Bodum Electric Santos Review

What the reviewers like:
The majority of owners are fans of the coffee produced by the Bodum Electric Santos. Compared to non-vacuum coffee makers, it has a novelty factor and entertainment value. Reviews say the vacuum process produces a more robust-tasting coffee that's not for everyone, but for fans of French press coffee makers, the Bodum Electric Santos is a good automatic alternative.

What the reviewers don't like:
A fair number of owners comment that there’s a learning curve for the Bodum Electric Santos, indicating that it takes some trial and error to figure out the right amount of beans and to get the optimal grind. Because of the carafe's design, it must be hand washed, and you'll need a bottle brush to get down into the corners of the polycarbonate carafe. Though shatterproof, some owners say the plastic can eventually scratch or become discolored.

Bodum Electric Santos review highlights

All reviewers of the Bodum Electric Santos remark on this coffee maker's entertainment value -- it's just really fun to watch the vacuum being created through its clean polycarbonate jug and funnel. Expert reviewers and owners like the more robust flavor of the coffee produced by vacuum brewers, so the Bodum Electric Santos is a good choice if you like heavier-tasting specialty coffee, or for those who normally like to use a French press. However, owners say the Bodum Electric Santos isn’t for everyone -- it takes a while to learn to use it, it's not that easy to clean and it doesn't keep the coffee hot very long. A few owners say the coffee could be stronger as well. Overall, reviews say the Bodum Electric Santos is a fun choice for enthusiasts who don't mind tinkering to get the right brew, and don't mind taking extra time with cleaning.

The Bodum Electric Santos vacuum-process coffee maker is included in an older comparison review at Cook's Illustrated magazine, where testers evaluate vacuum brewers for coffee taste, ease of use and ease of cleaning. We also found hundreds of owner-written reviews for the Bodum Electric Santos at Amazon.com, CoffeeGeek.com, Epinions and Cooking.com, where the overall scores are a bit mixed.

Also see full report: Coffee Makers

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. CoffeeGeek.com
Bodum Santos Electric reviews
Contributors to CoffeeGeek.com

On this enthusiast website, owners can write reviews for their coffee makers, including the Bodum Electric Santos. Many of the 50 or so owners posting reviews say it makes good coffee and is fun to watch. Others complain that the coffee isn't hot enough and that it brews too quickly. Several owners also describe a modification (which can be accomplished with a hacksaw) to improve both aspects.

2. Cook’s Illustrated
The "New" Coffee Makers
Adam Ried
Nov. 1, 2003

Cook's Illustrated rates seven coffee machines with the latest coffee-brewing technology: Three combination grinder/automatic drip machines, two electric vacuum machines and two pump-driven, single-cup brewers. The testers decide they like the strong flavor (although they admit not everyone will) and the novelty of watching the brewing process with the vacuum brewers, declaring the (discontinued) Black & Decker Infuze Vacuum-Brew the ultimate winner. The Bodum Electric Santos was harder to clean and didn't keep the coffee hot for very long.

3. Amazon.com
Bodum Electric Santos ratings
Contributors to Amazon.com

At Amazon.com, the Bodum Electric Santos has received over 200 owner-written reviews. But it gets an overall rating of just 3.5 stars (out of five). Great tasting coffee, convenience and cool design are high points, and many say it's just fun to watch coffee brewing in Bodum Electric Santos. However, some owners say the coffee isn't hot enough and that the brewing process is too short. Others comment that the plastic eventually stains and that it is harder to clean.

4. Cooking.com
Bodum Electric Santos coffee maker reviews
Contributors to Cooking.com

Most of the approximately 40 owners posting reviews for the Bodum Electric Santos are very happy, and this coffee maker gets a high overall rating. The majority say that the coffee tastes great and that it's fun to watch the brewing process with the Electric Santos.

5. Epinions
Bodum Santos 3000 reviews

There are about 25 owner-written reviews here for the Bodum Electric Santos. Most owners really like this coffee maker, but a few say it’s hard to clean and the coffee isn't strong enough.

Also see full report: Coffee Makers

Bodum Electric Santos Review