It's great if you love slightly warm coffee. I have the thermal carafe and I didn't realize there is no hot-plate to keep the coffee in the carafe warm. Sadly, the coffee cools down pretty quickly because there is nothing to keep it hot. Enjoy the first cup, then plan on sticking your coffee in the microwave. A thermal carafe is not a substitution for a hot plate! I'm so disappointed and I cannot return it. Other than this, everything else is good.