Electric Santos 12-Cup Vacuum Coffee Maker - Clear w/ Timer & Auto Shut-off - 3000-10USA  Product Reviews

"I LOVE the coffee from the Bodum Santos. I would give it five stars if it were halfway reliable. I have had FIVE of these within 6 years. Don't buy this expecting it to last a lifetime. The coffee is wonderful from these units. Clean with denture tabs and you will extend the life of the unit. Put it on a NICE surge protector, maybe that will help. In 6 years we have owned... (1) Starbucks Utopia label of the Santos (after 6 months developed a leak in gasket, which dripped into electronics and fried the unit) (2) Replacement version from Starbucks (after 6 monthsdeveloped a leak in gasket...starbucks gave us a full refund and said they no longer carry the unit because it is problematic) (3) Bodum Santos 'newer' revision (after 1 yr, electronics stopped turning 'off' the burner. Oh yes...small leak in gasket) (4) Bodum Santos 'mini' version for fewer cups (after 6 months...electronics failure) (5) Replacement Bodum Santos 'mini' version (lasted over a year! Now...it doesn't turn on. At all.) "

"This coffee makes great tasting coffee and is fun to watch ... while it lasts. My first unit lasted less than 2 months - the hot plate stayed on instead of automatically shutting off, creating a burnt, smelly, smokey mess which could have burned down my house. The 2nd unit (I had to pay for shipping to send back the broken machine - the new one was sent to me free of charges) lasted 3 months. The electronics failed again and the heating would drastically vary. Sometimes the coffee became too hot and burnt othertimes it woultn't be hot enough and under-brewed. So another $10.00 to send it back and I got a Bodum french press and other acessories instead. I also agree with all the reviews that machine uses A LOT of coffee. And that it is hard to clean. And the buttons are too small and hard to press. Avoid this, unless you plan on only using it a few times a month to impress dinner guests."

"I've owned this coffee maker for over a year. There's no question that it makes excellent coffee, once you get the hang of it, but it uses an insane amount of coffee. So be prepared to spend an awful lot of money on coffee beans with this one. For me, I'm willing to put up with that for a really good brew. But my real problem with this machine (and my reason for writing this review) is that while it is an excellent design, the manufacturing seems to be second rate. After about 6 months the electrical unit on the machine burned out. I called Bodum and they said the replacement part was back ordered. After waiting about 6 weeks I called them again and they finally sent me a whole new coffee maker. Now, 6 months later, another electronics malfunction is causing the thing to boil over about one in four times that we use it. Frankly, I'm fed up and I'm going to buy anther machine altogether. Bottom line - great design, great coffee, very poorly made."

"I've had the Bodum electric, vacuum 6-cup (not 12-cup) for more than 18-months, and have used it twice a day, every day. The coffee is delicious, the time from "on" to "drink" is really fast, and it has had no problems (that weren't caused by me). Unlike some methods, vacuum coffee is clear (not cloudy), and can be made very strong without bitterness. What more can you ask for? It is beautiful, as coffee makers go. I think I prefer plastic--and it is tough as nails. It is it's own little after-dinner, one-act play. I like the mini-drama--at least it's better than the interminable drip . . . . drip . . . . drip and stale taste of friend's filter-type makers. No paper filters, easy to clean--just let the vacuum suck air for a little while after all the coffee is in the bottom, at the end of the cycle, and by the time you clean up the grounds are quite dry, not gloppy. At the start I tried to make 6-cups (remember, I have the 6-cup model), but with the large amount of grounds that I use (very strong coffee), and the super-fine vacuum grind I like (nearly powder), it frothed over the sides once. It was my fault. Making a pot of coffee takes maybe 3 minutes, so if I need more, I make another pot. Presto. Best electric coffee I've ever had."