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BELLA 13991 Classic vs CROWNFUL 4-inch Mini Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)7.0/10
- Design (20%)7.8/10
- Ease of Use (30%)6.8/10
- Performance (50%)6.2/10
- Design (20%)8.8/10
- Ease of Use (30%)6.6/10
The Bella 13991 is a full-size Belgian waffle maker, while the Crownful is a mini-size model.
A full-size waffle maker like the Bella 13991 will be a better fit for you if you want filling waffles for breakfast on the regular. The Bella 13991 may not be good enough to replicate the deliciousness of restaurant-made waffles, but it came pretty close in our performance tests!
On the other hand, the Crownful 4-inch Mini is a better fit for people who just want waffles as snacks. The smaller size of the waffle maker can be useful if you have a small kitchen or regularly travel, too. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand or your backpack.
The Cronwful (and other mini waffle makers like it) is popular among travelers, campers, and RV-ers.
Bella Rotating Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.9/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)7.2/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)7.1/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)5.3/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- Heat Level: Maximum
- Cooking Time: 7 minutes
The coloration was decent despite the waffle’s wells looking slightly burnt, and some spots on the crust looked undercooked. It received only a passable grade due to having a low aeration rate. Fortunately, it picked up the slack with its tastiness.
Color (6.25) — 35%
- Color tone: Very dark brown - Light brown (both)
- Color distribution: Even
The crust was a bit dark, but there were no signs of charring. Dark spots mostly focused within the wells of the waffle. Outside the wells, the waffle mostly had a pretty light brown color.
But since it was darker than ideal, we couldn’t give it a higher score than a “good” 6.25.
Texture (6) — 25%
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Medium; air bubbles have begun filling the interior of the waffle. However, their sizes were small, and their numbers were few.
Air bubbles have begun to fill the interior of the waffle. Unfortunately, they haven’t developed to their full sizes just yet. All the bubbles we saw were small, concentrating mostly near the crust, while the core of the waffle was dense.
Taste (8) — 40%
- Flavor: Sweet with a buttery aftertaste
- Mouthfeel: Slightly mushy
Our chef rated the waffle highly, citing its sweet flavor and buttery aftertaste. And though the mouthfeel was a bit underwhelming, it didn’t seriously affect the waffle’s quality.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Our chef gave the CF-WM01's waffle a good score, citing the beautiful, lightly browned crust. The waffle's texture was soft, thanks to a decent aeration rate. But the waffle was still developing, and the air pockets hadn't expanded to their maximum size. Our chef also gave the waffle a good score in the taste section but didn't rate it highly as the waffle has a slightly cloying taste of the raw batter.
Color (35%) — 7.25/10
- Color tone: Dark brown (Top) — Light brown (Bottom)
- Color distribution: Uneven
The crust has an appealing shade of light golden brown. Within the deep wells on the waffle, the colors are darker, turning to a light golden brown.
We noticed the wells at the top of the waffle tend to be darker than the bottom. On some tests, the wells on the top side looked like they were charred, while the bottom remained lightly colored. This inconsistent heating pattern alludes to an unbalanced heating grid.
Texture (25%) - 7/10
- Texture: Soft in most parts, but mushy in certain spots
- Aeration level: Medium
The waffle’s interior has a medium aeration rate, and several air bubbles can be observed in its core. But since the bubbles were still developing, much of the waffle’s core was still solid and mushy. The mushy spots of under-developed batter stood out as an annoying contrast to the otherwise soft and spongy waffle.
Taste (40%) - 7/10
- Flavor: Sweet and savory
- Mouthfeel: Soft, but slightly mushy
Taste wise, our chef judged the waffle to have a good blend of flavors: sweet and savory. But the mushy mouthfeel was a turn-off that ultimately resulted in the Crownful getting only a Good score in this section.
Birch Benders Mix
- Heat Level: Maximum
- Cooking Time: 8 minutes
In this test, the Bella waffle maker did a slightly better job, but not by a lot.
Coloration is visibly improved with a more even, prettier coloration. Unfortunately, because the waffle is peppered with air pockets, it has several discolored spots. The texture is decent, but its aeration level is still low, resulting in a mushy texture. The mushy texture is one of the reasons why our chef didn't give the waffle a high score on the taste test.
Color (8/10) — 35%
- Color tone: Light gold (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The crust on both sides of the waffle maker had a beautiful golden-brown color. On the crust were large formations of air bubbles, which had a pale yellow color of undercooked batter. Besides ruining the overall look of the waffle, they also messed with the color palette.
Texture (7.8/10) — 25%
- Texture: Good
- Aeration level: Medium; air bubbles have begun to develop, but they haven’t reached their maximum sizes
The waffle has filled out well with a thick, soft interior. It has a medium aeration rate, evidenced by the many tiny air bubbles within its core. The bubbles were in the process of forming and expanding, but the aeration process was cut short before it could reach completion. Thus, while the waffle was soft and spongy, it was still too moist on the inside to receive a higher score.
Taste (6/10) — 40%
- Flavor: Sweet and slightly savory, cloying in undercooked parts
- Mouthfeel: Soft and spongy for the most parts, mushy in certain spots
As a whole, the waffle’s flavor profile was decent. It had the signature sweet and slightly savory taste of the Birch Benders mix. However, certain parts of the waffle were undercooked and gave it an off-putting cloying taste, which negatively impacted its scoring on this test.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The waffle was light colored and mushy when we picked it up from the plates. It was clear this test was a bust from the start. But surprisingly, while coloration and texture were discouraging, the waffle's flavor was decent. It saved the otherwise mediocre waffle from failing the test.
Color (35%) — 4.5/10
- Color tone: Pale gold (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The waffle has the appearance of being undercooked with its pale gold crust. Some of the wells on the waffle were dark brown, slightly improving its look. But, as a whole, we still found the coloration not up to the mark.
Texture (25%) - 7/10
- Texture: Soft, but overly moist and mushy
- Aeration level: Medium
The waffle’s interior developed well. Slicing it in half, we saw prominent air bubbles and pockets inside. It should have resulted in a soft, fluffy waffle. Unfortunately, the waffle has a lot of moisture, making it limp and mushy. We let it rest for 5 minutes to see if it would get better, but the texture did not improve.
Taste (40%) - 5/10
- Flavor: Distinctly savory and sweet
- Mouthfeel: Very mushy
The waffle maker did a great job developing the waffle’s flavor profile. That was despite the lackluster color and texture. Our chef judged it tasty, with a distinct savory note, from the pre-made batter mix.
But while the taste was great, the mouthfeel was subpar due to the mushy texture of the waffle.
Bella Stainless Steel Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)7.0/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)9.0/10
- Control Panel (10%)8.5/10
- Build Quality (60%)10/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)9.5/10
- Control Panel (10%)0/10
What’s in the Box of the Bella 13991 Rotating Waffle Maker?
- Bella Classic Rotating Waffle Maker (13991)
- User manual
- Drip tray
The box includes the waffle maker, a user manual, and a drip tray.
- Crownful CF-WM01 waffle maker
- Instruction manual
- Warranty card
Dimensions
- Length:16.7" (42.4 cm)
- Width:7.7" (19.6 cm)
- Height:7.3" (18.5 cm)
- Weight:5.2 lbs (2.4 kg)
The Bella 13991 is more difficult to store due to its rotating design, which brings its height to 7.3 inches. Fortunately, Bella makes storage less annoying by making the handle foldable. The waffle maker's footprint can be reduced with the handle folded and the body rotated vertically.
- Length:5.7" (14.5 cm)
- Width:5.1" (13.0 cm)
- Height:3.1" (8.0 cm)
- Weight:1.0 lbs (0.5 kg)
The Crownful lives up to expectations when it comes to compactness. You can easily fit the waffle maker inside a cupboard or a traveler’s backpack or duffel bag.
Build Quality
The Bella 13991's body is made from stainless steel with a mirror finish, which gives it a somewhat premium look. However, we noticed that the mirror finish could be smudged easily and is highly susceptible to scratches. However, a much more serious issue was the extremely loose lid hinge. Whenever it's opened or adjusted, the lid wobbles dangerously.
Since it is such a cheap waffle maker, we didn’t have high expectations of its build quality when we first received it in the lab. It was a pleasant surprise when we unboxed the waffle maker and found its build quality to be so good.
The top lid is made from textured plastic and has a pattern of raised, concentric circles. Contrasting the black paint of our unit is the light-colored wooden handle at the front, inscribed with the company’s name.
The build quality of the unit’s interior is also good. The lid hinges are solid, and the waffle plates are immaculate.
Waffle Plates
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Belgian-style
- Plate Area:44.18 inch2
- Plate Length:7.5" (19.1 cm)
- Plate Width:7.5" (19.1 cm)
- Material:Cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle plates are cast aluminum coated with a layer of PFOA-free Teflon. In all of our tests, the non-stick coating worked perfectly. The waffles slid cleanly off the plates without leaving messy residue behind.
A small anti-spill moat runs around the perimeter of each plate. The moat is too small to catch big spills, which isn’t particularly helpful.
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Classic-style
- Plate Area:12.57 inch2
- Plate Length:4.0" (10.2 cm)
- Plate Width:4.0" (10.2 cm)
- Material:Cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The cooking area of the plates is nestled inside a raised moat, which acts as an anti-spill channel. It is slightly offset from the moat, creating a fascinating “Hawaiian earring” pattern.
Although the anti-spill channel is meant to catch excess batter and prevent it from spilling out of the machine while cooking, it doesn't work well in practice. The channel is very shallow, so it has very little value unless the spill is minor.
The plates are coated with a layer of non-stick, which works well enough. We have never had trouble scooping out a finished waffle during our tests.
Control Panel
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:Yes
The temperature dial turns smoothly but doesn’t have any specific temperature notches or settings. Instead, there are only “Min” and a “Max” labels on either side. The user can tune the dial to any arbitrary point in between.
You will find a red POWER button under the dial, which shines when you plug in the waffle maker. The blue READY button beside it will light up when the plates are thoroughly heated and ready for use.
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:Yes
The waffle maker doesn’t come with any control feature. There is an indicator light at the top, which lights up when it’s plugged in, then turns off once the plates have been heated and are ready for use.
Bella Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker’s Power Cord
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:2.2 ft (0.7 m)
- Cable Management:No
The power cord is relatively short, so you may have to use an extension cord. There is no cable management feature on the Bella 13991.
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:2.6 ft (0.8 m)
- Cable Management:No
The power cable is very long at 31.5 inches, making it an even more attractive option for travelers who may not always have convenient access to power outlets. For those at home, the longer cord means you’ll most likely be able to skip using an extension cord (unless your kitchen has very odd outlet placement.)
But the longer cord can be a problem when it comes to storing the waffle maker, especially when it doesn’t have any cable management feature.
Accessories
- Material:Plastic
- Removable:Yes
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
A drip tray accompanies the waffle maker in the shipping box. It slides in underneath the waffle maker’s body. The tray does a great job of catching spilled batter. It is removable and dishwasher-safe.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The Crownful waffle maker doesn't come with any accessory.
Bella Rotating Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)3.0/10
- Safety (40%)8.0/10
- Cleanability (25%)9.5/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (5%)10/10
- Handling (25%)8.5/10
- Safety (40%)2.5/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
Handling
It failed the handling test due to the dangerously loose lid. Whenever we started a new waffle, we had to hold the lid with one hand while pouring with the other. If we dared remove that stabilizing hand, the lid had a good chance of snapping shut unexpectedly.
Except for this critical issue, the Bella 13991 is easy to use. The control panel is simple, and the waffle maker turns smoothly. A lock is built into the handle and keeps the lid securely shut when the waffle maker is flipped.
As it doesn’t have any control features, all you have to do is plug it in. The waffle maker will handle the rest. Once the waffle plates are heated up, the indicator light at the top will turn off. That’s the signal to pour in the batter. Wait out the cooking time for however long you want, then lift the lid and extract the finished waffle.
The opening and closing motion of the lid is smooth, thanks to the solid lid hinges.
Safety
- Top Side Temperature:153°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:85°F
- Handle Temperature:90°F
The unsteady lid is a serious safety issue. Fortunately, aside from the lid, we didn’t find any other significant safety problems.
The top of the lid got warm — but not dangerously so — at 147°F.
Both the handle and the base remained cool to the touch. The measured temperatures in these areas were respectively 90° and 85° after several rounds of testings.
- Top Side Temperature:187.9°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:129.6°F
- Handle Temperature:188.4°F
The Crownful has an abysmal safety score. But it’s worth noting that the faults don’t lie with the manufacturer. Like most mini-sized waffle makers, the whole unit has bad insulation because of its small size. After one or two cooking sessions, every surface on the machine will become piping hot: It is unavoidable. Unfortunately, since this is what we measure to determine a waffle maker’s safety score, the Crownful failed miserably in this test portion.
Using a thermometer, we measured the temperature of the waffle maker’s top side, which was 187.9°F.
The bottom side was warm, measuring 129.6°F. It’s still safe to the touch. However, it’s better to wear oven mitts while handling the waffle maker.
The handle was scorching hot at 188.4°F. The hot handle, combined with the hot steam surging from the plates, makes wearing oven mitts a must. The heat is intense enough to instantly cause a burn injury.
Cleanability
The Bella 13991 is very easy to clean. Though it’s prone to fingerprint smudges and scratches, the metal surfaces can be cleaned and polished with mild detergent. The waffle plates only need to be wiped down with paper towels every once in a while to get rid of waffle debris. We also don't find it difficult to scrub dried batter off the plastic parts of the waffle maker.
When a spill happens, the large drip tray can catch every droplet. The tray can be washed by hand or loaded into a dishwasher.
The Crownful is easy to clean, both from within and outside. The non-stick coated plates only need a few scrubs with a clean, dry cloth to remove batter residues or waffle debris.
The exterior of the waffle maker, made from a type of smooth plastic, doesn’t grip onto the dried batter. We left spilled batter to dry on the exterior of the waffle maker for a day. We were able to scour it off with a few spritzes of detergent and a cloth without any difficulty when we cleaned it the next day.
Indicator Light Visibility
The lights are very dim. It’s almost impossible to see them from afar under harsh lighting. Even with some ambient lights turned off, the indicator lights are still faint.
The indicator light at the top was decently bright. We could see it even under studio lighting.