So just an update for anyone that cares. We're happy with our coffee maker after all. Switching coffee brands seems to have solved the bitterness problem. We still vary the strength greatly depending on what we're making it for which accounts for other people's feelings for our coffee. Since we still have some SB coffee left, I might still try the salt trick with that because that specific brand does seem bitter still. We've used some Dunkin coffee and that seems pretty good. My wife also got some gourmet hazelnut coffee that is really good.