As with everything that keeps something to himself: just read instructions, then gently rangehen to the product. I let my husband set the water hardness; He makes us all anyway Technical. He then tried as the first - only just adding water. Then with coffee. The well has been overwhelming; so good that I constantly against his big my little machine now - must defend - even from WMF. At the beginning of the lid blew up a couple of times or the coffee has run only in the filter. Same cause of both problems: you have to push down the filter completely, then it'll work. Everything. The coffee is, as already mentioned, excellent. Well, we do not buy XY brands, but always selected from the roaster. My friend, a confident Teetrinkerin, was in February to visit; she tell u. Write two large cups of u. was thrilled. My son, a Nespresso fan was only suspicious; but then pleasantly surprised. Conclusion: after initial difficulties, the best coffee I've ever had. And will hopefully have a long time.