so leave a few inches above it.

Measure the depth, width and overhead gap of your spot, and leave room to reach into the unit. For a closer look at the COMFEE' alone, read our COMFEE' countertop dishwasher review.

Plate size and capacity: the HAVA takes bigger dishes

The HAVA takes dishes up to 11 in when they're loaded at an angle, while the COMFEE' tops out at 9.5 in plates. A 10 in dinner plate is within the HAVA limit and over the COMFEE' limit.

COMFEE' says its unit holds 30+ items, and HAVA says its unit holds more than 30 pieces. HAVA adds a place-setting count of up to four full settings.

Measure your largest plate and count a normal day's dishes. For one or two people, either unit covers a day, while a bigger household will run it twice.

For other small-kitchen units beyond these two, see our best mini dishwashers for small kitchens roundup.

Water tank and faucet hookup: check your faucet first

Both models run from a built-in 5-liter tank that you fill by hand, so neither needs a faucet. Both can also connect to one, but check your faucet first, because the fit depends on it.

COMFEE' vs HAVA countertop dishwasher hookup options

The COMFEE' box includes a quick-connect inlet hose with its adapter. It also comes with a filling guide for tank mode, and COMFEE' gives a water pressure range of 0.04 to 1.0 MPa for faucet mode.

The COMFEE' inlet hose is only 1.44 ft long, so faucet mode works best with the unit close to the sink. The HAVA inlet hose is 61 in long, which gives you far more room to place it.

HAVA works the same two ways. You add water to the 5-liter tank by hand, or connect the included inlet hose to a faucet.

HAVA doesn't mention an adapter, so confirm that your faucet works with the hose before you count on faucet mode. For tank-only setups with no faucet work, see our best countertop dishwashers with a water tank roundup.

What to check on your faucet

Faucet mode is the part most likely to need a change, so look at three things on your sink.

• The aerator at the tip of the spout, and which type and thread it has.
• Whether the faucet is a pull-down model or has a side spray, since that can change what fits.
• Whether the faucet has an aerator at all.

If any of these is unclear, follow each maker's manual and ask a licensed plumber before you connect anything.

Programs, detergent and drying

Both units have six programs and a drying option, and both want dishwasher detergent rather than dish soap. The programs and drying times differ, so match them to how you wash.

COMFEE' names Normal, Rapid, Fruit and Glass, plus a high-temperature cycle that it says heats the water up to 162°F. Its Air Refresh mode circulates air to keep the dishes and the machine dry, and you can turn it off.

HAVA names Normal, Speed, Soft, Heavy, Fruit and Dry. The Heavy mode washes at 167°F, which HAVA calls great for oily dishes.

HAVA describes its drying as 60 minutes of hot air followed by 72 hours of automatic ventilation. It also says 14 water ports on the spray arms cover the load from the top and bottom.

On detergent, COMFEE' says to use standard dishwasher powder or detergent, because regular liquid dish soap causes problems. HAVA says pods, liquid and powder all work, at about 0.2 to 0.3 oz in the dispenser.

COMFEE' adds that the Fruit program needs no detergent and Rapid needs half the usual amount. For more on choosing a product, read our countertop dishwasher detergent guide.

Water use, power and noise

HAVA says each cycle uses 5 liters of water, about a quarter of what handwashing uses. That is HAVA's own claim, and the 5-liter tank means about one fill per load.

COMFEE' says its unit uses about a third of handwashing's consumption, without a per-cycle water figure. HAVA says it operates at 950 W, and COMFEE' rates its unit at 62 dB.

HAVA doesn't publish a noise figure. If noise matters to you, COMFEE' gives you a number to compare and HAVA doesn't.

For an efficiency label from an outside program, look for Energy Star certified dishwashers at energystar.gov. Compare any brand claim above against it.

Weight and moving the unit

The COMFEE' weighs 36.6 lb and the HAVA weighs about 28.7 lb, or 13 kg. That is about 8 lb less for the HAVA, which helps in a narrow doorway or when you lift it onto a counter alone.

Plan the route before the unit arrives, including steps, tight corners and doors. A lighter unit is easier to carry, but the path decides whether either one fits.

What comes in the box

The COMFEE' box includes a water pitcher, a fruit basket, the quick-connect inlet hose with its adapter, and a drain. The HAVA box includes a cutlery basket, a drain hose, an inlet hose, a drying system and a user manual.

HAVA also mentions an included fruit basket. Both units are black and have touch controls with an LED display.

Tank mode in daily use

Both tanks hold 5 liters, so the refill routine is the same: fill by hand, run the load, drain the waste water, repeat. A tank moves the work to the pitcher instead of removing it.

COMFEE' packs a water pitcher and a filling guide in the box. For the HAVA, use any pitcher or jug that pours cleanly, and wipe up drips so the cord stays dry.

If you run one load a day, tank mode is easy. If you run two or three, faucet mode saves a lot of trips, as long as your faucet works with the hose.

Loading each unit

A few habits help either unit clean well. They also fit the plate limits above.

• Keep bowls and cups from blocking the spray arms.
• Don't let dishes nest, so water can reach every surface.
• On the HAVA, load 11 in dishes at an angle, since that is how HAVA says they fit.
• On the COMFEE', keep plates to 9.5 in and use the fruit basket for produce.

Don't pack either rack tight, so the spray can reach each piece.

Three kitchens, three answers

Picture your kitchen in one of these cases.

• A studio with 10 in dinner plates: the HAVA, because the COMFEE' plate limit is 9.5 in.
• An RV with a sink next to the counter spot: the COMFEE', because its short 1.44 ft hose reaches a sink beside it and the adapter is in the box.
• A third-floor walk-up: the HAVA, because 8 lb less matters on every landing.

What differs at a glance

This table covers the differences the specs table above doesn't show.

Who should choose the COMFEE'

The COMFEE' suits a buyer who wants the faucet adapter included and whose plates stay under 9.5 in. It also suits anyone who likes the Air Refresh mode, which COMFEE' says keeps the dishes and the machine dry.

• You want the adapter in the box for a faucet hookup.
• Your plates stay under 9.5 in.
• You can handle a 36.6 lb unit when you move it.

For the full picture, see our COMFEE' countertop dishwasher review.

Who should choose the HAVA

The HAVA suits a buyer who washes 10 in or 11 in dinner plates and wants a lighter unit. It also suits renters and RV owners who move the unit around, since at about 28.7 lb it's an easier carry.

• You wash 10 in plates often.
• You want an easier carry up stairs or through doors.
• You'll fill the tank by hand, or your faucet works with the 61 in hose.

Four full place settings is a small load for a bigger household. For the full HAVA picture, read our HAVA countertop dishwasher review.

Setup and care that apply to both units

Set either unit on a flat, level counter and read the manual's first-run steps before you add water. Unplug it before you check any hose, connection or drain.

HAVA says a small amount of leftover water inside a new unit is normal after its factory tests. If a leak keeps happening, contact the maker or a repair pro.

Need a delayed start? Look past these two

If you want a load to finish overnight, look at HAVA's newer softener model, which has an 18-hour delayed start. The BLACK+DECKER BCD6W has a 24-hour one.

Each has a trade-off: the softener model is a different, newer HAVA, and the BCD6W is larger and heavier. Our HAVA countertop dishwasher review covers the softener model.

COMFEE' vs HAVA countertop dishwasher: which one to buy

Pick the HAVA if plate size and weight matter most, and pick the COMFEE' if the faucet adapter in the box matters most. Both hold 5 liters, so the tank size won't settle it.

• Pick the HAVA if you wash 10 in or 11 in plates, or you want a lighter unit to lift.
• Pick the COMFEE' if you want the adapter included and your plates stay under 9.5 in.
• Pick neither until you've checked your faucet, your drain spot and your cabinet gap.

If neither one fits your counter or your dish load, our Hermitlux 5-liter review is the next place to look.

Frequently asked questions

Is the COMFEE' or the HAVA countertop dishwasher better?

Neither wins for every kitchen: the HAVA suits bigger plates and a lighter move, while the COMFEE' suits anyone who wants a faucet adapter in the box. Both hold 5 liters, so the tank size won't decide it, and both are fair choices for a small kitchen.

Do the COMFEE' and HAVA need a faucet to run?

No, both run from a built-in 5-liter tank that you fill by hand, though both still need power and a drain. Both can also connect to a faucet, but that depends on your faucet type, so check your faucet first and follow the manual.

Which one fits a 10-inch dinner plate?

The HAVA does, since it takes dishes up to 11 inches loaded at an angle, while COMFEE' puts its plate limit at 9.5 inches. Measure your biggest everyday plate first, because that one number decides which unit fits your dishes.

Which one is easier to move?

The HAVA is easier, at about 28.7 pounds (13 kg) against 36.6 pounds for the COMFEE'. That gap of roughly 8 pounds matters on stairs, in narrow doorways and when you lift the unit onto a counter alone, so plan the route first.