I think this coffeemaker makes very good coffee and we love the 4hr keep hot option, as I get up 2 hrs after my husband & can still dispense a nice hot cup. It tastes like just brewed w/o any scorched or bitter taste. The only reason for 4 stars is that the brew tank has an inaccessible section that must be rinsed several times with hot water after every use. However we do feel the "perks" of this coffeemaker are worth the cleaning maintenance woes & I highly recommend it !