Lowest New Price: USD $60.00
Features :
- Theatrical, entertaining method of brewing six 5-ounce cups of coffee
- Made of heat-resistant glass and durable, gleaming nylon
- Carafe with stay-cool handle and a stopper keeps coffee warm
- Dishwasher-safe; includes coffee scoop and resting stand
- Measures 9-1/4 by 6 by 11-1/2 inches
There is a good reason you can find a SANTOS coffeemaker in nearly every Scandinavian home, this vacuum brewing system has been fascinating coffee lovers for over sixty years. In the fifties, Peter Bodum, the father of today's owner, Jorgen Bodum, imported an French vacuum coffee maker and sold it on the Danish Market. Although he found it both unsatisfactory and expensive, he was convinced that the vacuum brewing system was an excellent way to brew an exquisite cup of coffee. Thus, the first Bodum Santos vacuum coffee maker was born. In collaboration with Danish designer Kaas Klaeson, Peter Bodum developed what we know today as the SANTOS, establishing the credo: ‘good design doesn’t have to be expensive’. The magic of the Santos holds both adults and children spellbound as they watch the boiling water rush from the bottom glass jug to the upper one where it gets mixed with freshly ground coffee. After a few minutes off the stovetop, a vacuum forms in the base which pulls rich black coffee through a filter and back into the bottom jug. This captivating process combines the ideal water temperature with just the right brewing time and makes for superb results. Whatever your preferred coffee and roast, the Santos vacuum system brings out the very best aromas in your cup.
Amazon.com Review
As beautiful as sculpture, as fascinating as chemistry, and as entertaining as theater, this coffeemaker from Switzerland converts the ordinary process of brewing coffee into an artful performance. And it makes six 5-ounce cups of full-flavored coffee while it entrances. The coffeemaker fits together like this: water goes into the carafe, a filter fits into the mouth of a tube in the top globe, ground coffee goes into the globe (a scoop is included), the globe fits atop the carafe with the tube extending into the carafe, and the carafe goes onto the stovetop with a trivet or heat diffuser between it and electric or gas heat. (This is all much simpler and quicker than it sounds.)
Water boils up through the tube into the globe and brews the coffee. When brewing is complete and the carafe has been taken off the stovetop and set into its accompanying sculpted trivet, the coffee drains through the filter into the carafe. The globe can then be lifted off the carafe and set on its stand, and coffee can be poured from the carafe, which has a stay-cool handle. A stopper for the carafe keeps second cups warm while the first cups are sipped. Fully assembled, the coffee maker stands 11-1/2 inches high. It's made of heat-resistant glass and durable, gleaming nylon, and all parts are dishwasher-safe. --Fred Brack
Customer Reviews
makes a great cup of java (2010-07-08)
It took a couple tries to get the grind right...to fine and it plugs the filter, to course and the coffee is a little weak. Once you get it right it makes a great cup of coffee and its entertaining to watch.
Bodum Santos Coffee Maker REALLY SUCKS (water from the lower pot)....and that's a good thing :) (2010-06-28)
Very pleased with this unit. I saw a vacuum coffee pot on a Modern Marvels episode, and decided to give it a try.
Making coffee with a vacuum pot IS going to be a little more active-participation than using a drip machine, but it is pretty simple. Mostly you just need to keep an eye on it near the end of the boil cycle, so it doesn't boil dry and crack the bottom pot. Making coffee with a vac pot is about the same effort as using a French press.
Practice a couple times to learn how the pot works with your stove, and you won't even have to think about it. I'd say 15 minutes from start to drinking coffee, including clean-up, when you get the hang of it.
Simple and elegant--four pieces (pot, funnel, filter block, and cover), surprisingly easy-to-clean.
In particular, I noticed coffee made in this unit is very smooth and aromatic--I was impressed with the lack of bitterness. Some fine sentiment in the bottom of the pot--very similar to a French press that way.
I got the Nordicware Heat Diffuser disc as well (use it on an electric stove), which evens out the heat. I would definitely recommend using it, unless your stovetop is very consistent.
If anything, I would like the unit to be a bit larger--it is just fine for one, or perhaps two moderate coffee-drinkers, but can be a bit small for company.
Not for the feint of heart!!! (2010-06-16)
I've owned both the electric santos and now the stove top version. The electric one pooped out when my non inclined room mate just threw the electric carafe into the sink to clean it not taking the time to become familiar with it.
I bought my first stovetop santos and same roommate broke the carafe when she thought it was ok for the carafe to remain on full heat when no water was in it. So of course one would say Oh this thing is too fragile. Not entirely true.
The santos is simply the best coffee maker I've ever owned. After you get it all figured out it has to be the cheapest and easiest to operate. Only if you don't break it. And the taste is just exquisite after some dialing in.
Bottom line is take your time, become familiar with it and remember if you do not want this thing to break on you, at least an eighth an inch of water HAS to remain in bottom of carafe or it WILL break! And handle it like a new born baby! As far a brewing goes...This takes experimentation you have to play around a little to dial in that perfect taste. But once you do, you're going to be in coffee paradise!! After it's all said and done this is really an extremely easy way to make the absolute best coffee.
So give it a try and if you break it believe me it is totally worth buying another and keeping all non-broken parts for spares on new one.
makes really smooth cup of coffee! (2010-04-13)
This makes really smooth/clean-tasting cup of coffee, no coffee residue in your mug. Bit of cleaning-up involved, but fun to use.
SEE Bodum Santos Stovetop Glass Vacuum 34-Ounce Coffee Maker at Amazon.com Now