Would have been 5 stars but...

...like a lot of people have mentioned the steam does goes back in the grinder and it is inconvenient when you want to make a second pot right away. Also the grinder is loud. Clean up is pretty easy. I just make sure to take everything out and rinse it really well each time. It takes less then 5 minutes. It is really nice that you can remove the top portion of the grinder and just put it under the tap since the motor is in the coffee maker. Also the thermal pot is awesome, my coffee stays hot for hours. I forgot it about it over night once and the next afternoon I poured out what was left in the pot and it was still warm. I couldn't believe it. I have not had the pouring problems that others have mentioned. I've had mine for a couple months now, and love it.

[Monday, November 17, 2008]

The good and the bad....

I've had this machine for 4-5 years - since it first came on the market, I believe. It is a pretty cool idea, and I do enjoy having freshly ground coffee; It is very attractive and stylish - gets rave comments from guests; the coffee does stay fresh and hot, which is a huge plus for me. Overall, it does make a great cup of coffee.

Now, the cons. It is messy, and requires that you deal with the damp, fine grounds that seems to end up everywhere; it is tough to clean areas that can't be removed; I end up forgoing the grinder feature more often than not, due to the mess that I don't have time in the morning to deal with. It is not just a matter of throwing the removable pieces in the dishwasher - the whole interior is gunky. Also, the only way to see how much water you have added is to peek INSIDE the back of the machine - there isn't an external gauge of any sort - kind of a hassle, especially if you aren't making a full pot.

As far as "overflow" - this happened a few times to me, and in my case, I realized that I had forgotten to completly empty the carafe from the prior use - sounds crazy, but since it is thermal, you can't see it and can forget that there are still a few cups leftover. (Especially in the early morning...) Then, of course, it overflows. Took me awhile to figure this mystery out!

Also, in the last 6 months or so, our carafe has begun to leak terribly. So bad, that when I pour a cup of coffee, I have to do it over the sink otherwise I would be mopping up every morning. I'm positive I am using the lid correctly, as it has been fine up to now. It is time to replace either the carafe (at $40) or replace the machine, and I believe I will be getting something different....looking at the "Coffee on Demand" by cuisinart - same fresh, hot coffee feature without the thermal carafe design flaws. Will update with reviews!

[Thursday, November 13, 2008]

Works for me

Reading so many negative reviews, I felt I had to put my two cents in. I have had this coffee maker for 3 or 4 years, using it every day, and I have never had a single issue with it. It doesn't leak, it doesn't overflow and it makes hot, strong coffee that stays at a drinkable temperature for several hours. I love coffee. I will make the 10 cup pot and drink it all. I have always ground my own beans and the grinding feature is much easier to use than many separate grinders that require you to stand there and hold the button down for however long it takes to grind. This coffee maker is no louder than any of the other grinders I have had, and it is MUCH easier to clean. I just take all the pieces out and pop them in the dishwasher, and in 90 minutes those pieces are spotless. The only times I have had trouble pouring the coffee is when I don't have the lid on straight, so that's just operator error.

Overall, I think this is a quality machine. It does exactly what it is supposed to do well. It stands up to a lot of use, and a bit of a beating... I tend to be rough on things and it still looks brand new. This is a good coffee maker, and eventually, when it's time to replace it I will be buying another Cuisinart.

[Monday, November 10, 2008]

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