KitchenAid KCM1209OB 12-Cup Drip Coffee Maker with Warming Plate - Onyx Black | Fresh Brewed Coffee for Home, Office & Breakfast | Perfect for Entertaining Guests & Family Gatherings

I literally was about to write a long term (5 year) review on how great my last coffee maker was when it started leaking! It still worked great and brewed good coffee but there was a hose split way up in the top of the machine where it went into the lid/drip head and isn't easy, if even possible, to fix. So I was on the hunt for a new pot and found this one. Had it for 4 months now so not a great deal of time to go on but figured I'd write a review on my current thoughts.First, I avoided buying it initially due to the fact that I look for consistent complaints on a product and the number of them when making a decision on a purchase and this one was the carafe cracking or shattering. Incidentally, after reading reviews on the last coffee maker I had, the leaking was a consistent complaint! Anyway...I had my selection down to about 3 different machines but my first pick didn't have the color I wanted available and the other 2 had issues with either the readout getting condensation in it or not working at all after a short time or the machine itself quit working too soon. Kept coming back to the KitchenAid despite the carafe concerns and decided to take the chance as I'm always super careful with them anyway since I'm already concerned about breaking the glass. So far 4 months in and alls well in that area! I really like how the reservoir is separate and can be pulled out for filling/cleaning even though I just fill it from a jug. It's easy to fill from a container and separates the coffee/filter from any chance of splash. I do wish it was a different color since we have a teal accent theme for the kitchen but the last coffee maker was black and stainless steel so not a huge deal. I do like the design-looks like their mixer which we also have- although it is bigger front to back than your average machine. The features are nice, especially the cleaning feature which I just recently used. It lets you know when it's time to run a clean cycle and it does take a while-at least 20-30 minutes for a pot not just a regular brew cycle! It has a beep when you turn it on and 3 beeps when its done brewing that you can't turn off unfortunately but it's fairly muted so not that bad. My last one was thankfully able to be turned off because it was obnoxiously loud! It uses cone paper filters (#4 I believe?) or reusable mesh which is what I use. The basket is easily removable for cleaning as well. Now for my biggest complaint/warning-the design of the lid allows for a good amount of condensation retention and nowhere for it to go so it will leak down the side or sides when you open it, be ready! I always have a dishrag in hand to shove under the lid behind the brew basket when I open it and leave it there for a few minutes opening it halfway and fully open to catch the runoff, then wipe the inside of the lid down. Personally not a deal breaker but it is annoying and I've noticed others had the same complaint. So far I'm very happy with this coffee maker, has some pluses over my last one and a couple minuses but overall I think the only thing that would make the choice of this one over the last one tough is that the last one could brew 14 cups where most only brew 12, this one included.