Good call on the basket valve - coffee oils and fines can gum that up so it doesn’t seal; pull it apart soak in hot soapy water, and work the plunger until it snaps freely and... if your reservoir is removable, inspect the spring-loaded outlet and its O‑ring for nicks or debris; even a tiny grain there can cause a slow weep that tracks around the base. A quick descaling cycle can also help reseat an internal check valve that sometimes sticks and causes between‑brew drips.
I kept designing complicated systems, then I tried one rule: phone charges in the hallway. Bedside has a paperback and a tiny lamp on a plug timer that shuts off at 11, no debating.
Do Not Disturb is scheduled and only favorites can ring. The friction is enough that my brain stops negotiating. I fall asleep faster because there's nothing to open.
