This is the most expensive coffee maker I've ever purchased, but it's worth it. The elevated quality of my coffee is tangible, is truly discernible. Buy the best, freshest beans, use the best tasting water, grind the beans evenly with a conical burr grinder, use the coffee to water ratio that works for you (I'm between 16 and 18 water to 1 coffee) and let this machine do its magic. Keep the water tank cleaned and descaled, don't use the carafe to refill water and don't introduce oils into the tank, and keep the carafe clean. The best coffees are getting more and more expensive. Get the absolute most out of it with the best system, the best hardware.