Purchased this to replace an aging but extremely reliable Starbucks that had been around for a couple of years to many.

The first unit worked well for about four weeks, then started indicating that it did not sense water in the tank and would not brew. After exhausting all the reasonable troubleshooting, we sent it in to the Krups service center for repair/replacement. A complete new unit arrived about three weeks later.

Three weeks or so, and "no water" symbol started showing up again.

Once is bad luck, twice is bad quality. Don't waste your money on this product.

I purchased the FMF5 in June and it quit in August. I'm receiving an "add water" warning when the coffee maker is filled to the required level and it will not begin it's cycle. Customer support instructed me to send it to the service center at my expense and they would replace the faulty part with a duplicate. They also stated that this is a common complaint with this unit. Krups was at one time the manufacturer of quality small appliances but I have learned my lesson.
Steve

As others have mentioned the water reserve does not work properly and either fills up with air bubbles or it take about 5 minutes or more for the water level to reach it's mark after water is poured in. Then, you have to tinker with it some more to get it to the proper level or pour some out. With this Krups (Craps would be a better name) the only way you can quickly and accurately measure the water you're putting in is with a measuring cup.
Can't believe junk like this is allowed to be sold. Krups obviously has zero quality control. Welcome to America 2008. Pay more, get less.

1.very difficult to read numbers in h20 reserve
2.Creates bubbles in reserve thus making it even more difficult to calibrate how many cups one is making

Have always had good luck with Krups so thought this coffee maker would be good-WRONG! The leaking, the bubble in the water window, the filter is hard to close at time and the quality of the coffee is not consistant. I do not recommend this machine to anyone.

I bought this machine to replace a series of Cuisinart coffee machines that just kept breaking.
Sadly the Krups quickly became unusable.
Firstly there is a problem with the filter basket. When the coffee pours through the filter basket the metal cover plate expands and the filter basket pops open. This is very annoying as I then have hot coffee sitting in the basket and dripping onto the counter.
Secondly - after 6 months of use - the coffeemaker started leaking water from the back.
The Krups stainless steel looks great and is easy to use but the quality isn't there. The printed 'Lock and twist' markings rub off and the lid on the carafe becomes temperamental.
This coffeemaker limped along for 6 months; which for $100 is not what I'd call good value.
I've now bought a differetnt model and manufacturer which will hopefully work.

I just took our 1.5 year old Krups FM5 to the basement and brought an old Krups Aroma Control out of mothballs temporarily. The FM5 is the third Krups thermal carafe machine we've owned and from the beginning we were quite disappointed in both performance and construction. The push-to-pour button on the handle failed after less than a week, since then we've been pushing down on the bulb at the center of the lid to get the coffee to pour.

Whenever making fewer than ten cups we had to take a wild guess at the amount of water necessary because air bubbles flood the glass pipe on the side of the reservoir rendering it useless as a measuring device.

The reservoir has leaked to some degree since the first day. Sometimes there's a puddle the size of a half dollar, a few times we've had to clear the counter to wipe up the mess. Now it seems that one of the internal tubes is failing - not the performance or endurance I'd expect from a $100 appliance. Even more disappointing is that it's a Krups, a brand that we have truly come to adore. Unfortunately, we're shopping for another brand that will provide better service and longevity for the price.

I am disappointed at the overall quality of this coffee maker. Specifically, I believe it brews too fast or the water temperature is not hot enough to produce the full coffee flavor. Although the coffee maker is new, it immediately got air in the water gauge tube making it difficult
to add the correct amount of water. Also, the latch allowing the filter holder to open is faulty.

Like another reviewer, our unit almost immediately started displaying the "low water" indicator when the unit was full, causing the unit to turn off immediately. Additionally, I like my coffee as strong as possible (14 rounded teaspoons, or whatever fits in the filter, per 12 cups water). Despite the liberal use of coffee grounds, this unit amazingly managed to make the coffee look and taste like lukewarm, brown sewer water.

Good product. Makes great coffee. Carafe has to be tilted completely over to empty last bit of coffee. Well made product.

Even if someone gave me a Krups Coffee Maker, I wouldn't want it! I have the large (over $100) model of the coffee maker with the thermal decanter. It spills over constantly on to my counter. There is a small plastic ball in the screw-on cover of the decanter that seems to clog the stream of coffee from running into the decanter whenever some grounds float into the top of the coffeemaker. I am so tired of wasting pot after pot of coffee as the whole pot will flood out of the top, causing a huge mess each morning! I would never buy another coffee maker from Krups and am even considering buying a commercial-style coffee maker in the very near future. The name "Krups" does not mean QUALITY! Save your money! Buy another brand! Krups are poorly designed and apparently the company doesn't care about the negative reviews as they keep selling coffee makers!

Krups has come out with what they probably felt was an innovative design. There are some features on this coffee maker that seem like a good idea, but don't stand the test of time for convenience.

First and foremost, the machine tells you how much water you have poured into it by a gauge that actually fills with water, and the water magnifies the number of cups. It became apparent over time that the water must be poured very very slowly, or the gauge fills with bubbles, making it impossible to be sure how much water you have poured. Sometimes even when you pour very slowly, the bubbles appear. Very frustrating.

Secondly, the design of the pot makes it extremely inconvenient. Pouring is sloppy, and as the level of coffee becomes lower, pouring becomes almost impossible. The shape of the inside of the pot necessitates taking off the lid and practically standing the thing on its head to get the last of the coffee out. This internal design makes for difficult cleaning as well. Really annoying.

On the up side, I like the thermal idea for the pot. It keeps coffee warm for a fair amount of time, and since there is no heating element there is no scorching - definitely a good idea. I also like the auto-off feature, but overall I just can't say I like this coffee maker much, due to its irritating flaws.

I bought this unit based on past experience with another Krups coffee maker. I was disappointed, because Krups usually creates a quality product. They need to go back to the drawing board on this one.

I love the cofee this unit delivers, however after using it about a month I found two problems: 1: the carafe is very difficult to pour from, unless you pour very slowly the coffee runs over the spout and ends up spilling, and 2: there is no automatic shut off. I had to purchase this coffee maker because my previous Krups unit died when I forgot to turn it off after brewing a pot of coffee. And that coffee maker supposedly had an auto shut off! While this coffee maker brews terrific coffee, had I known how the carafe poured, and that you have to remember to manually turn the pot off, I probably would have purchased a different one!

The coffee does not stay hot; and after six months the coffee maker has developed a leak and there's always water on the counter under it. Do yourself a favor and don't waste your money.

After my Starbucks Barista Coffee Maker dispensed its brew all over the counter for the third time I decided it was time for a new coffee maker. There were three things the Barista had, which my new coffee maker had to have as well:
1. Thermal carafe
2. Brew timer
3. Counter top appeal

I searched my junk drawer for a 20% off Bed Bath and Beyond coupon and found an expired one. Lucky for me they never really expire and I purchased a $99.00 Krups FMF5 in black for $85.89 out the door. I am hurried coffee snob. That means I have to have an expensive Arabica bean, an automatic drip coffee maker and a 2 tablespoons grounds to 6 - 8 oz. filtered water ratio (if I wasn't in a hurry I would grind whole beans and use a French press). I am a prior Krups user, having owned one in the late 80's early 90's.

I did no research prior to buying the FMF5. The machine had the features I wanted and is a brand I once owned and was happy with that ownership. I set the timer and clock, ran water through it and seasoned it by making a pot of coffee for discard (the first cup of coffee through a new machine is typically awful). I then set up the machine for the next day's coffee.

I decided to read reviews, expecting to be delighted by my great buy. To my surprise the reviews were mixed. This machine is either hated or loved. After one week of use I find myself in the latter category. This review cannot attest to this machine's longevity, but will delineate a 20-year coffee consumer's one-week experience with this machine.

In the looks department this machine really stood out among the other displays. The stainless steel on the filer basket door and the roof looks good. The machined satin finish does a good job of masking fingerprints.

There is a #4 cone filter basket, which hangs behind a spring-loaded swing out door. Just pull the lever and the filter basket swings open. I prefer cone filters to flat-bottom. Cone filters are superior when making just one cup of coffee as it concentrates the grounds at the bottom. I am glad to be back to a machine that uses cone-filters. Tip: Fold the pleats of a cone paper filter over at the bottom and side, then open to insert. This will keep the filter from folding over when it gets wet during the brew process.

The thermal carafe sits on top of a (I know I couldn't believe it either) hotplate. At the end of the brew cycle the hotplate will turn off in 20 minutes. This boost of heat probably eliminates the need for preheating the carafe. In my experience coffee carafes drip unless particular attention is paid during the pour. As far as this carafe goes there is nary a drop, however there is a trick to dispensing the last few ounces. You must remove the lid and invert the carafe almost completely upside down. As long as you keep the pour spout over your cup you won't loose any coffee. This machine also has a pause and brew feature, which allows the most impatient to pour a cup before brewing is complete, eliminating coffee on the hotplate. Just don't let me catch anyone pouring coffee before the cycle ends, leaving a weak brew for the rest of us.

The display panel is a 4-button panel with LED screen. I would have preferred a more modern LED display, but this LED screen serves its function. The screen requires a backlight to see the numbers in a low light setting, which in this case is blue. In addition to the standard clock and brew time there are a couple of unique functions. There is a 1 - 3 cup function, which can be set when making only 1 - 3 cups of coffee (remember a "cup" to a coffee maker does not equal 8 oz. of water, to get one good mug you need to fill to the #2 line). Another function is the descaling indicator. This alerts the user when its time to run vinegar or descaling agent through the machine.

The water fill reservoir is a little narrow requiring some aim when pouring water into it. As the reservoir fills you can see the water line rise on the indicator located on the unit's exterior. There is also a red plastic piece in the reservoir, which indicates the max fill line. When filled to the max fill indicator the water line is just a hair above the #10 on the exterior display. This machine comes with a water filter, which is a consumable requiring replacement every 2 - 3 months depending on the hardness of your water. The piece that holds the water filter in place has a number dial to remind you when replacement is due. Since I use filtered water to make coffee I won't need to purchase the Krups water filters.

As stated previously I have been using this machine for one week. The coffee this maker produces is excellent. It has gotten a bit better each day as I have learned to tweak the amount of grounds and the machine is becoming more seasoned. The coffee comes out hot, but not scalding. I particularly don't like to have to blow on my coffee and then attempt to sip the tiniest amount in fear of 2nd degree burns to my mouth. Today I had some coffee that was brewed 2 ½ hours prior to pour and the coffee was still hot enough for enjoyment (no microwave required).

I am extremely satisfied with this coffee maker. Prior machines I have owned required frequent wipe-downs of the hotplate or carafe shelf and countertop. This one keeps itself clean without all the drips.

I recommend this coffee maker. You can spend much more on other coffee makers with similar features. A thermal carafe is a great advantage to those not planning to immediately drink their coffee. There is nothing like waking up to just brewed, fresh coffee.

This attractive Krups unit has many fine features. The thermal pot keeps coffee hot and fresh for a very long time without "cooking" it for hours and wasting electricity. The water chamber is easy to fill, and the basket pops out easily with a lever, then lifts out to dump grounds or wash. I'm not a coffee connoisseur, so I have no opinion as to whether the filter system makes better coffee -- I just know the coffee is good. The setup is not completely intuitive -- I actually had to read the directions -- but it's not difficult after reading through it once. The machine will make coffee every day at the set time without having to be set, unless it finds no water in the chamber. Pouring is easy. There is also a setting for 1-3 cups, which I tried successfully. The only critique I would have is that after you twist the lid of the thermal pot to unlock it, the lid lies pretty flush with the pot and could be easier to remove -- the only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars. I have no regrets for having purchased this maker and would do so again.

I read lots of reviews before buying this coffee maker and most of the concerns were completely non-issues. The "bubble" issue is nothing. Its happened once in two months and was easy to get rid of by tipping the machine. Never happened again since. The design of the carafe is much better than the similar Cuisinart model. It has a thumb opener to allow the coffee to be poured and it works very well, you don't have to tip the pot almost upside down like the Cuisinart one to get the coffee out.
Coffee tastes great, stays hot as long as you would reasonably expect it to. The timer programming could definitely be easier to use and remember.

I was very upset with our Krups coffee maker. We decided to buy Krups thinking that extra money would mean better quality. Not so.
We chose this model for 2 specific features, a programmable clock so we could wake up to a hot pot of coffee, and a thermal carafe.
First, the timer is difficult to set. Everytime the electricity goes out you have to reset it and it's actually pretty difficult (and YES we read the book but seriously, it's a coffee pot-it shouldn't be so hard). Secondly, when you pour the water into the back there is a little tube on the side that measures the water for you. If you pour too fast or two slow you get an air bubble in the tube and you don't know how much water is actually in there. A minor nusiance though.
Here's the real kicker and why it was THROWN IN THE GARBAGE:
I don't know how, I don't know why, but the other morning when it was brewing water went EVERYWHERE!! It was pouring out the bottom of the unit, not the carafe, but the unit itself where it was screwed together. Explain that one!?!? It was NOT overfilled and it didn't come from the top or back. We tried it twice more to see what was wrong (over the sink of course) and each time the water still poured out the bottom . Out of 8 cups of water, only 1 cup of liquid made it into the carafe.
So, my advice is to stay away from this unit. I think we're pretty lucky that nobody got shocked with the water pouring out like that onto the cord and such.
I hope this helps. I am not one to usually write bad reviews, but this expensive coffee maker lasted us a whole 4 months. Disappointing!

This machine broke almost immediately after I received it (low water indicator came on and would not go off, preventing the machine's working). I called Krups and was told that, although under warranty, I would have to send it to Illinois for repair (I'm in Texas) at my own expense for shipping. The turnaround was estimated at four weeks.

All in all, the quality of the product and the quality of the service were lacking. Granted, sometimes new machines fail; however, to make the customer pay for cost associated with fixing the failure and to have the repairs take a month is absurd.

No more Krups products for me.

llk

I must say - the negative reviews seems to be more of a defective issue and the others more a personal preference and subjective view. I mean, really, the complaint I read about the cone filter basket not standing on its own??????? Well, what I do is just leave it hanging on the door and put the filter in the basket then the coffee. I have yet to find a cone basket that stands on its own. I've had every type and brand of coffee makers from percerlators to french presses and I find this one to be pretty good. I would just ask for a hotter brewing temp of the water, but its about average as is. The other issues such as leaking water, power problems and stench of plastic, well, it goes back to it may just be a defective item, which happens in manufacturing products......and that is why I use the heck out of a product the first 30 days in case I feel the need to return it.

The awful plastic taste is what puts this coffee maker to the limit of what's acceptable. I can handle the filter basket that doesn't sit on the counter. I can handle fact that the coffee pot has to be tipped completely upside down to get the last cup. Did anyone else write about how heavy the pot is? Even empty it's a hand full. Yes, the flimsy basket door latch is unacceptable. A $.25 design fix, Krups folks?

A certain percentage of the population, me included, can taste plastic coming from certain soft plastics. I think it protects us from unsafe foods. Softer plastics emit an unpleasant taste, especially when they are heated. My taste buds are telling me this coffee maker shouldn't be used any more.

Why did the Krups people decide to create & sell this coffee maker with a soft plastic? It is even designed to sit for hours with the hot coffee inside heating the plastic, hence more plastic emissions. I have always known Krups to make safe, sound, reliable products. This one that I paid about $100 for is getting boxed up and is going to coffee maker heaven (or hell).

Not happy with this coffee machine. The swinging door started to pop open automatically after a few months. It was fixed under warranty, but that took 6 weeks. The water gauge doesn't work properly. Finally, the lid to the pot mysteriously broke. Not a well made product, but an attractive one.

These machines are all getting on my nerves as they rarely last for years and end up in landfill. My next machine will be a porcelain Melita.

I recently purchased this coffee maker for my husband, to replace our previous Krups machine, which faithfully made coffee for us every day for 14 years. I was a little worried by the negative reviews, but have not encountered any of the issues mentioned in the reviews. The machine works flawlessly and makes great coffee. The insulated carafe keeps the coffee hot for about six hours after the machine shuts off. It is also easy to use and clean, and looks great on the countertop. I highly recommend it!

My previous thermos carafe Krup coffee maker was great. This new Krips stainless carafe coffee maker has a carafe that is hard to pour and absolutely does NOT keep the coffee warm. Also, the carafe is hard to clean.

When I contacted Krups, their representative just seemed not to really care.

Krups no longer makes a truly insulated carafe coffee maker that is easy to clean and will keep your coffee warm.

A very BIG disappointment!

I normally don't make reviews unless the product is very good or very bad. This Krups coffeemaker was very disappointing and today, in ultimate frustration with it, I finally tossed it in the dumpster where it belongs. It's not even a year old. As a coffee connoisseur, I don't demand a perfect brew, but for $100 I do expect a reasonably good brew. This machine falls short by a long shot, and less expensive machines can brew a much better cup.

The problems are the same that other reviewers have complained about:

1) Water is not made hot enough for a proper brew, and consequently the coffee does not acquire the flavor that it should. Then, because it is not hot enough to begin with, it doesn't stay hot for very long. The warmer plate shuts off after only 10 minutes and does very little to nothing to help keep the coffee hot.

2) The programming function is far from user-friendly, requiring frequent reference to the user guide.

3) Pouring the last cup from the carafe requires a complete inversion of the carafe and even swirling it around so the last of it actually pours out.

4) Bubbles in the water level gauge make it impossible to know how much water is in the reservoir. Contrary to what other users have suggested, removing, clearing, and replacing the gauge does NOT solve the problem.

5) Customer service at Krups is less than sympathetic or helpful.

Bottom line: This machine does not live up to even mediocre performance and it's hard to believe that Krups would market this piece of junk. Krups has definitely put me out $100 and permanently lost a customer here.

This is our replacement for our Hamilton Beach Brewstation that broke after about 13 months of normal use. We suspect that our hard water is a little rough to deal with. The Krups FMF5 makes great coffee and has several neat features that make it our preference over others:

1. Thermal Carafe: It reduces the overall energy consumption because it keeps the coffee warm without utilizing the hot place.

2. Hot Plate: Preheats the bottom of the carafe for a few minutes (10-15, I think) while the brewing process goes on. This helps maintain the coffee at a good temperature for a long time, because the coffee does not have to fill the heat sink that the thermal carafe presents.

3. Sealed lid: The lid shuts when you are not pouring coffee which keeps the flavor and the aroma inside the carafe.


We did not experience any of the problems that some other customers had with prior versions of this product: No strange plastic smell, no problems with opening the filter access door (as a matter of fact, it is the best mechanism in the world - they must have improved it), no problems with the temperature of the coffee, and no leaks whatsoever (unless one overfills the tank).

This Krups coffee maker brews excellent coffee - and it does it fast and efficiently.

BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,BUT VER POOR PRFORMANCE.THE THE AUTOMATIC PROGRAM FUNCTON DOES NOT WORK. THE WATER CAPICITY GUAGE DOES NOT WORK. IT FILLS UP WITH BUBBLE AIR SPACES LIMITING ACTUAL MEASUREMENT. BREWED COFFEE ONLY STAYS HOT FOR NO LONGER THAN ONE HALF HOUR. THIS IS VERY POOR PIECE OF EQIPMENT AND SHOULD BE PULLED OFF THE MARKET. FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER BEEN DISSAPPOINTED ORDERING FRO AMAZON.COM

Krups FMF5-14 10-cup programmable coffee machine, black.
I just don't understand all the negative reviews about this Krups Coffee Maker. Was there a plastic smell while brewing? Yes, but only the first time running only water through the machine & not at all since. Were there air bubbles in the gauge that tells you how many cups you are brewing? Again yes the first time I used it with water only. All I had to do is remove the plastic indicator, blow through it and presto no more bubbles. It really isn't rocket science.

I am not a a light coffee drinker & I have about 3-4 mugs a day, my coffee is very important to me, so when I read all the negative reviews about this coffee maker I panicked. I went out and bought a Cussinart Thermal Coffee Maker instead, that was a mistake.

I used to belong to the Gevalia Coffee Club & when I joined I got a free 12 cup non-thermal coffee maker. It made/makes great coffee. It is the one I have been using for over 8 years. I had learned years ago that even though it had the Gevalia name on it, it was actually made by Krups. I should of ignored the bad reviews of the Krup FMF5 Thermal Coffee Maker & go with a brand I know works great.

I returned my Cussinart, got this coffee maker & couldn't be happier. This Krups makes great coffee, keeps it hot for hours & is hassle free. It also has some nice features like a water filter in the reservoir & an empty reservoir warning just to name a few. There is no plastic taste in the coffee.

So just follow the simple instructions & recommendations, sit back & enjoy a great cup of coffee. Come back in a few hours & you can do the same.

I have read what I am about to relate only on one other review site, so I thought I might as well give people a heads-up here. I didn't own the KRUPS FMF5 long enough to make a pot of coffee -- although for all the many complaints about the design of this model and its glass-carafe cousin, the FME2, folks generally seem to agree that it brews a great tasting cup of joe.

I could have adapted to the heavy and bulky feel of the thermal carafe, or the fact that pouring out that last bit of coffee necessitates a virtual inversion of the decanter -- unless, that is, you take the lid off, which defeats the purpose of the heat-trapping thermal design (and would be even less advisable in view of the fact that the hot plate on these thermal models goes off after just 20 minutes and will therefore be incapable of compensating for cooled coffee). In exchange for an above-average cup of coffee, I could have also learned to ignore the annoyance of bubbles in the water-level indicator (which I experienced, quite true to other reports of the same). And eventually I would have become used to the fact that the thermal carafe, by definition, prevents one from having much of an idea as to how much coffee remains behind after pouring that first or second cup (meaning it might be possible to forget every now and then that you left old coffee inside).

All of the aforementioned I could have ignored or grown used to. But there are two deal-breakers in the KRUPS FMF5 design, which I simply can't overlook. 1) The Pause 'n Serve didn't work well enough to prevent drizzling on the metal hot plate. Since I don't care for peeling or rusting hot plates as a result of exposure to liquids, this was the first Fed Flag -- but by no means the worst. 2) When I was in the process of putting a full pot of rinse water through as directed by the user manual, hot water entered one of the many grooves on the lid as I went to pull it off the warming plate, and it came splashing out of the back where the thermal carafe handle enters the lid. There's a hole there that not only allows the carafe to release heat faster than it should, but the hot liquid can potentially exit the area around the handle, which can result in a burn to the hand (the water enters the pot at about 170 degrees per my tests, so perhaps not a true burn but alarmingly close). Because I used the carafe to measure and fill the water reservoir, there was no overflow of the machine through a weep hole due to having been overfilled. Rather, I suspect that the full pot of hot liquid sloshing around as I tried to remove it from the overly-snug fit on the warming plate probably resulted in water being trapped in the grooves of the lid. Fortunately, I didn't lose my grip on the thermal carafe as a result of the scalding, otherwise it could have potentially caused me to drop the decanter like a hot potato, slam into my foot like a lead weight and, in the process, spew hot liquid all over the floor if not my entire front side!

After this incident, I emptied the hot water and I refilled the carafe with cool water. I tilted it forward and it slightly leaks from the spout even when the lid is locked. To see if the problem was a fluke or something that could be duplicated, I then tilted it backward so that the handle was angled down, and sure enough it leaked through the hole at the top of the handle all over my hand (whether the lid is in the lock position or not). Because I purchased the FMF5 "remanufactured" at a discount store for only $30 complete with a 90-day manufacturer warranty, it would be tempting to conclude that I bought a lemon. However, I suspect that this is a design problem, not evidence of a defect. Therefore, anyone who chances this model should fill the decanter up with cool water, lock the lid in place and test whether or not it has the potential to leak out the front or the back (spout vs. top of handle area).

I suppose IF you don't brew a whole pot, and IF you keep the thermal carafe level at all times -- which is difficult because it fits on the warming plate so snugly that removing it requires a second hand to prevent the rest of the coffee maker from dragging across the counter with it -- than you might not get burned. Nobody wants to be burned by hot coffee when they least expect it, even if it was a $30 bargain. Needless to say, I returned this crappy KRUPS to the store.

Initially I considered exchanging the FMF5 for the FME2 instead -- which appears identical but for the inclusion of a traditional glass carafe -- but I passed on the Krups FME2 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, White, too. Turns out the FME2 series has a carafe that uses GLUE to hold the handle on (as opposed to reinforcing the handle connection with a metal band/brace). Checking the reviews, I learned that those thin glass carafes not only break more easily than average, but the cheaply mounted handle can come off the pot resulting in the entire thing shattering at your feet! KRUPS may have the coffee brewing technology down pat, but from the looks of things they are not putting a premium on safety.

Ultimately, I replaced the FMF5 with a Mr. Coffee 35 Anniversary Maker, Model MRX35. Not only is the Mr. Coffee Classic Edition easier to program than the KRUPS, but it is more stylish than most machines presently on the market (if you like the retro look, that is). In addition, the Mr. Coffee Classic Edition also brews such a smooth cup of coffee that I find myself adding far less milk and sugar than I used to prefer in effort to drown out bitter overtones. The other advantage to the Mr. Coffee MRX35 is that it has far more features for the price -- and those features are not mounted right below the hot plate where overflows or spills might otherwise damage the "splash resistant" electronics.

Although the thermal carafe may be the latest and greatest in automatic-drip coffeemakers, I much prefer being able to see what is left in the coffee decanter without popping off a lid to peer inside (or swooshing it about given the handle and spout entry points that will enable it to gush out). Although coffee purists put down automatic-drip coffee brewers with glass carafes due to the necessity of a hot plate, the simple flavor-sparing remedy is to purchase an automatic-drip coffee maker that allows the warming plate to be turned down so that the less coffee remains in the decanter, the less likely it is to overcook once the temperature has been adjusted to suit what remains in the pot. Unlike the KRUPS FME2 or FMF5, the Mr. Coffee Classic Edition offers an adjustable warming plate, and I have yet to experience bitter, overcooked results.

In closing, coffee maker buyers would do well to remember that a glass carafe imparts less flavor than metal -- not, of course, that everyone is likely to notice given that the hot coffee brews through and over plastic, which also imparts an off flavor (particularly when new). Nevertheless, if you are one of those health-conscious types or simply someone with a discerning palate or a sensitive stomach, an Aeropress Espresso Maker or a Toddy Cafe Cold Brew Coffee System may be more satisfactory than a conventional auto-drip coffee maker. Not only are the reviews for these alternative coffee-brewing devices far more positive overall, but they cost a lot less money to boot. Ever in search of Starbucks-quality coffee from the comfort and convenience of home, I intend to try one of the aforementioned brewing alternatives myself.

I too, Had the problem with plastic taste even after about 15 pots of water or coffee. I E-mailed KRUPS to give them a chance to recommend a solution. 2 days with no reply. I am now seeing the other problems that I read in the other reviews including big bubbles in sight glass, coffee doesn't stay hot for long unless the carafe is preheated with hot water and the carafe is generally not user friendly along with the filter basket. This was too many strikes against it so I was lucky enough that I could still exchange it. I replaced it with a Cuisinart. No more KRUPS for us.

This coffee maker may not be for everyone, but for those who want a great cup of coffee at a certain time every morning, it does a great job.
I am surprised so many reviews are so negative. The "problems" described are so minor. The bubbles that form only happen when you pour the water in super fast, and the tube is plastic and pops out easily, so eliminating the bubble isn't hard to do. The filter basket swings out, and no, you can't set it down on the counter, but you can put it back in its place and fill it with coffee there.
The best feature is the timer, which stays set from day to day, so if you drink coffee every morning at the same time, you just have to refill it with coffee and water. What's great is that the machine will not turn itself on if it doesn't have any water in it, so if it's the weekend and you're going to sleep in, or if you simply forget to set up the machine with water and coffee the night before, it won't run "dry" like other machines will.

- Bubbles in the window, so to offset this I fill the carafe with the clean water to where I want it and use this to pour into the machine but, the machine design makes it very difficult to pour into without spilling over the side.
- The basket keeps popping open towards the end of the brew cycle, no matter how well I try to latch it.
- It is very difficult to pour the last cup of coffee.
- The brewed coffee does come out weaker.

+ I didn't notice any plastic smell or taste.
+ Coffee stayed warm enough for a pretty long time.


I definitely would not buy this machine again.

Coffee it made was not very hot and ok in quality. Did not stay warm more than a couple hours after brewing. Difficult to remember how to set time after power outage or being unplugged - I had to get out manual each time.

After about 8 months of once-a-day use, coffeemaker would not turn off. Only way to have it stop trying to brew coffee and heating warming plate was to unplug. This is extreme fire hazard.

I paid to mail it in for warranty service a month ago and still do not have it back. Krups USA customer service told me the repair centers have 30 days in which to evaulate product and then it may take 2 or 3 weeks for parts. This translates to being without a defective and hazardous coffeemaker for about 2 months -- and this is WARRANTY service. The repair center cannot tell me when they will get to it nor when I should expect to receive it (or a replacement) back.

While maybe the one I got is the only one to fail this way, I suggest if you buy it that you do verify it turns off every day. I personally will not buy a Krups product again due to the length of time for warranty service. In meantime I checked reviews and have purchased another brand of coffeemaker as I cannot wait any longer to get my Krups one back (nor am I sure I trust it, even if it is replaced.)

I was a little nervous with the bad reviews on here on this item, but this has been a fantastic coffee maker! I have owned a Krups Expresso maker for over 12 years with heavy use and it works everytime, and that is what made me want to get another Krups product. I have had no plastic taste (the built in water filter is great!), no water spilling out, no bubbles in the measure tube, no steamed over digital readout. No problem getting the coffee out of the caraffe. The only thing I dont like is the blue LED turns off after about 15 min, it would be nice if it stayed on all the time. After going to Kohls and looking at the coffee maker with the glass caraffe, I chose this one (the glass just seems so thin and fragile) 2 thumbs up!

It's a nice coffee machine. Brews great coffee, doesn't leak, doesn't smell like plastic, WELL WORTH THE MONEY! I had a Krups coffee and espresso maker that was passed down to me from my parents, it had to be at least 17 years old. And it was still doing good, it just had build up inside and was taking forever to brew. This one actually brews a little too fast I think. It doesn't have enough time to steep in the coffee grounds so we were using a lot more coffee grounds. Now we have started using hot water to brew the coffee with. And it's doing just GREAT! The coffee stays hot all day long and tastes great.

I haven't had any problems with bubbles in the window that shows how much water you have poured in. And the people that talk about having to set the filter holder on the counter to put a filter in it and coffee grounds, need help period. I have to say that one of the best features is that the filter basket has a holder that hangs on the little swing out door so that you don't have to put the basket on the counter!! I have no idea what that person was talking about! And there are other people talking about a plastic smell or taste - no such thing. One even talked about a burner, there is no burner on this coffee pot. And IT DOES NOT LEAK WATER! Like any other coffee pot don't over-fill it!

The only thing I have to complain about is the company that sent it to us, Dependable Resource, sent us a machine that looked like it had been used. Scratched up anyway, the LCD screen had scratches and the top of the karafe where you slide it in is scratched like it had been used or something. Other than that, I am extremely happy with my Krups! Which is exactly what I expected!