EMSAEleganza Stainless Steel Insulated Carafe, 34-Ounce

I recently got rid of my automatic thermal coffee maker and went to one that was plastic-free. I'd been reading a lot of articles about not cooking or heating food in plastic containers so I figured that making coffee using almost boiling water and pouring it through a plastic basket into a plastic lined pot might not be the healthiest way to go. After much searching and asking questions on Amazon discussions I found the Chemex 10 Cup Coffee Maker that made an excellent cup of coffee. The only problem was, how to keep it hot? That glass coffee maker kept it hot for all of about 10 minutes, even with the lid. So the search was on for a thermal carafe to pour the coffee into that would keep it hot for a several hours. And it had to be plastic free. So many of the ones that I looked at were stainless steel on the outside but lined in plastic. I finally came across this one that is 18/10 stainless steel both inside and out. There is a silicone ring at the top and under the lid there is a fiberglass stopper to keep the heat in. (I emailed the company to verify the materials.)I couldn't be happier with the carafe. It keeps the coffee hot for several hours, like 4 or 5, and even after 24 hours the coffee is warm. I fill the pot up with hot water while I'm brewing my coffee like a few other reviewers recommended. Then I just dump it out when the coffee is ready and pour the coffee in. I love the way it looks, very sleek and elegant. I got the 44 ounce model. When I make 6 eight ounce cups of coffee I can get all but about half a cup into the carafe. And I always drink a cup right away, so that isn't a problem. This carafe is elegant enough that you could put it on your dinner table for a dinner party. It reminds me of the Nambe serveware type designs. It is both beautiful and functional. It has a nice balance to it and the lip flips up easily to pour. You can also flip it all the way back to fill or to clean the pot. I bought a soft bottle type brush with a large head that works really well for cleaning. And the carafe is dishwasher proof so you could put it in there if you wanted.I'm posting some photos of the carafe, along with the Chemex Coffee Maker and the Hamilton Beach 40898 Cool-Touch Cordless 8 Cup Electric Kettle that I use to heat my water on the main product page so you can see the size of the 44 ounce model. It was kind of hard for me to visualize, so I hope this helps.Update 12/9/12 - I'm still using this carafe every day and still loving it. The finish is so durable. It's out on the counter all the time and when it gets fingerprints, they wipe off easily with a soft towel. I occasionally use a stainless steel spray cleaner, like the type you'd use for appliances. It comes out looking just like new. This is one of those products that's one of my all time favorites. It was worth the money. (I got the 44.2 oz.)

I was specifically looking for a thermal carafe with:- at least 1L capacity- steel inner wall, instead of glass- no painted plastic surfaces, since they look so terrible as they age- no small channels or complicated mechanisms that are difficult to clean, like a push-button valve embedded in a lidThe 1.3L Eleganza met all these criteria and 4 months later I'm still in love with it. It's solidly built, insulates well, and is a joy to use. I've been drinking much more tea since I don't have to worry about it going cold if I forget about it or need to leave for a few hours. The spout is excellent and never drips. The flip top is fun to use and never misbehaves. There's nothing finicky about it. And it's beautiful to behold: the fit and finish are impeccable. It costs more than most carafes, but it's still a great value. I gush about it to friends and family.The two small downsides I've noticed is that due to the high handle placement and large capacity, it felt a bit awkward to pour at first due to the unusual weight distribution compared to most pitchers I've used. It feels perfectly natural to me now, though. Also, the narrow opening and deep vessel means it'd be difficult to clean thoroughly, if I wanted to. I haven't yet found a bottle brush that seems suitable.

This is an attractive, well made and high functioning carafe that I've owned for around a year. It looks great and keeps the coffee hot all day long and you can brew the coffee directly into it if you place it in the sink (in case of overflow and for easier pouring) and use a pour-over Melita type of filter cone with an extra long neck, which can also be purchased on Amazon. It's a slightly tippy arrangement, but it works for me every day.I have two important warnings:1) If you don't hold down the lever for the cap while pouring the very hot coffee will splash out when gravity causes the top to release suddenly. That precautionary measure will become automatic for you, but any guests must be told in advance.2) Do NOT put it in the dishwasher! It will survive the dishwasher if you can get it in there without the top falling through the rack which, considering the carafe's height, is unlikely. The rubber stopper portion of the top on mine just got melted away by the heating element on the bottom of my dishwasher. I am curious if Amazon can tell me whether this part can be replaced, as it simply screws in. The pot itself is very expensive to replace, so just wash it by hand with a bottle brush!UPDATE: I emailed the manufacturer of this carafe about the rubber stopper melting in the dishwasher and they sent me a replacement part immediately, for free. The stopper easily unscrews and should be removed for machine washing, or wash by hand.CONCLUSION: This is a high quality, elegant product backed by great customer service. It is technically dishwasher safe but is best washed by hand.