We have been using for about 2 months.  Once I fially figured out the amount of coffee, nice cup of coffee. The pot is tough to pour from until you learn to pour slow. Love the timer option so coffee is waiting in am. I use a paper filters because the coffee I use still goes through the gold filter. The only thing I find difficult is the place you pour in the water, you need to pour very slowly or it leaks all over the counter.  I use one of my old coffee pots fill jugs and it works fine.