I don't drink coffee, but I find simpler is better.
My mom had a cheap Proctor Silex and said she wanted a new coffeemaker, so I bought her a Kenmore programmable for Christmas in 2007. It was the worst coffeemaker ever, and she was always complaining about it. The springs on the lid broke, it was impossible to clean the tank and one day the plastic ring around the burner cracked, making a loud POP! Sears actually recalled it for fire hazard issues so she exchanged it for another, but it was nearly as bad. Finally it just started spewing steam everywhere when she used it.
She got her Proctor Silex back out and started using that until it leaked. Then she bought a new Proctor Silex, but something went wrong with that soon after. (I think her water messes them up mostly). So she bought a basic Mr. Coffee, but the little piece on the bottom that stops the flow when the pot is removed broke off so she had to use it without the lid on the pot. She tried to order a new part, but the shipping cost was more than the whole machine. LOL
Finally I looked at Walmart one day and found the cheapest one they sold, a Rival and knew it was what she was looking for. It was the only one I could find anywhere that still has a pull-out filter basket instead of everything under the lid, which she said made a mess.
She has been happy with this less than $9 wonder, and it is holding up fine. If it breaks, she can get a new one for cheap.
It's sad that the older ones lasted for decades, not just a few years at most.
