The French Press: Best coffee making device EVER...

[Dookus]

I just got one a couple weeks ago, and man oh man, coffee has never tasted better. I spit in your drip makers. I pee on your percolators. It's all about the French Press, baby!

[JuniorPlankton]

1. What's that? n/t

[Dookus]

it's a glass (pyrex?) pot

you scoop in some ground coffee, add water, let it all stew for a few minutes. Then a plunger-like press is inserted that shoves all the grounds to the bottom and lets the yummy nummy coffee behind.

[Worst Username Ever]

3. It's a container of hot water

with a strainer that you push down into it. Basically put your hot water and grounds in together, then push the strainer down on top of it. Really great.

[Kali]

5. yummy

does make the best!

http://www.1stincoffee.com/bodum.asp

[Blue-Jay]

2. Just don't drink French press coffee on an empty stomach.

It'll give you the jibbly-jibblies. Superior coffee, though.

[redqueen]

4. Doesn't it make a world of difference?

Drip is more convenient, but I have the large press and love it!

[Dookus]

6. it's unbelievable

I'm very much a "convenience" kind of guy, but the quality difference is SO much that I use my press every day now.

[redqueen]

7. I feel like a schmuck now

In eyesroll's thread about splurging, I was a smartass instead of telling the truth... I splurge on gourmet coffee! Only shade-grown organic for me. :)

[wildeyed]

8. So good.

I have an electric kettle (boils water really fast) and an insulated 2-cup french press which keeps my second cup hot while I drink the first. With this system, making french press coffee is not any harder that drip.

I grind the beans fresh every morning. Mmmmmmmm....... I will *never* go back to drip.

[tridim]

9. Doesn't the coffee get cold?

or does it have a heating element? I'm a stickler for piping hot coffee, lukewarm coffee is nasty IMO. Maybe a post-pressing thermal carafe is a necessity?

[redqueen]

11. It would if it lasted long enough

I've never run into that problem, myself. :)

Someone upthread mentioned an insulated press. So if you're in need of that then it's available, apparently.

I highly recommend it!

[theorist]

10. You mean "Freedom Press", right?

I love my French Press. I must use it at least three times a day. You can actually taste it. The water never touches plastic!

[burythehatchet]

12. How course is your coffee?

I have difficulty grinding to the right grit.

[redqueen]

13. If you have the type of grinder I have

then you just have to practice. Don't hold it on too long... just pulse the grinder and check it often so it doesn't get too fine. You'll get to the point where you know how long to grind it.

[wildeyed]

18. burr grinder

You can adjust the grind of the coffee, plus it has a reservoir to store the unground beans, and it supposedly grates the coffee bean instead of grinding it which keeps the oils from scorching.

[Ready4Change]

14. French Press is great for coffee while camping.

No electricity needed. Just boil water on a fire or stove.

Personally I like a more "boring" cup of coffee, but any cup is better than none when I'me trying to get going in the morning.

[Kellanved]

15. Then you should try a vacuum coffee maker

:hi:

[minkyboodle]

23. beat me to it

Vacuum is the best I've ever tried. French press is quite good and convenient as well. Believe it or not, with a bit of practice you can make a wonderful cup on coffee with those cheap little single cup melitta drip cups. just keep the brew time under 3 minutes with them and grind fine with your burr grinder... mmmmm coffee goodness. But if I could choose any it would be vacuum.

[Hand]

16. Percolators??? FEH!!!!!!

"Café boilu, café foutu!"

:hi:

[Robb]

17. It really is the best, ain't it?

I rarely get it together to handle so much hands-on first thing in the morning, though. :) My second-best is my Capresso gold-cone. I think it's as close as one can get in the automatic department... super-hot filtered water into a thermal carafe.

[pdx_prog]

19. Yes, they're great!

[tigereye]

21. I love mine!

[miss_kitty]

20. I have a french press i use it for loose leaf tea

here's what I use for COFFEE! 2-3 times a day! for 25+ years

[jpgray]

22. I really love my stovetop macchinetta for coffee

It works something like this: