Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

We've had this coffee maker for a year and loved how quiet it was, how hot the coffee was, and how fast its brewing time was. And I'm glad that this machine does work for some people who have given it positive reviews, because when it works, it's great! HOWEVER, all the reviews about the thing leaking are true, and I must offer a mea culpa to all those folks since, I'll admit, when I read those leaking reviews, I put it down to operator error, because honestly, how hard is it to run a coffee maker? But after a year of battling, cleaning up after, cajoling, pleading, cussing, complimenting it when it did a good job, stressing over, and babysitting this thing (heck, I have a husband for that), I've learned the error of my ways and heartily apologize to those reviewers--I'd offer ya'll a cup of coffee, but, well, you know. . .. Anyway, we've had enough of cleaning our countertops because of poor design on the part of Mr. Coffee (there's nothing quite like starting your day cleaning a mess instead of enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee--sort of puts one in a bad mood). So it's going into the trash--the coffee maker, not my husband :-). I won't donate it because why would I want to saddle this thing onto some poor unsuspecting coffee drinker who never did me any wrong? (hmmmm, but there is my mother-in-law . . .) No matter what kind of filter we used or coffee grind or cleaning the basket and filter before use, it leaked, especially if we wanted a full pot. Making half a pot with fingers crossed sort of defeats the purpose of even having this machine. I found what and where the machine plugs up--if the grounds are "washed" out of the basket during the brew cycle, they settle right where the brewed coffee empties into the carafe. To clean the grounds so this hole is no longer plugged means sliding out the basket, taking the whole machine over to the sink, and using the sink spray nozzle to wash them out, which is cumbersome since the machine isn't small. Mr. Coffee was ALWAYS my go to brand of coffee makers. My first one back in the 1980s make great coffee and lasted practically forever. This coffee maker replaced a Mr. Coffee maker, which quit working after two months of receiving it (that should have been a red flag right there). But it's come time to part ways. Mr. Coffee, you've let me down--I don't trust you anymore. Time to move on to higher grounds (pun intended). So to the person looking for a coffee maker, if you enjoy living on the edge (will it or won't it leak), cleaning your countertops constantly, or want a special gift for the in-laws, this coffee maker is for you. Otherwise, keep looking.