Why the French Press?

What is a French Press?

The French Press uses pressure to force coffee to the bottom of an elegant pot after brewing, capturing the concentrated flavors. This is coffee in its purest form. The results are deep; dark and full flavored.

Why should I make the French Press switch?

Coffee has natural oils that preserve and protect its natural and unique flavors. When you use an automatic coffee maker, these oils are absorbed into the paper filters and plastics that make up the machine. After time, they stick to the inner workings of the machine and create a nasty residue that stale and ruins your coffee with a “leftover” flavor. This never happens in the French Press. Here, oils wash away easily, leaving no residue. And unlike a coffee pot, your coffee doesn’t burn while it is being kept hot. There are great presses available that keep your coffee hot with thermal insulation!

I’m sold! How do I use this amazing device?

Using a French Press is simple: Fresh, coarsely ground coffee is placed into the press and followed by near boiling water. (We recommend 1-2 tablespoons for every 8oz. of water depending on your taste) After four minutes, you can press your coffee and have a whole new appreciation for that dark ambrosia. You can easily adjust the strength by letting the coffee brew for a slightly shorter or longer amount of time.

What about Grind?

Grind is very important. We grind coffee for French Presses coarse to create consistent, large particles. This eliminates one common complaint about the press, that it produces muddy coffee. If you have an inexpensive home grinder, please don’t use it. Either invest in a burr grinder (an exciting development to follow on that next month) or let us grind it for you.

What kinds of Presses are available?

French Presses are traditionally made from glass. While glass is great because it allows you to witness the birth of beautiful coffee, it is best to only use glass presses for single servings or when you are serving the coffee very quickly. This is because glass cools very quickly and allows your coffee to get cold. For French Press coffee that stays hot longer, I recommend the Cadillac of all French Presses, the Freiling. Not only will your coffee stay hot with this double walled thermal model Freiling, but it will do so in style.