I've been using Krups coffeemakers for over 20 years, this being the fourth I've purchased. It may also be the last.

Programming the device is moderately frustrating, with less than clear directions. The water gauge is badly placed and too narrow - bubbles form in the gauge making it useless as a measure. The attached lid on the carafe makes it harder to clean. That it took three weeks of use before the smell of new, wet plastic infusing the coffee subsided also makes me wonder what has happened to the quality I'd come to expect.

Krups seems to have decided to let appearance trump function, resulting in a machine that looks better than it works. Unlike its predecessors, I expect I'll be replacing this machine before it quits working.

Ok this may sound like a broken record but my experiences are similar to others. I had a older version Krups for 8+ yrs and it was awesome. I figured it was time to upgrade to a new Krups FME2. The first thing I noticed was door for the filter/coffee. It is much lighter, spring loaded, and seems like something that will surely go out. Secondly, one of the main reason i loved (past tense) Krups was for it's great water level indicator since I make 3 cups each a day to fill my mug. Well these darn bubbles in the level indicator that others talk about are for real. Once there is a bubble in there (happens about every 3rd time) it won't show your water level. It may not be a big deal to you if you make a full pot every time. The steam and reservoir have also smelled like plastic for a month now. I just returned it today for a Cuisinart. No more Krups for me!

This machine made decent coffee but the computer chip has failed after less than two years of daily use. I liked the programmable features and had to keep the instructions close by to turn off all the peeps and beeps when I reset the machine after power outages. Make cold brewed coffee instead! Mix the grounds and half the usual amount of water in a jar overnight. In the morning train through a one or two cup melitta filter holder (and that gold filter insert), add hot water (I like 3 parts coffee to 1 part water, but 1 to 1 is fine, too), have a great cup of coffee, and toss the electric pot.

The Krups FME2 meets our basic coffee machine needs, which is to brew coffee on a programmable timer each morning. Because it comes in black, it blends in with our other kitchen appliances. Here are the aspects that I don't care for:
+ It has a real cheap look. The programming buttons feel cheap and fragile.
+ The spill-proof mechanism on the filter housing almost always leaks, dripping coffee on the burner element.
+ Carafe is poorly designed. The lid is held on by plastic hinges, making it difficult to remove when filling with water at the tap (the alternative is to hold the lid open while filling). Also, after pouring water into the reservoir or coffee into a cup, there is always a spill on the counter to wipe up.
+ The "coffee is done brewing signal" is loud and repeats several times. One brief signal is sufficient. The option of shutting off the audible signal would be nice.
+ Machine trips on at the programmed time and the heating element activates
even when there is no water in the reservoir.
+ The programming sequence is not intuitive enough that I don't have to refer to the owner's manual each time the power goes out and the program is erased.
+ We don't need (or use) the water filter in the reservoir. We run the water through a Brita filter.

If you buy whole bean coffee, grind it before each pot and consume 8-cups a day like we do, find a more robust and better-looking machine. If it happens to be in your motel room, you'll be very happy with it.

GREAT COFFEE TASTE & LOTS OF NICE FEATURES, INCLUDING A TIMER, BELL THAT TELLS YOU WHEN IT'S DONE, AND BLUE LED BACKLIGHT. ONLY COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO RE-SET THE TIMER EACH DAY, SO IT'S ACTIVATED FOR THE NEXT DAY (NEED TO PUSH ONE-BUTTON TO DO THIS). OTHERWISE, IT'S A GREAT MACHINE !

Have made 3 pots of coffee in this coffee maker. The smell of coffee and maker is burnt plastic. I don't have time for multiple experiments with vinegar and lemon juice. It also doesn't keep coffee hot enough, so I will take it back. Problem is: where do I go from here? I already took back a Cuisinart with thermal carafe. Again, not hot enough and the flavor was metallic. I did this same dance several years ago and ended up with a percolator, which the experts dismiss as burnt coffee. I just want a very smooth, strong, and hot cup of coffee.

I didn't buy this through Amazon, but felt compelled to throw in, after returning two of these to Bed, Bath and Beyond. It smelled of burnt plastic from the moment we used it and the smell became increasingly vile and pervasive the longer we owned it. The second one was minimally less vile, and was also returned. The Cuisanart we now own is working like a dream. Do not buy this product.

A coffee maker you can't turn back on to warm up the coffee? Yes, you can set the timer to keep the coffee warm longer, but that's an unnecessary hassle. Setting the clock and timer is definitely NOT an intuitive process, unlike it was with our previous Krups model. This is not an inexpensive coffee maker, but it sure acts like one. I expected more out of this company, but no more.

I have bought two of these coffee makers in the last three/four years. When they worked, they worked really, really well, GREAT COFFEE. The first one just up and died. The second one had all the problems other folks have shared, i.e., no water in reservoir (when it was full). Air bubbles in guage tube. Frequently needed descaling, (when water was very soft). Wouldn't start because of no water in reservoir....No more problems, a claw hammer took care of it. How I am going to try a Cuisinart coffee maker. Anyone want to buy 6 Duo Filters and a manual for a KRUP FME2? CHEAP.....

The coffee tastes great, just like the ones I get from Starbucks! Krups has done a terrific job again. It is reasonably inexpensive, but still makes great coffee.

Krups FME2-14 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, Black

I bought this unit in April 08, from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and as the title suggests, I just cannot recommend this product for the following reasons.
1. The coffee always has a plastic-type taste and smell.
2. The carafe leaks when you pour.
3. The water meter on the side gets bubbles in the water and renders it useless.
4. And finally today it keeps telling me there is no water in it even when it is full. I followed the manual to fix it, but it didn't work. I called Customer support and 5:00 CST and they were closed(even though they publish that they are open until 7:30 EST).

I ran to Bed Bath and Beyond and bought the Cuisinart DCC-1200, I'm hoping it is a good one. The manager told me to return the Krups to them for a full refund. Even without the receipt I can get store credit. That customer service is not to shabby.

My 15 year old Krups made excellent coffee and gave up the ghost - apparently in the meantime, the company gave up too. The first one I bought, had a strong plastic smell and within 36 hours the clock/'on' indicator failed. A replacement works, but after 3 weeks, the plastic smell remains strong; even after repeated vinegar/water flushes and many, many water flushes. Krups said I could send it in (at my expense) for warranty service. That won't fix it - the only solution is the trash can and I'm now looking at other brands. I'm sorry to see such a previously fine company have a 'junk product'; but I'll never buy another one.

This product broke within weeks of using it. Gotta love quality control here! The level sensor disabled the maker from being used. Not worth the trouble just bought a Cuisinart that appears to be better made.

Gotta love Chinese manufacturing, we are back to the 1970's...must be the GE way!

I purchased the FME2 to replace a Capresso model that had the glass carafe, which you can't find anymore, so I did a lot of checking and this seemed to have the features I wanted. I didn't want a thermal carafe model, because I make a pot of regular coffee for me in the morning, pour it into a thermal carafe, then make a few cups of decaf for my wife,

What I like:

I wanted a model that had separate 'doors' or covers for the water and the coffee grounds. The reason - I grind coffee for each use and sometimes the static makes the grounds fly all over the place. When you have a machine that opens both the water resevoir and the coffee container, you risk getting some of the grounds in the water - not good. My Capresso worked this way too. This was my #1 requirement, not met by many coffee makers.

It makes a fast, hot cup of coffee which is very good. Coffee temperature is around 175-180 degrees, with suggested ideal about 195-205 degrees, which is close enough. Cone filter - I prefer the brown paper over the gold to keep out the sediment from the freshly ground coffee. #2 requirement.

It has a 1-3 cup brewing cycle, which is great becuase I only make about 2 cups for my wife to take out the door in the morning. The Capresso had this feature too. #3 requirement.

I don't use the auto-brew feature, but I do set the clock and other features. It's not as difficult as some would make you believe.

Has a filter, but I use filtered water, so not sure that's such a big deal and when it comes time to replace it, may opt not to do that.

Auto shutoff of warming plate. You can set the time on this and I set it to an hour, figuring that if the coffee hasn't been drunk by then, you're going to end up with syrup! With the Capresso, which didn't have this feature, sometmes coffee brewed at night would be left on the carafe got scorched.

Relatively quiet, and I like the alarms - both for when the brew cycle is done and when the machine shuts off. You can turn this off though.

What I don't like:

As others have stated, the carafe does seem to drip when you pour it, I think the cover and spout aren't designed correctly. You can pour slow, or what I've found is that if you open the lid slightly when you pour, the drip goes away - just watch out for the steam from the very hot coffee.

The water resevoir is narrow, so you have to be careful when you pour water into it, otherwise you can spill onto the outside of the unit.

There is a cup measuring tube on the outside that is useless. It gets bubbles and you cannot really use it to measure. This is not an issue for me because when I make coffee I measure the water at 3 OZ per scoop so I never use that feature. My wife complains about it though.

I have run into the situation where I've made a pot of coffee and turn around to make another one and the 'empty resevoir' feature won't let it start, even when water is in place. Solution seems to be to wait about 5 minutes before brewing another pot. Not such a big deal. I think you can also unplug it to reset, but you've have to reprogram all your buttons again.

The unit is certainly not built as well as some of the other machines, like the Cuisinart or the Capresso, but my old Capresso was plastic just like this and lasted for 10 years until the carafe broke and it was cheaper to get a new machine than a new carafe. I think I paid around $40 at BB&B - other Capresso machines were 4-5X that.

Good product,coffee is hot. The machine is big so be sure to have adequate space. The drawbacks? pouring the water into the tank is a little difficult,the opening is much smaller than many machines. The glass pot drips quite a bit. I preferred my old BRAUN of 20 years to this one!

I had a Krups coffee maker that was great, and lasted 12+ years, so when it finally died my first choice was to get another Krups. Bad choice.
I ordered and received the FME2 model, and when I opened the box I found the new unit to be pretty smelly (plastic), with kind of "cheap" workmanship. The set up of the clock feature was extremely low-budget, too. I thought I'd give it a chance, though, and used it for about 1 month. Then one morning, it decided that it didn't have any water in it (it did), and sounded it's alarm, refusing to work. No matter what I did, it just refused to "believe" that ot had water in it. Very frustrating, and you know what? After doing some research on the Internet, it seems that this is kind of a common problem with the Krups brand. At that point, I had had enough, and in the trash it went. I get kind of crabby, when I don't get my coffee.
I ended up buying a Cuisinart DCC-1100 Series coffee maker, and I LOVE IT! Do yourself a favor, spend a little more and get a truly wonderful coffee maker.

One week after purchase there is still a residual plastic smell. I've run water and vinegar through the machine several times daily. The "toxic" plastic smell is fading but it never should have been there in the first place.

Second, the controls are not intuitive. Setting time, the start time for morning coffee, or the hot-plate off time is easy enough if you keep the instruction manual on hand. By my standards though that's poor ease of use.

If you had an older Aroma model, and now need another coffeemaker, I cannot stress to you enough that this model will be a complete and utter disappointment. It is cheap flimsy plastic. Not the sturdy build that was once associated with a Krups coffeemaker. To add insult to injury, the brain trust at Krups have deliberately designed the filter holder *NOT* to hold the older gold filter. So if you want one, and don't want to bleed from the wallet for endless paper filters, you'll have to shell out for another one just to fit this POS.

So save your money for a better coffeemaker, preferably another brand, till Krups comes to their senses.

STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY!

Krups FME2-14 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, Black
Krups FME4-14 12-Cup Coffeemaker, Black and Stainless

Bought this to replace a Braun that died. Nothing works right--it overflowed until I took the filter out, coffee not hot, turns itself off and if it does you can't get it to warm the pot again. Hard to program, not intuitive, fussy about the grind of the coffee. I have this in the garage and have ordered another Braun.

It does a fine job and has some nice features such as the programmable timer and a chime (which you can turn off) to tell you when your coffee is done brewing. The coffee tastes as good as what the Pro Aroma brewed, although the Pro Aroma permitted you to have a stronger setting, which I miss. Further, there was a bright red light on the older model which made it clear that the unit was still on. The backlit display on this turns off after a short while, so you can't tell if it's on unless you go right up to it to see the small LED symbol on the display. You can set the unit to turn itself off after 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours.

The only real issue is with the carafe. I can't get the lid off to clean it and don't believe it is intended to come off. The manual describes washing it with the lid on. Also, when the pot is full, you have to pour very slowly, otherwise it will drip. After about half-way, you can pour at a more normal rate.

Oh, yeah. It makes more noise. But whatever. I'd buy it again.

My Braun Coffee maker gave up the ghost about 10 months ago in mid-cycle, and in desperation I purchased a Mr. Coffee ISX46. Though that machine made an okay cup of joe, the temperature was a bit cool, which resulted in my having to use more ground coffee. And the "nightlight" clock was absolutely distracting! I had to cover it with two layers of smoke-colored vinyl. This was a temporary fix until I could find a cone-filter pot that was also a front-loader, so I didn't have to keep pulling the machine out of it's niche to to fill it, as my "coffee station" is a tight fit. I could turn it around to add water, but I also had to pull it out to raise the lid. It was just a question of convenience. However, I was tired of having to heat the coffee in the microwave just to get it hot enough to put in the already-warmed up thermos for work.

So much for that review, now for the Krups review:
I was a little concerned after reading all of the other reviews of this product, but I was desperate. So I sent my order to Amazon, and a week later I was enjoying hot coffee that I did not have to heat in the microwave!
I checked out all the other features that others had complained of, an found none of them to be valid in my opinion. The warming plate doesn't look like it's going to shed paint. The filter basket door opens and closes with a secure click. The basket is removable and easy to clean. The water level gauge seems to work fine, but like one of the other reviewers, I don't use it anyway. The clock-timer is pretty easy to set, and it you forget, the manual is pretty straight forward--though I could probably figure it out eventually even if I didn't have a manual. Some people complained that the machine can't be turned back on without water in the reservior once the pot turns off, and I must agree that in the event of a power outage this could be inconvenient. However, the keep-warm time can be set for up to 5 hours, and if you need to keep coffee hot for any longer than that, you probably should just nuke it or put it in a thermal pot anyway.
I do have to turn the machine to put water in it, and the lid that covers the reservoir does seem to me to open the wrong way, but it's no big deal. And even though I am all thumbs, I haven't had any problems filling the machine or using the carafe, unless I try to go too fast. As for the LED display--if you need a nightlight or a kitchen clock, I sugggest you buy a nightlight and a kitchen clock.
I guess the only thing I haven't covered is the durabilty of the appliance--only time will tell for that. Until then, I'm glad to have a decent cup of coffee again!

While this is a fast brewer, it doesn't make very good coffee and the programmable features are cheap and awkward to use

My wife and I are medical students and therefore avid coffee drinkers. Having recently gotten married, we were looking for a coffee maker that would be perfect! We thought we had found it in this Krups model. Below I am going to share the Pros and Cons about this model in hopes that it will help others make a good decision. Trust us, we realize how important coffee is in the morning and throughout the day!

Pros: Good strong coffee, fast brewing time, coffee comes out hot, and the heating unit works very well at keeping the coffee hot.

Cons: As some have mentioned the carafe drips almost every time it is poured (frustrating!). Also, after pouring water into the back of the unit several times a bubble formed in the tube that measures the water level rendering it unusable (not a huge deal but annoying). Finally, the back of the unit that one lifts to pour in the water now doesn't fit flush with the back. I think it most likely bowed from the heat (again, annoying).

In summary, I like this coffee maker. It really does make good coffee! I have thoroughly enjoyed the important qualities of this coffee maker...namely hot, strong, good tasting coffee. The few cons, though, make this a good coffee maker and not a great one.

My first Krups lasted 14 years. You turned it on, it made coffee. Another review complained that it is too over complicated, now that I have it I have to agree.

My big beef with it? The water measure tube on the side gets air locked and filled with bubbles constantly. It is nearly useless.

Spring loaded coffee filter door... big pain.

Rubber feet... way too sticky. Must use two hands to move it on the counter.

Loved my first one, doubt if I will ever feel the same about this one.

This machine makes good coffee but the programming could be better. I didn't find it intuitive. The default setting has a beeper going off whenever the reservoir is empty - that is when the drip is finished. This machine has a warning when de-calcification should take place - that is when vinegar and water should be applied to the reservoir. There is also a water filter option. When setting the machine for automatic drip in the morning, it will start up every morning at that time regardless of day of the week or if there isn't any water in the reservoir. Whenever I have to re-program or de-calcify I have to consult with the booklet because the 3 buttons for programming on their own do not help you without it. When the power goes out, it's back to the booklet. I can't be bothered with that so I set it up the night before with coffee and water and press the on button in the morning. I still have the beeper go off when the cycle is finished because I didn't de-program it, but apparently you can't have everything with this maker. I can follow the instructions but this is just a coffee maker and I have so many other instructions to learn on more sophisticated equipment than this, why should I spend time on this?

I previously owned a Krups with the ProAroma feature, and was very impressed with how good the coffee was. It started to leak from the water tank, so I bought this item, and regret it. This model is no better than a very reliable Mr. Coffee I had for about 7 years. It makes the coffee taste like plastic (after multiple cleanings and running water through the machine without coffee), and it is very user unfriendly and difficult to program. Also, it often gets bubbles in the side indicator that is supposed to show you how much water you've put in, and so almost every night I have to dump it out and try to start over, or else it's off and I don't have the amount of coffee I thought I would.

I owned more than a few Krups drip coffee makers over the years, before moving on to espresso. I chose them based on back to back comparisons, and found them to be the best in their price range. I never compared them to the expensive Dutch Technivorm (now $235), however.
When a new job found my wife in temporary housing, I had to get her a decent drip maker until our move is complete. This was the one I chose, and it has exceeded my expectations. It effortlessly makes flavorful, hot coffee. It is supremely ergonomic and simple to program and use. I can only assume that Krups has improved it since some of the reviews here were written. Programing is elementary, for those who want to awaken to hot coffee. (I roast my beans and so rarely choose to allow the ground coffee to sit overnight.) But once set, the program can be toggled on and off with a single push of a button. The carafe is very nicely made, and requires really sloppy (read impatient) technique to spill. Previous Krups carafes had a "flavor-enhancing" feature, in the form of a grid over the spout of the carafe, which is supposed to limit aroma escaping while brewing, but which made pouring without spilling a struggle. This one does not have that feature and, for me, works very well.
I find it a joy to use, and, at this price, an excellent buy.

We had a Mr. Coffee and it didn't work so well. The Krups FME2 has worked flawlessly thus far. I hope it lasts as long as our previous Krups coffee maker which lasted 5 years. With our very hard water, that is an accomplishment. The coffee tastes great too.

This makes excellent coffee which is why I bought it.That being said,I found this to be overbuilt and confusing to use.The set up to program it for time activated coffee is cumbersome.The bright light is annoying, and I do not like that you cannot just turn it on to keep the hot plate warm for heating up coffee.The glass carafe seems poorly made and the lid does not come off for cleaning.The owner's manual is poor at best. It does,however, make good coffee and doesn't drip on the plate when you pour coffee like a Mr Coffee I owned previously.

I've had this for almost 5 months now and most of what I said below has not changed. I do not understand the complaints of this machine feeling cheap, it still feels solid and sturdy to me. The only negative I can think of after 5 months is the carafe, and I think it's worth taking away a star. The design truly is flawed, the steam coming out the back under the lid is more annoying than I thought it would be. I haven't been burned, but I can imagine some people would have less tolerance for the heat. It should be recalled and replaced by a new design, preferably with a removable lid. Overall though the machine still makes great, hot, coffee and I've never had a plastic smell or taste. It has performed perfectly and after a few power outages, I easily memorized how to program it.

First impressions: I just bought this machine so here a few first impressions. I got this to replace a vintage, discontinued, 1999 Krups ProAroma (which cost $100 back then and now leaks from the water level indicator tube) so most of the comparisons are based on that machine and some of the negative reviews I've seen here. Some of the reviews worried me enough that I bought it locally (for the same price as Amazon) just in case I have to return it, but I don't think I will have to do that.

First the negatives, which mostly have to do with the carafe:

1. The carafe handle is not secured by a metal band like the old one, it is attached by some kind of adhesive. I'll have to wait and see how well this holds up. I'd prefer the carafe lid to be detachable, but it is not. I get around this by propping the lid open on the water filter attached to my faucet while it's filling but I can see how someone with a deeper sink would have a problem filling it. Related to this, some have complained about bubbles in the water level indicator tube. I haven't seen any bubbles, but it wouldn't matter to me because I've always used the carafe to measure the water. That's the only I way I know to consistently get the correct amount of water.

2. As some other reviewers have noted, while pouring, some steam does flow out of the back of the lid under the tab used to open the lid. I get around this by not holding the handle with my thumb next to the tab. I do not, however, need to partially open the lid with my thumb in order to keep it from dripping. I think some people have drips because they hold the carafe too low or directly against the mug. If I hold it a few inches above the mug and pour straight down, no problems. Every glass coffee pot I've ever used will drip if you aren't careful, and this one is no different.

3. The buttons located at the bottom of the machine may be a problem in the long run. I'll just try not to spill water and coffee all over them.

Some features that appear to some reviewers as negatives but really aren't:

1. "The glass is too thin." I compared the carafe to my old one and see little difference. It is taller and more conical (more like a beaker) than the old one, and without the metal band it feels slightly lighter, but the glass itself appears to be the same thickness. The box says that the carafe is dishwasher safe, but I wouldn't try it with the attached lid. The manual (you always read your manuals, RIGHT?) actually recommends you hand wash it, which is what I have always done anyway. I saw my parents buy enough replacement carafes to learn that lesson.

2. "The LCD display does not stay lit all the time." It would be a little more convenient if it did, but I have three other clocks in my kitchen (oven, microwave, clock radio). On the old model, I could tell from across the room if the timer was set. But if you like to use the timer, just read the manual to know that it runs every day unless you turn it off, which is the opposite of how the old one works, which you have to turn on every day. I can handle this just fine, but I guess some people can't.

3. "It's hard to program." Well, it is different than the ProAroma and I think they were trying to limit the number of buttons. But if you read the manual, and you are able to use any other electronic device, you can use this. Unless you're VCR has been flashing "12:00" for the last 20 years, you shouldn't have a problem.

4. "It feels cheaply made." Compared to what? This unit is about the same size and weight as my old one, and the plastic feels just as sturdy. The reservoir lid and the filter basket feel and function about the same. The only differences I see are a more rectangular shape and a matte black (instead of glossy) finish. Perhaps the plastic has a bit more flex than the older model but the thickness and strength seem comparable. I can't see anything breaking unless I abuse it, or it wears out after another 8 years like the old one. If it lasts half that long, I'll be happy.

5. "Krups used to be made in Germany, now they're made in Czechoslovakia." I suppose this would prove the 'feels cheap' claim. Aside from the fact that there is no Czechoslovakia anymore, both my old one and new one were made in Mexico.

6. "The pause and serve function makes the machine leak." First off, I've never used this function, I can wait five minutes and the taste of the whole pot is affected by interrupting the flow. And they ALL leak. Every machine I've ever seen only has a simple little spring holding the coffee in the filter basket while you impatiently remove the carafe. Good luck getting that to work perfectly.

7. "The manual is poorly written and laid out." The English section is 13 pages, 5 pages of which are the cover, table of contents, legally required warnings on how not to electrocute yourself or burn your house down, and warranty info. It's short and straightforward, just read it.

8. "You can't turn the machine on to reheat the coffee on the heating plate." So you made coffee, didn't drink it, let it sit for hours and now it's cold and you want to reheat it? Set aside the flavor consequences (which are dire, but I must admit I have done this). Find a microwave. Or get a machine without this safety feature and run the risk of burning down your house.

Now the positives:

1. Great tasting coffee. I like a fairly strong brew and this machine delivers it. Krups seems to always make good coffee and I haven't noticed any plastic tastes or odors.

2. Good brewing temperature. This is probably one of the reasons the flavor is so good, along with the cascading brew head. I hate weak, tepid coffee, which is what you usually get from inexpensive machines, and I consider $50 for a 12-cup programmable machine inexpensive. I measured the temperature a few times in my cup and got a consistent 194-196 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature inside the machine may be slightly different, but that is good enough. I also see the Capresso models advertising 200 degrees for 2-5 times the price.

All in all, I am rather pleased with this machine. If there are any reliability issues, I'll do an update.

It makes great tasting coffee, really quickly. The buzzer does buzz when it is finished making & when it is going to turn off.I really like how the water level is magnified as you add water for easier viewing. I really like this coffee maker.I will be recommending this product.

I've been a big supporter of Krups Coffee makers for more than 20-years, but this latest offering was pure garbage. The ergonomics of opening and closing the filter chamber felt cumbersome and the indicator level was always challenging to read (multiple bubbles formed inside). I literally had to use a flashlight to read it! Even worse, the coffee (Starbucks, I might add) tasted terrible. I had to dispose of my new Krups in the rubbish and buy a Cuisinart. Talk about a brand image self destructing!

we bought a melita coffee maker at first. we did not like it because every time you took the pot out the basket opened up. this coffee maker makes the coffee quickly and quite well. for the first few times the smell of the plastic that the coffee maker is made from is a bit over whelming, but it goes away after a while and the coffee does not taste like the plastic.

We bought this coffee pot and were thrilled with the results. My husband is a French coffee snob (we've been through more coffee makers and espresso makers than any normal couple!) This coffee pot worked great for 11 months... then we had the famous leak that others have mentioned. I have no clue what happened, but we couldn't stop the water from just draining out the bottom. Since it was still under warranty, we sent it (at our expense) to an approved repair shop and got it back very quickly. Now it works. Recently (about 18 months after purchase). The auto-drip basket fell apart! The spring came detached, and I nearly threw it away (since it was inconvient to use with a dangling plastic piece blocking the way each time I removed the pot. Finally, I figured out the problem (a little rubber washer holds it all together.) I would not buy this pot again, and would probably buy another brand. Krups has gone way down in quality- from coffeemakers to expresso machines. Perhaps Delonghi is the new Krups? I'm not sure... we'll be researching very soon!

Works great! Brews quickly. Design is compact and stream lined. Love it!