Review on ☕ Optimal Brew Thermal System Coffee Maker by Mr. Coffee - 10 Cup Capacity by Randy Olson

I'm a big coffee fan. I used to spend hundreds of dollars at local coffee shops (not Starbucks lol) but then I went abroad and tried their coffee and brewing methods and took to making it myself. Long story short, my premium coffee station broke and I needed a replacement. I had no intention of spending that much money on it, or at least not now that it's a temporary fix, at least I thought so. I received this product in just 1 day, it was much quicker than advertised. I unpacked the coffee machine and was initially very impressed. It didn't smell like chemicals or plastic like others have reported or like you're used to from unpacking some cheap name brand coffee makers. Steel, the top where the lid meets the steel is plastic and in my case there was a huge white patch around that plastic. It looked like someone poured glue or white paint over it and it spread all over the joint. I've tried cleaning it with warm soapy water or even white vinegar and although the stain is gone it's still clearly visible. For the price this coffee maker offers I wouldn't have to bother with it or it shouldn't be a problem at all. probably would have returned it or asked the seller to replace it. But I don't have time to go to their website and contact them or I have to wait a few weeks before getting a replacement. So it was very frustrating to be honest and probably the reason I can't give her a 5 star rating. Coming back to the coffee maker itself, I haven't tested it as others have reported any leaks. But you must empty the thermos before using it again, even if you plan to brew fewer cups, otherwise it will spill. This is sometimes hard to remember, especially in the mornings, as this coffee maker doesn't have a display on the jug or the machine itself like other machines. But over time you'll get the hang of it :) I only use mine with filtered water so I can't comment on the actual water filter that comes with the machine. But I love how fast and quiet it is. I live in an apartment building and work at night. I make a lot of coffee at 2 or 3am and this machine doesn't bother my neighbors compared to others and trust me our walls are paper thin. One thing I would like to change is the annoying beeping from the machine itself, after the coffee has finished brewing it beeps 3 times. But it's not just a beep, it's very loud and can be a problem when people are sleeping in your house etc. I love the cleaning feature and although it's a full 45 minute cycle it does all the work for you. . Simply fill it with a water-vinegar solution or a standard coffee machine cleaner and you're good to go. Unless others have reported that you accidentally pressed the button, which I don't see since the button isn't even close to the actual start button, don't worry. But even if you do, you can just unplug the coffee maker and wait 5 minutes, after plugging it back in it will revert to default settings. You don't have to wait 45 minutes and run the entire program this way. The coffee stays very hot, even longer than stated (I think 2 hours is the manufacturer's opinion, at least in the manual) but I drink fresh tasting coffee that is still very hot even after 7+ hours. However, in order to be able to archive them, you have to make some preparations. Basically I boil some water in a kettle and then put it in a spa, close the lid and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. After that, open the lid, take out the hot water, close the lid and then place it under the coffee maker and press the start button. This heats the vacuum jug from the inside and everything stays hot. If you don't want to put yourself through the hassle, I tested it just to check. Running warm/hot water from the sink through it will keep it hot for at least 4 hours and taste fresh. But even without doing this, you still have a good 3+ hours of give or take. In the end I'm very happy with the coffee maker and would recommend it, but I'm still salty about the odd stain that makes the whole thermos less attractive when it's on a coffee table.