Function over form should be this coffee makers motto.
Positive Product Points
Simple and easy to use Brews at proper temperature (195-205) Nice stainless steel carafe that keeps coffee hot for hours
Negative Product Points
It's very ugly Can't find well fitting filters
Detailed Commentary
When my Melitta died I went on a search to find another coffee maker that brewed at the proper temperature. I found this site and heard about the Newco and the green coffee buying club's group discount. So I took the plunge and bought this over the Technivorm which would have cost significantly more. Mine is not the OCS 8 but the OCS 12. The only difference between the two is the carafe, 40 oz and 60 oz, respectively.
Coffee preparation:
This coffee maker is as simple as they get. It has a brew switch and an off switch. It beeps when it starts and three beeps when it's done. The three beeps don't signal the end of hot water but I suspect when the filter basket is empty or maybe some fixed amount of time after water stops being heated. No matter, the maker features an auto shutoff and the carafe can be removed at any point in the brewing process. It is extremely easy to fill with water because it has a large opening with a plastic lid. The filter basket detaches for easy filling and cleaning. The carafe features a pour through lid and is placed directly under the filter basket when brewing. When the maker finishes brewing, coffee can be poured from the carafe without unscrewing the lid.
Other comments:
The filter basket is not a standard size. The 10 cup Bunn type filters aren't tall enough but the commercial style filters are too big. I sure wish it had a Euro style cone filter arrangement. Oh well, makes great coffee anyway.
I paid a little more for the stainless steel carafe and it is good looking and functional. It pours coffee rather slowly. But, if you unscrew the lid one full turn, coffee comes out very fast.
The level gauge reads a maximum of 8 cups. You can fill past 8, but you're not exactly sure how many cups are being brewed as there are no markings.
