This coffee maker produces coffee just like the coffee shop. The timer works flawlessly. If you want to use whole beans, you should expect this, but it is necessary to clean all parts after each use. We use a combination of whole beans and ground. We use ground during the week because the grinding feature is extremely loud. There is no option to pre-grind in the machine the night before, nor could I find another product that does. Overall fantastic, an option to use whole beans without brewing right away would be a great feature.