Update: we have now had this coffee maker for several months I thought the seal on the pouring lid was not good, so I called Zolla and they quickly sold me a replacement. So spare parts are available. We love the coffee that comes out of this. When we have company, we just make a few pots in a row and pour them into insulated coffee carafe, or even into large Hydro flasks. Our guests always love how the coffee comes out, even with the cheapest Trader Joe’s coffee. We do measure the coffee with a little micro scale that we keep by the pot. We often grind the coffee for each pot, but it comes out great with fresh pre-ground coffee too.Some tips: the lines to guide you how to put the pot on aren’t exactly precise. Just set the top on until you can easily push it down flesh and then turn it. The handles will line up when you are done. It shouldn’t be too hard to turn, but there should be a small amount of resistance as there is a nice silicone gasket in there. Also, make sure that the filter screen is held in on all sides. If you miss one tab and it is slightly lifted on one side, of course, coffee grounds will get into your coffee. However, it still tastes good! Make sure that the lid on the top is set in so that it is all the way on and that will avoid any spillover. We are able to pour it slowly directly into a thermos carafe without even taking out the siphon tube. We do find that the pouring lid tends to drip a little bit, but just go slowly and you can probably avoid this. The coffee definitely won’t stay hot in the pot, because it doesn’t have any type of heating or keep warm function after a pot of coffee is done brewing, but it’s not like it goes cold immediately. You could probably use the pot for about 20 minutes and it would still be quite hot. It only pours out about three large American sized cups of coffee, so if more than two of us are drinking coffee in the morning, we tend to make two pots back to back.It is compact and looks good on the counter.————————————Original: I used a Bodum Santos for years. That one finally failed when it was left on warm with too little liquid in it. The bottom cracked and it leaked. This coffee maker is solidly built. I wish it was bigger, but otherwise I like everything about it. I couldn't find any other siphon brewer which was bigger than this and bought this based on reviews and my experience making coffee this way. I don't mind that it doesn't keep the coffee warm because that feature resulted in the failure of my old maker. Also, this makes the perfect amount 1 of coffee for a 1 liter vacuum carafe, so I decant the coffee into one immediately while it is still hot.The way it comes apart makes it very easy to clean. Anyway, I usually throw everything but the pot into the dishwasher after rinsing out the used grinds.I fill to the max line, put the siphon tube in, and push the button to get the water started heating. I then have a couple of minutes to Finish the process before the water starts going up the tube. put the filter in the upper part (make sure that it is family seated and twisted in properly) and then measure out the coffee. I do this in one of two ways: I either put the entire top on a scale and just dump in 45 grams of coffee, or measure out 6 level standard coffee scoops into the top. I love that the top goes on the scale. Level the top of the coffee. Set the top compartment onto the pot and turn it to seat into place. Don’t over-measure coffee and don’t forget the lid or the coffee will bubble out onto your counter. In 5 minutes, you will have perfect coffee. When all done, twist off the top, use the lid to take the siphon tube out, put the pouring lid back on, and decant into mug or vacuum carafe.Then remove the lid and swish a little water around the pot to rinse out. You can clean more thoroughly with a bottle brush occasionally. I just knock most of the grinds from the upper chamber into the trash (or compost), set the upper chamber in my sink over the garbage disposal, rinse the remaining grinds directly into there disposal and then hand wash put into the dishwasher.It sounds complicated but is honestly super-simple. I can even measure out the water and coffee the night before and have it all set up for just a button press.I find this coffee delicious and much more consistent than the Bodum was. I use slightly fine to medium grind coffee.