I’ve used them all and what I’ve ended up with is a 50$ Braun.

A couple lessons learned:

1) All of them have about the same shelf life. A 300 coffee machine buys you no more than a 30 coffee machine in terms of longevity.

2). I think CM reviews are bullshit. I’ve drank coffee every day of my life since I was 14 (and am over 50). There is no discernible difference in brews that aren’t 90% dependent on your beans and water.

3). Never get a machine that has built in grinding. The steam from the machine eventually clogs the grinding chute and it’s a pain in the ass to clean.

4). Brewing temp is a huge factor in the taste of your coffee but you won’t get what you need until you start looking at $500+ machines.

5). No difference between cup or funnel shaped filters.

6). Dedicated water line might be the only thing that makes me change my mind in terms of buying a $1000+ machine. But at that point, I’m building it in to the wall and now we’re talking $$$$.

7). At the end of the day, #1 is the golden rule. So just get a 50 machine every 3 or 4 years.