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Avalon A1 Top Loading vs Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Avalon A1 Top Loading

$129.99 from Amazon(+1 more)

Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless

$199.99 from Amazon(+1 more)
Avalon A1 Top Loading vs Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser

Overall Verdict

The main difference between the Avalon A1 and A8 is of course the size. With its bottleless design, the Avalon A8 is about as compact as a water cooler dispenser can get. A key similarity, however, is the paddle lever dispensing design.

The dispensing paddle levers for both machines are the exact same design, including the color. The water spouts don’t detach for cleaning, but the A8 has an ozone function. For the A1, you have to rely on periodic descaling to cleanse the water lines.

Performance-wise, the Avalon A1 is a much better machine, especially for larger groups of people. The Avalon A8 only provides a 300 ml glass of chilled water every 7 minutes. This means only 2.7 L per hour at an average temperature of 54 ℉. The Avalon A8 can only serve up to 9 people an hour while the A1 performs to an office standard of 19 people per hour. 

The upside of the Avalon A8 is the hot water performance. It puts out water at a top temperature of 198 ℉ and about 4 L per hour. The Avalon A1 has a lower temperature of s 192 ℉ but it produces 5.4 L per hour.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Cold water performance
  • One-hand cold water dispensing
  • Color design
  • Hot water safety mechanism
  • Color design
  • Hot water heating time
  • Filter attachment design
  • Side pocket handles
  • Hot water safety mechanism
  • Ozone self-cleaning
  • Stiff water guard
  • Fixed nozzle design
  • Cold water performance
  • Fixed nozzle design
  • Narrow drip tray

Key Specs

Dimensions
W 10.8 x D 12.2 x H 43 inches
W12.5 x D14.2 x H19.3 inches
Weight
30.9 lbs (14.0 kg)
39.7 lbs (18.0 kg)
Loading Type
Top loading
Bottleless countertop
Dispensing Mechanisms
Padel levers
Paddle levers
Cold Water Temperature
50-54 ℉
50‒54 ℉
Cold Water Capacity
193 fl.oz. (5.7 L) / Hr
91.2 fl.oz. / Hr

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$149.00
$250.56
$129.99 at AmazonCheck Price on Homedepot
$199.99 at AmazonCheck Price on Avalon

*You help support Shouldit's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
8.9
6.6

Hot Water Test

8.1
9.0
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Single Draw Capacity
15.11 fl.oz. (447 ml)
22.76 fl.oz.
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. (250 ml) / 2 min 20 sec
8.5 fl.oz. / 2 min 35 sec
Temperature
192 ℉ (88.8 ℃)
198 ℉ (92.2 ℃)
Flow Rate
1.08 fl.oz. (32 ml) / sec
1.0 fl.oz or 31 ml / sec

Cold Water Test

9.5
5.0
A paper cup filled with water resting on a drip tray below the cold water outlet on a water cooler dispenser.
Water temperature being measured as cold water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Serving Capacity
193 fl.oz. (5.7 L) / hr
91.2 fl.oz. / hour
Temperature
50‒54 ℉ (10‒12℃)
50‒54 ℉

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.6
8.9

In the Box

Unboxed Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing the actual box, machine, detachable drip tray, and all bundled literature.
Unboxed Avalon A8 bottleless water dispenser displayed alongside included filters, attachment parts, and bundled literature.

Build Quality

9.5
9.0
Close up of a detachable leg stopper on the base of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser clearly showing the screw.
Close up of a detachable leg stopper on the base of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser clearly showing the screw.
View of the underside of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing a metal base plate.
A full length angular view of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing the white side panel, and black rear metal grate.
Close up of the Avalon A1 water cooler side panel and rear plate with two ventilation holes visible on the bottom left.
A side angle view of the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
A side angle view of the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
The bottom of a water cooler dispenser showing the plastic base and plastic stub leg.
The filter reset button on the left side of a small countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
Side Body
Hard plastic molding
Black metal sheeting
Front Panel
Thick white plastic
Black plastic
Cabinet Door
No door
No door
Base
Metal plate with 4 rubber leg stoppers
Plastic
Extra Features
None
Side pocket handles

Dimensions

Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A8 countertop water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Depth
12.2" (31.0 cm)
14.2" (36.1 cm)
Width
10.8" (27.4 cm)
12.5" (31.8 cm)
Height
43.0" (109.2 cm)
19.3" (49.0 cm)
Weight
30.9 lbs (14.0 kg)
39.7 lbs (18.0 kg)

Panel & Indicators

7.8
9.5
Close up of the control panel indicators on the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser.
Three multi-functional indicators found on the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
Power Status
Far left
Far left
Hot Water Test
Middle
Middle
Cold Water Test
Far right
Far right
Bottle Or Filter
None
Dual function feature
Others
None
Leak detection

Water Inlet Controls

8.3
8.5
The water baffle removed from its tank and resting on the partly detached water guard on a water cooler dispenser.
The water baffle removed from its tank and resting on the partly detached water guard on a water cooler dispenser.
A hand holding a water guard that has been removed from a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A top view of a water cooler dispensing showing the water guard and the water needle inside.
From left to right: Two filter attachment brackets, two filter heads, and two filters for a small water cooler dispenser.
From left to right: Two filter attachment brackets, two filter heads, and two filters for a small water cooler dispenser.
Parts for connecting water lines to the filters of a water cooler dispenser: 4 pressure clips and 3 PE line adaptors.
The filter reset button on the left side of the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Water guard with needle, baffle
Filter network
Materials
Plastic
Metal and plastic
Extra Features
None
Filter reset switch, leak detection

Water Dispensers

Close up of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser. The left red lever dispensers hot water, and the blue one cold.
Close up of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser. The left red lever dispensers hot water, and the blue one cold.
Underview of two nozzles on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up view of the underneath of a hot water nozzle on a water cooler dispenser.
Two lever paddle water dispensers of a countertop water cooler dispenser and the control panel above.
Mechanism
2 press levers
2 press paddle levers
Outflow Points
2 protruding nozzles
2 protruding nozzles
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Hot Water safety button
Hot water safety

Drip Tray

7.5
7.8
A drip tray seen below a partial view of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser.
A drip tray seen below a partial view of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a hand holding a detached drip tray removed from its hold on a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand showing a small drip tray removed from its holding in a countertop water cooler dispenser.
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Color
Gray and silver
Black
Length
9.2" (23.4 cm)
10.0" (25.4 cm)
Width
3.5" (8.9 cm)
2.5" (6.4 cm)
Depth
1.4" (3.6 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)
Level Float
No
No

Rear Switches

A rear view of a water cooler dispenser showing two switches, one red the other green, in the ‘off’ position.
A rear view of a water cooler dispenser showing two switches, one red the other green, in the ‘off’ position.
A close-up water cooler dispenser switches in the ‘off’ position. The red switch on the right is for the hot water tank, and the green on the left for the cold water tank.
Rear switches on a water cooler dispenser. Far left : ozone. Right side: Night light, hot and cold water switches.
Rear switches on a water cooler dispenser. Far left : ozone. Right side: Night light, hot and cold water switches.
Night light, hot and cold water switches on the rear right side of a water cooler dispenser.
Hot Water Test
Yes
Yes
Cold Water Test
Yes
Yes
Others
None
Night light, Ozone

Door and Cabinet

Has Door
No
No
Internal WxDxH
N/A
N/A
Material
N/A
N/A
Extra Features
N/A
N/A

Cord and Plug

Close up of a three-pronged plug for a water cooler dispenser against a faded background of the front control panel.
Close up of a three-pronged plug for a water cooler dispenser against a faded background of the front control panel.
Man holding a white electric cord of a water cooler dispenser doubled across the length of the horizontally resting machine.
A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Avalon A8 water cooler dispenser pictured against the control panel.
A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Avalon A8 water cooler dispenser pictured against the control panel.
A man holding the cord of a small countertop water cooler dispenser wrapped twice along its horizontal length.
Length
6.5 ft (2.0 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)
Position
rt side, 32 in. (81 cm) from ground
Rear right, 3 in from ground
Plug Type
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
7.6
8.8

Dispensing Water

8.5
8.5
A close up of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser. The left red lever dispenses hot water and the blue cold.
A close up of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser. The left red lever dispenses hot water and the blue cold.
Cold water being dispensed from a water cooler dispenser with a one-hand lever operation.
A gloved hand dispensing cold water from a water cooler dispenser into a part cup by pushing a blue lever.
Mechanism
Push levers
Push lever
Water Type
Hot and Cold
Hot and Cold
Spout Type
Protruding
Protruding spout
Dispensing Height
7 in. (17 cm)
7 in

Hot Water Safety

9.0
9.0
A gloved hand dispensing hot water from a water cooler dispenser by operating the hot water safety switch.
Mechanism
Push button
Push button

Bottle / Filter Changing

6.0
9.5
The water needle inside the water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
The water needle inside the water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A water bottle being mounted onto the water needle of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
Bottle of water resting in place on a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A Gloved hand holding a water filter removed from its bracket at the rear of a bottleless countertop water cooler dispenser.
A Gloved hand holding a water filter removed from its bracket at the rear of a bottleless countertop water cooler dispenser.
A hand showing where to insert and remove the main water line into the filter head of a bottleless water cooler dispenser.
A picture showing how two water filters at the rear of a bottleless water cooler dispenser are connected.
Design
Top loading
POU filter
Feature
Water needle
Filter heads, water lines

Cleaning

6.4
8.8
A top view of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispensing showing the water guard and the grip at the rear to remove it.
A top view of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispensing showing the water guard and the grip at the rear to remove it.
A water baffle inside the cold water tank of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A view of the inside of the cold water tank on a top loading water cooler dispenser with the water baffle removed.
A close up showing how to clean inside the water nozzle of a water cooler dispenser using a cotton Q-tip.
Close up of a red colored drainage plug with a protective screw cap at the rear of a water cooler dispenser.
How to unscrew the safety cap on the drainage port of a small countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
How to unscrew the safety cap on the drainage port of a small countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to remove the cover on a water cooler dispenser in order to access the cold water tank inside.
A gloved hand lifting the unscrewed top off a water cooler dispenser partly revealing the tank and wiring inside.
A gloved hand holding up the cover of a water cooler dispenser revealing the tank and wiring inside.
A close up of the water baffle found in the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the working attachments found on the underneath of the lid of the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
Self Cleaning
No
Ozone
Drainage Plug
18 in. (46 cm) from ground
Rear rt, 1.5 inches from ground