A thermal carafe keeps coffee hot and preserves the originally brewed flavor and freshness. It can also save you lots of money, because you are less likely to toss brewed coffee out. I pay about $10 a pound for coffee beans, so this can add up!

There are lots of reasons to either purchase a thermal carafe or purchase a coffee maker with a thermal carafe. If you like to drink a lot of coffee during the day, but don't have the time to keep making fresh coffee, this is a convenient option. It's also a good idea if you like to use an automatic coffee maker in the morning. Waking up to the aroma of fresh brewed coffee is a great thing. But if you turn over and go back to sleep it can mean drinking very bitter coffee or throwing it out and making a fresh pot of coffee. Having family and friends over for dinner at our house, usually means a pot of coffee during the meal. Putting the thermal carafe on the table, means that folks aren't getting up and down to refill their coffee mugs.

You might very well have a favorite coffee maker that makes coffee just the way you love it. But you want the convenience of a thermal carafe to keep at your desk or to serve at friends and family gatherings. There are many different types to choose from at many price points. Here's a few suggestions.

The Zojirushi EC-BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker is designed to make as much as 10 cups of coffee and quickly store it in the stainless steel thermal carafe so that the coffee will stay hot for hours. Part of the reason that the coffee stays so hot is that it doesn't cool while being made. The brew basket is insulated so the water doesn't cool off during brewing. Additionally, the thermal carafe lid is designed to be in place while the coffee is being brewed. There is no burner under the thermal carafe so have no fear about overcooked and bitter coffee. This Zojirushi Thermal Carafe Coffee maker has an automatic timer and shut-off for safety.

It is easy to clean as well. Both the container and the filter that holds the coffee grounds come completely out so you can really get them sparkling clean. This is important to get a fresh-tasting cup of coffee.

If you want a great cup of coffee in under 8 minutes that will stay warm for hours and you want a beautiful kitchen appliance, then you should consider the Capresso 441.05 MT-500 Plus 10-cup Coffeemaker with Metallic Alloy Body and Stainless Thermal Carafe. And if you can't wait the 8 minutes for a cup of coffee - and I get that I really do - then there is a brew pause feature.

You don't have to brew all 10 cups either for a great cup of coffee. There's a special feature that will let you brew between 3 and 5 cups without diluting the flavor. If you live in an area with highly chlorinated water, the charcoal filter will take out over 80%. Therefore you may not have to buy water to ensure great coffee. There's an electronic alert that will tell you when it's time to change the filter.

The DeLonghi DCM485 10-Cup Thermal Carafe and Coffeemaker, Brushed Stainless Steel has an accuflavor selector dial so you have more control over coffee strength and flavor. The Double Wall thermal carafe will keep coffee hot and tasting good for hours. Other features include a GoldTone permanent filter, water level indicator, and auto shutoff.

You'll find all of the major thermal carafe brands - Zojirushi, Krups, DeLonghi and more! You can take a look below and see a sampling of what you'll find on Ebay along with the current bids and prices.