French Press Coffee Maker
     
A French press coffee maker is the most popular kind of manual coffee
makers.
It is also one of the most inexpensive to purchase, and brews wonderful tasting coffe.
A French press coffee maker consists of just two parts: the coffee chamber itself, and the
lid/plunger.
You can get French Press Coffee makers in a
number of styles and price ranges, however, there are some things you should keep in mind when choosing a French
press:
- Material of carafe: most French presses are made of glass, and many people feel that a stylish glass-carafe
French press adds to their enjoyment of their coffee. (I admit I’m in that group myself!) Some newer models are
also made of stainless steel.
A stainless steel carafe will keep your coffee warmer for longer than a glass model. However, many
double-walled glass carafes will keep your coffee warm for just as long.
This is another factor you may wish to consider: whether or not the carafe is double-walled. A double-walled
French press carafe will keep your coffee warmer for longer.
- Size of the carafe: most French presses will not keep coffee warm for more than 20 minutes, so you should
plan on serving the coffee as soon as it’s prepared.
Do not buy a large French press hoping that you will make 10 cups in the morning and then drink them throughout
the day.
Instead, buy a French press that is large enough for your needs.
I recommend buying at least a 4-cup French press, even if you live by yourself. My first French press was a
1-cup model, and it was annoying to make more than one cup of coffee when people came over. With my 4-cup
model, I regularly make 2 cups of coffee (for me and my partner) and friends staying for coffee are easy to
serve.
Most people don’t need the larger 10- or 12-cup sized carafes, unless you regularly make coffee for a lot of
people.
- Budget: As with most things, you get what you pay for. French presses themselves are so inexpensive, I
advise against trying to save a few bucks by going for the cheapest model.
With the cheaper models, you will find that the carafe material is inferior. You may find that your coffee has
a bitter taste that has seeped in from the materials. Or you may find that the carafe is so fragile that it
breaks easily. A friend had her cheap carafe crack due to the hot water!
Best French Press Coffee Maker
In my opinion, the best French press is made by Bodum. Bodum French Presses get rave reviewers, and since I own
one myself I know why that is! They last long, are easy to use and clean and make great coffee.
Check out customer reviews here.
Of course, there are some other up-and-coming French press brands, so you may wish to check out the best-selling
French presses here.
How to Make Coffee With a French Press Coffee Maker
The steps to making coffee with a French press are:
- Heat the water till near boiling point.
- Add coffee grounds in the French press – one heaped teaspoon per 8 oz (1 cup) of water
- Add the water slowly
- Optional – stir the grounds slightly
- Put the lid on, with the plunger part high above
- Leave to soak for 2 – 5 minutes. The longer you soak the coffee the stronger will be the taste. However, do
not soak for too long or your coffee will taste burnt and bitter.
- Press the plunger down using medium pressure. Pour out the coffee and enjoy!
How a French Press Coffee Maker works
A French press coffee maker works by steeping
the coffee beans in hot water. This allows the maximum extraction of flavor from the beans. In fact, a French press
will extract the full amount of flavor; on the other hand typical drip coffee machines do not extract the most
flavor since the water is sprayed on the coffee grounds for a very short period of time in most drip machines. For
this reason, many coffee connoisseurs prefer French presses to make their coffee.
Tips For Using a French Press
Here are some things you should keep in mind when using a French press to make your coffee:
1. Use freshly ground beans for maximum flavor.
2. Use good tasting water. If the water in your area has an aftertaste, use a water filter to purify the water
first.
3. Do not reuse coffee grounds – if you do, your coffee will taste burnt.
4. Clean the French Press regularly
5. Use coarsely ground beans with your French press.
Browse Pricing and Customer Reviews For French Press Coffee Makers - Click Here
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