I've been using the Frieling press for over three years and it still looks as good as the day I received it. For the most part this will brew very good coffee, assuming there are not any user malfunctions; in the last few years I've forgotten to get the coffee out of the press two, maybe three times with noticeable results.My normal morning routine is to heat up tap water in the microwave in a 16 ounce Pyrex measure for 4.5 minutes, which typically gets the water in between 195 and 200 degrees, I usually check this with a TruTemp digital cooking thermometer (from a local store/grocery). While the water is heating I grind the coffee beans with a manual Hario Coffee Mill Burr Grinder; there isn't really a setting for this, just an adjustment to the grinders which I've adjusted with use to get it where I prefer. Typically I will preheat the press with warm tap water, pouring it out just before adding the coffee and then the hot water. After adding the water, waiting 15 to 20 seconds, I then stir the mixture to remove the developed gases and then cover and let sit for an additional 4.5 minutes. Total brew time is approximately 5 minutes, but I like strong coffee, I've also brewed coffee for less, but prefer 5 minutes.After the brew, I pour the coffee back into the 16 ounce Pyrex measure while I rinse out the press pot, typically I rinse with hot tap water and store upside down to drain; to this point I've not ever actually cleaned the press with soap, and surprising it still looks fine, with minimal staining on the filter. Usually after about 3 minutes I very slowly pour the coffee into a travel mug, leaving the fine grinds that have settled into the bottom of the measure behind. It is important to note that I do not like hot things... spicy good, hot bad. I better enjoy and am able to taste the coffee flavors once it has cooled from its brewing temperature to 150 degrees or less. Allowing the coffee to sit for a few minutes to settle out the fine grinds usually leaves the coffee around 160 degrees, so I do typically let it sit a few minutes more in the travel mug before drinking. I do enjoy the taste of coffee, so cold coffee doesn't really bother me, but warm is much preferred.The whole process takes 12 to 15 minutes for a 17 ounce travel mug of coffee. Typically however I am eating breakfast or doing something else in the morning to fill time during the work, so its not time devoted exclusively to my coffee. I do believe I have had some of the best coffee at home, brewed myself. It is part of my morning ritual, and has not been difficult to incorporate into my route. Every so often I do look into an automatic brewer, there do appear to be good machines out there, but it seems I usually fall back to the simple ideal that all brewers are made to eventually fail, I do live in the country, so whether it is the not so soft water, too soft a water, or act of god, the heating mechanism or electronics will eventually break. I do depend upon a microwave to heat water, but I could do it on the stove or even campfire and could probably reciprocate great results consistently. Therefore why do anything else, I can not simply turn something on an walk away, however the extra time I take to make a great cup of coffee is well worth it to me, and I find more gratification knowing I am the brains behind the operation.I have included a picture of my daily utensils for coffee making; for a better visual I have unscrewed the filtering mechanism of the press to provide you with a better view of the components and there wear (none that I can see). I recall this only being the second time I've taken the filter apart, it only takes 15 seconds or so to unscrew and re-screw it back into place, but not something that needs to be done often. Please note that I've had and used all these utensils for the past 3+ years of brewing. There is some coffee grinds left in the grinder, I did not wipe it out like I did with the press parts. This is the larges press pot that Frieling offers (I thought it was 52 or 56 ounces, but only see a 44 ounce press being the largest at Amazon... I could be remembering incorrectly), very rarely do I make coffee for company, but when I do, typically I will make two batches with a 64 ounce Pyrex measure (not pictured) which fills a 1.85 liter Zojirushi vacuum insulated carafe (also a great product).Hopefully this information helps you make a decision that fits your lifestyle, and regardless of the means, Happy Brewing!!!