French Press Coffee Maker Review

Priced around $10.00 - $40.00 depending on style

A French press coffee maker is a simple yet effective machine for brewing coffee. It is also known as a press pot, coffee plunger, coffee press or cafetière. The French press is believed to have been first invented in France in the 1850’s, but was not patented until 1931 by Attilio Calimani.

Design

The French Press is a simple coffee machine that is inexpensive and will make an exceptional cup of coffee. There are many specific designs, but most French Press coffee makers share similar features.

The French press consists of a glass or plastic cylindrical pitcher shaped container with a lid that has a built in plunger fitted into the top. The plunger is slightly smaller than the lid and has a flat filter attached. The filter is made of a very fine wire or nylon mesh and can be plunged down to the bottom of the cylinder or pitcher using slow steady pressure.

How to Use a French Press Coffee Maker

Coffee is brewed by placing the coffee grounds (2 TBSP per every 6 oz. of water) in the bottom of the glass container. The best grind for a French press is a coarser grind than you would use for a regular drip brew. This is due to the wire mesh filter and obtaining a coarse enough grind so it would not be forced through the filter when pressed. I have personally had a cup of French Press that was ground too fine and there is a layer of sediment in the bottom. Not a good way to end a fine cup of coffee.

Heat fresh spring water, filtered water or you can use tap water as long as there are no detectable tastes such as chlorine etc. Add the water just off the stove after boiling.

For those that like to be precise: the optimum water temperature for use in a French Press coffee maker is water heated to a boil, then cooled to a temperature of 195°-205° F (90.5-96.1 C).

For those that just want their coffee and like things simple: using a standard size teapot to heat your water, just remove it from the stove after it comes to a boil and count for 10 seconds. That's approximately 195°-205° F.

Fill the container and stir quickly just to mix. Cover it with the plunger/lid and allow to meld for about 4 minutes. I always set my kitchen timer so I don’t get side tracked. After 4 minutes, gently press the plunger to the bottom. This should be slow and deliberate and take about 30 seconds.

Now you are ready to pour a great tasting cup of coffee! Put the remaining coffee in an insulated carafe so it stays warm and retains the rich flavor.

Benefits of a French Press

Coffee brewed with the French press captures more of the coffee's flavor and essential oils, which, in a traditional drip brew would become trapped in the machine's paper filters.

Less expensive and more compact than traditional drip brew machines. Stores easily.

No hassles with paper filters. You won’t have to worry about running out of filters, having to buy filters or throwing them out.

Portable: you can take this anywhere and enjoy that amazing cup of coffee.

Consumer Reviews

“I have had the press for about three weeks. I was very pleased with it. So much so that I put away my large counter-top drip coffee maker.”

“All in all, it's a good product. From the useful sizes, cost, and the nice plastic holder for the glass (a GREAT feature) this is well worth the money even with a minor, easy to fix flaw.” It seems that there are numerous complaints about the nut on the plunger. Even if it is made of metal, it does break. There are fixes for it on the Internet if this happens."

Consumers suggest to make sure to buy a French Press coffee maker that has the metal nut on the plunger not the plastic nut. They both tend to have issues after a while, but the plastic nut presents those problems sooner than later.

“My fiancé uses a French Press daily. He prefers the flavor of the French Press over drip machines. He also adds a pinch of Kosher salt before brewing. We haven’t used our coffee pot since!" Know Your Beans

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