Customer Reviews

Bodum 3004-581USA Mini Electric Santos, Graphite Blue

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I decided to buy this smaller version of the Santos because it seemed like the regular size would be too big for my needs. After reading many of the user reviews, I was a little hesitant on account of many problems mentioned, but I took the chance.

I'm glad I did: the mini Santos makes the same wonderful coffee my Bodum french press made, with less coffee solids (plastic filter works well). An added bonus for me is that you don't have to worry about remembering to press out the grinds after four or so minutes. So, I guess I'm saying that if you like a french press, this is a nice transition to electric.
But what if you are a Mr. Coffee-type fellow and are thinking about this product? I have some warnings for people who like things in a neat, tidy, push-button manner and who aren't as addicted to Bodum style as I am:

1. Do you like to make a pot of coffee and keep it warm all day? Not with this one you won't-it only stays on for fifteen minutes. Besides, it only makes 25 ounces of coffee...that's around 6 Bodum sized cups but only two American-sized Starbucks portions.

2. Do you like no fuss, no muss? Forget the mini Santos. I've found that brewing the maximum amount of coffee can be a little tricky...if you don't have the top portion of the Santos attached at the right angle, you could be in for some coffee spray out of the very top lid. Personally I have found that if you try to angle the top, funnel, part of the Santos as it is angled on the cover of the instruction booklet, your counter and the bottom of the machine will get lots of grounds and coffee over them.

3. Do you like easy clean-up? Then forget the Santos. I think it's no trouble, but someone who is used to throwing a paper filter full of grounds into the trash and putting the carafe in the dishwasher is going to be really irritated with this machine.

In closing, this is a great machine...if you like it. I would have given it five stars if the sputter-out-the-top problem didn't occur.

I was pretty excited when I first got my Mini Santos, as the design and concept were very cool. Also, I had been drinking instant coffee for quite a while and was looking forward to some fresh-brewed coffee.

This unit didn't disappoint - at first. It makes great coffee, and fast. For someone who doesn't like to experiment around, and just make some coffee, it's terrific.

However, I quickly discovered some serious drawbacks.

First of all, this unit is extremely hard to clean. It has to be completely disassembled and gingerly cleaned, lest you get any water into the electric components of the base, assumingly ruining it. Due to some odd curves, ledges, and corners, the parts don't dry well and water pooling is rampant.

Second of all, my unit broke within six months. I think a unit that costs this much should last longer than six months without having issues. I didn't drop it or anything - in fact, I meticulously follow the "use and care" directions. The electrics simply ceased to function as designed. The base started turning off before the water was hot enough to be sucked up into the coffee grounds, thereby rendering the unit useless.

Third, the unit is not serviceable. Don't get my wrong - Bodum was responsive and offered a replacement, but it was a major hassle and I still don't have my new coffee maker a month later. The only solution if it breaks is to return it to the manufacturer (at your expense).

Like I said, good and simple coffee, but it looks like they put a little too much emphasis on "form" and not enough on "function." Maybe you'll get lucky, though.

Wow, after reading some of these reviews I thought that this machine was going to be a little more tricky than it actually is. I'm not sure what others are talking about, but I've been able to get a perfect seal between the upper and bottom pots by wetting the seal on the top piece and twisting it into the bottom.

The coffee it makes is seriously yummy, flavorful coffee - in the mornings I pour it into a thermos and take it to work. I look forward to saving lots of money by no longer feeling the need to go to Starbucks. The brew is way better than any other method I've tried - french press or drip - in my opinion.

Also it's fun to watch. And one more thing - the handy-dandy filter holder attached to the base is really nice. Unlike some drip makers you don't have to put a hot filter holder in the sink and make a mess dripping coffee across the kitchen floor. you don't have to deal with the grounds until your ready.

I have had this coffee maker for three months, and it is by far the finest coffee maker I have ever owned. Cleanup, which seems to be a big issue for some people, is easy, requiring only the dumping out of the grinds and a quick rub with a soapy sponge. It takes about 2 minutes to clean up. The coffee itself if extremely hot and fantastic. After I make the coffee, I pour it into a thermos, and drink it all morning long. It's a great product, and belongs in every coffee lover's kitchen.

This is an awesome coffee maker. The coffee it brews is top-notched and free of undesirable sourness. In order to lengthen the contact time in the upper compartment, one has to tilt the coffee maker by putting 2-3 US quarters in the 12'o clock position given that the handle of the maker is considered to be the 6'o clock position. Doing so can delay the automatic shutoff by the machine by 40 sec, which is a very significant increase in contact time. It just be the brew stronger and better.

I am so please with the quality of the coffee it makes. I am sure you will too.

Cheers,

Kelvin

My old coffee maker was pretty beaten up after I had used it for almost 3 years, so I decided to get a new one. Only this time, I decided to buy it myself rather than waiting for the next Christmas. I was browsing around and I stumbled at Santos. My coffee maker was the dripping kind, so I wasn't sure at first that I wanted to get a vacuum coffee maker. But hey, what's the harm, I like to try new stuff. So, I finally decided to give it a try, especially it got a lot of good reviews.

Santos coffee maker is just like a dream comes true. If, you are dreaming about coffee maker. It makes a really good coffee, they are just steaming hot and you can taste the coffee flavor right on your lips. It is heavenly. Besides that, it's aesthetically pleasing. They have different colors you can choose. If you're a practical person, they have the regular clear one, and it's not less than the color ones. It's very compact, so it doesn't take a lot of space in your kitchen. My old coffee maker was taking more space and it was just too big. I don't have problem pouring the water in the Santos cause the water is hold in the carafe/pot on the bottom and it's removeable. Regular dripping coffee maker, you have to pour the water from the top and it cannot be seperated. If you have small kitchen and there is no enough space between the cabinet and the counter, this coffee maker will have even more bonus point, simply just because not every kitchen is custom made. Another good thing about this coffee maker is you can clean the whole thing. You just have to rinse it with warm water, except for the carafe/pot you can't let the bottom part wet. Regular dripping coffee maker is just yuck after a while.

However, even though this is a really good coffee maker, there are several things you want to consider before you buy this. First, do you really want to spend $80+shipping for a coffee maker? You can get cheaper with still not-so-bad quality. Second, it doesn't really make more than 2 or 3 mugs worth of coffee at a time, depends with how big is your mug. So, if you have company more than 2 people, please make sure they don't mind to not get their coffee at the same time. Third, this type of coffee maker takes more maintenance and time to clean. Fourth, you need to use this coffee maker properly. Exactly like the manual said. If you don't put the funnel tight enough or the lid not really close, then you will have some coffee on the floor, on the counter, or on you! From my experience, make sure the filter is on. Let's just say we all want to drink coffee without holding a retainer. There is one more thing, which I think it is not really a drawback from buying Santos. If you like to re-heat your coffee, then this is not the coffee maker for you. However, true coffee lover should know that coffee isn't supposed to be re-heated cause it will decrease the coffee essence and at the same time, it will aslo extract bitter tasting chemicals in the coffee. Same result with letting coffee on the burner for more than 2-4 hours.

Those are things you can consider to make sure if Santos is the right coffee maker for you, but for me, all those things are worth it! This coffee maker is just the best!

It blows the scale for cool, it blows the scale for ease-of-use, it blows the scale for brew. It's as simple as it looks, and even more facinating to watch: as water in the lower chamber boils, the steam forces hot water into the brew chamber. When the unit senses the boildown, the heat is turned off. As the air in the lower chamber cools, it vacuums the brewed coffee back through the nylon filter. Much faster than Mr Coffee. The brew is equal to french press and pretty close to expresso. Cleans with soap, water and a soft bottle brush--every time. The plastic is, unfortunately, prone to scratches (mine arrived with a disturbing scuff, but after I tasted the brew, I forgot all about it). It did seem a bit pricey (I'd balked for a full year), but mine will pay for itself with twelve of my regular Starbucks Ventis. Except that I was so impressed that I bought a second unit for my mother, so make that twenty-four Ventis.

I purchased the Bodum Mini Santos for my husband for Christmas (his nickname: Coffee Boy). The Bodum makes the best coffee we've ever had, and the hottest. I like strong, good coffee with cream and sugar, and my husband drinks his black. I used Peet's Garuda Blend ground at 7, and it worked perfectly. Good, strong, clear coffee, unlike anything I've had before. The unit is fun to watch, easy to clean, and I would not hesitate to recommend it as the first choice for anybody. Prior to buying this I returned no less than 3 units ... lousy coffee, cheap construction, not worth the money. I had given up and returned to the old-school manual drip coffee. I am so glad I took a chance and ordered this. Brilliant!

The best way to describe this unit is "Superb Quality". It makes coffee that will make you want to burn your drip maker alive! Smooth texture (even with 1/2 of the recommended 2 tblspn/cup serving of coffee), hot!, and a great pure taste. I, fortunately don't have the problems many have complained about. Brew time for me is a nice 2 minutes in optimum water temperature (201F according to Bodem). **Coffee Maker also works at high altitude! (i live at 6,200 ft)**

The quality though of this unit is impeccable. The handle is made of a soft grib rubber that feels very durable, and the carafe itself, once held in the hand seems very sturdy. The unit definitely reassures the fact that the with Swiss engineering, and German manufacture, you will be guaranteed to have a very well made unit!

Are there any downfalls to this Bodum? Hardly, from what I see with it now. As with anything well made, you have to be careful with it if you want it to serve you for a long time. This isn't your beater Mr. Coffee drip machine here, so treat it well (the money should talk for itself).

All things considered, this is an excellent buy and highly recommended for great tasting coffee!

I bought this product since I was intrigued by its beauty and function--it has not let me down. It is really a marvel to watch and it works exceptionally well. The coffee (or even tea) is piping hot (unlike my old drip coffee maker) and the design, down to the funnel holder, is clever. Even my engineer husband was impressed. We love it!