New toy review

[Gene Howe]

Yesterday, while waiting for a take out pizza, I stepped next door to a gourmet kitchen tool place. I'd been in there before to buy a grease splatter thingie. It has just the fine mesh I needed to sift crushed stone for inlays. Any how, last Memorial day we visited some old friends who served us some French press coffee. WOW! was it ever good! First time I'd ever had any. Yeah, I know, I should get out more often.

So, I finally decided that a French press would be nice to have and I bought a two cupper (actually, two mugs) at the kitchen store. Besides the one I bought, this store had a one cupper and a 6 cupper available. This morning we used it. The first time we had it, our friends used Don Fransico, ground course at the grocery store. As I said, it was delicious. All we had this morning was Yuban dark roast from the can. So, that's what I went with. It was still great!

All told, we made four mugs full and used about 50% less grounds than we normally use in our drip coffeemaker for 6 mugs and it was 100% better tasting. It only takes about 4 minutes to boil the water in the micro and another few to make the coffee it'self. The only difference is you can't make it up ahead of time and just stumble out of bed and hit the switch. But man, is it ever worth the fuss!

I give this toy 5 stars.

Oh yeah, the brand name is Bonjour...the only brand this store sold.

I think our drip machine is headed for the back of the cupboard.

[terrydowning]

I use a french press when back packing and camping. I bought a French Press made from Poly Carbonate with a neoprene insulator at REI. Backpacking is no excuse for nasty instant coffee.

At home I use my drip coffee maker.

[Gene Howe]

I use a french press when back packing and camping. I bought a French Press made from Poly Carbonate with a neoprene insulator at REI. Backpacking is no excuse for nasty instant coffee.

At home I use my drip coffee maker.

An insulator would be nice for a larger unit at home. I'll bet it's especially handy while camping.
I'm no coffee snob, but don't you taste the difference between the press and the drip maker?

[terrydowning]

Of course everything tastes better when camping so I never really thought about it.

I'll have to try it in the morning and see. I like my Cuisinart Drip maker though, it makes great coffee, self cleaning, adjustable carafe temp.

My only issue with the press is that it tends to leave some grit in the cup if you don't strain it.

[2bits]

I received a French press in a gift basket with Baileys and coffee beans a few years ago. The Baileys is long gone;) but I still use the French press. It is much simpler than those expresso contraptions and tastes much better than a drip machine. I bought one of the REI types for camping but I pour it into another cup for drinking. Enjoy your new toy:D

[Gene Howe]

Terry,
The press I found is a Bonjour brand. There is a strainer built in the lid.

[JPG]

Terry,
The press I found is a Bonjour brand. There is a strainer built in the lid.

Cold process - what they do not tell you is it needs to 'brew' over night!, but it produces a very strong liquid that can be later diluted one cup at a time.

Also it keeps in the refrigerator for 'weeks'. I have kept some in a thermos in the refrigerator for over a year! Not as good as 'fresh', but much better than some 'coffee' I have 'endured'!

http://www.toddycafe.com/shop/product.php?productId=67

A PITA to brew but IMHO worth the effort. The concentrated liquid can be frozen in an ice cube tray and a cube added to hot water when a cup is desired.

BTW it brews 12 oz of coffee at a time!

http://www.toddycafe.com/shop/product.php?productId=67

[nuhobby]

Just got back from a Chicago trip, where I had some LaVazza coffee in a little Italian bistro.

There was a TV playing their Italian commercials. The US vs. European coffees were satired like this :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsNYUbA4 ... re=related