I recommend this unit even though it is a little bit pricey. After living in Japan years ago, I wanted to try my luck at making Japanese ice coffee at home. There are not that many choices around and considering that the Oji unit from Japan (seen at shops like Blue Bottle) goes for more than $1000USD w/shipping & duties, I took a shot at this little 8-cup Yama unit from Taipei for $200 here at Amazon. It's as good a coffeemaker as it is a conversation piece. Good ice coffee is no fad. This is a different (and SLOW) method to make really smooth and intense ice coffee with less than 2/3 the acid of hot-brewed.The unit arrived (via UPS) VERY well packed and unbroken. It took just a few minutes to put it together using the instruction sheet (see it here) [...] Be careful NOT to over tighten the 4 screw-in feet into the baseboard as it's easy to punch one thru the top of the baseboard as I did.The included filters; one rinsable permanent ceramic filter which goes into the bottom of the coffee bowl to trap grounds, and some paper filters to place on top of the coffee. Use of the top paper filter is KEY to full flavor. The purpose of the filter is to SLOWLY distribute water EVENLY over the entire coffee bowl. Without the filter in the top, the drip will hit dead-center in the coffee bowl resulting in the water making it's way to the bottom of the coffee bowl too quickly without completely extracting all of the coffee. I use those cheap unbleached (brown) paper filters for drip machines by folding it inward into a circle and fitting into the top of the coffee bowl. Cheap and works great.Without a scale to measure-out 80 grams, I will scoop 12 heaping tablespoons of coffee into the bowl for a full pot (quart). Works well. Experiment with different coffees for different flavors. Sumatran beans from World Market make a real flavorful brew. Make sure to grind medium to coarse. Fine grinds can result in bitterness.With the top jar full of water it makes about a quart of CONCENTRATED coffee nectar that can be placed in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks...as if it's really going to last that long! Old 2-qt OJ jars make for good fridge storage. The bottom glass beaker that catches the fresh coffee comes with a glass cap for fridge storage. It takes 3.5 to 4 hours to make a pot if you're dripping at the recommended rate of 35-40 drips per minute. The petcock regulating waterflow works well enough. You can use cold water without the need to add ice. Either way is OK.This "8-Cup Yama Water Drip Coffee & Tea Maker" is aesthetically quite pleasing in the corner of our countertop and the coffee is fun to make. It is a little over 2 feet tall. There are cheaper ways and methods to make Kyoto-style cold drip coffee but this method is not at all as messy as are some. All the glass and the ceramic filter easily rinse clean. And because the reviewer above stated that product support is solid if you break any of the 6 glass pieces, all the more reason to recommend.