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French Press Coffee Pot

If you really love coffee there is a good chance you already own a French press. If you enjoy iced coffee drinks you have probably heard that cold brewed coffee makes the best tasting iced coffee. You can buy a special cold brew coffee maker, and you can even buy cold brew coffee concentrate ready to use in your iced coffee drinks. However, there is an easy way to make your own cold brew coffee concentrate at home without any special equipment just by using a French press.

Making cold brew coffee by any method requires some patience, since this process uses time instead of heat to extract flavor from the coffee beans. The reward for this patience is a sweeter, less acidic brew. If the acid in regular coffee is a problem for you, cold brew coffee might be your answer to enjoying coffee again. Cold brewing coffee also produces a concentrated product that is then diluted with either hot or cold water, so unless you drink a lot of coffee, you should only have to repeat the process once or twice a week.

I won't suggest to anyone who loves to make good hot coffee in their French press that cold brew coffee is a definitively superior product. It is a different product. One that I do believe is superior for making cold coffee drinks. Just as we use different cooking methods to produce variety in the food we eat, different brewing methods can produce a welcome variety in our coffee beverages.

Cold brewing coffee in a French press is remarkably similar to making hot coffee in one. First you grind your coffee beans. (Of course you can use any coarsely ground fresh coffee as well.) Add your coffee to your French press—start out using approximately 1/4 more coffee than you would for regular brewing and adjust later batches to taste. Next, add cool, preferably filtered, water and stir gently. Put the lid on your French press and leave it sitting on your counter for 12 to 16 hours. In the morning (assuming you did this overnight) press the plunger down and pour your coffee concentrate into a glass container and store in the refrigerator. If you dislike any sediment in your coffee you can strain the concentrate through a fine mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter. I would advise that you pour it into the filter and walk away for a while because this does take several minutes.

To use your cold brew coffee concentrate you simply fill your glass or mug about 1/4 full with concentrate and then add cold water and/or milk, and ice, as well as any flavorings you desire. You can also make hot coffee simply by adding very hot water. (Remember that the concentrate is cold so you will probably want your water as close to boiling as possible when you add it in order to obtain a good hot cup of coffee.)

Cold brew coffee has other uses as well. Because it is concentrated, it works well in recipes without adding too much additional liquid. I have always avoided recipes that call for instant coffee or espresso powder, but now I simply substitute my cold brew coffee concentrate and adjust the other liquids in the recipe appropriately. And I personally enjoy coffee flavored yogurt, but had never found a good way to make my own (from plain yogurt that I purchase or make) until I discovered cold brew coffee.

I hope this inspires you to try cold brewing coffee in your French press. It is the best way to enjoy iced coffee drinks and other coffee flavored treats.

French Press Coffee Pot

The Bodum Brazil Glass 3-Cup Coffee Press, Black is a brilliant French press that makes marvelous freshly brewed cup of coffee any where at any time. This is a portable coffee pot that can be taken whenever you are on move. This is ideal for coffee enthusiasts to sip a hot cup of coffee at home or office. I would suggest this device for a single beverage drinker and is not advisable for multiple users. The 3-Cup in the name is a misnomer that creates a bit of confusion regarding the volume of coffee that can be made. This makes either one normal US coffee mug (12-ounce) or three 4 ounce cups.

This is a wonderful coffee pot that makes rich and smooth coffee of superior quality. The aroma and the complete flavor of this coffee can put the instant coffee mixes and automatic coffee machine and dispensing machines to shame. It takes only 4 minutes to prepare and relish the drink. This is user friendly equipment and does not require any brewing skills to make a tempting coffee. One of the major drawbacks with this unit is the glass construction. This is highly fragile and I have to be really careful and hold my breath while transporting or stirring the preparation. I wish it comes in some sturdy construction.

With the Bodum Brazil Glass 3-Cup Coffee Press, coffee making is a pleasant experience. Just add the powder and warm water in the jar. Stir it and leave it for 4 minutes to steep the full aroma and original flavor. The filter is not made of paper and hence you can enjoy the unadulterated pure aroma of coffee and sip with total satisfaction. Do not keep the coffee for more than 4 minutes because it might get saturated with the oils and start getting a sharp bitter and acrid taste. Moreover the coffee becomes cold. This is perfectly designed. The frame and the handle are made of a special heat resistant material making it easy to hold.

This comes at $16. So even if the pot breaks it is not an issue to replace. The dimensions of this instant coffee pot are 8-3/4 x 5-1/4 inches. The Bodum Brazil Glass 3-Cup Coffee Press can be washed in a dish washer but the cleaning part is a bit messy though not a serious problem. It would be better if they can do something with the plastic nuts and the superficial threads in the press so that it remains intact with the machine and does not frequently pop out and fall to the preparation. I would like the parts to be made of a strong material something like a metal and not fragile plastic. On the whole this is a good coffee pot that facilitates you to drink authentic coffee at your convenience.