Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I had spent a lot of time looking at Keurig-type single serve coffee pots, but was put off by the combination of the high cost, the high cost PER CUP using those pre-filled pods, and reviews that frankly left me scared about an apparently high unit-failure rate. So I perked up (pardon the coffee pun) when I saw a commercial for this brewer. I have owned this for a little over a month now and here's my experience with it: * It makes really good coffee, really easily. Use the filter/scoop as an actual scoop, or use your own coffee teaspoon to fill the basket, either way is good. I have found, as some other reviewers have noted, that it's very difficult to get a really strong cup of coffee, if you like it that way, though I have experimented with just buying some very bold ground coffees and that does produce a strong cup. I honestly can't distinguish the strength of a cup brewed in this machine versus in my former 8 cup cofee brewer. * The "permanent filter," which is a metal mesh filter in the bottom of the scoop, does an adequate job but honestly I just don't like the flavor of coffee filtered through these type of permanent baskets (I've used them before - for very short trial runs! - with larger coffee pots). I just prefer the taste of paper-filtered coffee. I actually experimented with cutting a piece of a full-size generic coffee filter to fit this scoop and seeing if it made a noticeable difference - it did! That brought on an exhaustive web search for filters that would fit this basket - nothing. I'm hoping Hamilton Beach will come out with some. It doesn't even need to be a "basket" type filter, based on the design of the scoop - only a tiny wafer of a filter that fits along the bottom where the mesh screen is located. * The instructions for this machine are very straightforward but I have to take exception with the "water in/water out" part. If you take a mug and fill it to the brim with water and put that water in the pot, then place the same mug under the coffee maker while it brews your coffee.... you will get about 3/4 a cup of coffee! I have absolutely NO IDEA where the water is going. It's not leaking, it's not evaporating (there's a full lid that covers the water chamber.) I'm perplexed! But it's an easily replicable phenomena. I experimented a few times with using a container larger than my morning coffee mug to get just the right "to the brim" cup of coffee and finally settled on a fairly standard coffee mug size using a red plastic Party Drink cup to fill the reservoir. Individual results may vary as they say - do your own experimentation. * I adore how quick and easy this is to use. I set the pot up before going to bed, then flick it on as soon as I get up. In the time it takes me to scramble a couple eggs (which you know is NO time at all) the bright blue brewing light turns off and the mug is ready. I love just walking away with the mug without having to pour a cup of coffee - no waste, no fuss. * Hamilton Beach did the right thing in including TWO scoops with the unit, so you always have one dry and ready to go. I'm bad about not dumping the grounds until I'm prepping the mug for the next morning, and using the extra scoop allows me to rinse out todays and use a dry one for tomorrows. * Before buying this I read some reviews that said their filter scoops started RUSTING after just a few uses. I panicked briefly when I saw what looked like rust on my own scoop after a few uses, but then just rubbed it with my finger and realized it was actually coffee residue! I couldn't imagine anyone would make a coffee filter out of something that would rust, so I was comforted to find it wasn't rust at all. * I also read some reviews where people complained about coffee splattering all over the counter. My own experience has been that the ONLY way that can happen is if you aren't using the provided mug platform. That's why it's there, people - use it. All in all I am VERY happy with this coffee maker. It looks very stylish with it's chrome finish and I have already gotten lots of compliments on it. Most of the time it's just me having coffee, but if someone else wants some it is VERY fast to brew them a fresh mug. I didn't purchase this product at Amazon but in a big-box retail store (sorry Amazon, I still love ya!) - it is widely available lots of places. Worth every penny. UPDATE: I found filters that work WONDERFULLY with this coffee maker, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LTOCSG/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details. Ordered them at Amazon and they arrived VERY quickly, and at around $5 for 300 it's a hard deal to beat. They are just what is needed for this cofee maker, simple discs that sit at the bottom of the scoop - you don't need a "basket" design filter because of the way the scoop is made, with only the bottom having the steel mesh permanent filter. These are ideal and really take off that edge that some coffees have.