This machine makes a good cup of coffee and promptly, but the "audible alert" is making me nuts. It consists of a series of 4 intermittent beeps that sound at the end of the brewing cycle and are as loud as any alarm clock. Aside from being startling, annoying, etc., it really spooks the pets. There's no way to shut the thing off, so I'm stuck with it. If I had known about this feature prior to purchase, I never would have bought this coffee maker. I don't know if this is "user friendly" overkill or technology run amock, but I can't believe this thing was released on an unsuspecting public. I strongly suggest you look elsewhere for a coffee maker.