Smeg 50's Retro Style Drip Coffee Maker - 10 Cup Capacity, Black | Vintage Aesthetic Coffee Machine for Home & Office | Perfect for Breakfast, Entertaining & Coffee Lovers

I love a good cup of coffee, and with the pandemic causing me to stay at home most of the time, it became even more important to be able to make a delicious brew at home. After my last two Cuisinart coffee machines fizzled out in just over a year in one instance, and in 8 months in another, I embarked on a search for a better coffee maker. One not made by Cuisinart. I had my eye on the Smeg because, well, it's a gorgeous machine. Since the appliance sits out on my counter 24/7, that is not a small consideration. It is like having a work of art on your countertop. I got the stainless steel model and it is a thing of beauty. I think I would have liked the white too, but that color is apparently exclusive to Williams Sonoma, and my local store did not have it in stock, and I needed this thing asap because the two days I spent not being able to make coffee at home were already two too many.Now to the most important question...does it brew a good cup of coffee? Oh my, it does. I cannot believe the difference between the cup this machine brewed and the one my old Cuisinart brewed, using the exact same coffee. The Smeg brewed coffee is so much smoother. I set the Aroma setting on the higher level, and it makes a huge difference in extracting the flavor of the coffee, although it does extend the brew time a bit. I use less coffee in this machine and get fuller flavor with no bitterness. The Smeg comes with a permanent filter, so you don't need to use a paper filter, but I am a fan of Illy coffee, which is very finely ground, so I use a #4 filter in the machine (as I have in other filterless machines) because it simply makes clean up a lot easier. I rinse the paper filter before putting it in to eliminate any paper taste transferring the the coffee.Now let's address some of the criticisms in other reviews. Yes, it is true that the angle of the lid and the placement of the water reservoir makes it difficult to get the carafe angled perfectly to extract every last drop of water if you fill it with the carafe. Who cares? I simply use a water bottle to fill mine and it works perfectly. My old Cuisinart machines had the same issue.Warming time - yes, it is only 60 minutes, which is an issue for some people who like to brew a big pot and keep it warming all morning. You can always hit brew again when the machine turns off and the plate will warm again for 60 min, but really, all you are doing is making your coffee more bitter by leaving it on the plate for so long. Brew as much as you will drink in an hour, and then brew more if you want it. Your taste buds will thank you.Loudness of beeping - maybe people have much more sensitive ears than I do, but I didn't find that the Smeg's sounds were any louder than any other coffee machine I have used. Apparently, you can adjust the sound level in one of the settings, but I haven't used this setting, because frankly the default is fine for me.Complicated instructions - no, I did not find this to be true, unless 5 minutes of reading is complicated, because that is the time it took me to set this baby up. Yes, some of the settings require you to press two buttons at the same time, and the clock, horror of horrors, requires you to use the lever on the side to set the time. I actually found this slightly easier than having to press a button multiple times like you do on most other coffee makers, but at the end of the day, if this really bothers you, you don't have to set the clock terribly often anyway.Flimsy carafe handle - yes, the handle on the carafe seems a bit weak. Given the sturdiness of the machine itself it seems a bit odd that the carafe seems very cheap. I would definitely not put it in the dishwasher and I can see how the carafe handle could break after some use. Smeg should really address this. The cost of the replacement carafe is ridiculous given its flimsiness. This is a definite negative given the cost of the machine.In summary, this coffee maker looks stunning in your kitchen, brews a delicious cup of coffee, and is easy to use. It is more expensive than most other coffee makers with similar functions, which are fairly basic. If you need lots of bells and whistles, maybe this machine is not for you. I just want a simple cup of coffee. I do think the Aroma setting is great and makes a big difference in the brew. I purchased an electric milk frother a few months ago and the use of it along with this coffee maker has really upped my home coffee game. Love it.This is the best coffee maker I have ever owned. I use Illy ground coffee with a #4 conical paper filter. It has a permanent filter but I like the additional filter. This machine brews a smooth and flavorful coffee. It’s quiet and I love the aroma setting. The machine is solid and really good quality. I was on the fence because of the other negative reviews but I’m not sure what they’re talking about. The handle on the carafe is very solid compared to the cuisinart coffee maker I had before this. Not sure what folks are doing to break it. I have no problem pouring water into the machine and coffee pours out the carafe just fine. Coffee brews steaming hot and stays hot for a couple hours. Don’t need coffee sitting on a hot plate for hours. I’d rather make a fresh pot. You can program the machine to daily automatic brewing if you want as well. Overall, i am really happy that I bought this. I have a bunch of other Smeg small appliance and they all work beautifully.Manual could be more precise but no complaints on ease of use or taste once that was conquered. Have not tried delayed start. I’m cautious that the carafe handle is vulnerable. This coffee maker will get light use. Prefer single cup nespresso for daily morning coffee.This coffee maker looks like a cool spaceship on my counter. I bought the chrome/silver color & it looks great! However, when you open the top to pour in water, the lid doesn’t open all the way back so you can’t fully pour in what you’ve measured. Considering the price point, I’m disappointed in this design flaw and I’m unfortunately reminded of it every day when I try to make my coffee. It looks cool but I wouldn’t recommend buying it. Save your money & buy a functional coffee maker.Love all my Smeg products, my only disappointment with the coffee pot is that it doesn't come in 12 cup capacity. only 10 cup. Its beautiful, easy to use, highly recommendShout out to the customer service and management team at SMEG. We had the BEST customer experience in dealing with the people behind this wonderful brand. Had a small challenge and EVERYONE we dealt with was responsive and moved the ball forward. Thank you...Cool design, but my old $40 coffee pot is easier to use and the coffee tastes the same.I love the look of this, brews nicely. The coffee pot itself feels pretty cheap and poorly designed. I've seen the other reviews where the handle breaks off and I totally understand this now. The pot is fragile, if are making a full pot of coffee, I think you risk the weight of the full pot putting too much stress on the handle. Mine has not broken because I only make two cups of coffee every morning, so the weight of the pot / stress on the handle is low, but it still makes creaky and tinging type sounds.I really wanted this for the ‘looks’ and assumed high quality for the price. Its pretty on a counter but its only a 10 cup, cheaply built and my costco office coffee pot brews better coffee. Not overly impressed but ill keep because the look suites ny kitchenAunque leí reseñas muy distintas, la cafetera Smeg realmente cumple, el fácil de utilizar y programar (a menos que tengas problemas para leer 5 minutos de un manual) y hace un gran café solita en las mañanas. Ya tengo la de Americano para acompañar a mi cafetera de espresso a la cual le he dado un uso rudo impresionante en más de dos años. Pueden parecer caras, pero son muy superiores a otras cafeteras incluso más caras o "profesionales". Buena marca y cumplidora.This retro smeg coffee maker makes delicious coffee, but it is challenged to keep it warm. I’m surprised that with its price point and reputation, That’s SMeg did not put a little more thought into ease of pouring water into the unit as well as heat of coffee. We have a huge household so we have two Smegs going every morning.... but after a few minutes have to nuke the coffee to keep it hot. Just one little flaw in an otherwise perfect coffee maker.The color is perfect. It makes good coffee. I like the built in coffee filter. It’s super stylish. I love the retro look. If I had to pick a negative, it would be that I wish the handle of the pot was a little more sturdy. For the price, it should be. But I can’t help how much I love it!Para alguien que busca una cafetera con capacidad de mas de 10 tazas quizá será mejor otras opciones