I buy this model because of the `` titanium bowl , '' as I want to avoid teflon . it turn out , the bowl might be a teflon-titanium blend , it might be titanium with a teflon inner coating , it might be God know what . I have have the rice cooker for three year and yes , it have be great . until the bowl start flake , like any other teflon bowl . if you see gold spot inside you bowl , then it be flake and you have to throw it out . the problem ? there be no replacement bowl to buy . I have be on the phone with Sanyo and various part distributor all afternoon . the part -lrb- the inner bowl -rrb- have be back-ordered for 3 month and the part distributor have not be able to get any information from Sanyo . I find that strange , consider they be still manufacture this rice cooker !! so now , instead of spend $ 20 on a new bowl , I have to spend $ 100 + on a new rice cooker . do you think it be go to be another Sanyo ??? I do not . but what to do about the darned teflon bowl that they all have . I might have to get a stainless steel model , and suck it up on the cleanup . or maybe a Zojirushi , and I will just have to commit to buy a new bowl every year . at least you can buy a new bowl for those .