I was hesitant about this machine due to the upright functionality, I was afraid it would come out the sides and be a mess. Oh was I wrong! This is the best waffle maker I have ever used. It disperses the batter perfectly, makes an entire waffle not just the center like the other brands I have used. It has settings to choose from for the amount of doneness you prefer, and they are right on the money. Each out of my family liketheir waffles cooked differently and with this, it is a turn of the dial instead of constantly opening the machine to check on how much it is cooked. It also is so easy to remove the waffle because of the upright position.  You put your plate near it and pull from the top and it just falls out. I love it