Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Really great machine! Coffee is HOT, and flavor is outstanding, never bitter and no funny aftertaste, this really lets the flavor come through. Although I like the design of the Hamilton Beach Scoop better, this KA makes a better tasting cup - I had them both side by side for a week and picked the KA, and returned the HB. I think the cone shaped filter and the showerhead design gives this machine what the HB Scoop lacks - evenly soaked grounds and a nice bold flavor from the cone design vs. the flat bottom HB filter. Build quality seems okay, and the design works quite well - no complaints. I use 5 tbsp's for 16oz. and it's just right. I didn't care for the thermal mug that came with it, seemed to introduce a plastic taste. I found a 16oz Mr. Coffee "Traverse" ceramic travel mug that fits this machine perfectly and this combo is equal to, if not better than anything I get when buying coffee out vs. making it at home, and I'm extremely picky about that. Edit - 3 machines later.... I give up. I really like this machine, but unfortunately it has a fatal flaw. Each of the 3 machines I bought ended up having the same issue after about 3 weeks of use - it's clearly a design flaw. The filter basket hinge is weak, and apparently grows weaker with use due to heat. Eventually it begins to droop, creating a visible gap. But, it's not just cosmetic, although it does look weird. When the gap grows large enough, the filter basket housing no longer makes contact with a switch that's located in the center of the shower head housing. This switch must be depressed by the filter basket to make the brewer work, otherwise it won't get the signal that its okay to send water. So, to make it work you have to manually push and hold the filter basket up to make it brew coffee. Too bad, because I like the coffee and the overall design, but it's back to the drawing board for the engineers at KitchenAid.