I have been looking for something like this for a while now. I often drink a cup or two when I wake and then take a break from it for a couple of hours. This pot is perfect for that purpose. I come back for a cup 2 even 3 hours later and it's just as hot and fresh as if it was just brewed. I set it so that it's brewing when I walk in the kitchen first thing every morning. I have used the small portion controls and it works great. Everything is digital. It's easy to program, easy to understand and most important easy to clean. I've only been using it for a few weeks so I can't speak to the longevity of it but the price is pretty great so replacing it in a year or two isn't too scary.