IMO coffee made by someone else always taste better!  But seriously, the water is certainly a factor in the taste and how clean your coffee pot is.  On a side note a coffee grower I know from Peurto Rico said to always buy 100% Columbian or Arabica, no matter the brand.  He said others like Maxwell House Blend are a blend of ripe and unripe beans and won't taste as good.  Also flavored coffees typcially are blends as well.