Bodum Santos 3000 12-Cups Coffee Maker

I cannot believe all the rave reviews the Bodum has received. We've had one for about 6 months, and already the bottom heating element is badly discolored, (and no way to get in there to clean it) and the little plastic brackets that hold the lid on are broken. E-mails to Bodum regarding the sorry lid hinges went unanswered. As others have mentioned, it takes 'way more coffee to make a pot of average strength, and to my taste it comes out too hot, and doesn't taste any different that my old Mr Coffee's! .