Bodum Santos Vacuum Coffeemaker

Rating 4/5 Because this coffeemaker was unavailable for a while I was waiting for it with some anticipation. My patience was well rewarded with some fine tasting cups of coffee!

It does take a little longer to make coffee than my Mr Coffee machine. The cleanup is a little longer, too. But the difference in taste is worth it. There are limits on the advantages of convenience...

However it is important to use a coarse grind of coffee. If the grind is too fine, or if the grind includes too much "dust" then the filter will clog. The coffee then never makes the trip down the tube and just sort of sits there, betwixt and between. So just remember to use the right grind and you will be very happy with your Bodum Santos.

I also use a Cory glass filter rod instead of the plastic filter included with the Bodum Santos. The plastic one works just fine but the glass filter looks so cool. (The caveat about coarse grind applies to the glass filter rod as well.)

Try it! You'll like it!

Rating 5/5 I've been an Amazon customer for quite a few years, but I haven't before felt the need to review a product. This time, I felt like I had to defend this from other reviewers.

Before I bought this coffeemaker here I read great reviews on wholelattelove.com. But here on Amazon, it's plagued with a few bad reviews. People have said their coffee pot has cracked, other pieces have broken, etc. The instructions included clearly state that some care needs to be taken- you are putting glass on a very hot surface. If you're not careful, it will crack. But that's true of all glass - it's not a design flaw in this product. In fact, the bottom globe was thicker and sturdier than I was expecting. It looks more fragile in the pictures than it actually is. It seems some people can't follow directions, and they want to blame anybody but themselves.

Yes, when it's ready to be taken off the stove, all the water is in the top globe, so it's a little top heavy. Have some common sense.

And a couple people seem to be giving this product a bad review because of bad service they've received from Amazon. This isn't the place to complain that Bizrate had items mixed up, or that Amazon sent you a used product. Again, common sense...

This thing makes GREAT coffee - every bit as good as a french press, and with less sediment. I've used it everyday for two months, and haven't had a single problem. I think it's fantastic, and I haven't regretted buying it for a second.

Rating 5/5 Excellent Coffee!!!! There are tricks to its use, but who hasn't found that with anything foreign. There little extra effort is something you do for the labor of great tasting cup of coffee.

Rating 1/5 This item was listed on the Bizrate.com site, as being available from Amazon.com as a 12 cup electric coffee maker. When it arrived, I was dismayed to discover it was only 8 cups (and remember, that's those teeny weeny French cups) and a manual maker.

It went right back to Amazon. Not anywhere near worth the $49.00
I initially paid for it!

Rating 1/5 I'm not sure how well this coffeemaker works. I purchased one from Amazon and received one that was obviously in used condition. The glass was water stained and not factory packaged. There wasn't a manual or any instructions. 1 star for Amazon on this one.