French Press + How to choose? (UPDATED)

French press is a simple teapot that is used practically all over the world to prepare very fine and high quality coffee. The preparation is very simple and can be done by anyone in a moment. Coffee from the French press is very delicious and preferred by many experienced baristas. They even state that it is the easiest way to prepare good coffee.

The only job of the kettle is to separate the drink from the loger. This allows you to enjoy really good quality freshly ground coffee without having to invest a lot of money in electric coffee machine. The purchase price is very low, the kettle does not require electricity. You will not have to deal with any repairs, complicated cleaning procedures or the purchase of spare parts. With proper use, one kettle will serve you for many years.

The French press is a vessel that many people may be hearing about for the first time, so it is appropriate to introduce this specific kettle more closely. The kettle was invented in the Provence region of France by complete accident. A man did not follow the procedure for making coffee and first poured hot water into the pot and then added coffee. An unsightly crust formed on the surface of the drink, which he then pressed to the bottom with a sieve. This process was then used in the production of the first French press in the 19th century and is still used in the production of today’s modern teapots.

The teapot can make coffee as well as loose tea, and in selecting one you will be concerned only with size and manufacturing material. Therefore, in order to enjoy really good coffee, you will need good quality coffee beans that you process using a grinder. The grinder is the only accessory you will also need. In this case, you can get by with a simpler grinder that won’t need any precision grinding.

Best French Press

Benefits of

The advantages of the kettle are mainly its small size and low purchase price. You can use even high-quality and rare coffees in the French press kettle without having to worry about losing aroma or taste. It is often said that the most expensive coffees should be prepared using a French press pot. The only thing you will need to follow is the correct procedure, this depends mainly on the temperature of the water.

You should never pour boiling water over coffee. The indicated temperature is between 94 and 96 °C. This hot water will not destroy valuable oils or aromatic components.

If the resulting drink is bitter, try grinding the beans coarser. If, on the other hand, the resulting flavour is bland, it is advisable to grind the beans finely and use a larger quantity per cup. Any coffee aftertaste may be due to poor quality drinking water. It is advisable to filter or use bottled water.

Size

The volume of the kettle is one of the important parameters. In most cases, a volume of 125 ml per cup of coffee is expected. There are kettles on the market that are suitable for 2 to 8 cups of coffee.

• 2 – 4 cups – you can make do with a smaller teapot with a capacity of 300 – 600 ml
• 5 – 7 cups – you will need a teapot with a capacity of 600 – 1000 ml

When choosing the size, take into account the size of the cups you are used to making your coffee in. Some people can get by with 100-150 ml, while others need a 250 ml cup. In a French press, you will be able to prepare more coffee than you immediately consume. However, it is not advisable to make coffee to stock in this pot, as the finished coffee loses its flavour very quickly.

Material

The kettles are made of two materials, you can choose between glass and stainless steel. In fact, glass teapots combine both materials. This option is more popular because of its more appealing appearance. Borosilicate glass brewing allows you to be visually in control of your coffee preparation. More expensive kettles are made of double glass. This allows the kettle to withstand rougher handling and has the advantage of better heat insulation.

Stainless steel kettles are particularly suitable for those who will be carrying the kettle more frequently. A stainless steel kettle will not allow you to visually control the preparation. You must also expect more difficult maintenance. Fingerprints and smudges are more visible on a stainless steel kettle. The combination of hardened plastic and glass is less common.

Accessories

You will be able to add additional accessories to the coffee pot. Some you can’t do without, others will make preparation easier.

Filter

The French press kettle is composed of several parts, the filter fulfilling the function of the consumable part. You will need to change it every 2-3 years. The filter can be made of stainless steel. This option is more popular because the filter lasts longer. One pack usually contains 3 pieces. The advantage of stainless steel filters is easier maintenance.

Another option is to purchase microfilters. In this case, these are paper filters that need to be changed more frequently. The package usually contains 300 or more pieces. However, microfilters are considered to be more effective.

Coffee grinder

Another thing you can’t do without is coffee grinder. Medium to coarse ground coffee is used in the French press pot. You can get by with a simpler electric or ordinary hand grinder. Hand grinders are cheaper and more suitable for those who will be processing smaller quantities of coffee beans. However, an electric grinder is more costly.

• Measuring cup – with a simple measuring cup you will be able to use the necessary amount of coffee.
• The jar – To preserve the flavour and aroma of the coffee beans, they should be stored in special vacuum-sealed jars.
• Another container – Some French presses are available with an extra container. This option is suitable for those who want to use the kettle for both coffee and tea. The containers may also vary in size.

Design

There are a large variety of kettles on the market today. You can choose a teapot with a traditional or extravagant look. If you choose a kettle from the leading manufacturers, the appearance will have no influence on the taste or the way the coffee is prepared.

Brand

You can also buy a French press kettle in supermarkets. Here the kettles are available for a really small price. However, if you do not want a so-called 1-use kettle, you should rather focus on leading manufacturers. With them, you can be sure that you will be able to buy a replacement strainer for the kettle.

Supermarket kettles will usually not allow you this option and you will need to buy a new kettle if the strainer stops working. Yet even this method may be preferable for many.

They may choose a teapot of a different size and appearance. Those who want a branded French press can choose between La Cafetiere branded kettles, Bialetti, Bodum or Leopold Vienna. Other well-known manufacturers include Banquet, Tescoma, Lamart, Hario, Orion or Kaffia.

Maintenance

The kettle requires regular but very simple maintenance. After each use, the kettle and filter must be rinsed with water. Using water removes not only coffee particles but also traces of oil. These could otherwise affect the taste of the next drink. Most teapots can be put in the dishwasher.

Questions and answers

What is the procedure for making coffee?

First you will need to heat the water, ideally at a temperature of 93 – 94 °C. Those who do not have a kettle that allows you to adjust the temperature can let the water boil and then let it stand for about 1 minute. Mix the water in the kettle with the coffee, here it is recommended to use 60 grams of coffee per 1 litre of water.

However, this amount may not suit everyone and you can adjust the amount of coffee to your own taste. Squeeze the stirred coffee through a sieve, which should be about 2 cm below the surface, and let it extract for about 4 minutes. After this time, press the sieve to the bottom of the pot, wait a few seconds for the coffee dust to settle and pour the drink into the prepared cups.

Can the coffee be left to infuse for a longer period of time?

In order to make really good quality coffee, it is necessary to follow a precise procedure. If you are not sure, you can look at commonly available videos on the internet where the preparation is described and demonstrated in great detail. During prolonged steeping, oils and cyanobacteria will be released into the drink, which will negatively affect the final taste of the drink. Coffee prepared in this way is also aggressive to the stomach.

What kind of coffee can be used?

You can try any coffee, of course. Those who want to follow the recommendations of experienced baristas can try earthier coffees. Classic coffee with notes of chocolate, cocoa or nuts is recommended. These coffees can be complemented with milk, which is unlikely to be approved by the baristas. Milk, on the other hand, is not suitable for juicy, fruity or sour coffees.

Conclusion

In the French press kettle you can prepare classic and iced coffee or loose tea. Those who will also use the kettle to prepare tea should choose a product that allows the containers to be changed.

If you will be using one kettle to prepare both beverages, you should always clean the container thoroughly so that one beverage does not carry the aftertaste of the other. To make iced coffee, use cold water. The cold water will make the coffee smoother and sweeter because the cold water will not disturb the oil that is in the coffee.

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