We always had a cuisinart coffee maker for as long as I can remember. Although the one we were using was still good (they are built to last!) , we were looking for an upgrade. This machine is great! The regular brewed coffee taste better and is piping hot. The K- cup function is wonderful. But my favorite part is the espresso feature. We have become creative making our afternoon espresso drinks- from plain americanos (yes, the hot water is hot!) to cappuccinos and lattes. It really is my favorite thing ever! And it’s one machine in my counter, taking up much less space.