"If the grind of the beans is too fine, the water backs up in the filter after the brew should be completed." Yes, but I bet you can figure out how to solve this problem!I also agree that the carafe design allows too much spillage, but I figured out how to solve that the first time I used it. Just pour slower.As for the comment that the pause & stop lever is unreliable, I don't know. I have no trouble waiting the 3 minutes it takes to finish.The important feature is this: The coffee made with this and the Capresso conical burr grinder I use tastes great. Really great. The temperature is just right. No knobs, buttons, dials to figure out. Put in the beans, put in the water, hit switch. Very '50's, very effective.It would be nice if it shut off after an hour or so, but I can live with that too, for $20.