Minor setbacks don't detract from the Darth Vader of brewers.
Positive Product Points
Sleek, ominous design
Thermal carafe drastically extends life of coffee
Company website offers parts, accessories, and requests to talk to them instead of the retailer
Innovations in brewing technology are beneficial for better coffee
Negative Product Points
Inconsistency of build (Some parts steel, others plastic)
Time elasped from prep to drinking coffee is long (20+ minutes)
Company makes machine to be very sensitive to abuse (recommends weekly cleaning)
Surfaces of unit dirty easily
Detailed Commentary
For home coffee this machine definently gets an A on aesthetics - it's one of the sleekest looking brewers on the market and gives the appearance that it means business. The innovation of multi-drip port brewing to maximize use of grounds is fantastic - something I didn't find on any other brewer. Current owners of Bunn equipment recommended the device solely on quality as they will last years if given proper care. The big selling point has to be the thermal carafe though. While some people complained that the brewer wasn't keeping coffee at a hot temperature I had just the opposite experience. I brewed my first pot and the coffee went into the carafe at 198 degress. 88 minutes later the coffee was still 192 degrees inside the carafe! Not quite optimal drinking temperature - but certainly better than anything I have ever had - most brewers I have had to deal with don't hold a good cup after about 12 minutes of non-use.
My first pot came off very well - I followed the instructions from Bunn exactly as they read and the machine didn't spill or overflow a drop - some have written on here that the funnel overflows. I was using French Vanilla coffee which I noticed is a slightly more coarse grind than a typical Folgers or Maxwell House standard grind, so that might have played a part in it. The pot didn't taste that great but I leave that to my inexperience with balancing coffee/sugar/cream. I felt that even though the first pot didn't have the taste - the brewer showed why it's worth the money.
I'm a little dissented about the inconsistency of the construction of the unit and the fact that it's so much larger than your typical brewer - but that does add a sense of style. To me is shows I am dedicated to making good coffee. The slick black design and stainless steel give the machine a "no-bull****" look, which in my butt-ugly kitchen is a welcome change.
Buying Experience
Buying this coffee maker was like buying anything else at Christmas time. A pain in the ass!
