The highlight of the device is so that you're not a millimeter the water has to pour into a mug. You simply pour the amount of water that holds the cup, into the dish. The hardness of the egg is determined by a knob. If one it so that it displays just before "means", so you have, in my machine, at least, always an egg whose Weißei is hard and whose Gelbei soft. Just perfect. Caution: the transparent cover is very hot - here I recommend a potholder. Otherwise, nothing is overly warm. The eggs are firmly seated in the plastic anchor. A great device, very small in size, huge in performance. Oh yes, the egg pricker is on the bottom of the measuring cup.