The manual shut-off feature can either be a good or bad feature, depending on your preferences. In many cases, the manual on and off is inconvenient for those who want to set it and forget it. It can lead to the burning of coffee on the hot plate and use of more electricity than is needed to brew your coffee. However, if your pot starts leaking, you can shut it off easily. It also keeps coffee hot for longer if you like to drink minutes or hours after making your coffee, as opposed to drinking it right away.