French Press – Plunger – Bodum

Ian Munroe was looking for appliances to adorn his beautiful new kitchen when it dawned on him that he really needed a coffee maker.  Ian always loved to drink a freshly brewed cup of gourmet coffee while he read market analysis reports and to celebrate his recent promotion, he decided that what he needed was a good coffee maker.  Peering through the various coffee makers available, he was dissatisfied with his choices.  Although there were many fine automatic drip coffee makers available, Ian just couldn't shake the feeling that he, like U2, still hadn't found what he was looking for.  That's when Ian stumbled on a new discovery, a coffee maker with the funny name of the French Press.

When it comes to making a cup of coffee, the Europeans have their own style.  While Americans love the convenience and quickness of the automatic drip coffee maker, the most popular coffee maker in Europe is the classy French Press.  Also known as the plunger pot or press-pot, this stylish coffee maker is making in-roads in America.  A nifty way to savor the daily grind (of your morning coffee that is), the French Press coffee maker will brew coffee that will make you sit up and scream something incomprehensible like 'Bonjour small appliances' or 'chef'schoiceinternational'!

The most popular manufacturer of the French Press coffee maker is Bodum and you often hear this type of coffee maker referred to as a Bodum.  Other popular names for the French Press coffee maker include Black Electric French Pressplus and the Eiffel French Press.  Regardless of the manufacturer, the French Press has a uniform design.  Generally, the French Press coffee maker consists of either a porcelain or glass cylinder that works as the pot.  Within the cylinder lies a metal rod that extends through its center.  The metal rod has a handle that protrudes from its top end while at the bottom end is a filter.  The filter fits snugly around the inside of the glass container.

Coffee lovers love the ceremony and ritual involved in brewing a pot of coffee using the French Press plunger coffee maker.  To brew coffee using the French Press, follow these steps:

1. Place coffee grounds in the cylinder.  The best type of coffee grinds to use with the French Press coffee maker are regular-course.
2. Boil water and then pour it over the coffee grounds.
3. Place the plunger on top of the cylinder but allow the coffee grounds to steep in the hot water for a couple of minutes.  This step will ensure that the coffee with retain heat for an appropriate amount of time.  Additionally, by allowing the coffee to steep, you will ensure that the positive flavors from the coffee will be extracted without any bitter flavors being extracted.
4. Once the coffee grounds have steeped, gently push down on the plunger.  The mesh filter contained on the French Press coffee maker will push the coffee grounds to the bottom, thus separating the coffee liquid from the coffee grounds.
5. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the smooth taste of a French Press brewed coffee.

For many coffee aficionados, using a French Press coffee maker to brew a cup of coffee is fantastic due to the ceremony involved.  Additionally, the French Press coffee maker produces a richer, heavier-bodied, fuller-flavored cup of coffee compared to other types of coffee makers.  The coffee brewed with a Plunger is steaming hot and contains a great aroma.  The French Press coffee maker is also an excellent way to prepare and serve coffee in one device.  It does not take a long time to brew a pot of coffee using the French Press coffee maker with estimates stating that it will take between 5 and 8 minutes to brew four cups of coffee.

However, the French Press coffee machine is not completely absent of some problems.  As there is no device within the French Press coffee machine that keeps the coffee warm once it is brewed, the coffee brewed must be served immediately.  For the coffee drinker that prefers making a full pot of coffee in the morning that will be used throughout the whole day, the French Press coffee maker may be too inconvenient for your use.  However, you can save the leftover coffee brewed with the French Press coffeemaker by pouring it into a pre-heated thermal carafe.

Additionally, the French Press coffee maker may not produce a cup of coffee that you might like.  As it does not use a paper filter, the coffee brewed with the Plunger can be a bit cloudy.  Also, due to its design, the coffee brewed with the French Press can be muddy, as coffee grinds and fine power may appear in a cup of coffee.  However, its rich taste and convenience makes the French Press one of the most popular types of coffee makers right now.