Should You Buy a Cove Dishwasher?

What do you get in a dishwasher for $2,600?

Cove is the newest dishwasher on the market from the manufacturers of Sub-Zero and Wolf.

It is a quiet, well-featured machine with one major issue, as you would not expect for $2,600.

In this article, you'll learn about unique features of Cove dishwashers, common problems, and how they compare to other brands..

There is only one other brand at $2,600, the Miele G 7500 series. 

Of course, the Cove is not always $2,600. You will learn the one instance where you can save $1,000-$2,500.

Ultimately, you can access some free resources to help you find the perfect dishwasher for you and your family.

Let's get started.

The Making of the Cove Dishwasher

I can't remember the exact time, but it was at least ten, possibly fifteen years ago.

I was flown to Chicago for a super-secret meeting with the executives at Sub-Zero.

They wanted to produce a dishwasher.

For hours, we went over features we thought people liked.

In the end, they asked for our thoughts.

I told them I thought they were nuts.

Dishwashers are the best category for appliances, with Bosch, KitchenAid, Miele, and Asko in the premium space.

They listened to me about as much as my seven-year-old daughter does now.

Then again, Sub-Zero launched the Wolf brand in 2000 with no experience in range manufacturing.

Now, Wolf is the dominant premium range.

Cove is now manufactured in Kentucky and is part of the family-owned, American-made Sub-Zero Corp.

I think they built another very good appliance.

However, launching Cove in the middle of the pandemic was a problem.

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Cove Dishwasher Review 2024

Washing System

When you look at the Cove, they incorporated many of the best features from existing dishwashers.

Three Wash Arms

Like Miele, Cove dishwashers have three complete spray arms, unlike the one or two accompanied by a sprinkler head seen in Bosch or GE Profile models.

Cove also has 43 spray jets, more than most other brands, which means dishes get cleaned better all over.

Rack Design

The racking is solid as well.

Cove dishwashers naturally have the removable top rack for silverware. You can remove the sections individually to hold more on the middle rack.

The middle rack is adjustable side to side and up and down like the Bosch RackMatic racking system, just a bit smoother.

Ok, it is a lot smoother.

Then again, at $2,600, it should be smoother than a dishwasher costing much less.

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Bottom Rack

The bottom rack is unique. The tines can be adjusted to accommodate different pots and pans, odd-shaped trays, or more plates.

Is it a coincidence the adjustable tines are luminescent green?

It probably reminds you of Miele's distinctive orange ones, which we will compare in a bit.

Drying System

Cove's dishwasher drying system uses several methods to dry your dishes.

The Cove dishwasher dries your dishes thoroughly using a combination of condensation and heat from the final rinse.

JetDry enhances the drying process, and the Cove also has an element under a filter screen that heats the air.

This guarantees that your dishes come out completely dry and ready to be put away.

We will compare that to Miele and Bosch CrystalDry 's system a bit later in the article.

Dishwasher Controls

What you will like about this machine is the controls.

You have the ability to choose from a variety of main cycles and then access specific modes such as delicate with just a simple selection.

It gives you the time and alerts you with the light on the floor like Bosch. You can also track the cycle through an app on your phone.

Quietness

You might have to track your dishwasher because the Cove, like every dishwasher in this price range, is super quiet at 42 dB. 

That dishwasher far exceeds the quietness standard of 44 dB, so you won't hear it even in an open kitchen.

Fun Fact: The Cove uses 23 pounds of insulation to ensure quietness.

Below are some other features worth mentioning.

Additional Features

Leak Detection

Cove has sensor-driven leak detection.

The sensor in the bottom can sense leaks and automatically shut off, which is key if you live in a high rise (or anywhere else).

Leveling and Adjusting the Cove Dishwasher

You can level all the legs from the front of the dishwasher. You can also move it from left to right, to ensure it sits squarely in the cabinet.

This is a great feature, especially if the dishwasher is paneled with a custom cabinet front.

5-Year warranty

The Cove is covered by a 5-year full warranty. Most dishwashers have a 1-year warranty, but then again, most dishwashers aren't $2,600, either.

Miele has a five-year warranty as well on their top-of-the-line G 7996 dishwasher at $3,600.

Family Owned, American Made

Lastly, Sub-Zero is American-made and family-owned.

The fact that the company is family-owned means they often provide better service and parts availability, as they tend to care more.

But this is a $2,600 dishwasher.

Let's see how it compares against other brands. 

Cove Dishwasher Features Compared to Other Brands

Washing System

The washing system is excellent because it resembles the Miele three-level dishwasher.

It doesn't have bottle washes or specific silverware sprays like GE Profile, Café, Beko, or JennAir.

In our tests, Cove demonstrated adequate cleaning performance even without those specialized features.

The racking is excellent, as good as any brand, and the controls make sense, with tons of options without being overwhelming.

The interior has a lot of flexibility, not just with the racks but also with the fold-down tines.

You will like the simplicity.

Drying System

The drying, however, maybe a smaller drawback.

Hybrid drying in our tests is fine.

It leaves some water on plastics but works well on plates and glass.

The only better system is the Bosch CrystalDry system using volcanic elements to absorb moisture and emit heat to dry even plastics.

Let's directly compare Cove to the Miele G 75oo Series. 

Cove DW2450WS vs. Miele G7566SCVis Dishwashers

They are both offer 12 cycles, but Cove has six more options.

Miele has an auto dispenser that releases the right amount of detergent at the right time and holds up to 20 loads in one of their power disks.

Cove has more options, better controls, and a longer warranty of five years.

The Cove has some good features, except the price is $2,600.

So, although this is a great dishwasher, it still costs twice as much as a very good dishwasher.

Except in one instance:

If you are buying a whole Wolf and Sub-Zero kitchen, the rebate on a Cove is $1,000-$2,500.

At that price, Cove is the best dishwasher on the market.

Should You Buy a Cove Dishwasher?

The dishwasher is likable. It has great features, a quiet sound level, and adjustable racks. You will be supporting an American company and its workers.

But the Cove is $800 more than the likable Bosch Benchmark dishwasher and about $1,000-$1,500 more than very good dishwashers.

Buy it in a Sub-Zero and Wolf package, or if you want the best dishwasher regardless of price.

Additional Resources

Break through the clutter of dishwasher choices. Our Dishwasher Buying Guide reveals the top picks for racking, washing, and drying from brands like Miele, Bosch, KitchenAid, Cove, and more. Download and discover your perfect match. Over 1 million people have found the answers in a yale guide.

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