In the meantime we had a Russell Hobbs 20530-56 (70 euros here at Amazon), also with thermos - but made of metal, double walled - in use.
As it soon became clear that the Melitta was superior and that it was worthwhile to spend 35 euros for a new pot.
Not that the Russell Hobbs was bad, but the Melitta is
- Easier to fill with water
- The water level much easier to read (in the R & H needed a flashlight)
- As fast
- The coffee was in the Melitta thermos 2-3 hours longer hot
- The Melitta thermos spills less and pours much cleaner.
Otherwise, the Russell Hobbs is also fast, delivers 1.5 liters and the coffee tastes just as good.
So we have reactivated the M567, so far the most practical coffee that we had.
PS: We currently have a Russell Hobbs 21170-56 (50-60 euros) with heat retaining plate and glass jug, but also in comparison with it remains our favorite Melitta coffee machine.
------------------------------------
URSPRUNGLICHE REVIEW v. 22.05.2012
First, the negatives:
- The thermos was leaking. This could be solved with four hands: 2 hands holding the pot firmly, turn 2 with 2 coins to the screwed back tight.
- Coffee runs over: The water tank is designed too large by some 20%, with no overflow. If you fill up a lot of water, running up to 0.25 liters of coffee on plate on kitchen up on the floor. You must get used to fill the container only to 80%, max. up to the mark for 12 cups. Or drilling a hole in the wall of the water tank on the back a few cm below the upper edge. Anyway, this bad design requires extra height.
Now the positives:
- The coffee is prepared very quickly, coffee filters are not clogged. This is because the filter housing has the number of ribs on the inside. Thereby, the paper of the filter does not stick to the housing and the liquid can much better (and thereby faster) flow away. That was in our AEG and the other predecessors not so. The difference is noticeable.
- The thermos holds very long warm. Even after 6 hours the coffee is still really hot, a top performance. A trifle more: If the pot completely full escape when pouring hot steam on the handle side. The handle rather touching down to avoid the risk of scalding light.
- The coffee always tastes better after "retraction" of the engine. This is perhaps our sixth or seventh coffee, previously one of the best in terms of taste results! I've noticed that the coffee grounds does not clump by the hot water jet but "foams". Probably that's the reason for the particularly pleasant aroma.
We tried both paper filter as well as Gold filter, very good in both cases result.
CONCLUSION:
A good machine with little quirks, good value for money, recommended if you meet or comply with the above measures.
For 4 stars.