One more thing to rule out: if the carafe lid isn’t seated or its valve is sticky the brew basket can overflow and the runoff hugs the bottom so it looks like a base leak. For a true underbody leak, unplug it and look for mineral crust or a split silicone tube near the heater - those are common failure points. If it’s an O‑ring weep, a fresh food‑grade O‑ring with a tiny dab of silicone grease often fixes it; cracked hoses or reservoir seams usually mean it’s not worth repairing on a budget unit.
I’ve had luck rehearsing a couple of low-pressure specific invites so the ask rolls off the tongue. Stuff like, “I’m doing a library co-work hour Wednesday at 6,” or “I’m walking the greenway Saturday at 9 - want to join?” then swap numbers and put it on the calendar on the spot. Momentum sticks if you make it recurring by default, like first-and-third Wednesdays or a monthly potluck, so it doesn’t feel like a big ask each time.
