I love the stainless steel thermal carafe that accompanies this machine. It keeps coffee hot for a couple of hours without the need to keep it on a hot plate that will eventually roast/burn the coffee.  I like the fact that I don't have to wait for the whole brew to finish before grabbing a cup of coffee. By taking the carafe off it's mount, the machine knows to stop the coffee from exiting the machine then continues when carafe is back in place to finish the job. Overall, not a bad coffee maker, it's a bit slow to brew but good to know you're able to pour a hot cup before the brew is done without causing any mess.