After my second Presto Scan Design machine died due to poor electronics (a "known issue" according to Presto), I received this unit, in stainless steel.
I like that it has a built in water filter, although the replacement cartridges are kind of expensive, but they do last 3 months or so, if you make coffee every weekday, as I do.
The coffee comes out rich and hot and stays hot for a long time in the thermal carafe. Why there is a hot plate witha thermal carafe doesn't make much sense, but since I remove the carafe and pour the coffee in a thermos to take to work anyway, it doesn't matter to me. I haven't noticed any issues with keeping the plastic-bottomed carafe on the hot plate, it soon shuts off anyway.
The unit takes cone filters, not a gold-plate filter (which is fine with me, those things are a pain to clean, especially when you have a septic tank as I do). I use melitta bamboo filters with it, they do a great job.
The unit is a little difficult to program and set the clock, I never bother. I just hit the on switch and when it beeps (really loud) I know the coffee is ready. There is a small brew setting, also never used that.
The carafe and machine are pretty rugged, I can be clumsy in the early morning, haven't had a problem in a year of use. The detachable filter holder seems flimsy, but so far, so good.
My biggest complaint would be the water tank. It is very narrow, and has an overflow hole in the back. That's fine to avoid overfilling the tank, but it also means when you are pouring water into the tank, you have to plug that hole with your finger or risk winding up with water all over your counter. Oh, and the water level gauge is plagued with air bubbles, pretty useless (I know from experience how much water to add, so I don't use the gauge). |
