Last Updated on June 11, 2020 by Corinne Schmitt
I admit it. I’m a coffee addict. I love everything about it from the aroma to the caffeine buzz. For my daily cup of joe at home, I rely on my Keurig since it helps me limit myself to one cup of coffee each day and because it’s lightning fast. Recently, though, we had a friend who stayed with us who made his coffee in a French press (which was so important to him, he packed it and brought it with him!). He insisted that the coffee tasted much better this way and it was worth the extra time and effort. Of course, I had to try it to see if he was making this up and I have to admit, he was 100% right.
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If you’ve always brewed coffee in a Keurig or traditional coffee maker, the French press seems odd. It doesn’t brew coffee in the “usual” way. A French press is remarkably simple in design, and yet amazingly effective. It contains a cylinder for hot water and a plunger (that’s why it is also called the coffee plunger sometimes) which helps to separate grounds from the hot water. This simple design makes it very easy to use and, even better, super easy to clean (unlike other types of coffee makers).
The Complete Procedure
The working process of a French Press is very straightforward. The simple mechanism starts with coarsely ground coffee. You place ground coffee into the French press and then heat the water. Heating the water is the longest part of the process (how long it takes depends on the heat level and the machine). When the water has heated completely, you let the magic of the French press happen (about 5 minutes). The coarse coffee grounds will settle at the bottom of the cylinder and you will use the plunger to push the remaining coffee grounds down (this is where the “press” comes in). This simple process almost takes 10 minutes to make you an unforgettable cup of Joe.
Why French Press Coffee Tastes Better
I already mentioned that I agreed with my friend that the coffee from the French press tasted better than my normal cup of coffee and it turns out, there’s a reason for it. The reason is that unlike other coffee makers, a French press doesn’t use a filter. Since the coffee steeps in the hot water and the plunger forces the grounds to the bottom (to keep them out of your cup), coffee from a French press is full of the extracted essential oils and flavor from the ground coffee. No paper filter to strain out any of that delicious coffee flavor. So, there are two main benefits of using a French press coffee maker. One is that you’ll enjoy the complete taste of coffee without filtration and the second benefit is that there is no kind of filter that makes it very easy to maintain and makes it cheap too.
The Benefit of Control
Another very attractive feature of a French press is that it grants you immense control over your coffee. You control the strength of the brew since you are in control of how much coffee to use and how long it brews. In other types of coffee makers, it does not take much time to extract the coffee oil from the ground coffee and it alters the change of cup of coffee. But, in a French press, it takes almost 5 minutes to complete the process and to give you the best coffee taste ever. You are the one who controls the amount of coffee and the amount of time to brew the coffee. This means that you can adjust the strength and flavor according to your taste.
Some Great Machines to Consider
There are many affordable brands and models of French presses available. They aren’t hard to find. In shopping around, I’ve found 3 models that stand out for affordability and quality: KONA French press, SterlingPro French press, and Bodum Chambord French press. If you want to check out other models and read more about French presses, check out this site – http://www.coffeemakerslist.com/top-5-best-french-press-coffee-makers-list/.
Any other experienced French press users out there? Let me know if you agree that the coffee tastes better. Also, share any tips you have. I admit, I still use my Keurig more often just because I’m impatient in the morning, but when I have time I really do prefer coffee from the French press.
Everyone says that French press is great and I’ve never tried it. I need to get one of these and have an amazing morning.
Yes, that is certainly one tasty option. We used to make french presses when I worked at Starbucks to try new coffees so we could get the full effect.