The Loch Capsule is a slim countertop dishwasher, about 18.3 inches tall and 10.3 inches wide, that draws water from an external tank or an optional water-line hose. Wirecutter names it its countertop pick after it cleaned tough messes almost completely and took up less counter space than the other models tested, while Top Ten Reviews found even its 15- and 30-minute cycles cleaned well. Both note limits: dishes come out wet after short cycles, the drain hose can work loose, and it holds only two to three place settings. It suits one- or two-person households without a dishwasher hook-up; families and anyone on a tight budget should look elsewhere.
Full review
Clears baked-on egg and pasta on the long cycle
Wirecutter found the Capsule's two spray arms handled almost every mess in its tests whatever the mode. On the long cycle, which runs for a little over two hours, it cleaned baked-on egg, tomato sauce, yoghurt and starchy pasta almost completely using an average powder detergent, and the quick cycle coped well with ordinary dirty plates. Top Ten Reviews leaned towards the 15- and 30-minute cycles in a week of use and found them enough to get dishes clean; even a first run without detergent left plates fairly sparkling. Wirecutter compares its running noise to an average vacuum cleaner, while Top Ten Reviews did not find its 60 dB rating disruptive.
A slim body with a separate water tank
The Capsule needs no plumbing: water goes into an external tank that connects to the machine and can be stored in a cupboard between washes, and Wirecutter notes it can also be run from a sink or water line using a separately sold hose. Wirecutter says it took up less counter space than any other model it tested, and its tall interior fits larger plates without much leaning. Top Ten Reviews found set-up took minutes and the touch controls were clear, though the 12 kg machine was awkward to lift from its box alone. Wirecutter adds that loading takes practice, working from back to front, and that the fruit-wash and UV sterilisation modes are more than most people need.
Wet dishes and a small load
Top Ten Reviews found dishes still quite wet after the shorter cycles and needing a little air-drying before being put away, and says the Capsule lacks the drying mode some rival countertop machines offer. The drain hose also dislodges easily. Capacity is the other limit: Wirecutter puts it at two to three place settings, and Top Ten Reviews fitted about half the load the manual lists, though a chopping board and tall glasses went in. Wirecutter also notes that Loch advises against detergent pods and that the machine is too new for much durability evidence.
Costs close to a full-size dishwasher
Wirecutter says the Capsule typically costs around $460, and Top Ten Reviews calls it quite expensive for a mini dishwasher, noting a full-size machine can cost a similar amount. Against that, Top Ten Reviews credits it with low water use of around 4 litres per cycle, a stainless steel filter that is easy to clean and a 12-month warranty. Wirecutter's broader advice is that a countertop dishwasher only makes sense for people who cannot fit a portable or built-in model and genuinely need to avoid hand-washing.
Strengths
- +Wirecutter found its long cycle removed baked-on egg, tomato sauce and pasta almost completely
- +Runs from its own external water tank, so it needs no plumbing
- +Tall interior takes larger plates without much tilting
- +Short 15- and 30-minute cycles still got dishes clean in Top Ten Reviews' tests
- +Uses around 4 litres of water per cycle
Watch-outs
- −Dishes came out wet after shorter cycles and needed time to air-dry
- −The drain hose dislodges easily
- −Detergent pods are not recommended; powder, gel, liquid or tablets only
How it compares
Like the Farberware FCD06ABBWHA Countertop Dishwasher, the Capsule sits on the counter and needs no permanent plumbing, but it runs from a detachable external tank and measures just 10.3 inches wide. It holds two to three place settings, a fraction of the load of full-size built-in machines such as the LG LDTH7972S and Bosch 800 Series SHX78CM5N.
Rating sources
Our 4.1 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
