Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Beware that these machines look almost identical and with the $20 to $40 price increase for the steel carafe, you would figure it was the same brewer with the addon thermal pot.... But it is not. You are paying $40 more for for less of a machine with the Thermal pot. See pictures and notice the thermal version is missing a button.... And a warming plate. At first, I didn't think this was an issue, but after brewing my second pot, I went back for another cup an hour later and it was drastically colder. When I added my milk, I found out it was only look warm. Had to empty my thermal mug and pour it into a plastic travel mug to heat it up in the microwave. I'm sure they removed the warmer because of the heat exchange properties in a thermal pot, but why would you charge more for something that has less cost to make? And it would have been fine if I could have kept the Thermal pot and bought a glass pot for my needs (up to 4 hours heating), but with no warmer, I have to box the whole thing up and return it. My advice is, don't waste your money on the stainless thermal pot version. In the long run, it is not a smart buy. The pot will eventually rust and you will need to replace it, but won't be able to get a glass one unless you plan to drink a whole pot in one cup or make iced coffee in 30 mins. Buy the cheaper and better machine with the glass carafe and buy an aftermarket thermal carafe on your own that seals. After you brew, pour your coffee into it. I think it was a good idea on paper, but with it needing to have a pour spout, the heat escapes quickly and your coffee needs to be microwaved after an hour or two because of it. Besides the lack of a warmer on the premium model, the coffee is the best I have ever had. I have had several people try it and the teas I have brewed. All spectacular. I can't recommend it enough.... The machine with a warmer anyway. ;) ****UPDATE: Again, this is the best coffee and tea I ever had, especially using distilled water for brewing. I have since returned the steel version and got the glass version. I think it is absolutely awesome you can set warmer temp and timer. It may not matter to many, but I like my coffee very hot since I use milk. Today I had a second cup after about an hour or hour and a half on the warmer and it was as hot as first brewed in the steel carafe version. It didn't taste the slightest bit burnt. I think it was a bad decision eliminating the warmer, because I initially would have kept the carafe and bought a glass pot instead of having to pack the whole thing up and return it to get a better model with a lesser pot. Maybe in the future put a switch or selector that asks which pot you have. Again, it wouldn't have been an issue if the carafe kept the coffee as hot as my vacuum thermal steel mug. I can keep that in my van for 5 hours in sub zero temps, and the coffee will still burn my mouth. I was figuring the carafe would do the same. Maybe if you brew and forget it, it will. But if you drink 1/2 the pot (I have a 30oz thermal mug), the coffee in the carafe is not by any means hot an hour and a half later.