In Dallas one weekend last year, Luke and I walked into the Bodum store while our wives were shopping down the street. One eye-popping demonstration later and I was sold on the Bodum Santos. But is it really better than the trusty French Press?

The Santos looks a lot like somebody's science project. You spoon coffee into a bowl-shaped device that fits into the top of the carafe. The water in the carafe climbs up through the pipe, wetting the grounds and finally filling the bowl. Then the whole contraption smokes and bubbles in mad scientist fashion for a few minutes until the coffee is brewed and it all streams down into the carafe, ready to pour.

The resulting coffee is as rich as French Press but smoother, and the heating base keeps it warm for a couple of hours, so you have a longer practical serving window than you would with the French Press.

After seeing the display, I bought a Santos for my father as a gift. He was new to coffee making, but he could appreciate the French Press coffee I served at our place. The Santos, coupled with a Bodum burr grinder, gave him a simple way to produce comparable results.

It took a few months before I finally broke down and bought one myself. The French Press is so convenient that it's hard to justify a replacement. What finally convinced me was the fact that I kept pouring out cups of unserved coffee that turned cold in the French Press before we could drink them. So welcome, Santos.