Different coffee makers?

Question

i have been having to purchase lots of coffee pots during the last year, and now im looking towards the french press style. but i have no idea of the workings of them. does anyone use them and if so, are they worth the money to purchase and use compared to the normal elec coffee makers (which i have bad luck with to begin with). can anyone give me some advice as to which would be better. keep in mind that we drink coffee all day long.

Answer 1

The French press style of coffee making produces very rich, aromatic and tasty coffee. It uses very coarsely ground coffee that basically steeps in the brewing water for several minutes allowing all the flavours to fully extract from the coffee grinds. Because of the filtering system there is always some sediment which some people don't like.

A French press coffee maker has two parts: a straight-sided container usually made of glass, and a filter-plunger that pushes through the water to filter out the coffee after it has steeped. This plunger also serves as the lid. There are some models of French Press that are insulated which is good for keeping things hot while it steeps.

To brew coffee with a French Press, you should pre-heat the carafe while you boil your water. When ready, empty the carafe, add your coffee, and then add your brewing water. You may wish to stir the coffee grinds around to be sure all of them are in contact with water. You should now put the plunger/lid on the pot to help retain heat. DO NOT press it down yet, it needs to steep for about four minutes (a little more or less depending the coarseness of the grind).

Once you feel the coffee has brewed enough, slowly depress the plunger trapping the grounds on the bottom. Do not force the plunger. If it doesn't want to go down, simply lift the plunger up slightly and try again. The filter can jam on grinds that are too fine. Just take your time and it will work.

Despite what some may say, it is usually best to decant the coffee into an insulated serving pot. If you leave the coffee in the French Press it will remain in contact with the grinds and keep brewing. This will quickly ruin your coffee. The other main reason to pour your coffee off is to keep it warm. French Press pots are not well insulated and coffee cools off very quickly.

Play with the brewing time and grind coarseness until you get the taste that you like best. Once you've done that you will have some of the most tasty coffee anywhere.

Lynne Birch writes on home improvement http://www.my-kitchen-appliance.com selection of articles and reviews of kitchen appliances is growing daily. Updated coffee maker reviews.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynne_B...

Answer 2

French presses make great strong coffee and are cheap/relatively easy to use. Because they only make a few cups at a time it'll always be fresh. Basically you just put a few spoons of coffee into the press fill with boiling water and stir so the grounds don't stick to the walls. Then but the top on, but don't press down the press. Let it the grounds steep for about a minute (like tea) and then press it down, pour and enjoy.

Answer 3

French press definitely makes a great cup of coffee. The only downside for some people is that there may be a bit of coffee sediment in your cup (most people don't mind that at all).

Using French press is really simple. You can find step by step instructions and tips about using the French press in here:

http://www.espresso-machines-and-coffee-...

Most people use glass French press, but there are also other types of French press available (ceramic, stainless steel, travel mugs, electric) - you can find advantages and drawback of each type here:

http://www.espresso-machines-and-coffee-...

Regarding the manufacturer, Bodum and Bonjour are the two names that first come to mind.