This Cuisinart is my best friend for 30 minutes of my mornings!

Everyone in my family has one of these coffee makers, and in my experience it is the best one I have ever used. The capacity is equal to most other coffee makers, but this one surpasses others due to design and taste. The built in charcoal feature is a first for me in a coffee machine, but ever since I have owned it my coffee tastes great using tap water.

There are certain aspects of the design that I do not like however, or feel could be improved. First, the height of the opening to place your coffee in is pretty short. If you always fill up a regular size coffee mug, this isn't a problem. If you are like my however, and usually fill up the tallest to go mug that you own, you might have an issue fitting it inside the opening. Luckily you can remove the drip tray from the bottom and fit a taller mug in there, or you can use another mug to fill up your tall one. I happen to have mugs that can fit in there by removing the drip tray. Also, it can be harder to see the level inside the cup the taller it is. A bigger opening would suit this machine better.

Another design I do not like is the lid section. As with any coffee machine, condensation forms on the inside of the lid, and I find myself having a paper towel ready to collect all the water because if I don't it will all end up on my counter.

The machine is ultra easy to clean, all the parts remove easily and can by washed out in the sink. I like the option of using either a permanent filter or a paper filter (I find paper is easier to clean up.) The automatic shutoff is nice for the times you run out the door and forget it is on.

Aside from the functionality, it is a good looking design and fits in great with other stainless appliances.