This machine is refined and functional.  Setup was simple and, so far, maintenance is easy and minimal.  How does it brew?  Perfect every time.  The grinder grinds to the strength of brew you want automatically and it gets it right.  You want light, you get light.  You want bold, you truly get bold (my favorite).  It even grinds a very lovely medium blend very well.   The thermal carafe works extremely well for keeping a full pot warm for hours.  I love that you can do the espresso shots.  Having the ability to select different size drinks helps get the blend right every time for when you want a small, medium, or large drink.  I highly recommend this coffee maker.  It has everything you need, is easy to maintain, easy to use, and truly seems like a quality product.