I'm amongst the 50% of coffeegeeks who hate this machine - sigh.
Positive Product Points
looks nice charcoal water filter no hot-plate = no burned coffee
Negative Product Points
coffee isn't hot enough filter basket isn't big enough to brew a strong full pot pricey
Detailed Commentary
Apparently it's either hit or miss with this coffee machine. Half the reviewers love it, saying it makes piping hot and delicious coffee; half hate it, saying the coffee is lukewarm and the machine often malfunctions, spilling coffee all over the place.
Well, things started out okay. If memory serves me correctly when I first got this machine I enjoyed it. But a few months into it I started noticing the coffee just wasn't all that hot. I've tried decalcifying, brewing more or less, using more and less grounds, etc., but nothing changes the fact that the coffee is not hot enough.
On the plus side, I've never had any problems with the machine spilling coffee or grounds. I do notice that I have to put in so many grounds that when trying to brew a full pot the grounds bloom up and get all over the inside top cover of the machine, making a mess to clean up. So I just never brew full pots, also kind of a bummer.
Looks like if you are lucky you get a great machine, if you are in the other 50 percent you get a lemon. Not good odds, as far as I'm concerned. After a year of trying not to hate this machine I'm giving up and getting rid of it, to be replaced with a press-pot. With water boiling on the stove-top, I'll know my coffee is going to be HOT!
Buying Experience
Online vendor - fine.
Three Month Followup
Sold it, haven't replaced it with anything as I'm quite happy with an espresso machine and a press. Only miss a drip machine when there are more than a couple people at the house, then it would be nice to brew a big pot. Other than that, haven't looked back.
