I had my old waffle maker for over 10 years, then one day it just died on me. I was devastated! I loved my Belgian waffles, and it had made the best homemade waffles! Off to Amazon I go to look for a replacement. Well, I couldn't find an exact replacement without paying $500+, and I wasn't about to do that. So I looked for some mid-range models. This one was a good name, but I was just looking for a waffle maker, not some contraption. Well, I decided to go for it anyway because the price and name were just what I needed. I'm so glad I got it! Not only does it make great waffles, but it makes great paninis! And the pancakes... I've never had such THICK, fluffy pancakes before. Absolutely delicious! It also matches all of my kitchen appliances, so I can just leave it on the counter without it being an ugly distraction. And the cleanup... What cleanup?? All I need is a quick wipedown with a damp paper towel and I'm done!