Lack of floor space for a dishwasher shouldn’t condemn you to a lifetime of washing dishes by hand. Instead, the best countertop dishwashers can offer the perfect solution.
The HAVA Countertop Dishwasher requires no plumbing, and with a height of just 46cm, it sits comfortably on most worktops in apartments or campervans.
Type: Countertop
Capacity: 1.1 gallon
Power: 950 watts
Cycle length: 29 minutes minimum
Noise level: 50dB
Suitable for: Small households, up to two people
Dimensions: L 16.85 x W 16.75 x H 18 in
Weight: 33 lbs
Included: Inlet hose with screw socket, drain hose, storage rack, cutlery basket, fruit basket and water jug
Warranty: 12 months
The dishwasher uses only five liters of water per cycle, and there are two different water supply modes - either fill the machine by hand by pouring water into the tank at the top or connect a hose directly to the tap. Wastewater can be drained straight into the sink through a tube or collected into a bucket.
The HAVA Countertop Dishwasher isn’t just practical; it’s pretty stylish, too. The see-through front and internal LED blue lamp allow you to see the dishwasher in action, whilst the black and white exterior complements most kitchen decors.
In this review, we test claims that the dishwasher can fit four full-place settings and plates up to 11.4 inches. We also take a closer look at the HAVA Countertop Dishwasher features, how it performs on various wash cycles, and whether this justifies its high price tag. If you’re thinking about installing something more permanent and having enough floor space, check out our guide to the best dishwashers.
HAVA Countertop Dishwasher: Price & availability
- $329.99 / £413
The HAVA sits on the slightly higher end of the countertop dishwasher price spectrum, but it does come with several accessories, including water tubes and washing baskets. There are also multiple wash settings and features that go some way in justifying the price. However, the interior is slightly smaller than other models, so if you’re after the most space for your money, there may be better choices out there for you.
The dishwasher is sold on Amazon, but it doesn’t have the option of next-day delivery to the UK as it shipped by Amazon EU. UK and US customers can purchase the dishwasher directly from HAVA, and delivery can take up to 10 days. The dishwasher is currently on sale on the HAVA website and is now $329.99, down from $399.99.
HAVA Countertop Dishwasher: Design
Don't worry about the HAVA Countertop Dishwasher looking out of place in your kitchen, as this plastic black and white square appliance is sleek and well-designed. It features a black control panel with touch-screen functions and a large transparent panel on the front that lets you see the washing process.
At almost 17 inches, the dishwasher is rather tall for a countertop appliance. Given that the water tank lid is on the top of the machine, we think the appliance fits best on a surface without a wall cabinet above it. Some people may also need a stool to reach the water tank as it is slightly inconveniently located at the top back of the dishwasher.
HAVA states the dishwasher is portable, but at 33 lbs, it's a hard appliance to lift on your own - you likely won’t want to move it around much once placed on the desired countertop.
HAVA Countertop Dishwasher: Features
This countertop dishwasher comes with the following accessories and items:
• Inlet hose with screw socket to connect to the water supply
• Drain hose with hose collar to discard used water
• Storage rack for placing glasses and mugs on
• Cutlery basket
• Plastic fruit basket
• Water pitcher for filling up the dishwasher
• Manual and information sheet to get set up
The HAVA Countertop Dishwasher features five wash cycle options: normal, speed, soft, heavy/baby care, and fruit. There is also a dry mode setting that dries dishes in 60 minutes.
The speed mode is a particular stand-out feature as it washes dishes in just 29 minutes compared to other settings that take over an hour. The baby care function is also useful for washing items at a higher temperature, but it does take longer than other modes.
HAVA Countertop Dishwasher: Setup & assembly
For a large kitchen appliance, the setup is impressively straightforward. It arrives in a large cardboard box and is encased in non-recyclable white polystyrene. All the accessories and information leaflets come packed inside the dishwasher.
Lifting the dishwasher out of the box is tricky, so two people may need to place it on the countertop. The instructions are easy to follow, and depending on the chosen setup method, it can take just minutes before you’re ready to load up the dishwasher.
Firstly, it needs to be plugged into a socket using the cable provided that measures 41.3 inches. If you connect the dishwasher to the water supply, some DIY is needed as a hole must be drilled through the countertops to feed the tube through. Alternatively, use the 60.6-inch drain hose that connects to the back of the appliance and is stuck to the side of the sink with the suction cup to drain used water.
HAVA Countertop Dishwasher: Performance
We first tested the HAVA Countertop Dishwasher on the normal wash setting and loaded it up with a mixture of glasses, plates, and pans. As soon as you open the dishwasher, the blue LED automatically switches on and will turn off after two minutes. It took just over an hour for the cycle to finish, and the 50dB noise is a similar noise level to other dishwashers.
We recommend rinsing and scraping off solid food before loading everything into the dishwasher. Without that step, some food marks remained on the plates and cutlery.
A picture in the instruction manual shows how to fill the dishwasher to make the most of the compact space. We found that following the diagram meant the crockery was too close together, and everything was left slightly dirty as the water couldn't pass between plates. For optimal washing, we packed two mugs, two bowls, a small pan, and four 26cm plates in the dishwasher. Even though the dishwasher claims it can fit plates of up to 30cm in diameter, we found that 26cm was the maximum. The cutlery basket features 28 slots of varying sizes.
We tried the 29-minute speed mode with a few glasses and plates and found everything to be equally as clean.
The fruit mode washes hard fruit and vegetables in cold water for 19 minutes, and we used it to wash potatoes and carrots. Whilst it did clean the vegetables, it is probably faster to scrub the food under cold water than loading it in the dishwasher.
Across all the cycles, we found dishes were rather wet at the end. There is a dry setting, but given it takes over an hour, it may not be practical for people in a rush. Occasionally, the dry mode automatically started at the end of a cycle, which was frustrating as the door wouldn't open until it was complete.
HAVA Countertop Dishwasher: Care & maintenance
HAVA recommends washing the filter system once a week. It’s relatively simple to do and can be cleaned under running warm water. The coarse and fine filter is scrubbed with a wire brush.
The dirt and unpleasant smell in your dishwasher is caused by the build-up of minerals such as calcium, chalk, and limestone, and getting rid of this requires an acid-based cleaning solution.
Emily Barron, cleaning expert at Rezigo
Emily Barron, a cleaning expert at Rezigo, tells us that “while it may not be pleasant, it’s essential to begin the cleaning process by removing old food and dirt from inside the machine.”
There’s a 12-month warranty on the appliance for technical failures, but it doesn't cover general wear and tear.
HAVA Countertop Dishwasher: User reviews
At the time of writing, the dishwasher had a 4.5-star rating on Amazon with just over 500 reviews. Customers have been singing the appliance's praises, claiming that “this countertop dishwasher is amazing! I've had it for a little over a month now and it's been a godsend to say the least”.
Reviewers have also praised the short wash cycle, saying that “the short cycle gets everything clean. It saves so much time and reduces my water bill.”
However, there were some complaints that the dishwasher has become less effective over time and that the customer service isn’t the best. Several reviewers said that “it did not clean as well as I expected it to” or that they "had to rewash the plates by hand because of the food residue leftover”.
There have also been mentions of leaks from the water tube coming loose during a wash cycle. One reviewer complained that “things went well a few times, but my kitchen has flooded three times now as the hose has come off the sink”.
HAVA Countertop Dishwasher: What the experts say
Emily Barron, cleaning expert at Rezigo, says that “a countertop dishwasher is a great solution for small kitchens but can quickly become dirty and begin to smell if not cleaned properly.”
She recommends cleaning it by making a baking soda and lime juice paste and then using a cloth to cover the bottom, sides, and top of the machine. After an hour, run the dishwasher on the hottest setting to rinse.
As a countertop dishwasher is out on the worktop, it’s important to regularly clean the exterior of the appliance. “Grab a cloth and some hot soapy water and use this to clean the exterior of your dishwasher, paying close attention to the door seals to keep it looking its best,” says Barron.
Should you buy the HAVA Countertop Dishwasher?
The HAVA Countertop Dishwasher is a pretty impressive mini appliance. It has a range of wash cycles to suit everyone’s needs and has a sleek style. Its compact style means larger families might struggle to fit all the dishes into the machine in one go, so we recommend the HAVA Countertop Dishwasher for individuals or couples. It’s a well-built machine that produces excellent results time and time again, so we believe it’s worth the investment.
