The whole mirror is detachable, which means you only need to remove the part of the mirror and simply wipe it when you need to clean it. Also, with its oleophobic design, it is not easy to get stained. The base is covered with an elastomer foot to keep the mirror where you place it without scratching your drip tray. Its havey weight also allow it to sit better on the machine. The mirror is made of glass instead of plastic. Whole base and mirror gimbal are made of high quality aluminum alloy with a hard black coating. A stainlesssteelbolt holds the magnetic stainless ball to the base. The curved design on both sides of the base makes the entire mirror easier to grip and manoeuvre when you want to move it to another poition.