Tonight I took the plunge and bought me a french press. My son has a Chemex, which I love, but after reading all the reviews on the french press here, I got me one. I practiced on it tonight and tomorrow morning I'm looking forward to making my wife and me some great coffee. It takes so much smoother and fuller than drip coffee. Any helpful hints, gents?
Bought my First French Press
- Thread starter meglad
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Congrats! The french press is the only way to go in my opinon. You'll probably play with grind, quantity of beans and length of steeping until you find your comfort zone, but once you hit it, everything is good.
You'll love your new press; very simple and also very easy to make adjustments to your coffee preparation to fine-tune your perfect cup. There are lots of good advice and instruction in the stickies in this section; I don't think I could add any tips that aren't discussed there. Enjoy!
I love French Press as well. It is one of the simplest and tastiness ways to brew. Good Luck and Enjoy.
No real hints, but you will get spoiled quickly.
Another Press enthusiast here!
Every morning, I brew a full 32oz. Bodum and pour half into my travel mug and half into a thermos. It was literally just yesterday that I finally nailed all of it and had an epiphany of sorts. Blend of beans, amount, grind, water temp, volume, steep time...all just right...but I didn't know it until I had finished the travel mug and opted to pour the thermos into an open mug instead of into the sealed, lidded travel mug.
I also didn't realize just how important the aroma was in the equation. Wow. Removing the lid changed everything for me. Taste, mouth feel...the whole nine. It was almost buttery in taste and texture. Try getting that with a paper filter.
Every morning, I brew a full 32oz. Bodum and pour half into my travel mug and half into a thermos. It was literally just yesterday that I finally nailed all of it and had an epiphany of sorts. Blend of beans, amount, grind, water temp, volume, steep time...all just right...but I didn't know it until I had finished the travel mug and opted to pour the thermos into an open mug instead of into the sealed, lidded travel mug.
I also didn't realize just how important the aroma was in the equation. Wow. Removing the lid changed everything for me. Taste, mouth feel...the whole nine. It was almost buttery in taste and texture. Try getting that with a paper filter.
I'm on my third. Good choice! Buy freshly roasted beans and grind them yourself just before brewing to really get the full effect. If it came with a coffee measure, I will point out that it is the proper amount of dark roast coffee to make a 5 ounce cup not a 10 or 12 ounce mug.
Another French Press fan.
However, I don't use it for coffee.
Loose tea only.
However, I don't use it for coffee.
Loose tea only.
Huzzah! I've had my Bodum for 15 years and it's the best coffee ever.
I keep one for coffee, one for tea.
I discovered the French press last year. I bought a Bodum and I haven't looked back. I am actually enjoying a cup right now and I saw this thread! I purchase beans from Coffee Fool and grind away. MMM.. MMM GOOD!
it's time for my next cuppa. Lunch, anyone?
Here's what I do ...
Instead of pouring all the hot water in at once, I boil up enough water to get the grounds good and wet, but no more. Once that's accomplished, I'll refill the kettle and boil the rest of the water, giving the first bit of water time to let the coffee 'steep' while the second dose is in the kettle.
To me, there is less wait-time after pouring the bulk of the water, and thus less loss of heat from the coffee before drinking it.
You can use it to make a hop tea to add to the secondary before bottling...The only other tip I have is that you can get them at TJ Maxx for about $12.
The difference between the room temperature grounds and the boiling water will drop the extraction temp drastically.
There is something to be said for pre-wetting coffee grounds in certain situations, but it has very little to do with any extraction that may occur during that initial infusion time. Just a thought to chew on a bit.
The heat is intended for extraction. The best taste happens at about body temperature, or maybe slightly above. (usually)
Hmm.. I may give that a try. However, it seems like I read in the instructions that came with my Bodum (last year), or maybe I read it elsewhere, that the water shouldn't be boiled? Something about potentially burning the coffee and that not being a good thing? Anyone read something similar or am I totally off-base and getting confused with something else I may have read?
We just picked up one for our housemate, she has caffeine sensitivity issues so we have a small Bodum for her decaff. French press is the only way to go.
Most Frenchmen (home of the French press) would use water just off the boil. The typical method is boil the water, then take it off the heat, grind the beans, put'em in the press then pour the water. It will be at the right temp. East of France they tend to use boiling water, or boil the grounds in water. All are very tasty indeed!
I snagged a cheap one last week, and the improvement was noticeable.
I have always used the first method you mention. Methinks I shall now also try the East of France method! I'm not one to pass up an extra chance at 'very tasty indeed'!
Thanks for the info. The more I'm here, the MORE I'm HERE.. and the MORE I LOVE this PLACE!!!
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