Customer Reviews

Bodum 3004-10USA Mini Electric Santos, Clear

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I'm a fanatic about good coffee, ever on the quest for the perfect cup. Actually thinking about roasting my own beans after reading another wonderful, amusing article about this by Jeffrey Steingarten in Vogue. Here's the absolute final conclusion about this machine, I believe. It really depends on what YOU are looking for/need in a coffeemaker. Also, let me say, I bought the 12-cup Santos and returned it, very unhappy with performance and yes, I was going through bags of coffee. The 12-cup requires a lot of coffee to make the 3-5 cups I like in the morning. Probably does a great job of making 12, but how often do I do that? I have used the manual, glass Bodum vacuum, which makes excellent coffee, but requires a lot of labor and time. If you're not super-picky about your coffee you will not understand or appreciate the extra trouble you have to go to use this machine. Just get a Krups drip machine (rated best of the drip machines, but not the best method, by Cooks' Illustrated), pour in the coffee, rinse. Not a great cup of coffee, but the burner stays on, and you can load it up w/coffee and forget about it, easy to clean. However, for myself, I'm a coffee zealot valuing flavor over quantity. Give me 1 or 2 good mugs of fantastic coffee and I'm done for the day. I call Starbuck's Charbucks, and think they overroast their beans; I drive out of my way to buy my favorite blend, roasted right on the premises, Caffe Roma in San Francisco. The mini Santos, which I've had for about a year now, has performed flawlessly. It makes really hot coffee from the regular amount of beans, even w/the minimum 3-cup setting.The water heats up all at once in the bottom chamber, very hot, but not scalding, which would be too hot, rises to the top chamber, the grounds soak in the hot water for a small amount of time, which makes for the full-bodied flavor of a French press w/o those grounds in your teeth, and then flows back down. The burner only stays on for 15 minutes. For me, coffee becomes too bitter after any longer warming times, so for me, this is a plus. Actually, if I still want coffee after the burner has been off for a while, I turn the switch on for just a short minute, watch it, though, it heats up very fast, and the remaining coffee is still good since it hasn't been sitting all this time on a hot burner, and is warmed, not as good as the first cups, but much better that microwaved or burnt coffee. Actually, I find it extremely easy and convenient. I can go take a quick shower while the coffee is brewing. I think the main problems people have mentioned refer to the 12-cup and cleaning. Get a nice SOFT bristle brush to clean out the pitcher and just leave the filter in the top, don't scrub it or you might get holes like others have (I haven't had any problems with the filter), just rinse it w/hot water, and use a soft sponge on the top compartment. Easy, great coffee. But, if you don't care as much as I do about getting the ultimate cup of java, get a no muss, no fuss drip and enjoy the convenience but know that you will never be able to extract more than a decent, passable cup of coffee from it. For me, the mini Santos is the perfect combination of convenience and excellent coffee.

In the very early '70s, a few of us "java junkies" had Cona Coffeemakers, a manual vacuum-drip type unit; they made exceptional coffee until the glass parts broke and I never was able to find anything like them. Until I found the Bodum Mini Santos. The unit I have has been in heavy use since Christmas 2002, and makes the perfect cup of coffee; we have never had a bit of trouble with it. For the people who complain about boil-overs, try keeping the inside of the brewing unit clean of coffee stain build-up and yours will perform as it was intended. Thanks for a superb product. The Bodum name ensures that, as I can attest, having owned several Bodum products including a burr-grinder and French presses over the years.

We are of two minds - my wife and I - over the relative merits of the Bodum Santos electric vacuum coffee pot. I see an evocative design that's equal parts mad-scientist chemistry set and Frank Gehry angular assemblage. Herself sees... a mess.

Granted, the eSantos doesn't have the drop-dead convenience of one of those push-button pod machines. And it's not the grinding, measuring and filling thing... we're more than used to that. It's the post-brew mess that herself frowns at.

Like a great many vacuum pots, the eSantos has a permanent filter. [Okay... semi permanent. Bodum recommends replacing it every so often.] This filter is a very fine mesh screen; it allows dissolved coffee solids and oils through, making for an exceptionally flavorful cup with lots of body, and it does so without choking on coffee finings, a problem that I nearly always experienced with my vintage Cory glass vacuum pot and its permanent glass filter rod.

The net effect is - of course - a mess. No denying it. There's no paper filter to toss in the trash bin [or compost heap, if you're of the composty ilk]. Instead, after the brewer has cooled it's necessary to rinse the coffee grounds out of the brew globe, and then to wash it. Yes, wash it. By hand, no less. Matter of fact, if you've brewed especially fresh coffee that wasn't roasted to death [and you are, aren't you?] you'll find a lovely, oily frothy mess left behind.

Want convenience? Get one of those push-button things. But if you want really great coffee it's hard to beat a vacuum pot. Bodum's update on the classic vac is about as good as it gets.

I have never owned a coffee pot before, and I'm not a regular coffee drinker. However, I recently decided that I really wanted a coffeemaker for those occasions when I would prefer to avoid instant coffee (yuck!). I bought this coffee maker after seeing the high marks it received in Cook's Illustrated. Overall, I'm pleased with the purchase, even though the machine is more expensive than many typical cofeemakers.

The coffee from the Bodum is very good, although perhaps a bit strong for some people. The machine works incredibly fast - less than 4 minutes typically. It's also enjoyable to watch, as the process is so different from a typical drip coffee maker. In addition, the Bodum is incredibly easy to use. One simply places the ground coffee in the upper container; the machine uses a mesh filter, so there's no paper filters to worry about. Next, add water to the pot itself. Then attach the upper chamber to the pot and turn it on. When the water boils, the steam will travel up the tube into the upper chamber. The ground coffee mixes with the water, the machine shuts off when the coffee is brewed, and the coffee cools and drains down the tube into the pot. It's really quite entertaining.

There are, however, a few problems. First, the pot cannot go into the dishwasher because the base contains the heating element. Technically, the upper chamber is dishwasher-safe, but it's too large to actually fit in my dishwasher. So, you're going to have to wash the pot and upper chamber by hand. Given that the bottom of the pot cannot get wet, washing it is difficult. Second, disposing of the grounds is awkward. Because it does not use a disposable filter, you can't just grab the filter with the coffee grouns and throw all of it in the trash. Instead, the grounds have to be dumped out of the chamber - which usually involves some scraping: a messy procedure for sure. Third, the lid to the pot is very flimsy. Other reviewers have mentioned that their lid broke; my lid is ok, but it snaps off constantly. I think it's just a matter of time before it does break. Fourth, once the coffee is brewed, the machine shuts off and does not keep the coffee warm. That's not a problem for me, as I rarely drink more than 2 cups of coffee, but the machine would not work well for someone who wants to keep their coffee warm and enjoy it all morning.

For an infrequent coffee drinker such as me, the Bodum Mini Electric Santos machine is almost ideal. It's easy to use and the coffee is great. The cleanup is a drag, but not so bad if you don't have to do it on a daily basis. For daily coffee drinkers, though, I think this machine is far from perfect. Having to hand-wash it all the time would get old, and several parts of the machine seem poorly designed for frequent wear and tear.

I've had my mini-Bodum for over a year now. It has functioned perfectly; the only defect was that the flip-top lid broke off some time ago. Since it's pretty much superfluous, it doesn't bother me: as soon as the coffee is brewed, I transfer it to a thermos anyway. Who needs a lid?

As has been noted, there is a good bit of fuss involved in preparing and operating this coffeemaker. The coffee, however, is sensational - assuming you start with good quality beans. (Garbage in, garbage out is a principle that holds for coffeemakers as well as for computers.)

So count me another satisfied customer - with a unit that has worked well, day in and day out for about fifteen months. I wish it were easier to use, but I've never had such good coffee at home, outside of a French press.

(And by the way, to the person who complained about cleaning: all you have to do is, once a month, toss in a little baking soda after you've rinsed the pot, and let it sit for an hour. The buildup will rinse right off; there's no need to scrub.)

Yes, it's true, the machine makes excellent coffee.
The warmer does a great job of holding the coffeee for several hours without ruining it.
It's fun to watch it's volcanic show in action.
Distractors are:
The need to replace the nylon filter ($4.50 ea.) every 5 months or so when a small tear unexpectedly allows grounds to leak into your coffee.
For a satisfactory strength of coffee I have to use a lot more coffee than I used to. Almost double the amount of my drip system !
Finer grinds leave too much sediment in the finished brew.
You must make at least 6 cups of coffee minimum in the full size unit.
But far worse is that after a year, leaks have developed in the base, which means it's gonna have to be replaced soon. I'll be checking on the warranty next week .
Still, I like it enough to re-invest in a mini Santos, hoping the quality of manufacture has improved in the base, and that I can use less coffee with the smaller unit.

I have the 12 cup version of this maker, but I don't have a roommate any longer, so I've been using the KitchenAid four cupper. I found it satisfactory, but recently it broke, so it was time to upgrade.

Well, I was quite satisfied with the 12 cup version and the mini didn't disappoint. Some of this is from my earlier review, but it still applies, so here goes:

Positive product points

1. It's Attractive (at least I think so).
2. Fun to watch brew, like most vac pots.
3. Makes great coffee.
4. Made of plastic and not glass.

Negative Product Points

1. A pain to clean.
2. Expensive.
3. Made of plastic and not glass. (Yes, I know it's also a positive)

I can understand why people have such varied opinions about this coffee maker. The first thing that grabs your attention is the design. I happen to love it, but I could understand why others would not. If you want the basic typical industrial black or white plastic coffee maker on your counter, this is not the maker for you. I have the clear plastic unit, and while it's a pain to clean, this is the nature of the design of all vac pots. Every part of the eSantos is at weird angles and curves. It may not suit everyone's taste, but it's true beauty is it's functionality.

I have read in many reviews about the length of brew time being too short and complaints of weak coffee. This is not true with my unit, and I like a strong cup of coffee.

Here are some ideas for getting the most from this maker:

1) Use finely ground coffee. I've been using the setting two notches above espresso grind on my Solis Maestro grinder. It slows the pull-down time considerably, but I get a good full cup of coffee.

2) Stir the coffee during the brewing process. The first time I used the Bodum I kept the plastic cover on the unit, the one meant to prevent the coffee from splashing over the sides. When the bubbles started to agitate the coffee during kickup, some of the grinds were floating on the top and never incorporated themselves into the mix. I roast my own coffee (I am a total coffee geek), and I've discovered that this problem is made worse by using very fresh coffee, finely ground. I ended up pulling the cover off and stirring the coffee before the burner shut off and started the pull-down. I start stirring once about half of the water is up top so the grinds are saturated, then stir occasionally. I find I need to stir the grounds when brewing with my Hario Nouveau (A Japanese made glass vac pot) as well, so I think it's just the nature of the beast.

3) Right before pull-down, the burner shuts off. If you've been stirring the coffee, it should almost immediately start pulling down into the carafe. As soon as this happens, stir the coffee several times in one direction, creating a whirlpool. This will cause the grinds to settle right in the center over the nylon filter, forcing the coffee to go through almost all the grinds. This will dramatically slow down the pull-down process, but you should get good strong coffee.

4) Use plenty of coffee. You may need to use up to 25 percent more than you're used to. This can be somewhat mitigated by using a finer grind and the techniques noted above, but don't be stingy.

If you follow those instructions, I think you'll be pleased with the result.

The filter is a nylon mesh molded into a plastic frame. It looks like a baby's pacifier and is easy to clean. After brewing be sure to pull it out over the garbage, as grinds will go out the bottom tube if you hold it upright and will go over the side (it kind of "pops" out) if you tilt it when removing the filter. The filter is reusable and there's no provision for any other kind, i.e. paper. The coffee made is very similar to french press, a little cloudy but with a different kind of body. I think the difference has to do with the much coarser grind I use when making french press.

There's only on coffee maker that makes better coffee than the little Bodum, and that's the Hario Nouveau, a Japanese glass model that uses cloth or paper filters (or the glass filter from a kona). It's twice as expensive and even more of a hassle because it uses an alcohol burner (really!). Like the Bodum, it's a functional piece of art, but I don't want to deal with the alcohol burner every day, so during the week I use the Bodum.

On a more positive note, the burner on the little Bodum doesn't cook the hell out of the coffee. I normally take it off immediately and put the coffee in a glass thermal pot after brewing, but I've left it on the burner for an hour or so and it hasn't ruined the coffee, so that's a plus. The carafe also doesn't dribble all over the place when you pour like some other coffee makers I've used.

Now I'm going to complain about the Bodum being made of plastic. Actually, i've been able to avoid scratching the unit by only using a soft sponge to clean it, and it still looks pretty new. I've had to use a bottle brush to get all areas of the carafe clean, but if you're careful like me you won't scratch the carafe either. My water is pretty hard here in the twin cities, so I have to run some coffee pot cleaner through the cycle every month or so or the clear plastic starts to get cloudy. The fact that it's made of plastic makes it less attractive, but it also allows me to use it more often since I'm less afraid of breaking it.

A beautiful modern version of the vacuum coffee brewers. The only coffee brewer that can be termed a "head-turner" or "conversation starter".

Experts in brewing cite vacuum brewing as superior to all but the most expensive gravity drip machines ...

"Vacuum Pot: The vacuum pot is a clever device invented by Robert Napier in 1840 that prepares an exceptional cup of coffee with a potent aroma...The best and least expensive vacuum pot available is the Bodum pot..."
- ...

PROS
- excellent coffee without trace of any foreign tastes (from the machine, paper filter, etc)
- fastest coffee brewer i've used, including French press.
- amazing industrial design. This unit is beautiful, people actually hang out in my office to watch the coffee brew
- coffee is not boiling hot (whether this is a Pro or Con is debatable, i find it's more difficult to appreciate coffee flavors when it's burning your mouth tissues)

CONS
- you must clean the top unit vs just throwing a paper filter away
- requires more coffee than drip for the equivalent strength

In terms of price, coffee quality, speed, and aesthetics this Bodum device hits on all the marks.

I purchased the 12 cup version (Santos 3000) when it was featured as the Starbucks Utopia. I've had it for over 8 months. It works like a charm. Yes, it's a little tricky to clean; but the coffee is worth it. I've found replacement filters and cleaning agents at the bodum.com web site; or you can call their NY store (1-800-23BODUM). I wouldn't hesitate to buy this product again...but, I'm seriously fussy about what makes for a good cup of coffee. Happy brewing!

This is just the right size to fill my 24oz thermos before going to work. I sometimes use a plunger pot (also a Bodum); this one can run unattended as the timing is done for you. Very convenient while getting me and the kids off in the morning, and the coffee is just as tasty. Cleaning is somewhat harder, but worth the trade-off.

The Bodum press uses a 4oz cup, this one says 25oz is 5 cups (a 5 oz cup). Curious, isn't it!