Bodum Santos 3000 12-Cups Coffee Maker
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- Max. Power: 1200 Watts
- Operation: Electric
- Type: Coffee Maker
- Built-in Grinder: Without Built-in Grinder
- Capacity: 12 Cups
Similar in Espresso Machines & Coffee Makers
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The best alternative to French press.
Pros
High-quality Coffee, High-quality Machine
Cons
Might become tedious for everyday use.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Perfect for people not sure what to buy, but looking for excellent taste.
The first thing to know when buying a coffee maker is that simplicity is always key to a successful brew. If you don't believe this concept, you will after experimenting a few times. This fact alone is why the French press remains a favorite among coffee gurus. Very few moving parts to break, and complete manual control of the coffee making process.
Well, the next best thing to the rich, smooth press coffee flavor is arguably the Vacuum pot. The Vacuum pot, like the French press physically mixes the coffee grounds with the water, and at the ideal temperature. Unlike an automatic drip coffee maker, there is no paper filter on the Bodum Santos. This is important because the oils from coffee add to the smooth texture and refinement of the final product. Paper filters remove a considerable amount of this oil from the brew.
How the Bodum Santos 3004 works:
You must start with a good batch of whole coffee beans. Grind them to a medium-fine grain (the finer the cut, the cloudier the brew will be, choose accordingly). The standard 7 gms per Bodum cup is a fine amount, although you may want to go higher. Add good tasting, cold water to the jug to the desired amount indicated on the jug. Attach the funnel to the jug. Add ground coffee to the top portion. Put the lid on the top and start the unit by flicking the switch on the side.
Almost immediately, you hear the water start to heat up. The Santos has a very powerful heating element. During the heating process, water will slowly start to drop in the jug and rise up into the funnel. Once there is around 0.25 inches of water left in the jug, the suction of water stops from the bottom and huge air bubbles rush up top to mix the grounds with the water. Because the level of the water in the jug is just at the bottom of the spout, there will be a continous amount of air traveling up to the funnel to mix the grounds and water during the brewing process.
The brewing process lasts around 2.5-3 minutes, where once it has been completed, the heating element turns off, and the pressure built-up in the jug holding the mixture up in the funnel quickly lessens and within a few seconds, the brew flows back down into the jug through the nylon filter. Depending on the fineness of the grind, you may notice the mixture to be a bit cloudy. If you don't like this quality, increase the grind size the next time around.
Next, you pop the funnel holder out of the base and detach the funnel. Place the funnel in the holder. Rotate the jug top into place and pour yourself one of (if not the best) cups of coffee you'll ever have. :)
General Taste quality: 8.9726/10
Depending on the type of bean you use, the Santos delivers a rich, full-bodied flavor, with a slight hint of smokiness to it. The coffee is noticeably "thicker" than a automatic drip brew. There is absolutely no bitterness as well.
Machine quality: 10/10
The functionality and durability of every part is outstanding. The jug and funnel are made of a high-grade polycarbonate plastic. The lid is made of regular, but high-quality plastic, and the jug lid is constructed of a softer, but again, high quality plastic. The handle is made of a material Bodum calls "Santoprene". I'm having a hard time describing it, but it grips very well and again is made of high-grade material.
This machine is made in Germany and engineered in Switzerland.
Miscellaneous things to consider:
1. The filter has to be replaced every 1-3 months. ($4.95 plus shipping direct from Bodum)
2. Clean-up takes a little longer than with an automatic drip maker.
3. There is no timer on this model. If you need one, look at the Bodum 3000 Santos.
4. Makes up to 5 cups. Each cup = 4 oz.
5. Vinegar works fine in removing calcium build-up.
6. Polycarbonate, although very hard to break, scratches easily.
I'm hoping my review encouraged at least one of you to buy this product. It really is an excellent coffee maker and makes a consistently good cup. The quality of the brew is near a French press level, and leaves you feeling like you got your moneys worth from the coffee beans you just bought. Makes an excellent gift too.
If you have any questions regarding the unit, email me anytime. Good luck with your decision.
Well, the next best thing to the rich, smooth press coffee flavor is arguably the Vacuum pot. The Vacuum pot, like the French press physically mixes the coffee grounds with the water, and at the ideal temperature. Unlike an automatic drip coffee maker, there is no paper filter on the Bodum Santos. This is important because the oils from coffee add to the smooth texture and refinement of the final product. Paper filters remove a considerable amount of this oil from the brew.
How the Bodum Santos 3004 works:
You must start with a good batch of whole coffee beans. Grind them to a medium-fine grain (the finer the cut, the cloudier the brew will be, choose accordingly). The standard 7 gms per Bodum cup is a fine amount, although you may want to go higher. Add good tasting, cold water to the jug to the desired amount indicated on the jug. Attach the funnel to the jug. Add ground coffee to the top portion. Put the lid on the top and start the unit by flicking the switch on the side.
Almost immediately, you hear the water start to heat up. The Santos has a very powerful heating element. During the heating process, water will slowly start to drop in the jug and rise up into the funnel. Once there is around 0.25 inches of water left in the jug, the suction of water stops from the bottom and huge air bubbles rush up top to mix the grounds with the water. Because the level of the water in the jug is just at the bottom of the spout, there will be a continous amount of air traveling up to the funnel to mix the grounds and water during the brewing process.
The brewing process lasts around 2.5-3 minutes, where once it has been completed, the heating element turns off, and the pressure built-up in the jug holding the mixture up in the funnel quickly lessens and within a few seconds, the brew flows back down into the jug through the nylon filter. Depending on the fineness of the grind, you may notice the mixture to be a bit cloudy. If you don't like this quality, increase the grind size the next time around.
Next, you pop the funnel holder out of the base and detach the funnel. Place the funnel in the holder. Rotate the jug top into place and pour yourself one of (if not the best) cups of coffee you'll ever have. :)
General Taste quality: 8.9726/10
Depending on the type of bean you use, the Santos delivers a rich, full-bodied flavor, with a slight hint of smokiness to it. The coffee is noticeably "thicker" than a automatic drip brew. There is absolutely no bitterness as well.
Machine quality: 10/10
The functionality and durability of every part is outstanding. The jug and funnel are made of a high-grade polycarbonate plastic. The lid is made of regular, but high-quality plastic, and the jug lid is constructed of a softer, but again, high quality plastic. The handle is made of a material Bodum calls "Santoprene". I'm having a hard time describing it, but it grips very well and again is made of high-grade material.
This machine is made in Germany and engineered in Switzerland.
Miscellaneous things to consider:
1. The filter has to be replaced every 1-3 months. ($4.95 plus shipping direct from Bodum)
2. Clean-up takes a little longer than with an automatic drip maker.
3. There is no timer on this model. If you need one, look at the Bodum 3000 Santos.
4. Makes up to 5 cups. Each cup = 4 oz.
5. Vinegar works fine in removing calcium build-up.
6. Polycarbonate, although very hard to break, scratches easily.
I'm hoping my review encouraged at least one of you to buy this product. It really is an excellent coffee maker and makes a consistently good cup. The quality of the brew is near a French press level, and leaves you feeling like you got your moneys worth from the coffee beans you just bought. Makes an excellent gift too.
If you have any questions regarding the unit, email me anytime. Good luck with your decision.
