written by csearle on 29/01/2010
I've had mine for over eight years. If you are any good at DIY then the Pros outweigh the Cons (see below).
Pros
I like the style.
It is compact and very easy to use.
The coffee always tastes good. It has lasted well (although this has come with some effort - see Cons below).
It usually impresses guests as its name suggests it might!
The whole thing can be carefully dismantled, fixed, and rebuilt with a little dexterity and a little tool to get the rear screws out. If you need help just ask me ([email protected]).
Cons
The seals in the brewing unit have broken on average once every two years. Spare parts have been difficult to obtain (could order them via a German firm but they will no longer deliver to the UK).
The sieve of the brewing unit clogs up with coffee grounds every few days causing hardly any coffee to come out. This can be cleaned with a damp cloth providing an instant improvement by inserting your hand up the thing when the tray is out and wiping the 3.5cm diameter circular thing that you can feel at the back behind a flap and up a bit. The period between cleans depends upon the coffee beans in use.
The hinges on the water lid are weak and one of mine has broken.
Mine started leaking water from the non-water tank side. Turned out to be a small special part in the water supply tube that need replacing.
Hope that helps,
Chris