bit-tech Shopping: Krups Thermal Carafe FMF5-14 Coffee Maker

• Brewing Complete Audible Beep
• Clock

Rating: 2

Time with product: 6

Strengths: Looks nice. Seems to keep the coffee warm for awhile.

Weaknesses: See the list

Summary: 1. Filter cup drips when carafe removed.2. Fill level tube gets bubbles in it, so you have no idea how much water is inside the reservoir unless you measure it first. The reservoir level numbers are also really hard to read.3. The carafe liner fills with water when you wash it, then drips out when you use it (usually dribbling old soapy water into your coffee).4. The programming of the time and other options (beep when done, etc.) is not obvious. When you unplug the unit it resets to "beep when done", which is annoying.5. You have to completely invert the carafe to get the last of the coffee out.6. Two emails to Krups about this product have gone unanswered - so much for customer satisfaction.I bought this thing to replace a previous Krups model (which worked flawlessly), but I should have spent the money to get the old one fixed.

Rating: 4

Time with product: 3

Strengths: Makes excellent coffee; appliance looks great.

Weaknesses: Coffee does not stay hot for more than 45 minutes or an hour. After that, it needs to be re-heated in a microwave oven.

Summary: I bought this unit to replace my failed 15-yr old Krups coffeemaker that used a glass carafe. In retrospect, I should have purchased another one of the same model, rather than switch to this stainless-steel carafe one, because with the old one I could keep the coffee hot for up to 4 hours. The old unit's bottom-warmer could be programmed to stay hot for up to 4 hours. The new one, only 20 minutes.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Stainless steel thermal carafe

Weaknesses: None so far

Summary: After 1 day of making coffee using the Krups FMF5-14, we're very sastified with the taste of the coffee. As to using the provided filter, we may end up not using it since our water isn't highly chlorinated. We use water for brewing that has been passed through a Britta filtration system. We're also using a gold-tone filter. Maybe either of these will aid in getting better tasting coffee.The instructions were easy to follow, and quite thorough. It took us about 30 minutes to set up, test, and program the clock/timer. We've had Krups coffeemakers for two decades, and we're very happy with this manufacturer.(This was meant to be posted as a review and not a reply to the other reviewer's review.)Ivor

Rating: 2

Time with product: 1 Day

Strengths: looks good on the counter

Weaknesses: The machine leaks and the coffee has a bad taste, probably from the filter system

Summary: I bought this coffe maker yesterday and I am returning it today. It leaked when I brewed the coffee. The coffee had a strange taste. I think from the filter system. I am returning it today.