Melitta Pour-Over Filter Cone Coffeemaker - Black

if you take your time and do it right! If you always have to have your coffee brewed and ready to go when you first walk in the kitchen, go elsewhere. This is truly "hand crafted" coffee that can't be beat. Even though it takes some time to make (takes me about 10 minutes for the whole process), it works out great for me. When I get up, we have an automatic coffee maker ready to serve. I'll have just one cup of the "automatic" stuff at home to get my brain firing on all cylinders, and then make another cup with the Melitta "pour over" device when I get to work. I get to work early, and making the coffee is actually a nice way to "settle in". I read a number of reviews (many elsewhere) to get tips and advice on how to get the best results. This is what I do: 1. Heat water to boiling in your coffee cup (about 1.5 minutes in a strong microwave). 2. Place Melitta cone filter in the cone and set it on the cup (no coffee yet), letting it warm the cup and the cone/filter. 3. Bring to boil about 8 ounces of water in a glass syrup dispenser and let set a minute or two. 4. Pour out hot water from cup over cone to heat/wet filter and cone, emptying cup of hot water. 5. Add 2 tablespoons of coffee to the cone (Of course amount/type/grind to your preference. This part may take a little experimenting to find "your" favorite taste.) 6. Pour a very slight amount of water from the dispenser onto the coffee, just wetting it. 7. Pour a little more water into the cone. I pour in a VERY small amount. Probably just a few tablespoons, at most. Do not fill the cone with all the water at once (will make weak coffee)! I like to pour the water down the side of the filter, rather than right in the middle, keeping all the coffee centered. 8. When the dripping stops (you'll hear it), add a little more water. 9. Continue until all the water has gone through. Take your time. In my experience, the coffee is plenty hot enough. Clean up is a cinch. Throw the filter/grounds away and rinse out the cone. Yes... this method takes time, but I get satisfaction knowing I'm creating a great cup of coffee... kind of like therapy? LOL Which I probably need! BTW... I read that letting the water cool slightly is a good idea before pouring over the coffee, as boiling water will make the coffee bitter. Price? What can I say? It doesn't get any cheaper! If other reviews say it makes weak coffee (I've read "tea like", etc.), then they are cutting corners and trying to speed up the process. You can make it as strong as you like. The coffee I make with this is far superior than any I've had from any automatic coffee maker.