Research editor: Nicholas Bauer, Founder & Research Editor · Research checked October 6, 2026
The decision starts with drying and space
Both belong on a shortlist when you want to fill a reservoir instead of attaching the water-supply hose to the tap. The meaningful choice is which documented routine suits you—not which listing has more superlatives.
Investigate the HAVA if its documented loading limits work for your dishes and you prefer its hot-air drying arrangement. Investigate the COMFEE if an automatic door-opening option is a feature you want and you can accommodate its installation needs.
Choose neither for a fixed 18-inch opening. Both have published body-height figures above that threshold.
| Buying question | HAVA R01 | COMFEE CDC17P2AWW |
|---|---|---|
| Manual filling | 5-liter tank | 6-liter tank |
| Drying approach | Hot-air drying; listed separately from wash time | Auto Open on Normal, Baby Care and Glass |
| Tight-space concern | 18.1-inch listed body height | Listing and manual dimensions differ; both height figures exceed 18 inches |
| Plate evidence | 10.2 inches upright / 10.6 angled, round plates | Manual shows two 10-inch dinner plates; maximum diameter remains unconfirmed |
Will auto-open help with your usual program?
For someone who normally loads after dinner and unloads later, the drying arrangement may matter more than the shortest advertised wash. COMFEE’s control guide limits Auto Open to the three programs in the table; it describes Rapid as a light-soil wash that does not need drying. If Rapid is the mode you expect to use most, do not choose solely for the auto-open headline.
HAVA lists wash and drying times separately. A short wash therefore does not establish a short wash-and-dry routine. Neither description tells us which machine leaves your particular plastic containers dry. We have not conducted that test.
HAVA R01 or COMFEE CDC17: which feature will you actually use?
| Your usual routine | How to make the decision |
|---|---|
| Normal-cycle washing after dinner | Compare HAVA’s separate hot-air phase with COMFEE’s supported Auto Open option. Decide whether an opening door suits the location. |
| Mostly quick washes | COMFEE’s manual describes Rapid without drying; do not buy it expecting Auto Open on every program. Check the full wash-and-dry time you need. |
| A fixed 18-inch cabinet gap | Neither is a candidate on the published heights. Investigate the under-cabinet alternatives. |
| Large dinner plates are the main chore | Resolve exact loading before comparing drying features. Check the 10–12-inch plate evidence. |
Does the 6-liter tank mean the COMFEE holds more dishes?
No conclusion about your load follows from tank volume alone. It is the water reservoir, not a rack-capacity measurement. Compare your mixed dishes with the loading diagram instead.
Which is quieter or cleans better?
We cannot name a winner from these specifications. We have not run comparable cleaning, noise or drying tests. Choose between documented features once both setups fit, then compare the exact current offers and seller terms below.
Program evidence: COMFEE CDC17 manual, control guide; HAVA wash and drying table. Features are not performance-test results.
A larger tank is a filling detail, not a cleaning score
The reservoir figures differ by one liter. Consider how you will reach the fill opening and carry water to the machine. That difference alone cannot tell you capacity, cleaning quality or savings against handwashing. A bigger number only helps when it changes something you value.
Both choices still need a suitable way to drain. If the word “portable” makes you picture an appliance you will move before every load, first consider whether you have a permanent spot that preserves your cooking surface.
Let your largest everyday plate challenge the shortlist
Use the plate and loading worksheet. HAVA distinguishes upright from angled loading; the extra allowance can change how other items fit around a plate. COMFEE’s diagram is a loading example, not our independent test of your dinnerware.
If the main item you want to stop handwashing has no confirmed fit, keep the purchase on hold. If only an occasional platter stays in the sink, either machine may still be worth investigating for your recurring tableware.
Which one belongs on your counter?
Both can reduce the everyday tableware pile when their load and installation checks pass. Choose the drying routine you will use.
HAVA R01
Shortlist it when: its documented round-plate limits fit your load and you prefer its hot-air drying arrangement.
Resolve first: the 18.1-inch body height, filling access and drain route.
Read the HAVA R01 research review →
COMFEE CDC17P2AWW
Shortlist it when: Auto Open on Normal, Baby Care or Glass is useful to your routine.
Resolve first: the conflicting published dimensions and your exact plate load; Rapid does not include this drying feature.
Read the COMFEE CDC17P2AWW research review →
Before ordering: match the full model code, condition, seller, delivery and return terms at Amazon. Prices and availability can change. These are research-based recommendations, not hands-on performance rankings.
Still unsure about the routine? Walk through the setup and supplies or check your everyday dishes before choosing.
Sources behind this comparison
- HAVA R01: Specifications, wash-cycle table and plate-size Q&A.
- COMFEE CDC17P2AWW: exact-model product page.
- COMFEE manual, printed page 9: control guide and Auto Open conditions; printed page 31: technical drawing.
Research checked October 6, 2026. This is specification-based buying guidance, not a hands-on test. We do not score cleaning, noise, reliability or drying performance.
Two R01 size figures: what should you plan around?
HAVA’s product page lists 16.9 inches wide × 16.9 deep × 18.1 high. Its manual specification table lists 16.86 × 16.75 × 18.05 inches. Neither height fits a fixed 18-inch gap. Our checker uses the larger product-page dimensions for an initial screen.
Do not use the smaller figure to rescue a tight fit. Confirm the current US installation drawing, filling access, hose route and open-door space before ordering. See the R01 source checks for the limits behind these numbers.
