Consistent brew temp Gold filter included Auto-off Adjustable temp on heating plate
Negative Product Points
Difficult to fill reservoir Brew temp is a little low
Detailed Commentary
I found this for $6 at Goodwill. It needed to be descaled desperately, but other than that it was in perfect working order.
Contrary to what others have posted, I find the brew temp to be very acceptable - I've measured it at 190, which for a non-metal machine, I think is pretty good. I have not experienced the weak coffee problem, and have had success with both store bought and fresh beans. I think that the trick with using fresh beans is that you cannot brew a full pot with them, as the bloom will overflow into the horribly-located reservoir.
The reservoir is indeed a real pain to fill, but I think that is a minor inconvenience. I just use a liquid measuring cup instead of pouring directly from the Brita pitcher.
Though I got this machine for a steal, I would certainly have paid full price for it. It's no Technivorm, but for a mass-produced home machine made of plastic, I think that it produces excellent coffee. I always use the 1-4 cup 'double-heating' feature, and have found that to be the only way to get a consistent brew temp. I also love the beeping when it is done brewing.
