There is a quiet joy in a kitchen appliance that feels like a small piece of furniture rather than a hunk of beige plastic. The COMFEE Retro Microwave in cream is that kind of appliance. Its soft pastel body, chrome accents, and old fashioned dials turn a utilitarian machine into a decorative object, and it does so without pretending to be anything other than a hardworking small microwave. I lived with the cream version for a month, using it for everything from defrosting chicken to reheating coffee, to decide whether the look survives the reality of daily use.
Before we go further, the disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through one, the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it has no bearing on the testing below.
The briefest summary is that the cream COMFEE is a perfectly capable Compact microwave wearing a very pretty coat. It reheats evenly, defrosts gently, and stays easy to clean, while delivering the 0.7 cubic foot size that fits apartments, offices, and second kitchens. The rest of this review explains the details that decide whether it belongs on your counter.
Design and Build
The cream finish is softer and more versatile than the bolder red and green versions in the same range. It sits quietly in pastel, white, and wood toned kitchens, and the chrome style handle and accents add just enough shine without tipping into kitsch. The shape is a classic rounded box with a gentle profile, and the dials sit on a panel that reads like a vintage radio.
Build quality is reassuring. The body is rigid, the door closes with a clean latch, and the glass turntable spins on a stable base. The cream surface is glossy, so it collects fingerprints more readily than a matte finish, but it wipes clean with a damp cloth in seconds. The controls are simple enough to use without reading the manual, which is exactly what you want from a microwave that is meant to feel friendly.
Key Features
The nine preset menus are the feature that turns this from a cute box into a genuinely useful one. Popcorn, potato, pizza, beverage, frozen dinner, and reheat presets remove the guesswork from the tasks people actually use microwaves for, and each one runs a cycle tuned for the food rather than a generic timer.
The 700 watt output and 0.7 cubic foot cavity work together as a system designed for small scale cooking. The wattage is modest, but it is applied evenly across a cavity that fits a standard dinner plate, and the rotating glass turntable ensures the food passes through the energy field rather than sitting in a cold spot. The footprint is small enough for a cramped counter while the interior stays genuinely usable.
The turntable is removable, which is the quiet practical star of the design. It lifts out for a rinse under the tap, and the smooth interior wipes down without scrubbing, so the machine stays clean even through a month of spills. A small interior light lets you watch the food without opening the door, and the door opens with a simple pull on the chrome handle.
Real-World Performance
Over four weeks I used the cream COMFEE for nearly every microwave task a home can throw at one. Reheating leftovers was the daily benchmark, and the machine delivered consistently even results. Pasta, rice, and stews came up hot throughout, with no cold center and no rubbery edge, because the turntable and the even power distribution do their jobs quietly.
The presets proved themselves repeatedly. The popcorn preset produced a bowl with few unpopped kernels, the potato preset made a fluffy jacket potato with no timing guesses, and the beverage preset warmed mugs of coffee to a drinkable temperature without scalding the milk. These one touch cycles are the reason the microwave earns its place, because they make the machine approachable for everyone in the household.
Defrosting was the surprise strength. Frozen chicken breast and bread came out thawed but not cooked at the edges, which is the classic failure of aggressive defrost settings, and the gentle 700 watt cycle with rotation avoided it entirely. Reheating a croissant came out warm and soft, and frozen dinners followed the package instructions without adjustment.
The machine also proved itself at the little jobs people forget to budget for. Melting butter for baking, warming a plate for a meal, softening ice cream for serving, and reheating a half finished mug of tea all took moments, and the even heat meant nothing came out uneven or rubbery. Those small tasks are where a compact microwave earns its keep, because they happen several times a day and they are exactly the chores the big oven should not be switched on for.
The honest limitation is the same one every compact microwave carries: it is slower than a big 1000 watt machine and smaller than a family sized oven. Reheating a full casserole takes patience, and a household that feeds four or more from the microwave every night will want more cavity. For one or two people, an office, a dorm, or a guest kitchen, the balance of size, power, and charm is exactly right.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Soft cream finish that blends into many kitchens
- Nine one touch preset menus for everyday foods
- Even heating thanks to the rotating turntable
- Compact footprint suits small counters
- Simple dial controls, no manual needed
- Easy to clean with a removable glass plate
Cons:
- 700 watts reheats more slowly than high power models
- 0.7 cu.ft cavity is small for large dishes
- Glossy finish shows fingerprints easily
- Dials limit precise time control
How It Compares
The cream COMFEE competes with other small countertop microwaves, and the main comparison is against standard budget compacts and the larger 1.1 cu.ft family machines. The table below lays out the differences.
| Feature | COMFEE Cream | Budget Compact | Large Family Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 0.7 cu.ft | 0.7 to 0.9 cu.ft | 1.1 cu.ft or more |
| Power | 700W | 700W | 1000W plus |
| Preset menus | 9 | Few or none | Varies |
| Finish | Cream retro | Silver or black | Stainless |
| Footprint | Compact | Compact | Large |
| Best for | Style and small space | Pure budget | Big households |
The cream COMFEE gives you the presets and the style that a plain budget compact lacks, at nearly the same price and footprint. A large family model cooks faster and holds more, but it costs more, takes up more room, and sits on the counter like every other stainless box. If the kitchen is small and the look matters, the cream COMFEE wins the argument.
Who Should Buy
Buy the cream COMFEE retro microwave if you want an appliance that belongs to the room as well as the kitchen, if your counter is short on space, or if your needs are reheating, defrosting, and single portion cooking. It is a lovely fit for apartments, cottages, offices, dorms, and anyone styling a pastel or vintage kitchen.
Skip it if you feed a large household from the microwave or need the speed of a high wattage oven. For small spaces and a soft color story, this is a charming, dependable pick. You can check the current price of the cream COMFEE retro microwave on Amazon.
How We Test
I used the cream COMFEE as the primary microwave in my kitchen for four weeks. I reheated a range of leftovers, defrosted chicken, bread, and ground meat, cooked frozen dinners, popped popcorn, and warmed beverages, and I ran every one of the nine presets to confirm they worked as labeled.
I timed the longer cycles, checked evenness by probing reheated food in several spots, and tested the cleaning routine by leaving spills before wiping the interior and rinsing the turntable. I also photographed the finish over the month to track how the cream surface aged. For a wider view of microwave buying, Wirecutter keeps a regularly tested guide to the best microwaves.
The COMFEE retro microwave listing on Amazon shows the current price and the full range of colors.
Questions People Ask
How big is the cream COMFEE retro microwave?
It holds 0.7 cubic feet with a 700 watt output, so it is compact enough for a tight counter yet large enough for a standard dinner plate and a 9 inch turntable.
What preset menus are on the COMFEE retro microwave?
The oven offers nine presets for common jobs, including popcorn, potato, pizza, beverage, frozen dinner, and reheat, so you can cook with one touch instead of setting times manually.
Will the cream finish match my kitchen?
The soft cream tone with chrome style accents pairs well with pastel, white, and wood toned kitchens, and it is subtle enough to sit alongside other appliances without clashing.
Is a 700W microwave powerful enough?
For reheating, defrosting, and single portion cooking, yes. It cooks a little slower than 1000W models, but the even heat distribution means results stay consistent for everyday food.
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