Carafe Coffee Maker
A carafe coffee maker can also be called a thermal coffee maker because of how they work. If you have been drinking coffee for a long time, then you are probably all too familiar with how coffee can taste after being left in the pot for a few hours. Traditional style coffee makers drip the liquid down and then keep it warm via a hot plate under the coffee pot. This is great if you're intending to make enough to tide you over for at most an hour, otherwise it is going to get bitter and start to taste bad.
There are newer brands and models out there these days which do not produce this taste after sitting for a little while. If you're looking for one who does this, then you are on the market for a carafe coffee maker. These drip brewers keep the liquid heated via a thermal vaccuum, which means they will not taste burnt or sour after sitting there for a few hours. The thermal vacuum sucks in all of the coffee's already-created heat and holds it within the vacuum until it slowly cools down.
There are the standard models, which drip into the carafe and you can let sit, and there are those which drip directly into travel mugs if you are often on the go. The majority of models are the type that pump your coffee right into a travel mug as they are indeed thermally insulated. However, if you are looking for coffee while you are home there are those which drip the coffee into the special carafe to keep it warm. If you are a stay at home parent or work from home, these are ideal because it's easy to lose track of time and even forget about the coffee if you get busy.
Even if you only brew one cup at a time, pour it almost immediately and don't experience "coffee burning," a carafe coffee maker will still affect your coffee drinking experience. The taste is slightly different if dripped directly into a thermal carafe, and if you're a sort of coffee conniseur that is a big deal. The coffee simply tastes fresher -- no matter how long it has been sitting.
Every single step in the brewing process affects how your coffee tastes. If you have been drinking coffee for years and truly know the differences in taste, seriously consider a thermal carafe coffee maker. There really is no replacement for the taste they create, and there will be no more of that "burned" taste that can occur so often in traditional coffee machine styles. Why settle for sub-par coffee when there is a better alternative?